I haven't being sewing this summer so I didn't have much to share... but now I started sewing again, and I have several plans for the months ahead so probably you will read more about me from now!!
First, let me start with some updates on sewing projects, followed by some life reflections :) I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions, so if you feel in the mood, leave me a comment so we can interact!!
--1-- Art with Fabric blog hop (Fall 2018)
It's back! From November 5th, every day few inspiring artists will share a piece inspired by an art piece featuring their favorite color! This is the current line up, so make sure to be on the look out for some amazingly creative pieces!!
Monday, November 5th, 2018
Heather: http://www.heatherquilts.blogspot.com/
Tami: https://thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com/
Moira: https://quiltedsnail.blogspot.com/
Marian: http://www.seamstobesew.com
Tuesday, November 6th, 2018
Susan: https://desertskyquilts.wordpress.com/
Terry: http://www.terryaskeartquilts.com/
Janeen: http://quiltartdesigns.blogspot.com/
Lee Anna: http://lapaylor.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, November 7th, 2018
Bea: http://www.beaquilter.com/
Carol: http://www.quiltedfabricart.com
Andrée: http://quiltinglearningcombo.blogspot.com
Thursday, November 8th, 2018
Irene: http://Irene.grimes.wordpress.com
Wendy: http://www.piecefulthoughts.com/
Judith: http://www.frimart.ch/
Friday, November 9th, 2018
Melva: https://melvalovesscraps.blogspot.com/
Barb: http://www.bejeweledquilts.blogspot.com
Anita: http://quiltlovefordomesticfelicity.blogspot.com
Alida: http://tweloquilting.blogspot.com/
--2-- Finished projects
- small pumpkin coaster, inspired by Susan's design (just at a smaller scale... each square finished 1/2 inch)
5'' x 5'' inspired by Susan's design - Mug rug for Paula, my partner for the Teal Mini swap
Janeen's beautiful geometric pattern (with added border, 10'' x 9.5'')
Assembled blocks: I had the quarters pieces ready to be assembled so these were fast to complete!
Rainbow cascade blocks, designed by Jennifer, each 10'' x 10''
--3-- Mindful living?
A couple of months ago, I caught a mild head cold... and one time I was blowing my nose in a tissue and I suddenly had a thought: "Why am I doing this?"
This may seem a weird question... but it is changing the way I do everything in life :)
First of all, I ask the same question putting emphasis on a different part of the question... in specific:
- WHY am I doing this? ... well in that situation, I had stuff in my nose and I was trying to breathe better, so that was an easy "why" to find :)
- why am I DOING this? ... let's really think about what I was doing... in details I took a paper tissue from a box that I purchased a while ago, I used it to clean my nose once, bunched up the tissue and threw it in the trash, where it will be taken out in a plastic bag by a person, then on a truck, then on another truck, etc... I guess you can see where this is going :)
- why am I doing THIS? ... like: have I considered all the alternatives to the actions that fulfill my why? Or am I going around the world just mindlessly doing random actions? If you are reading this, you may now that I am a quilter... I have fabric... so have I considered alternatives that are totally more accessible and better for me??
- why am "I" doing this? ... like: of course if I have a serious illness and I don't want to reuse a fabric handkerchief that's fine... but I have a strong immune system for now, and cleaning my nose in a fabric handkerchief is not much of a big deal for me! I have done it for 90% of my life...
It's even more absurd to think that I use paper napkins to clean my mouth from food traces! Seriously?!?! I am not that bad at eating... some grease on my lips can be cleaned with a fabric napkin, reused several times and then washed with all the rest of my laundry! I was used to do all this when I was in Italy, why did I become such a wasteful and disposable-prone person??!? In my view, there is nothing wrong in using disposable things when you have to, like in hospitals, or if you have a disability or impairment (temporary or permanent), or if there is no alternative... but in the past years, I have been just so mindlessly guided by the consumerism and disposable environment around me, that I am shocked!!
I have stopped buying fabric, subscribing to many memberships boxes and used crochet make up remover cloths from the beginning of the year, but now I am trying to be even more conscious about all the small and big decisions I make every day! So I am on a mission of using up my stash of cotton, cloths and other materials around my home to make cloth feminine pads, fabric napkins, fabric tissues and other less disposable options for everyday tasks (like reusable bottles, etc).
I will keep buying things that I need (and fabric will be one of the purchase I will make, of course), but I will just try to be more mindful and only buy when I cannot reuse or upcycle something that I already have! Creative thinking is one of the things that I enjoy the most, and to me finding ways to use something that I already have it's so satisfying!
So have you ever had a similar experience? Do you see things happening around you that you used to do and now you change your way of approaching the world to be more mindful and thoughtful about what surrounds you? If so I would love to read it!!
