A Finished Quilt

Posted on September 4, 2018

Hi and happy Tuesday! I hope you enjoyed a nice long weekend. Just wanted to share my recent finish with you all.

In my opinion, it’s always a big deal to finish a quilt. Right? If you really consider how many hours, how much energy and love for the craft that goes in to each quilt……it’s pretty amazing.

This particular quilt was a love of mine many years back when we lived in our old house and I was a consistent sewer, my kiddos were young and on a limited school schedule with no extra curricular activities. Life just had a slower, slightly sweeter pace. Long days at home picking fruit, making lemonade, playing in the yard, making fairy villages, NAPS, and for me, lots of sewing and quilting, etc.

This was the last piece I finished just before we moved out of that home into our little “cottage” and I had to pack things up not really knowing when our how I would quilt again. That was a hard time. Well, I never forgot about this little quilt, with it’s mixture of modern and charming that I am continually drawn to, this little quilt that was all but complete except for the binding!

We were fortunate enough to build a studio space for me to begin working again and I was recently able to finish the binding. After four and a half years, I was surprised to realize that it’s a bit like riding a bike…….it all comes back!

This little quilt is officially complete and has had it’s first wash and tumble dry to give it that extra bit of quilty charm, and it it now (sold) ~~listed in my Etsy Shop.~~

Thanks for stopping in to my blog today. Have a great week!

A New Quilt on the DesignWall

Posted on August 28, 2018

I had almost forgotten how fun this was…..having a design vision, picking out the color palette, finding the bits and pieces and bringing it all together one seam at a time. It feels so great to be back in the studio creating from scratch again!

While I love crafting bags and totes, the process of designing a one of a kind quilt from beginning to end is artistically and creatively, so satisfying!

After seeing the Gees Bend exhibit this summer at the Met, I was re-inspired and once again drawn to improv design and log cabin blocks of every kind.

This one, in a very soft and sweet color palette, is made up of mostly scraps and neutral tones, with of course, a pop of dark, here and there. I am still playing with how I’ll surround these blocks. Likely a neutral background, just not sure if I want to go with a light off white, or this luxurious taupe/gray linen blend!! No doubt though, I’ll enjoy the process of figuring it out!

Just Keep Sewing/Claiming My Craft

Posted on August 27, 2018

Like, no doubt, many of you, I often feel like there are so many things calling out for my attention; running the household, “managing” one of my daughters’ crazy ballet schedule/life, getting my other daughters to all the places they need to be, preparing to homeschool one of them this school year (ha, yes, that is for a later post), attempting to fit any self-care in there……..and then of course there is sewing…….or any craft/hobby/passion that feeds you….. where do we fit that in during the course of our busy days? Well anyone who has read my blog for any time, likely knows this is and continues to be, my dilemma. Perhaps it is yours as well!?

What I have discovered recently is the effectiveness of perpetual motion(not literally but…..) in claiming my craft. If I stay on a steady, not unreasonable schedule, of sewing on a pretty regular basis, I feel like it’s more sustainable for me.

I just keep sewing, even if it’s a bit of hand sewing on a binding, or piecing some bags together. It’s a way to keep the momentum and continue claiming that little piece of what’s just mine.

This little practically vintage top –finished back in 2014, has been keeping me motivated. I really fell in love with this little creation and am enjoying my new inspiration to finally finish it up.

While I usually machine bind all my quilts, this one was calling out to be sewn by hand so it’s obviously taking a bit longer and is an additional labor of love. Anyway, when this one is finished….. and when my fingers start to hurt too much, I’m on to an assortment of other fun projects. I have simply decided to carve out the time for this passion of mine and claim it as a part of my daily life….now if I could just do that with a bit of hearty exercise too…;-)

Appreciating My Craft

Posted on August 24, 2018

Recently, my middle daughter needed to change her bed cover to something lighter and cooler. After taking her heavy down duvet cover off her bed, she discovered her mama made quilt that was her year round bed cover for years.

To my delight, she excitedly chose to use that one again. It had been retired for a few years as she got older and less inclined to show off her handmades from mom! I knew she would come around again someday:-)!

fullsizeoutput_47f9 She has been happily enjoying this little bit of comfort and an occasional trip down memory lane, with it’s little tidbits of many of her old dresses and baby clothes sprinkled in for extra sweetness.

fullsizeoutput_47fc I love the inclination to create a variety of items…..sometimes I’m in the mood to craft something sweet and charming, other times the clean, modern lines of a wall hanging piece are what’s calling to me. No matter what is created, while the end product is satisfying, it’s the process of creation that really gives me inspiration and joy!

To see an original final post on this quilt, click here or here!

