Time Changes Things…..

Time Changes Things…..

It is funny how things change over time, isn’t it?  Sometimes the changes are beyond our imagination, sometimes they are not what we hoped for,  sometimes they surprise us.  And I think that you really need to get to a certain age to realize these things. And then some people never do, I suppose. Maybe you don’t have to be certain age to realize them….Maybe you have to be at a certain “maturity” level to accept them…They aren’t always easy to accept.

I have ALWAYS been a little too introspective (just ask my wife! I know I drive her nuts with that) But I think it makes sense to observe and hopefully learn from all the changes that happen along the way.  (especially the learning part…I WISH I was better at that part, maybe I am beginning to, maybe not). I think we miss the Great little changes, and make too big of deal over the hard ones.  Okay, well, some of them ARE very hard. Very. Hard. The good and bad thing about those hard things though? We rarely see them coming. It’s good because we wouldn’t really want to know they were coming…we’d dread them. It’s bad because they can knock us down and take our breath away. If they are bad enough, sometimes they really do steal the joy of life.  I have talked about it before, but almost 17 years ago, my little brother took his own life. It was hard. And I wish I had seen it coming, just because maybe I could have prevented it. But I didn’t. And I don’t know if I could have. And I can’t still. It is done. And it still leaves a dull ache inside. That was one of the worse things to happen in my life. I would like to say that it changed me for the better. I am not always so sure about that.

I have been listening to a bunch of music from my earliest years of college….back when I was the age of my oldest son now. And I am remembering those years like they were just last week. The nice thing? I don’t remember the hard times as much as I thought I would. Things seem so overwhelming to me at times then, I think. But I don’t really remember them. I mostly only remember the good things. When I see my teenagers (and one 20 year old…I have to remember I only have TWO teenagers now, not three) I hope they remember the good times more.  I feel so bad for the angst I see in them sometimes.  I know I am rambling here. Totally rambling. Welcome to my world. This is what it is like in my head sometimes. Again, just ask my wife (poor thing).

Okay, Feel as lost as I do know after reading that? I really don’t know where I was headed with that diatribe. Maybe you can relate to it though, and maybe just the acknowledgement that life is always changing can help us both handle the changes better each day. Maybe. Time, ahem, will tell.

And in the mean time, I thought I would show you a “fabricy” version of the changes in my quilting life.  I LOVED this fabric when I first came across it in the late 1990’s. Had to have a bunch of it. I still LOVE it, but it doesn’t seem like “what” I do these days. Nevermind, I am keeping it for that perfect something down the road. I am still very happy that I have it. It comes from my “County Threads” quilting outlook.  My country “phase” …. Brown and plaid and proud……

sage fabric 4

This next little snippet is from a few years later when the kids were a little older and I picked up more “novelty” prints just because they seemed interesting for a moment.  I am not really a fan of novelty prints unless they are vintagey looking. And this one is decidedly not. But I love it. And I so wish I had more than this little 1 x 5 inch strip. If you find it out there….tell me,  I will buy some.  I am not even sure where I used this. I don’t remember any of our Christmas stuff having this in it.

Santa Frog fabric 3

Speaking of Snippets of something I really want more of. This 2 1/2″ strip of black and white faces has been on my wishlist for quite some time. I bought it years ago and used it in a quilt…but in hindsight, I never felt that quilt did this fabric the justice it deserves. It is Epic fabric. Just look at it……

Faces Fabric 5

For a long time, I always thought this was a Michael Miller fabric. And I kept looking for it by that manufacturer.  But thanks to Instagram, Brenda at Pink Castle Fabrics happened to post it with some other fabrics on Instagram at the same time I happened to be cruising along in IG…..so OF COURSE I ordered it! It is an Alexander Henry print (No surprise either) not Michael Miller…..and well, I bought 2 yards of it. Which for me is LARGE amount. I can hardly wait to cut into it, but I  know it will be awhile. For now I just may take it out to look at for its awesomeness, and then carefully store it for the perfect project (much like I saved that country sage fabric.)

Faces Fabric Lotta 6

How the heck does the end of this post have anything to do with the beginning of this  post? Well, I find it very interesting how my tastes have changed over the last 20 years of my quilting life. I rarely play with “country” colors anymore, even though I do still love them so.

I wouldn’t have predicted the bright colors that I am drawn to today.

I certainly wouldn’t have predicted I would have as many solids as I do today (although I am still a prints over solids dude most every day of the week).

