For those who know me well, know I can go quiet from time to time. Sometimes because I am busy, other times due to depression. This time was the latter. Winter is hard. I remind myself that like the winter season, depression will not last forever. I make myself do the basics. Get up, get dressed and eat. In time it passes. And it is passing.
Another way to help depression pass is to be with friends. I spent a long over due day out with my Laurie yesterday. It felt so good to laugh and it felt good to connect at a deep level with someone who knows me better than anyone else on this planet. We picked up and put down many things at The Pink Begonia. I bought a few things, but the tiny pink Shiny-BRITE balls were a huge hit with me!
Laurie is a new quilter and is in the process of setting up her sewing space in her home. I am so excited! One of these days I am heading over with my craft table and machine and we are going to have a sew in. Did I mention I was excited?
I have been doing a little sewing, but not a whole lot. Depression leaves me uninspired. =( But it's better now! =D I'll share my latest fun project in a sec, but first I want to share my rainbow quilt. I finished it a while ago and never got around to sharing it. Even though I am not much of a purple girl, the purple block is my favorite. The orange a close second.
Okay, my fun project...Not too long ago, Kristy @ Quiet Play, created a paper piecing pattern of typewriter font letters. The testers did their thing and they went on sale in her Craftsy store on Thursday. I bought them on the spot and got to work....
Here is where I am at this time:
The small dresdens, the bird blocks and the prairie points were all orphans. The plan was to make a little something to take to Brooklyn when we go visit next weekend, but now I think I am going to keep going and make a row quilt for her, along the lines of what Lori @ Bee In My Bonnet is doing. I can give it to her another time. I have to make it wider, so I have some thinking to do to figure it all out.
Seriously, aren't the letters fun? I will be using them a lot!
One more thing and then I will be quiet. Monday is going to be a special day in our family, but you will have to wait until then to find out what it is. =)
Have a great weekend, everyone!!
Glad you're doing better! I've had a fairly good week, too. Brooklyn's quilt is adorable!!!
ReplyDeleteActually, that'd be Megan ... lol. :)
DeleteLights on is the theme around here lately. The gray days have been horrible lately. I can identify. Chris
ReplyDeleteLove, love, LOVE your rainbow quilt! Hope it cheers you up every time you see it! I'm glad to hear that your days are starting to be brighter too.
ReplyDeleteBrooklyn is sure to love her row quilt - every part of it is fun!
Glad that you're feeling a bit better. Absolutely love all the orphans and everything else on your Brooklyn quilt. It will be wonderful, and I'm sure she will love it!
ReplyDeleteAmy. I understand depression. I have always known/said that I'm a functional depressive. It's just my makeup. I think some of it is connected to creativity. Some due to seeing the world's troubles and sadness and not being able to fix it. But when there is a sunny day, I can be happier. Your rainbow quilt is AWESOME! I absolutely love, love, love it. and those letters - at first I was going to staple myself into a brown paper bag because I thought you made the WHOLE thing since Thursday, but even making those pp letters was a lot of work. So, no paper bag hiding for me. Glad your depression is lifting. Even Jesus knew what it was like to be depressed: He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
ReplyDeleteThanks for showing what you've been up to.
Amy, If you haven't had your Vitamin D levels checked, you might want to. Though it won't take away your depression, it can help with it plus help your heart. It's done wonders for me, especially since I spend so much time inside and don't get much sun. I love your purple Dresden (of course) and your paper pieced letters are perfect!
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you are feeling better! We are here for you if you need us!
ReplyDeleteBTW-You are the Queen of Dresdens...the colors are stunning in this one.
Stefanie
Hi Amy - glad your back to quilting!!!
ReplyDeleteYour Dresdens are bright and fun ... I also think the purple and the orange are my favs...the black one looks great too!
I love the paperpieced letters...I have to check those out!!!
I also suffer from depression...I have a large Day Light...and also a smaller one for travel...but I love the large one!
I haven't had to use it this year as we moved to a very bright apartment and I get out in the daylight more for walks!
I got more hand sewing done when I was sitting in front of the Day Light each morning...actually miss that time! lol!
Missed you!
PS - just reading some of your other comments and I forgot to mention that I do take vitamin D as well!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! I am off to check out those letters! I am glad you are feeling smiley again, it can be so hard when one is not. Was yesterday Haley's appt?