Some Sewing Progress

Posted on August 22, 2018

Hi! I hope you’re all having a great week so far. Somehow, in the midst of getting my eldest daughter off to her first day of eighth grade and continuing to enjoy summer with my other two (who don’t start school for a couple of weeks) I have been able to honor this rare creative streak and have some fun in my sewing room. cyypIF+YRTKwxaQsIGKr7g fullsizeoutput_47e3 fullsizeoutput_47e6 I love playing around with different fabric combinations and all of the colorful variety of vintage and Japanese import fabric that I have in my stash! Each of my bags is meticulously made with every attention to detail and only high quality designer fabric and finishes. One of my favorite moments in crafting these bags is the moment after I stitch that last stitch and take the bag from under the needle to inspect and appreciate the finished product.

fullsizeoutput_47c7 Of course only the ones that pass the quality and the “would I buy this?” aesthetic test, make it into my shop. Please come take a look and while you’re there, “favorite” my shop to stay updated on new items. Hoping to get some new, lovely baby quilts in the shop soon as well.

BPoppiesHandmade= Blooming Poppies Modern Designs

The Mountains Were Calling….

Posted on August 21, 2018

I recently had the incredible opportunity to test my physical strength, my resolve to create the life I want, my motivation to live my life fully, and my mental/emotional energy to simply get out of my comfort zone. My first solo overnight backpacking trip in the Eastern Sierra’s was an affirmation of my capacity and ability as well as something that has been on my “bucket list” for many years and was finally realized! I feel proud of the way that I fought off my self doubt, my weather concerns, my logistical challenges, my physical pain, etc., to make this dream of mine happen. It’s amazing to me, how getting out in nature (especially in the mountains) and testing our limits seems to open some portal to a deeper sense of clarity and knowing…..who doesn’t want/need more of that, right?

The mountains are calling and I must go home……. John Muir

Getting close….

Kearsarge Pass

Approaching storm

Altitude and approaching rain…… what am I doing up here??

So worth it!

My home for the night

Good Morning!

Wow!

I did it… the first of more to come!

The Creative Journey Continues…..

Posted on July 30, 2018

Hi all, thanks for sticking around and/or coming back. I know it’s been a long time between posts again and I’m super inconsistent here. For anyone interested in following the more consistent and brief meanderings of bloomingpoppies, feel free to follow me here .

So my original plan, several months ago, for getting right to work in my new studio, excitedly creating new designs and approaching my studio door each day with inspiration and energy, didn’t actually materialize as I had hoped. I am finding that the life I have more or less allowed to materialize for myself, the one where I am on autopilot each day with all the many necessities of life as a mom of three active kiddos, and putting everyone else first, has become acceptable and most of the time just about all I can handle. I find that I am lacking the inspiration and energy for my work that used to be so strong and unstoppable. Have I just gotten older? Have I given up on this dream? Have I allowed my chronic pain to get the better of me!!? Not sure, however I’m unwilling to accept any of those things as a reality or “justification” anyway, so perhaps the questions aren’t necessary. What I do know for certain is that all along, while I’m not actually creating, and I’m seriously entrenched in a wholly different life and world, the glimmer of excitement over design, color, textile, and pattern that so frequently pops into my brain gives me hope…….hope that that piece of me still exists, that I can continue to stoke the fires of what lives down deep and honor that integral part of who I am. I adore being the mom to my girls and I feel so grateful to be able to do it full time. At the same time, I adore the creative process, working with fabric and color, having something that is mine and sacred to me, etc. Can I fully embrace both worlds? Can a healthy balance be achieved? Can I successfully find a way to love and honor my children and love and honor myself and my heart, needs, passions, at the same time? I’m pretty sure this answer is YES. I’ve done it before, and I realize that honoring myself is honoring my children. As for many moms, I am working on the ability to wholeheartedly claim my right to have something that is mine, something that feeds me in a different place than motherhood can, but without the feelings of guilt about not “being or doing enough” for my family”. Thankfully, the fog is lifting, I feel a sense of emergence toward this balance, growing strength in my creative process, and a faint glimmer of inspiration. However for me, it’s something I need to fight hard for EVERY. SINGLE. DAY! I know this is a struggle for many humans, not just the ones who are moms. Let’s shake it up, put ourselves higher on that ever-present priority list, and most importantly, continue to love and forgive ourselves and each other in the process!

The following photos I took on my recent trip to NYC. My daughter and I spent 5 weeks there and one of my more reflective opportunities was on a solo day trip to the Cloisters Museum. I found much inspiration and serenity here…..thought I’d share!

Thank you for getting all the way through my somewhat self indulgent post today. With love and gratitude…..

Karen

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