February 04, 2016

Interlude

You guys are so kind and caring. I've been pretty quiet on all my media channels for a while and I'm starting to get the loving "checking in" comments and emails. So, as much as there are pressing things that need doing I wanted to make an update.


I finished quilting my Star Baby quilt a while ago, dropped it like it was hot, and never even took a picture of it. I adore it. It's everything that's fascinating to me right now: wedges and "wild quilting". I want to hang it on the wall. Some quilting close ups:





If you have great attention to detail you may recognize that grey wall behind the quilt: I was just back at Craftsy shooting another class! I got to see a big old Denver snowstorm and everything. And they've really sped up their turnaround time so I probably won't even get to blog much before I'm back here telling you all about it. I hope it thrills you like it thrills me!


About my disappearance, I don't know what to say, and it's part of why I've been so quiet. I really like being able to be authentic with you, to talk about what's moving in my heart about life and art right now. And I feel like I have to be cautious, and not say anything that would be taken the wrong way by lawyers or something.

I will say that something I put my heart and soul into is failing, and it is a great sadness for my entire family. Things that I thought were true simply aren't true, and maybe they haven't ever been true. It feels like patches are falling away from my very being and I'm not sure whether I need to stitch them back there, or if they were covering up something important. Anyway, it's a common kind of tragedy and I'll survive it, and all the better for the reminder to never trust someone else's instincts over my own. But it does mean that I'll be struggling to find the time for the blog for a season or two.

Thanks for the concern and the love. Thanks for supporting my work, and thereby supporting my little family. Being a part of the quilting community is a great joy in my life and I'm extra grateful for it right now. In just a couple of weeks I'll be going to QuiltCon and hope to have lots of big hugs with you lovely peeps! Until then...happy stitching! Or even not-happy stitching if that's where you are. It's where I am sometimes, and the world is still a good place to be.

30 comments:

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

'This too shall pass'. Hopefully things will even out for you quicker, rather than later. Hang in there.

nestki said...

Keep on stitching! I am sorry for the rough time you are going through. I am sorry that part of your life feels like a failure. You are experiencing the death of a goal or a dream, of something that was good in your life. I hope you can make a memorial for it. My belief is that nothing in life is a waste of time even if you don't find the outcome you had hoped for. I am rooting for you. I really appreciate the way you share your talent and ideas, and make art easier for me.

The Patchsmith said...

You are awesome - never lose sight of that. You make a difference to us quilters with your personality, skill and generosity. Keep stitching just for fun for now and let business take care of itself for a while. Switch the internet off when you feel stressed and take pleasure in the whirring of your sewing machine instead.
All will be well and I hope it is better for you real soon.
Hugs
Amanda

Stitchgirl78 said...

Hang in there, Christina. You will get through this. It won't be easy, but you WILL get through it........and........you will become a stronger person because of having gone through this life changing bump in the road. Keeping you in my thoughts.
Big hug......big smile

Elsa said...

You do such beautiful work, Christina, you have a talent that many people would love to have.
I'm sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time in life right now. Know that there are so many people that love you and are rooting for you, me being one of them. My heart is with yours ~ elsa

Lizjk66 said...

I'm so sorry to hear your life hit a rough patch. I wish you the best. Try to focus only on the positive.

Lin said...

I'm so sorry to hear that you're going through a tough time. Life can be so hard, but we just keep putting one foot in front of the other and eventually the shattered pieces fit back into a mosaic that is different but sometimes even more beautiful than before. Thank you for sharing your heart and your gifts.

Margaret said...

So sorry to read about your current struggles. May your art continue to bring you peace, supported by your friends, family and community of quilters.

artsycraftsyivy said...

Awww, so sorry for whatever you're currently going through! I am not going to QuiltCon 2016, but would have loved to have met you. Maybe another time. I have two of your quilting books (are there more?) I love your work! I find it hard to stitch at all when I'm in a bad place. I'm glad you can at least find comfort in stitching. Always. Hugs.

Lara B. said...

Christina, I think about you every day and keep you in my prayers too.
Actually just last week I was wondering and hoping you would do another Craftsy class, this time with your wild and wonderful quilting. Congratulations on that! I hope working on that provided a needed boost to your happiness. (((((Hugs)))))

knettycraft said...

