A Colorful Thread: July 2021
Weaving together my life as a maker and other spheres of life.
Best of Stitched in Color {July}
On My Mind
Experimenting:: I’m using PreQuilt to create different versions of my Ikat quilt. It’s been interesting to play around with different color schemes and adjust the value contrast to entirely change the mood. The first two mock ups are medium/low contrast and the second two mock ups are high contrast.
See something you like? Well, you’re in luck because Ikat is my next quilt-along! It’s a tested, straightforward pattern (no y-seams or special techniques) that’s ready for it’s time in the sun. My oldest daughter has asked me to make her an Ikat quilt this year, so I figured it’s the perfect time to share tips for planning and sewing this pretty quilt. Quilt-along runs August-September. I’ve organized some quilt kits too! See this page for all the details.
Reading:: Nomadland: Surviving America in the 21st Century by Jessica Bruder. This is an excellent piece of journalism, at once interesting, impactful and informative. It’s about my parent’s generation, nearing or past retirement, and the tough choices leading many to adopt a transient lifestyle.
“From the beet fields of North Dakota to the National Forest campgrounds of California to Amazon’s CamperForce program in Texas, employers have discovered a new, low-cost labor pool, made up largely of transient older Americans. Finding that social security comes up short, often underwater on mortgages, these invisible casualties of the Great Recession have taken to the road by the tens of thousands in late-model RVs, travel trailers, and vans, forming a growing community of nomads.”
Celebrating:: This almost-finished beauty by @RadishandRutabaga. Every time her version of the Drummer Boy Dresdens quilt pattern pops up in my feed, I have such fond memories of sewing this quilt two years ago, during our big move overseas. It’s a different kind of patchwork process and so great with scraps! I love the rich, dark green she’s used for her dresden centers. Green makes all the colors feel alive and fresh.
Anticipating:: Quilting my latest Penny Patch quilt. Since it’s a holiday quilt, I can have fun choosing something festive for the all-over quilting pattern. Yay!
July was a whirlwind here in the Hauser home. My American friend stayed with us for 10 days, during which time we successfully ticked all of the boxes to begin her immigration to The Netherlands. Now she is back in America, awaiting news from the Dutch government, who is processing her application. It was very special to share our new home and surroundings with an old friend. Totally surreal actually, as she had been my main confident when my family was considering and then planning our own move overseas.
During my friend’s stay, The Netherlands experienced a dreadfully steep increase in corona infections. Our country went from doing great to high risk status in about a week, our sharpest upswing ever. That’s when we decided against traveling to France due to concerns with rapidly changing regulations and rushed to find somewhere to stay near the Dutch sea instead. Phew! Planning a vacation is just terribly stressful in corona times. We left for our vacation the same day that my friend headed home to the states.
Now we’ve been home for a week, and the long, quieter days have been refreshing. I do love to travel, but I also love to come home and am so very grateful to have a place that feels like home again. Plus, my sewing machine! And fabric! And our cat, who is about to have kittens! It’s a wonderful life.
Wishing you some long, quiet days this season.
xoxo,
Rachel Hauser
