if you don't like the weather--day 15

Who me? Complain about the weather? What good will that do?

Well, it is a way of making chit chat at the deli, isn't it? Which was just what I was doing yesterday when I told my friend who was running the cash register that maybe we had had enough rain for this week. This is June after all. I could use some nice sunny skies for my little tomatoes and basil that are shivering in their new home.

But every day is lovely, she replied. Very sweetly of course because she is after all a sweet person. It is the perfect day to snuggle inside and make a quilt.

That is true. And I can remember last year when I anxiously hung wash out hoping to tempt the rain gods and goddesses to no avail.

So today I am posting my quilt--colors of the rain--to celebrate the rich complex colors of grey days. What do you think? How do you celebrate rainy days.

colors of the rain--quilt--45x45"--Ann Brauer--photo by John Polak

slow cloth

OK--despite the title, this post is not about me grumbling about how long the quilt "endless fields" is taking though it seems like forever.  Just read through to the end--there is a point but first I must prove there is progress though not nearly enough:

I've figured out I can make ten blocks each day. No more and I'm too tired. No less and I won't get it done. You may think that's a lot--but considering  I'm working 9-5 every day that's just a bit more than a block an hour.  So so slow.

Now why you may ask. Well each block contains not one but two color ways which I have to create by cutting and piecing maybe 15-20 fabrics together. The blocks go from light until dark and each one is a different size. And each color is a slightly different palette--let's make life as interesting as possible.Why did I do this to myself anyway?

Here is just one block--and it's a little one.

Can you figure out where this piece goes in the quilt-- hint, it is already there.

 

Did you find it? OK--so as you've probably figured out, I love what I am doing. I wouldn't be doing it otherwise. Trust me--there's lots of easier ways to support myself. But I do love it and I love getting lost in each quilt.

Guess what, I just found there is a new movement that honors this type of work. Can you believe it? It's called "slow cloth" --see there was a point to the title of this post--like slow food but it's about people who work with fabric.  I first heard about it through this article on the web http://handeyemagazine.com/content/slow-cloth. Of course I joined their FB fanpage http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=269539431110 right away. It feels like home.

There are 10 principles--it was hard to decide my favorites but here are a couple. Do read through and tell me what you think. They are from The Ten Qualities of Slow Cloth. Which one is your favorite?
This is copyright by  Elaine Lipson, 2008, 2009, 2010 and used with her permission Check out her link http://lainie.typepad.com for all ten.

Joy
Slow Cloth has the possibility of joy in the process. In other words, the journey matters as much as the destination.

Materials
Slow Cloth is thoughtful in its use of materials and respects their source.

Community
Slow Cloth supports community by sharing knowledge and respecting relationships.

And while you are at it feel free to check out my website too: http://www.annbrauer.com