Creativity, energy and pain

      There was no posting for awhile. I wanted to, was sewing, quilting, but could not get the energy to do it and fight with my computer glitches. It was like moving through molasses or quicksand. Today, I read a blog by the Zen Chic woman, Brigitte Heitland, and it all clicked! I knew just what she said. She wrote:

"Creativity needs energy.
And energy needs rest.
Sometimes, rest comes wrapped in sunshine.

Sometimes, in a thermometer and a hot water bottle.

Inner Shift – From Doing to Feeling

In that silence, one thing became very clear:
Creating from the heart matters more than ticking boxes with the brain. "

 

It was pain that was draining all my energy. I was just mechanical and not able to think or create words or ideas.  I have been dealing with pain that prevents me from just doing simple stuff. I have to psych myself up to just walk up or down the stairs or across the room. It is upsetting to not be able to walk freely, move freely and stand without pain. I have no particular illness, just joint pain, muscle pain and rolling fatigue. I turned 71 in March, maybe it is part of it. I eat low carb, no processed foods, cook at home and take vitamins. If I read anymore articles, I will go insane trying to figure it out. I work out at cardiac rehab 3 times a week for 2 hours and do not sit and watch TV. The doctors are no help unless I want to take a plethora of meds and shots. Been that route for 21 years with migraines, until TMJ help solved it, not doing it now. No more whining. I know why I could not post or create anything other than mechanical sewing. No energy- Pain took it all.
I miss being part of the blogsphere and want to continue on. One step at a time. I continue to finish quilts. I am quilting, but oh so slow on the longarm. I can't stand for a long time, lots of breaks. Here is "Oh My Stars", a swap I did long ago, but now it is quilted on the bed in the guest room where it looks lovely.

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Final

Rosie wanted her photo here

Not what was envisioned...

      You think I would learn by now not to buy a kit/pattern/fabric thing. Never has it ever been anything but trouble. I am not sure what I was thinking when I saw the picture on the Quilted Twins, but I must have been not running on full capacity. I do like Jason Yenter's fabric, but I should have known better than deal with the blacks and darks. I do not like black in a quilt, I don't use it. I will use another dark, that is me. Nothing wrong if you use it.
      The pattern was not written well. It wasted a lot of fabric- back to that in a bit. When I got to the point that it was on the wall, the orange pieces put me over the edge- like teeth on edge. I ordered the other colorway, a turquoise, tried the two colors, went with just the turquoise, recut and re-sewed. When I put the whole sewn piece on the wall ready to add the borders, it was the same reaction when I put the blocks on the wall for Grand Illusion (gifted those blocks)- yikes and yuck! Lamenting my despair to my good friend, Elizabeth, she took it from me, added the borders so it was big enough for a good size comfort quilt and had it longarmed as I could not bear to look it anymore. This comfort quilt is available by referral to someone suffering with cancer treatment (Elizabeth specified this in her sister's memory). So, it is done and someone will love it. I am not sure why I had such a strong reaction to this quilt- but we call it the "Yenter Yuck".
     So, I have pieces of the fabric left, some border, some sewn in a bag. If anyone wants it, I will send it to you. Gladly. The fabric is a great quality. The problem is me.

Final, longarmed by someone else, just couldn't do it

      So, I have pieces of the fabric left, some border, some sewn in a bag. If anyone wants it, I will send it to you. Gladly. The fabric is a great quality. The problem is me.

Leftover pieces for giveaway

Time for Tea--cups that is!

    An awful long time to not post. I made a new banner and will start again. This post was a draft for too long and I have about 100 teacups now, but none of the photos yet. I wanted to get started, so I got this post out.

     When I saw these teacups on Lynn's post, I fell in love- both with the red and whites and the bright florals. So, the squirrel strikes again! And to top it off, I have a big box of Kaffe scraps someone sent me and solids someone else sent me to make the colored frame cups. But also, I have lots of floral pieces that I can make floral cups with white frames. So, two squirrels from one idea.