I really missed you Christina! You are such a very special person - please go on, go your own way. You are so talented and I most like that you are so genuine and natural! I'm following your blog since I started blogging (2years ago). I still (again and again) enjoy your craftsy class and book. Keep your pecker up! All the best wishes from Germany, Annett

Sarah Craig said...

Big hugs, Christina! I was just telling someone last night that you were my "go-to" resource for FMQ - so you are on my mind a lot! I'll remember to say a prayer for you each time you pop in there from now on - hang in there and remember you have lots of folks out here who care about you!

Kathleen said...

I hope your situation gets resolved faster than you expect. Sounds like a bad thing happened to a good person. Try to find the good in each day and take strength from that.

Denise said...

Sending you warm wishes while you and your family work through this difficult time. The world needs more positive people like you. Bad things happen to good people. Hope things improve soon.

Anonymous said...

You have been in my thoughts, heart, and prayers a lot. Thank you so much for showing us this wild and wonderful baby star quilt - i hope you do hang it on your wall and take nourishment from it - from the artist/creator that you are and for the beautiful person that you are.

Christina Lane | The Sometimes Crafter said...

I'm sorry to hear about the rough times. Don't forget to lean on friends, that's what we're here for. :)

Christina Lane | The Sometimes Crafter said...

I'm sorry to hear about the rough times. Don't forget to lean on friends, that's what we're here for. :)

Christine B said...

Sorry to hear you are going through a tough time which I know you will overcome! Be strong and let the good things carry you through! Your quilt is beautiful! Hugs! Christine x

Suzanne said...

So nice to see you again. I was just thinking of you yesterday as my niece is moving to Reno and she mentioned Burning man. I hope you can wrap yourself in both literal and figurative quilts and know that you are wrapped in love and support by this community or at least by me.

Vicki in MN said...

I am so sorry you have been dealing with some heavy stuff. I have 2 suspicions of what you are talking about. I had been thinking of you just a few days ago as I was stitching out a few designs from your book. So glad you had a few minutes to share your beautiful quilt with us! Hugs to you and take care.

Afton Warrick said...

First of all, your "wild quilting" is fantastic, and I look forward to hearing a bit more about that Craftsy class. Even though I won't make it to Quilt Con, I hope you have the best of times. I'm sorry about whatever it is that is giving you such heartache and frustration, and that you don't have the freedom to share completely. I wish you clarity and healing from the hurt of the situation.

Wendy @ Wendysquiltsandmore said...

Talk all the time you need and look after yourself first. Your talent will still be there when you're ready to return, and so will all your quilting friends. Just do what's right for you at the moment. Best wishes.

lvkwilt said...

Whatever it is, just take it one day at a time. Sometimes it is hard to see it, but rough times do make us stronger....and sometimes there is a silver lining.

cakath said...

Sorry for the troubles and pain you are going through. Take care.

oldlady quilter said...

The quilt is beautiful! I love seeing your work, you are so generous with your talent and encouraging to all of us "wherever we may be in our stitching level". Be kind to yourself through all this. If it is what I suspect from your description,there will be a true grieving process to it~lean on family and friends through this and don't beat yourself up, life happens and now a different path is before you, enjoy this new part of your journey. Know that we all think of you and care.

Unknown said...

whatever it is, hang in there....and on another note I can't for the life of me figure out how you are able to do all that tiny free motion quilting!!! YOU ARE TALENTED!

FVITH said...

The zentangle-style quilting looks cool :)
Take all the time you need for your personal life. We will be here when you are ready to blog again.

Unknown said...

Oh dear Christina! Your work continues to inspire. You will get through to the other side of your troubled time. Love and hugs to you! xoxo

Unknown said...

Thank you so much,Christina, for sharing your beautiful work as well as opening your heart. I hope the love from this community helps stitch your heart back together. Even though we've never met, I want you to know what a HUGE influence you've had on me! The Pine Needle recommended your book to me when I was first interested in learning FMQing. Thanks to your excellent instructions, I've had the joy of creating many fun projects. I know I speak for many when I say thanks for being such a great inspiration for me! I look forward to meeting you some day. Nanci Swaim, Portland, OR

Ellie said...

Thank you for sharing your beautiful talent. Time is needed to clarify situations. Give yourself that time. Hugs all around

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