Last week was a mix of ups and downs for me. I thought I was handling this whole virus/stay-at-home/social distancing thing pretty well. Turns out I might not be dealing with it as well as I thought. I decided to stay away from the news and try to focus on only positive stuff but it’s just not as easy as it sounds. Hubby wants to listen to the news All. The. Time. So I find myself running around the house with headphones on listening to whatever music I’m in the mood for at the time, which doesn’t distract me like it should because I’m irritated that I have to wear headphones in my own house to escape the scariness that is the Corona virus.
So then I go to my sewing room and close the door. But it’s piled with customer quilts that are either waiting to be quilted or have been quilted but not picked up. It’s pretty challenging to feel creative in a cluttered room. So then I get all grumpy because my room is a mess, and I start to resent being in there in order to avoid the news that is blaring throughout my house from the TV cause hubby can’t hear it unless it’s loud. Geesh!
I have avoided jumping on the ‘let’s make face masks’ bandwagon. Not because I think it’s not important, but simply because I didn’t feel I could handle it mentally. It breaks my heart that we need the masks, and I’m so worried about all the brave people who put their lives on the line everyday to try to help others. I finally ordered elastic and it should be here today. And I’m going to start sewing masks – as many as I can do. It may be a few, it may be a lot. But I think it will help, you know, help me feel like I have the tiniest bit of control over this situation we all find ourselves in.
I apologize for unloading all of this here, but sometimes it is therapeutic to just let things out….
Now let’s move on to some quilty stuff. On one of my self-imposed exiles to my sewing room I managed to make ONE block. One 8-1/2″ bird block.
This little cutie will become part of a mini quilt. Here’s the pattern and fabrics I purchased as a kit:
This isn’t going to be a fast make for me – there were 21 pieces (!) in that bird block. I’m going to use this as my official ‘Relief from the Corona Virus’ project. The pieces are numerous and tiny, and it will require a lot of concentration to piece this little quilt – exactly the kind of distraction I need.
I found myself playing with a handful of peanut butter M&M’s the other day. It was a fun kind of distraction too. And yes, after I lined them up I popped them into my mouth one-by-one and enjoyed them! 🙂
Then I found myself snapping pictures of these pretty tulips in my flower bed:
One of the customer quilts I finished last week is this pretty pinwheel quilt by Linda.
What I really like about Linda’s quilt is the simplicity. Three fabrics and two blocks. Easy peasy! The pinwheels give the quilt a lot of movement. I can see this pattern working with so many different prints – can you?
Here’s a peek at some fun paisley quilting I also got to do.
I just love quilting these little paisleys. They add a wonderful texture and are so easy to stitch.
Okay guys, that’s it for me today. Now it’s your turn to share your projects. What has you excited to be in your sewing space? Join us for Main Crush Monday and link up any blog post, Instagram or Flickr pic – here’s how:
Get your hubby the wireless headphones to listen to the TV so you don’t have to hear it. I am with you, the constant barrage of the same thing over and over is so depressing. I stopped watching all the news except for local top stories and the weather. Then it gets turned off. It must be draining also to see quilts that cannot be picked up. I hope you can find something that will bring you joy, and hang in there. Stay well.
I definitely feel that way about the masks as well. I didn’t make one at all until the CDC suggested that we should all wear one if we go outside. So I’ll be making for family and very close friends; I will likely do a few more after today but not many. I’m glad you were able to get some quilting done and those M&Ms look so tasty. Hang in there and stay well!
I totally get where you are coming from!! You don’t have to apologize. It’s hard not to listen to every piece of news, but it’s so important to be aware. I’ve found myself wandering around aimlessly, not able to focus and snapping at everyone I’m around.
I decided I would make masks for family and friends, but it’s something that stresses me out even more! I won’t be making hundreds…that’s for sure!
Hang in there! We’ll get to the other side!
I understand totally and my peanut M&M stash has been depleted. But I am just the opposite, I want the updates. We had our 1st confirmed case last week and now up to 3 in our county. So I will pass on my weekly trip to the grocery. Shame, I look forward to that weekly trip to town as its the only time I leave home. Otherwise nothing has changed for me. I cant make any suggestions on what to do with 2 piles of quilts waiting. Having a tiny sewing room I know the struggle of feeling cluttered though. We can only do what we can do and something tells me once you get adjusted to the new situation you are gonna kick some butt on projects. Love the bird.
I totally get you – my husband is constantly listening to ever news conference (loud the only way a man can watch tv I guess) on the computer constantly updating everyone on two groups that he is on because he feels he is the only one to keep everyone updated for some reason – it drives me nuts.
I tried making face mask’s and made over 30 and I was so stressed the whole time I was making them – maybe because of the reason needed – I’m a quilter not a seamstress – I didn’t enjoy making them in the least!
I totally get you!! some are enjoying the husband/wife togetherness – mine is driving me nuts LOL
Beth, I love your paisley quilting!!! Your mini quilt is very familiar to me as that designer is local and we sell her patterns and kits for them at the shop I work at (currently closed, of course.) Learning to live with the #stayhome orders isn’t easy for any of us. We all have to make compromises.
Lovely bird block!
It’s not easy to deal with all of this, working at home helps keeping tracks of the time, the day, keeping a routine. I find that I don’t have much time to sew and quilt, less than I was working at the office. This is our 4th week confined.
Enjoy your M&M’s and stay safe 😉