ReplyDeleteThere you are! Glad you're feeling a little better, take each day as it comes bless you :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Amy. What a treasure for Brooklyn to look forward to. I love the way you have used your orphan blocks. Such a good idea. The quilt is gorgeous! It's good to know you are feeling a bit better. The days or getting longer, so our mutual "sadness" should be diminishing.
ReplyDeleteHappy Sewing!
Nancy
oops, I mean "are".
DeleteGlad to hear you're feeling better!
ReplyDeleteLove your rainbow quilt - I think the orange is my favorite but I love them all. I can't believe the dresdens on Brooklyn's quilt are orphans! I really like the paper pieced letters - they're so pretty!
It is so good to hear from you Amy. I am so glad you and Laurie had fun. Your quilts are gorgeous. I agree the letters do look like a lot of fun and addicting. Hope you are having a GREAT weekend.
ReplyDeleteHugs
donna
It's nice to see your post. I'm glad you are feeling better. Winter is a tough season for many of us. I love the rainbow quilt. Purple is my favorite! The row quilt will be so cute. Those letters are seriously cool. Take care!
ReplyDeleteYeh, I've got that 'funk' too ! Don't seem to want to start anything........seems so difficult to imagine finishing it !
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to pick up sock-knitting again, and I just want to fall asleep over the needles !
So glad that you're getting to see a little daylight at the end of this tunnel !
Your letter thingy is gorgeous.............you such nice dresden plates all over the place !
Your quilts are beautiful! Depression is a horrible thief - stealing time that we should be enjoying. I suffer, too, and I feel your pain. For someone who doesn't personally have depression I know they don't understand the feelings of despair. Hang in there. I'll be cheering you on!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you are getting out of the pitt...slowly but surely. I normally feel like that over Christmas time: too much stress I think! Both your quilts are beautiful...those vibrant colors alone should be able to cheer you up just so ever so slightly..
ReplyDeleteOh Amy, glad to read that you're getting better and better. And know what? March is approaching and with it the lovely Springtime! Everything will be fine :-)
ReplyDeleteYour quilts are sooooo beautyful. I love the Brooklyn-Quilt♥.
Glad you're feeling a little better - I know how hard it is in that land ... praying :)
ReplyDeleteThose two projects are gorgeous!! I love the banner - that would be a perfect bed runner!! I'd love to make one similar for my daughter at some stage if you're okay with it :) ... Thankyou for the link to those letters too - they're fabulous!!
Wishing you a smooth and faith-filled week ahead! May you rest in His loving arms xx
Wow! This is going to make the neatest row quilt. What a fabulous use of orphans to start with.
ReplyDeletewhatever fuels your creativity is a gift you give to us
ReplyDeleteLove your Brooklyn quilt it the colors are so wonderful it makes me happy and smile just looking at it. I am going to have to go and buy the letters to use.
ReplyDeleteThat's a fantastic quilt for Brooklyn. I love everything about it, especially the prairie points! You are so creative!
ReplyDeleteHope you get lots of sunshine and fresh air!
You did a good job on the typewriter lettering, I think your row quilt is a good idea. The dresdens are as charming as they always are. Sending a hug your way ~
ReplyDelete:-}pokey
LOve your pink shiny brites!! Your paper piecing project is adorable!! So beautiful!! Keeping you in my prayers! ;) xo Heather
ReplyDeleteI love everything about your latest project, wonderfully cute and creative.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you're going through a rough patch. You're in my prayers!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry you have been depressed and uninspired. I have suffered from winter depression before, too. this year with my fathers passing, I has become pretty depressed, too. Uninspired is a real good term to explain how I feel most of the time. I am so glad things are looking up for you. It is one month without Daddy now, and I don't know when I will get back to feeling like being inspired and following through, but not yet.
ReplyDeleteBless you and keep smiling, Sweet Friend~~!!!!
Susie
Love your sharing, your transparency. I lOVE the quilt with the name....I want to make a quilt for Millie who is in a youth bed now...your ideas would be perfect....just add a bit...with your permission I will start one up! you rock girlfriend!!
ReplyDeleteBless you, Amy. Depression is so hard. My mom battles with it frequently as well and I know that it has been such a heavy cross for her to bear. May you find peace and comfort even in the dark times.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Quilts!! I'm always so inspired to visit your blog. :)
Love you Amy my friend. Been praying for you.
ReplyDelete(Those little Dresdens are just perfect too!)
fun and therapy for both of us! :)
ReplyDelete