Updating ...

These last few weeks have found me trying to implement projects that are the reason that I am here in Colombia. They are vast and time consuming. What I am finding however, is that the women's group in one of the communities keeps me pretty well occupied. In order to have a project for them on a weekly basis, I have to first do the project to ensure that it is easy enough to teach in a 2-hour spot and then have the project examples done in various stages of completion for demonstration. This takes a lot of time, especially when one is hand-sewing.

To date we have done a make-up bag: this to see where their skills are and how they use their imagination; a purse: this provided instruction in various techniques; and now we are into learning cross stitching. All the members of the group wanted to learn how to cross stitch. We started with plastic rafia (easily obtained), plastic canvas and no pattern. I wanted them to learn the stitch first. This next class will have a small picture of balloons on strings to introduce the basic techniques to following a pattern. The young girls picked it up fast whereas the older ones took more patience and time. It turns out that there are women in the group who already know how and I tried valiantly to tap into their knowledge. They were, however, content to sit and listen, doing what I said and then completing the exercise quickly. I acknowledged that they already knew how to do it, asked if they would mind helping others with learning (NOT) and then explaining that I understood their desire for the patterns that we have talked about. Making them feel welcome I had hoped to utilize their skills - hopefully they made themselves available during the week when I wasn't in the community and some needed assistance. The next class will certainly show if it happened.

As a result of having to do all these projects, I have not had a lot of time for projects of my own, especially those Christmas presents that I wanted to do. With that in mind, I have been on the look out for a cheap utilitarian sewing machine to buy. Last week Saturday I discovered one in Pricesmart and quickly, without qualms, purchased it.

The following Sunday I was in heaven: I sat and sewed my project that was needed in, but a fraction of the time, and then pieced a lap quilt for us. I call it "Stairway to Dreams" as it is a nappy lap quilt for my hubby.

Now to use the wonderful find of polyfil batting (not the 80/20 that I like) and put a backing on it so that it can be used. A simple bit of hand quilting, then the binding, and it will be done. Maybe even a pillow case to go along with it, to use up the left over strips.

One of the projects that I wanted to do, as I thought that I could do it by hand while traveling, was a Rainbow Dear Jane quilt. To this I joined a BOM group and I faithfully order my monthly blocks. However, when I started to travel here I discovered that the bus traveling was definitely not conducive to handsewing. The buses are small and overpacked, with no room to maneuver let alone play with small pieces. So I decided to go with the flow and make the blocks as I did other things. That makes for a very long process sewing a piece at a time, between other sewing. This so that I only have to turn the iron once instead of 2 or 3 times. Hence, I have 3 separate things on the go and sew each until I need to iron and then turn it on. Working well, although, as I said, slow.

So today I finally finished my first Rainbow Jane block, A-1. I had read the book, tried to figure out the software, copied out the foundation piecing, and started. The software is complicated, but for now, I have learned how to print the foundation piece and I will learn how to update the photo on the right after each completed block. But to get back to the block. I got it all sewn together and pressed, and then ...

when I matched it up with the photo of the square within the quilt, mine looked different. Of course the colour is different but it was something else. What? Ah no, mine is turned around. Thinking through the process, I double checked the foundation piecing, yes it was correct. I double checked the way that I put it together, yes it was correct. So why is it turned around? Back to the book I go and to one of the websites with tutorials for the blocks ...
http://thatquilt.blogspot.com/2009/01/1.html
What is this? Mirror image? Mirror image of what? oh, somehow you are supposed to print a mirror image of the foundation piecing. So why isn't this already done in the software, it was expensive enough. I wonder if Jane would notice the difference, but for me, it will stay forever reversed. What is done, is done. Can't remember which culture it was, but in their culture you couldn't make anything perfect as only God is perfect. So a mistake must always be included in your work. Sounds good to me.

Help, I am in withdrawal ...

Here I am now living in Barranquilla, Colombia, WITHOUT a sewing machine as originally planned. What? you say - you had one to travel with before.

So let me tell a tale of woe, a tale of disappointment, and then again, a tale of "perhaps something good will come out of it ..."

Knowing that I would be traveling to live in Colombia for only a short time, I had furnished myself with a small yet powerful Brother sewing machine. It was a great little machine. It sewed wonderfully.

And so ... Betsy was excited about her anticipated move to another wonderful country where she would learn different techniques and use different fabrics. She was lovingly packed with the accruements of sewing - thread, scissors, pins, cutters, ruler, markers, and a cutting mat. She had moved around the country tasting the thrill of sewing a carry-on bag that was a test of her capabilities, a bag that would accompany her on her journey. She hummed with satisfaction as she showed off her variety of stitches that was also part of a sewing challenge. Her owner, was thrilled - she was perfect.

