Nostalgia and Letting Go

Nostalgia is interesting. Sometimes it just grips you and logic has no place. Many years ago, my mom had a box of stuff she was going to donate. She was a Depression-era farm kid who saved almost everything.

It was just chance that the timing worked that I saw this jar in a box when I stopped by her house and asked if I could please have it. Of course, she gave it to me; she didn't care about it. 

Honestly, I'm not sure why seeing it triggered such a visceral reaction in me. We almost never got to take anything out of this jar in my childhood. I think she mostly used it when she and my dad had bridge parties. She typically put spearmint leaves in it (like these). By the way, I love eating these but haven't had them in ages!

I'm glad I have it. I use it as a cookie jar. I really, really love this little jar and I'm not entirely sure why. The bell next to it in the picture above is another beloved item from my childhood. I thought I had written about it elsewhere, but I can't find a blog entry for it. (To add later???)

One thing I didn't rescue from my mom's mini-purge of her house back in the 90s was a grocery sack full of MAD magazine and comic books! She tossed them in the recycling. I was so upset when I found out. She saw no value in them and I explained that I could have sold some of them or at least enjoyed re-reading them. Ah, well. Stuff is just stuff.

Yet . . . why do some things tug at our hearts more than others? I've saved this jigsaw puzzle since the 1970s. I like jigsaw puzzles. I like words. I like fun fonts. But I don't especially like this puzzle. It's kind of "Meh." So I brought it to the lake, put it together, took this photo, and now it's in the pile to go to the library for their jigsaw puzzle exchange. 

 

I think there was something else I thought about in reference to nostalgia, but it's gone now. I have so many things I think about and I can't follow through on all of them! Time to focus on what's important . . .

2024 Studio Post #8 - Quilt Top Done

I had this mostly done at the January in-town retreat (post #3) but wanted to finish the bottom portion. I'm not entirely happy with how it turned out and may cut off the bottom corners to have it lay better on the bed. It didn't fit well on the floor in front of my bookcases in the living room! (This is a side view with the head of the bed to the left and the bottom of the bed to the right.) 

Next I'll work on the backing, which I'm piecing together with random fabric leftovers. The batting I have is too small, so I'll need to decide if I piece it together with other batting or buy a piece that's big enough.

After I have the batting and backing ready to go, I'll schedule time with my friend Rose so I can long-arm it at her house. Then I can make the binding and put it on! 

 

The color scheme and design are a bit odd, but I'm having fun with it. Louie's only comment was, "that's colorful." I'll be happy to have it on our bed when I'm done!

2024 Studio Post #7 - Hand Stitching

I've actually been working on this for about a year. I wanted to have it done for the 2023 Minnesota Quilter's Show in June . . . but that clearly didn't happen.  I'm close to finishing the hand stitching and then I can make the border and sew it on. I'm not sure if I'll enter it in this year's show or not. I hope to spend more time in my sewing room this week!

 

The quilting looks awful in this picture . . . but it is nicer in person!

2024 Studio Post #6 - Almost Nothing

I brought a hand sewing project with me to the lake this past weekend and did no stitching on it. I wanted it done last June for the MQ show. It is to replace the wall hanging I gave to a friend:

To be clear, this picture is the one I finished years ago. The pins at the bottom are to pin on people's names that I'm praying for. The friend I gave it to had admired it when she saw it at my house. 

 

I'll wait until I'm done with the current version to post the pic here. 

I also looked at laying out the last part of the quilt top I'm working on, but haven't made decisions yet.

I got out some fabric that I love less for the backing and put it in the laundry to wash before I put it together for the back.

That's it. This is a new week! (I'm bringing the hand stitch wall hanging with me today.)

2024 Studio Post #5 - Pirate Costume

I'm actually posting a day early (Saturday instead of Sunday) for once! Not that it matters to anyone except me. I've been trying to put this together for over two weeks and it's nice to have it done!

My grandson just turned five. He likes to play make believe (veterinarian, astronaut, etc.) Right now, due primarily to the Netflix show Octonauts, he likes to play pirates. I have had to hold my brain and tongue to NOT explain that pirates - both historically and in modern times - are generally horrible people who steal and kill. He's a little kid and likes to make maps, look for buried treasure, and say "Argh!" 

 

I went to the thrift store to buy the pants and shirt, then cut ragged, uneven edges to them. I had some pirate themed items in my costume / prop area and checked with my daughter-in-law about giving him the fake hook, dagger, and eye patch. I also had the binoculars in my prop stuff . . . not a telescope, but close enough to play with!

 

I asked my husband to make "coins" out of a tree branch. I wanted the pieces big enough so that they wouldn't be a choking hazard for our younger grandson. I had the green velvet drawstring pouch in my jewelry box and it's a great treasure pouch. (I also have a Chewy.com box that Joshua and I had been turning into a treasure chest. I'm putting all this stuff into it.)

 

The hat was the biggest hassle! I looked for DIY sites and videos on making pirate hats. They were all either about making paper hats or taking a ready-made hat and modifying it. There was a cool design and pattern for making a hat out of felt, but it wasn't what I was thinking of doing. I finally made my own pattern and put some sturdy fabric together. It is so bad! But I kept reminding myself that it was just a toy for playing a pretend game. The sewing is NOT pleasant. (If you're thinking of making a pirate hat - at least the tricorn style - do yourself a favor and just get a floppy brimmed round hat!)

 

I also didn't take the time to get his head circumference before I started. First I made the opening too large (it didn't sit on my head!) then I sewed it too small (I could tell with my hands). I finally asked my daughter-in-law for the measurement. His party is today, so I'll just do some fitting and stitching as needed.

 

The last piece was the map. I took a piece of fabric and drew. It's not very fancy, but I think he'll have fun with it. I'll try to update with a picture of the pirate later.