Early Dark, a Book, and RSC 2025 Nine-Patch & Snowball Progress

As the evening dark begins descending earlier and earlier it signals to me a time to slow down, stop hurrying, reset priorities, especially where daylight is concerned, and enjoy the slowness of the season.  I love these early and long nights.  They're just what I need and, I suppose, just what the earth needs, too.  I couldn't get this song out of my mind and decided to share.   


I think I've mentioned before that our local library has a little shop where they sell used books and give away magazines and some children's paperback books.  A few weeks ago I picked up this book, The Home Builders.  

I love children's book for a variety of reasons.  Sometimes they just make me laugh--a little surprise at the end, or just-perfect illustrations, or a funny story line.  Other times there's a subtle truth presented so simply that a child can understand and an adult can understand more.  And other times, the illustrations wow me.   

The illustrations are what captured my attention in this book.  I fell in love with the colors the illustrator, Simona Mulazzani, used. But it isn't just the colors, it's also their intensity and tone and how she uses the colors together.  I think they are beautiful and sometimes the combinations are surprising.  I couldn't figure out why they were so appealing.  And then it hit me:  these colors are similar to the ones I use most often in quilts (minus the oranges).

As I've been making blocks for my 2025 RSC quilt, I've been frustrated with how few medium value fabrics I have.  They are mostly darks and lights, with very few mediums.  Some of the blocks look like a muddle.  This may turn out to be a boring quilt.  I'm glad each 9-patch is surrounded by white snowball blocks!

Anyway, it was an interesting observation.  I need to buy a few fabrics with lighter tones and values.

I've been feeling a little scattered lately.... 

  ... what with trying to find the best, yet least expensive, retirement health insurance policies (one of my policies more than doubled its rate from last year to this year!); trying to stay motivated on the sewing/quilting front; and trying to lay out my RSC blocks to consider placement and size.  Kitty Bitsy thinks those blocks on the floor are a free ride.  She jumps onto one in a way that lets her slide across part of the floor like it's a skating rink and the blocks go flying.  She makes quick work of my efforts.
 
They were arranged as I thought I wanted them but I need to make several more edge blocks and cut some more for around the edges.  Sadly, I didn't count before Bitsy skated through.  I should have taken photos and counted as soon as I put the blocks on the floor.  I need to decide whether to make the quilt larger or the same size as Jolene's, 9 blocks by 11 blocks, which equals about 54" x 66" before quilting and shrinkage from washing and drying.  That seems like it would be a short person's napping quilt.  (I like to tuck the end of a quilt under my feet and pull it up to my neck and across my shoulders for a nap.)  Anyway, this will most likely become a donation quilt so it matters much less what my preferences are.  I'm so close to having the blocks ready to sew into a top that I might just call the blocks I have enough.  However, that leaves me a short stack of unused, one-color, 9-patch blocks in several different colors....  Hmmm.

For anyone who may be wondering:  my headache persists and my energy waxes and wanes.  Have you tried or do you know anyone who has experience with acupuncture?

Okay, that's it for today.  I need to get on with some other things.  I hope you're having a good weekend and are enjoying whatever weather and activities come your way.

--Nancy.