And back then, I wouldn’t have predicted that I would be working on the core staff of  a national quilt magazine start up. I never even heard of the term “start-up” in regards to any company.

I would not have known I would have this many friends via the “internet” None of those things did I foresee back then.

Never heard of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

Blogging wasn’t even a word back then.

I would have never thought I would be teaching at Sisters, Oregon (last year….and yes, people NEXT year too!! you heard it hear first!!)

I wouldn’t have predicted that I would be friends with Amy and David Butler talking about plants, and cats, and oh yeah, fabric… Amy was still working at Hallmark making cards back then. No quilter heard of her. Or Kaffe Fasset. Or Anna Maria. Not even sure that Denyse Schmidt had started her work yet. I think Valori was doing things back then, but you know her mom owned a quilt shop for heavens’ sake.

Most of the “popular” Modern Quilters were still in high school (or younger) back then. (that is not a dis at any of them….just a fact….)

Who saw any of that coming? I didn’t. But most of that is pretty darn good.

Did you actually read this whole diatribe on time? Wow! Thanks for that. You should probably go do some reflecting or sewing of your own now.

Or take a moment and comment and then go do that stuff. I always like to hear what you think about my ramblings. I already know what my wife thinks. 🙂

 

 

8 Comments

  • TiffBlakey

    Reply

    My husband is a rambler too. I can be also. I was just thinking the other day about how my quilting tastes have changed in the the three years I’ve been addicted.

    Also, here’s the frog fabric. If the link doesn’t work (I’m posting from my phone), just go to eBay and search “Santa frog fabric.”

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/171063557968?redirect=mobile

    August 15, 2013 at 1:49 am
  • Jeanette

    Reply

    I think I would frame a piece of that face fabric, it would make me happy to look at on a regular basis too. =o)
    Ramble away, you never know when something you say might be just what someone else needs to hear.

    August 15, 2013 at 8:31 am
  • I always like your ramblings Scott. It’s nice to see/hear your perspectives on life in general. I think artistic types ruminate more than most about everything. I’ve been thinking of writing a post about my early quilts and fabric tastes vs those of today. Just haven’t gotten around to it. Maybe now I will.

    August 15, 2013 at 7:43 pm
  • nancy

    Reply

    i really enjoy your blog, ramble on!

    August 15, 2013 at 9:07 pm
  • Leanne Clare

    Reply

    Ramble on! I too am a rambler….drives lots of people crazy, but so much easier just to type what I am thinking….I totally identify! Here’s to Life’s Ramblers!

    August 16, 2013 at 12:55 pm
  • I enjoy your insight into life and agree with most of it. Roll with the punches, land on your feet and keep going. Hope that makes since. I think I have some of the first fabric around here from a time before I learned to sew, when I was going to stop long enough to learn but life moved so fast back then. The last fabric the one guy looks like a young Frank Zappa, how fun! Need some of that! Sometimes I think I love fabric more than sewing. Oh, now I am rambling. Have a great weekend Scott and just wait until you have grandchildren you will really reflect back on your life again. The world looked so glorious at 20 didn’t it!

    August 16, 2013 at 8:42 pm
  • Rose E. Glassses

    Reply

    Hi,

    I liked it when you “hit” the point in your ramblings about “reaching a certain maturity level”. ;-). So you “had” me at the beginning.

    I went to prom twice. Once as an excited teenager, and 20 years later as a chaperone for my children at the same High School. Same but different. Dejavue with maturity on the side. Life experiences. I kind of feel the same way about my fabric choices.

    The evolution of technology, is overwhelming and exciting, but as long as I can have good batteries and electricity….GO MAN!

    For me, age is a number. Some people need to place numbers on things to keep things compartmentalized. Age gives you a marker, whether it is fabric or people.

    My Grandma was in assisted living. I would go to visit and walk with her around the courtyard. She would say as we came up to other residents, “Stop and talk to these old people, they like it.” She was a decade or two older than most of her peeps!!! Some fabrics and people are not meant to be compartmentalized….

    Maturity is intangible. Maturity is individual, a self enlightenment. It is an acceptance of celebrating the differences or the possibilities or the question; “what if”. Maturity is finding acceptance in being unique and acceptance in the changes of life you experience.

    I like Keb Mo’s (Kevin Moore) song about Suitcases. I love opening my suitcases and repacking. Means there is an adventure coming…….

    Enjoyed reading your musings. Your wife is a lucky woman.

    August 19, 2013 at 7:12 am

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.