8/22/10

Two questions

Question one. How do people without hobbies survive? My friend is at home, unable to do anything heavy. And, so she sits and watches TV. She has no hobbies. Over the years, I've tried teaching her sewing, knitting, embroidery. I've even tried puzzles, but nothing has stuck with her. I, on the other hand have to choose which hobby to pursue in every moment. Why, right now, I have at least 6 things going one. Never enough time.

Of course, she has the advantage that she can sit still without falling asleep. So, I guess everyone has a skill.

My next question is whether you're a dark quilter or a light quilter? I pulled out another scrap bin yesterday and started cutting into usable sizes. I had forgotten all about this bin. It's as big as the other and just as full. I wanted to trim them into "scrap user" squares and bricks, and what I've found is that most of my scraps are medium and dark with very few lights and neutrals. I'm having trouble finding enough lights to be able to make anything out of them. I wonder how that happened because all my quilts seem to have had a good balance of lights and darks but I'm starting to think I achieved that by using mediums as lights.

Oh well. The more I quilt, the more I learn.

Hope all is well. I'm finally finished cooking for an extra household. I finished with a hot meal of grilled chops, mash and a tomatoe salad. That was a high note. I'm quitting while I'm ahead.

Have a great weekend. We're knocking out our usual chores and having lunch with friends. No rest for the weary.

Lane

12 comments:

Sequana said...

I know that I haven't turned on my TV in months......I'm a reader, tho.

I guess I'm a light quilter cause when I've been sorting lately, I'm light on the lights, if you know what I mean. *S*

On the other hand, I just might buy more darks, hence have more scraps of those.

Becky said...

Lane;
I don't know what they do in "down times"; I have to be working on something or I fall right to sleep. My husband says that he thinks I get my best naps when I'm in front of a TV - another good reason we no longer have TV. I'm drawn to deeper colors myself - not must into the pastels out there - only for baby quilts. Even then I'm finding myself turning to more brights like lime green, fushia and bright yellow. I guess everyone finds their way in this quilting adventure.
Becky

lw said...

I can't watch TV without quilting or knitting in my hands. When I've been too sick to do anything (even read) I like to have books on tape to listen to.

My stash is mostly dark colors. Lately, I've been making myself buy light colors and muslins and red fabrics, since I have very few of either and those colors are needed for a full spectrum. The postage stamp doll quilt I'm currently hand quilting is mostly darks and greens, with a light thin border before a wider medium green border. The charm pack quilt on my Janome has both (because of the charm pack) and is taking forever due to the FMQ I'm using (Leah Day's swirling petals. This time they look more like petals and less like cotton bolls.)

Unknown said...

I also, don't know how people survive without hobbies. I like to always have something for my hands to do.

I think I have about half dark and half light. I buy what I am drawn to. Right now I am being drawn to Japanese fabric, which is very different than anything I have ever liked. My wallet is not drawn to Japanese fabric though!

Glad you are having a good weekend.

Michelle said...

I don't know how anyone cannot have any hobbies, Lane. It's always puzzled me too. While quilting is my primary hobby--although I have both hand and machine projects going, so it kind of amounts to multiple hobbies within the same category--I've been known to do puzzles, knit, and crochet.

Like you, a big portion of my fabrics are medium and darks or bright (as opposed to pastel). If I use light fabrics, they tend to be background fabrics as opposed to being within the design. However, I frequently use black as a background fabric too.

Vesuviusmama said...

It is a mystery to me, too! My husband fusses because I never watch a movie with him without something in my hands, but otherwise, I fall asleep. In fact, if I am working on something, I can stay up all night, but if I just try to "hang out", I'm asleep before I know it.

I'm pretty sure I'm a dark quilter. While going through my stash lately, I realized I not only don't have many lights, I also don't have many brights, even though I love them. I think I tend to buy "safer" fabrics when I buy. Luckily, I inherit scraps from people with lots of different tastes, so there is much more variety in my scraps than in my yardage.

greg @ grey dogwood studio said...

I totally agree about the hobbies (or lack of hobbies!) I have a friend who doesn't know what to do with himself if he can't go to a restaurant or go shopping. Quiliting is a great way for me to feel productive after a stressful day in the office.

I've never thought about my fabrics as light or dark! I tend to quilt in various themes: Thimbleberries, Kaffe, patriotic, 1930's repros, Civil War repros. So as long as I buy fabrics that fit the theme there's always a nice assortment of lights, mediums and darks. It might be unusual but it has kept me busy for years.

MissaB26 said...

I never seem to have enough lights. I always overbuy for a project, and my scraps tend to be very dark. I have learned to pick up any odd remnant I find of a light/neutral to keep my stock replenished. Most of my favorite "use scraps up" patterns are high contrast and use a good proportion of lights to darks.

Quiltluver said...

I'm a dark girl, myself. And it's mostly batiks, too. I enjoy my hobbies, but I have to admit that when I'm not feeling well, I don't usually want to do much more than sleep or do a little reading.

wordmama said...

I think I'm a light quilter because I don't have much in the way of real darks. Actually, I think I'm a medium value quilter because I have tons of those. I've been adding lights and brights to my palette, but it doesn't come naturally.

I am interested in everything, so I've knitted, crocheted, made jewelry, done crosswords obsessively, etc., just like all the rest of you. I always have to force myself to settle down and concentrate on only a few things.

(Secretly, though, I always wanted to make pottery and ceramics. Ah well, next lifetime...)

Rhoda said...

I've always wondered that. When I was growing up my mom worked from morning until late at night, sewing and crocheting when she had a chance. She also always had a book in process. Our neighbor lady was done with her work by noon and sat for the rest of the day. I thought that was the way to live until I got older and realized what a boring person she was. Mom was very interesting and always had something in process.
I'm a dark quilter, I think.

oldbatt said...

My DH and I actually feel sorry for people that don't have some sort of hobby. I can't even imagine not having some sort of hobby.

I am a darks sort of a person. I have always been drawn to all the darker colors and some of my quilts show that. They don't have the contrast needed to make the pattern "pop" like it should because I didn't use as many light colors as I should have. Lisa