Sorry - no photos - just thoughts.
Life is getting tough. Our income has dropped by a third thanks to the "crunch" and quilting and all that it involves is, unfortunately, going to have to take a back seat for the moment.
I've said before how expensive my favourite hobby is in France and I can tell you it ain't getting any cheaper. In the LQS the other day I noticed that fabric has gone up by about 1.50€ a metre and thread is not getting any cheaper either. I'm hanging on to what I've got - in fact I'm hoarding it!
To this end, I'm afraid I'm going to have to pull out of Project Improv and both the quilts for the bush fires projects.
I will keep going on Quilts 4 Leukaemia until the blocks run out, but please don't send me any more unless you really really want to. In most cases the postage is more than the fabric is worth and in this day and age it just isn't worth it.
As the saying goes "look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves".
I may not be blogging for much longer either. That decision has still to be made. After all, if there's nothing to show what is the point?
You all take care of yourselves and hopefully I'll be back soon.
Love and hugs to all of you.
Clare xx
26 comments:
you need to do what seems best to you -- hope you're able to find a new balance that is life giving...
I'm so sorry to hear that things are so tough for you at the moment. You'll just have to try and go back to quilting roots and work with repurposed fabrics - surely life will be even more difficult if you don't have something you enjoy so much to buoy you up. And please don't stop blogging - I for one would love to see photographs of the France that you live in, and read about living in France.
You have to do what you have to do. My husband and I had this conversation yesterday. I feel like I am in a boat and I can see shore but can't get to it. I hate what all of this is doing to our young people.
I am sorry to hear of the 'changes' you are
dealing with. I DO NOT want you to quit blogging!!!! I have missed you lately!! Maybe
something can be worked out for you!.................*LOL*..I know your situation IS NOT funny, but will DHubby let you cut up some of his shirts...!!!??? Keep us posted on what is going on!!
I'm sorry to hear that times are tough for you. I hope you can figure out a way to continue making quilts. Maybe ones that are more labour-intensive, like applique or handquilting? But I don't want to presume anything about your situation. I do want you to know I appreciate your contributions in blogland and Tonya's classes and the liberated quilting webring.
sorry life is getting you down at the moment. hope sunshine comes back to you soon!
Oh, don't stop blogging! Afterall, your creativity will come out and be shown in something or other. . .cooking?, photography? ddepression? poetry? Those who have little money don't stop being creative!
And we need to hear how that creativity is coming out for you--even if it is pretty black and blue for the next month or decade.
After all we all are going through it. We need to hang together.
Keep on keeping on!
sounds bad right now...I have had a few days like that recently. I am sure that more will come.
I do hope that you will continue blogging, I like hearing about life from your neck of the woods. Having perspectives from other countries makes it all seem less large in a way, more managable, like here we all are in one fish bowl, and maybe we can all work it out. Sending you some early spring sunshine from Oregon! I am thinking of you.
Sending a {{hug}}
We've been cutting back on *a lot* of stuff, too.
Sigh. Jeanne
I know how you feel Clare. Quilting fabric is dreadfully expensive here, as is batting, etc. I have plenty of projects to keep me busy for the rest of the year so I am avoiding all online and real fabric shops like the plague. I just can't afford it.
I'd love you to keep blogging about your life in France - after all, how many of us actually get to live that dream? Even on a much reduced income and the hardships that entails, you are still living our dreams!
The downturn won't last forever. Let us know when the Q4L project is ready to ramp up again. We'll be here.
One last thought. Perhaps we should all decide to hand quilt everything - takes a lot longer!
I would hate you to stop blogging, I am happy to just hear about life on your side of the world and who knows every now and then you may have something crafty to post about. Do what is right for you xx
Life is difficult here at the moment, Clare, thanks to the dreadful exchange rate! We're also feeling the pinch and keep wondering what will have to 'go' next!!!
I'm working with 2" scraps trying to make my fabrics last as I can't imagine not being able to sew!
