Reclamation - It's About Time!

I decided it's high time to RECLAIM some portions of my life, so to that end, I signed up for a couple of artsy-fartsy-craftsy classes just for fun.

The first is a series of four evenings at a local store, Always in Stitches.  They have counted cross stitch, knitting, and crochet stuff, but their main focus is quilting.  I attended a quilt show this past October and I got inspired.  I just HAD to try it.

I sew, but I've never attempted quilting.  It has been a revelation!  We're making a crib-size, six-block quilt.  After two classes, here are my blocks:

I actually did the first two classes in one long afternoon/evening session.  I wasn't able to attend the first class because of  water heater issues (stay tuned for more about that at a later date), and the instructor allowed me to catch up (thanks, Kathy!).

I've discovered quilting requires oceans of patience and attention to detail.  I'll have to get some. 

And quilting's not cheap!  The classes are fairly reasonable, and I already had a sewing machine, shears, pins, a rotary cutter, and a cutting mat, but I still had to buy fabric, thread, and batting, plus special rulers, marking pens, and presser feet for my sewing machine.  I could easily get lost down that rabbit hole.
Anyway, five blocks, down, one to go!  I've already learned a LOT,  but then we have to put it all together.  That should prove interesting!  I'll post progress reports following the other two classes.

The other class was a quick, FREE class at the local library - kind of like Wine and Canvas, but on heavy paper instead of canvas, and no wine (what the heck?).  Our assignment was to paint a monochromatic landscape.  I only worked with black, white, and blue paint.  All the colors I mixed included blue (only the best color in the whole wide world!).  Once we got our instructions and saw a couple of quick demonstrations, we were turned loose with our imaginations for an hour.  Here's mine:

Not bad for an hour of paint-y goodness!  Messy, messy, messy, but too much fun, and what a price!  Yes, I'd do it again.

On another note, I've been working at decluttering at home - some closets, the garage, and the pantry, for starters.  I keep my less-used appliances in the small linen closet next to the first floor bathroom, and it has become a jumble.  But behold!  Behind the large crock pot and the turkey-sized oven bags, I found...TURKEY TIMERS (see related post).  The ones I was sure I had, but couldn't find, at Thanksgiving.  Heavy sigh.  Reclamation, indeed.