Does the number of blocks needed increase overnight?

July 9, 2020

I was really hoping to post a positve post last night about finishing a quilt top. I had an itch Sunday to get something done so I picked a boxed project that was close and got to work. I was missing the instructions so I had to work out how to finish the blocks, which I did, and completed a few blocks. Next day I did the same, and Tuesday and yesterday. I swear the number of partial blocks that need completing hasn’t gone down. I can only assume they breed overnight. Maybe I need to separate them at night to prevent any amourous liasons. I hope I am not the only one who has this issue. Where you feel you are making good progress yet the end never seems to get any closer. It has now become a battle, I WILL finish these blocks this time. I am going to keep pushing it until it gives in. I have no idea how long this may take though. One I have the blocks done and on I need to try and make a border from not enough fabric. I have a few thoughts on how I might do that, but nothing definate. Maybe while I battle the blocks I will find inspiration.

While setting up for the class on Monday we discussed what people have been doing in lockdown. I am intrested to hear that people mostly seem to have done less than they would have expected, me included. It is amazing how much being told to stay at home throws people. It sounds like this will be time to really indulge in all our hobbies, but the evidence is that didn’t happen. I can understand why, there has actualy been a lot distracting our brains, but I do think we need to start getting back to things we love. It is becoming clear there isn’t a quick fix for the bigger issues, but we can start to get back the things we love. I know I don’t feel as creative as usual yet, but perhaps doing some of the more mundane quilts will help me get back into the swing. I know the Monday quilt has been good for keeping my design and planning muscles active but I would like to get my more obsessive motivation back. I suspect it will be one of those do it till it comes things.

I also thought it was interesting how many of us have been playing with food. Not being able to shop normally or eat out has made us much more creative in the kitchen. Hmm, is that where my quilt creativity has gone.  We have found new recipes and fixes for things we can’t get, and we have enjoyed it. Yesterday I made a very different for me chicken casserole. I had bought a jar of creamy chicken casserole sauce from a local butcher just befrre lockdown. I wanted a few quick and easy meals for days when I wasn’t up for long cooking sessions. Well as a bit of a gamble it paid off, it was amazing. That was great, but the farm shop wasn’t delivering that so I couldn’t get any more. The only option was to try and make it, and after a lot of thought I decided to give it a try. It was more effort than just opening a jar, but not terrible and if I make batches and put them in jars myself that would solve that issue. I do forsee me learning to preseve and can (in jars) more products. The attempt was successful enough that Tet didn’t realise I had made it, not usually a compliment but when you are trying to replicate a purchased item it is a win. Even better I misjudged the quantity of sauce needed, so today we have a nice thick creamy chicken soup for lunch. on a cool dreary day that sounds great. To go with the soup we clearly need some bread, which seems to be the other big change in a lot of peoples lives. I now make nearly all our bread and now I have a routine it really doesn’t take a lot of time. We like our bread and it means I eat wholemeal bread. I am not normally a fan of wholemeal but I like mine so we will continue with that. I really hope the pattern I am seeing in the people I talk to is repeated accross the population. I would love to think people are redicovering skills that had almost been lost and certainly have been under rated for a very long time. Being able to turn what you have into some sort of tasty meal is not only a valubale skill, it’s really satifying. I wonder if it also helps your brain. If crosswords and suduko do then why not kitchen problem solving. Or indeed any of the make do and mend kinda things. I rather hope these new activities carry on, I suspect bussinesses won’t be so keen, but maybe we will gain businesses that support people having skills to do things for themselves. What do you think? Am I optimistic or deluded on this?