Please don't give up blogging though, think of it as a safety valve for the time being, somewhere to sound off to people who care - and let me know if I can help you with anything !! ..........Luv AJ
Please don’t stop blogging Clare! I will miss your Périgord and the lovely photos.
I’m sorry to hear about the hard time you’re having concerning income and your quilting hobby. The quilting fabrics are unreasonably expensive for us Europeans...! I sometimes wonder if overseas people have any idea how expensive our crafting hobby really is.
I hope for better times in the future and I really hope we will be able to support you to continue Q4L. You’re doing such a great job!
Hi Clare,
I so know what you mean about expense. Our income has gone down a third too and it is tough and quite a challenge. My passion , weaving has to be done with stash just now, as cant afford to buy new yarn. Still it is Feb, which I find the worst month of the year and Spring is on the way. We will all feel better then when the weather is better and we can get out in the garden. Do do still keep blogging, words and photos dont cost and it is fun.You will want to take pics again when the flowers start coming out and the trees burst forth. Not long, already the buds are showing!
We will get there, this bad time wont last for ever
Claire- Don't give up on your favorite hobby, I don't buy yardage and have been given many scraps. I managed to make an entire Dear Jane with only scraps that I traded for! I buy a bolt of unbleached muslin ever few years for backings and sashings for my scrappy quilts on visits to home to the States... I am the scrappy lending library for our little community here I give out and take in leftovers, so if you ever need specific colors for a quilt let me know and I can send over scraps for it!!
Don't stop blogging! Even if your posts are more infrequent I want to read them (quilting based or not), after all, who else shares an interest in 1970's confectionery?
Sorry to hear things are rough...I hope that whatever decision you make that it is one that bring you balance and harmony.
Hope you can hang in there, Clare. We all want to know how things are going in your part of the world. And the suggestions above are all good ones: hand-piecing and quilting DO take longer and are very satisfying. I think lots of us will be returning to our "roots" and using old clothing, sheets, tea towels, etc. to express our creative side. And if you decide not to quilt for awhile, please let us keep hearing from you...you're important to us all!
Surely you have fabric hidden away in the cupboard Clare? I have enough stash to keeping me going for a very long time, and during times of financial crisis have managed quite well using what I have. In fact my stash could probably last a long long time. I did get to Paris last year. We stayed only in Paris and did not go into the countryside, so I wouldn't have been able to meet up with you.
(((Clare)))) YOu know they say misery loves company, but honestly, so many are hurting right now and it doesn't really help that others are in the same boat with you. I do hope your situation improves and hey, it is good to blog and stay in touch, even if you don't have lots of new goodies to share. We can all encourage each other and come up with ways to use what we have. I just have to wonder how many of our LQS are going to be able to withstand these economic times.
I'm with those who urge you not to give it up unless you want to for other reasons, too. Quilting can be a very thrifty occupation if we want it to be, and there are tons of things which can be done with very small scraps (check out Betty's 1/2" squares quilt which I link to on my blog today) - even if you aren't mad enough to try that, there are still many things to be done with scraps. And I'll happily send you a big bag of mine, LOL.
Ack! Don't go! Blogger is free (at least here in the US); if you need to maybe you can just change platforms to save money on blogging. If you need to just take a break that's understandable. Be careful about not participating in some form of creative endeavor though. Depression is subtle, don't let it get a hold on you. It's very hard to shake off once it gets its claws in you...
Wishing you and yours the best. I'll be holding you in my heart.
Don't go, please! We need you here, quilting or not.
Clare, I got behind in blog reading this week and just saw your post. Please, please don't stop blogging! This is a time to turn to quilting from recycled fabrics, things picked up from salvage, and to donate to those truly in need. It's a time to take up handwork that lasts a VERY long time, so you don't have to keep sinking money into it. We would miss you. Post photos of your yard, your thoughts, books you read, your excursions to town, and whatever work you get in.
Thinking of you, Clare!
Love you to pieces Clare, and I'd miss you so desperately. I hope things pick up for you soon hon.
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)
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