The Flannel Shirt

 I actually got a chance to sit down at my sewing machine for an hour today. I'm in the midst of building a home, so I haven't had much of a chance of late.

I was wearing one of my Dad’s old flannel shirts. Great for this time of year. Easy to get out of for this time of life!

I was trying to steer a piece of work though the machine to free quilt. So, I laid my left arm down on the piece to stabilize it. The flannel sleeve acted just like a flannel design board, firmly holding the piece in place as I quilted. Wow! It made the quilting process so much easier!

Thought you'd like to know!

Sketching with Thread

Last month,  my daughter and I went to view the Fairey Exhibit at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. She bought along a artist's pad and sketched some fairly fast drawings. I have always admired people who can render likeness in this manner. This morning, I realized I sketch with my sewing machine. Years ago I would painstakingly draw designs on work with a 'removable' pen and sew along these lines. Then spend a good deal of time erasing them. Gradually I stopped, not even sure when. Now I just place my piece at needles point and start to quilt. This process is very intuitive. Sometimes I'm not crazy about what happens but more often then not, I have a sewn drawing that totally fits the piece. It is about trusting my experience and allowing that 'flow' to happen. Try it, sit down at your machine with a small piece and quilt. Watch out for wide smiles!