I want to talk about my latest project, this penny rug, but I feel like I've been run over by a 10 ton mack truck of stress. We've been house hunting on and off now for a few months (which by the way, I am not cut out for at all) and last week the right job/right house stars seemed to align and we've been on the verge of a big move for days. We decided last night it wasn't right. And although I know it was the right decision for now I'm depressed as hell. I need some cheering up. I need to talk craft again and not mortgage and commutes and school ratings and what our idea of happily situated actually is. I feel beat up by Chicagoland, like nothing is quite right. gah, I could go on and on about compromise and how in the world is one supposed to know what's going to end up a good fit, but I won't. I'm going to drown my sorrows in a trip to Ikea/Mitsuwa, get started on new projects, catch up on blogs and talk about my new penny rug dammit.
Inspired by all the trips to the "country" lately and the stops at antique/gift shops and amazing quilt shops have had me inspired by cross stitch and penny rugs and folk art kits. I cannot wait for Amy's mail order cross stitch pattern! And after hearing her and Sarah talking about penny rugs for forever I finally dove in and country crafted it up. I'd bought these beautiful wools on our various stops and decided to start cutting little circles. Turns out to be the perfect "I'm so stressed I might die" project by the way, mindlessly blanket stitching circles. I'm amazed this thing worked out at all as i was so distracted the entire time I worked on it. I just made a quick sketch and started cutting. I'm relieved. It's cute! And I'm just making it under the wire as a baby gift for a friend. Those nine months go awfully quick when you're not actually carrying the baby.
I'm not trying another one though until I get one of those fancy blanketstitching sewing machines! Oh, and it's 9" x 13".
Thanks for all the tips on dying muslin by the way. I'm hoping to get some coffee, tea, baking sugar, staining, stretching fabric time in this weekend. But first I need to gather just the right pinecones. Time to start enjoying Fall around here!