Betsy arrived at the airport early, no, very early in the morning of the day of departure. She was accompanied by her new found friends, 2 large suitcase duffles, a small carry-on and a backpack. She didn't have a passport, she didn't need one. She did however, have a List of Contents readily visible on her side. Standing in line, waiting to check in, she tried a tumble or two, but she recovered nicely. It finally was her turn to check in. There was trouble right from the start.

it turns out that her flight was cancelled, without notification, due to the harsh weather in the East, not because of something she had done. The airline lady, who was trying to sort out the problem, looked at her gaily printed sox sitting amidst her new found friends and said, "You do know that there is an embargo on the amount of luggage that you can take with you, don't you?" Betsy quivered with a feeling of doom. "Why no, I didn't. I had no problems in June with much more than this ..." she heard. "Well I am sorry, you will have to get everything into just two bags, nothing more. If we let everyone carry a lot of luggage, we would have to hire another plane just for the baggage." "Can I pay the overcharge?' "it will be $300 per bag per leg of the journey for anything more than 1 bag."

Betsy was really afraid now because she knew that she wasn't worth anywhere near that amount and that another could be purchase for less where they were going. Sighing and frustrated, they all left the airport, to return the next morning to try again.

In the hotel room, the process began. What to discard, how to repack. A slow process ensued and finally everything was done. Betsy sat forlornly on the bed, her box open and bereft of all her accruement, waiting for what she knew was coming. It wasn't a question of when, just how and what. She wasn't going. But how to maximize her qualities was the question. Betsy wanted to do something worthwhile in her life, something that would distinguish her from all the other machines, something that would allow her to hold her head up high, albeit silently.

In the morning, they all piled into the taxi to return to the airport. Betsy too, but not put together for travel, she thought. She knew, but what? Suddenly her ears perked up - a conversation was going on and it was about her. Oh boy, maybe she could go after all. No, wait, she is going to a new home. There is this wonderful refuge group that helps single moms to become self-sufficient and they sure could use a sewing machine for the ladies to use and share. Oh boy, oh boy, she was going to a place where she could watch with pride as her new users made a difference in their lives and that of their children - she wasn't lost, nor discarded, no, she was wanted.

Yes, I had to leave Betsy behind, but it came with a sense of positiveness. She would help someone else out, maybe not me, but ... I can't help but wonder if Betsy ever thinks about me now? I know that I think of her often, wondering about the wondrous sights that she is seeing and things that she is producing .....sigh .......

One does what one has to do ...

The urge to sew - no sewing room - staying with DS, DIL, and grands, all teens. No wait, the oldest is now 20 - the dining room table? no, very traditional and sits in all it's glory, unused. The kitchen table? no, the kids have their school books and school work out on it. The eating niche? no it is too high for me as they use bar stools to sit at it. Ok so where? Wait the oldest grand's computer desk, he has gone to college. Oops, online video game set-up here so ...

One does what one has to do ...

unplug the monitor, sew, plug monitor back in. Round and round we go. And don't bother sewing in the evening as the monitor is being used. Still I managed to get the second side of my bag and the bottom done and today I will be doing the sides and straps. Hopefully done by tomorrow night. This mixed in with all the other things that need to be done.

very traditional (except can you find the scraps?) which monikers needlework - precise and traditional - whereas the other side is for the wannabee liberated quilter.

bottom:

Rainbow Jane

Yesterday my mail arrived and along with it was the first of many Rainbow Jane BOMs. The fabrics are wonderful and so bright. Oh my goodness. It really will be a rainbow of colours. Off I went to get the small needles that I read you need for hand-sewing. Got size10. They look awfully small - hopefully I will be able to manage them with hands that are definitely used to the bigger needles of needlepoint and cross-stitch.

Fabrics: [the white across the top is the background]

and first block - A-1, yellow - but which yellow? I guess I make the choice. So here goes ...

Needlework update ...

The one type of project that has worked well with my being "homeless" is needlework. As you all know, I currently am working on Santa ornaments, Christmas Blocks, and a cross-stitch Enchanted Sleigh.

The Christmas blocks were somehow routed to the back of the pile as I had left some of the necessary threads packed in storage. But I have them now - found them yesterday, so I can once again go to work on them. I am working on the A; have the embellishments for the M coming in on Monday; and still have the S, Santa, and Happy left to do. They will be finished, hopefully well before Christmas so that I can get them in to the finishers.

And then there are the Santa Ornaments, which are coming along nicely, thank you. I continue to work on them a section at a time. However, I am finding that the ones that aren't painted could have probably used more threads for coverage. White does show through at time. They look good however, and I think that I will have them finished with a red fabric behind them to try and minimize the white. They definitely will be finished, hopefully before I leave for Colombia so that I can send them off to the finishers from the USA. When sending things such as this from foreign countries, it is sometimes hard to guarantee delivery.

As for the Enchanted Sleigh, nothing new since the last update. It too has been regulated to the bottom of the pile. But I will be flying on Monday week, all day, so more will definitely get done.

I have also mounted my Wild Woman now on stretcher bars. I also picked up some threads the last visit to The French Knot in Ft Worth. I have strong loyalty attachments to places that I gone the extra mile for me, and these ladies have done that.

She won't get started until I am in Colombia and finished the Santa ornaments.

And now you know about as much as I do ...