Back to back injury- time to crochet!
Ha ha….sorry for the pun, though I’m not really laughing. Yesterday proved to be a stressful morning, and my back seized up after being OK for a couple of weeks. My allergies seem to be in overdrive today, and I am very stuffed up. I’m exhausted from stress, injury, and antihistamines.
In times like these, I crochet. I think this is one of the first kind of fiber arts I did. I was taught to crochet by a nun named Laverne who lived on my block. I grew up in Calumet Park, IL. This nun brought all of us kids on Ada St into her home almost daily and let us do crafts, color, and otherwise keep us off the streets. She taught me how to crochet, just one stitch, the single crochet. Laverne passed away not too long after teaching me, and my grandmother would not let us go to her funeral. I eventually taught myself the rest of the stitches, years later. I have never made a large crochet project, but plenty of small things.
When I am laid up like this, I usually crochet because it’s easy and I can do it and watch TV at the same time. The past couple of weeks before getting back into the sewing room I made lots of washcloths from cotton yarn I got on sale at Michaels. Now I’m thinking of making some socks…
Walking in Memphis
By the time you read this, I’ll be in Memphis TN for the comic book industry job I have. Be there through Sunday. Missing my brother’s birthday and my sister’s candle party…
My back is not fully recovered so no sewing has happened in the studio. Lots of reading and crocheting, but little sewing. The ideas are building up, and the big IQA show in Chicago is looming with all kinds of ideas and classes to take and money to spend there…
I am teaching my Fiber Art Divas group how to make the Yo Yo Flowers (sorry for those of you still waiting on the pattern). I’ll let you know how it goes. This is just coming off of teaching it as a half hour demo at the Riverwalk Quilt Guild’s Gathering show.
I have a project to take with me on the plane, but we’ll see how much gets done. I may just nap instead.
In the meantime, I submitted one of my sad February quilts for a “ghost for a ghost” project over on Astulabee’s Blog and Flickr page. Go check it out!
Hanging out in Baltimore
I’m in Baltimore for work and decided to spend the weekend with quilt friends. Amy was so kind to let me stay with her and her family. She even put a nice brunch together with some guild friends. It was so nice.
We went to Savage Mill and I was able to go to Queen’s Ink and the Treasure Trove antique linen store there. I could have spent a fortune there. We also stopped at Seminole Sampler, one of the best quilt shops in the country.
I had a great time. I hope to come back for the West River Retreat in November.
Almost back from San Diego
Well, its almost over… I’m at the airport and ready to go home. I finished my weekly quilt and can focus on sleeping on the ride back. I had a frustrating roommate, but the rest of the show was fantastic. I will post a picture of my weekly when I get back. Its quite adorable!
Amazing but exhausting
I have had an amazing time here in San Diego at the comic con, but I am exhausted!
As for my secret news, I was a judge for the Spirit of Retailing Award for the Eisners this year. It was a very cool thing to do. I was sequestered for judging for many hours, and we judged the winner by assigning points. At the Eisner awards ceremony, we judges were named and it was a great night with real celebrities and everything. Working the booth is hard but fun. I even met a fellow quilter and talked crafts with a retailer/gallery owner. I can’t wait to get home though…