Japanese Scissors and a New Quilt

It is well known among the people who live with quilters and sewers that our scissors are protected and precious commodities. Use them on paper and we might divorce you! At least, according to endless memes and jokes. All jokes aside, our scissors are such a fundamental tool in the sewing kit. Rotary cutters are amazing, but we all know not a thing can happen without scissors.

I've spoken before of my love for the Japanese tailor's scissors in my possession. I love these scissors so much I have two pairs.

Last month I decided that I would make a quilt only using scissors. Even for squaring up. Free hand cut squares made in to half square triangles. I had a stack of white/cream/neutral fabrics that needed to be brought to life so they were the starting point. I don't have much time these days to sew, so my Morning Make is deliciously important to me right now. Each day I make a set or two of these improv half square triangles. Slowly but surely they are adding up. And because we are having a proper winter here with loads of snow and a lot of cold weather the inspiration is quite literal. I've already got a name for this quilt: Names for Snow.

But back to those scissors. 

My scissors were brought in special by the great owner of Knifewear, a local shop specialized in Japanese forged steel. Their knives are beautiful, sharp, and amazing. About six years ago I asked the owner if he ever sees good scissors on his buying trips to grab me a pair. And lucky me, he obliged. They quickly became my favourites. They travel with me to classes and the requests from students for their own pair increased. So I asked Knifewear again. And guess what? They've brought in a couple of dozen for you!

Can we take a moment to admire the awesome packaging?

Don't let it distract your from the incredible scissors inside though. We brought in two sizes: 240mm and 190mm. That is the size of the overall scissors, not the blade length. The handles are essentially the same.

Large = 4'' blade length with a blunt tip 

Small = 2 1/4'' blade length with a pointed tip

Let me tell you two things. One, they are ridiculously comfortable to use. If your hands get tired cutting these scissors will change that. And two, they are phenomenally sharp and precise. So sharp. An utter dream to use. 

Knifewear is selling the scissors at their Calgary, Ottawa, and Vancouver stores. If you can get in there you will be spoiled by all the amazing things they have. (You've been warned.)

You can also buy them directly from me. I have a handful of each size available. If you are interested, then send me an email or direct message. First come, first served. Email is at the bottom of the page.  Cost below:

Small $93

Large $109 (Also comes with oil for the hinge)

Plus personalized shipping. Trust me, they are worth every single penny. And yes, keep these from grubby hands who might cut paper with them!

Adventure - A Quilt for Not a Book

Adventure

36'' x 42''

My husband defines the distinction between an excursion and an adventure as this: When you go on an excursion everyone makes it back. When you go on an adventure, somebody or something doesn't survive the trip. He is morbid and sarcastic, that man. 

This quilt is definitely an adventure.

A few years ago I had an idea for a book. I was fresh off the publication of You Inspire Me to Quilt, still riding high. Over bourbon on the best patio over I sat down with an industry friend, a good colleague, and we were brainstorming ideas for my next book. We both got really excited about one particular idea. It was stellar. Or maybe it was the bourbon talking?

Nope, it's still a pretty good idea. Unfortunately, my publisher did not necessarily agree. Even though I've published three books I can't just throw an idea at them and have them send a contract my way immediately. So I took a few months to flesh it out. Because of the nature of the concept this required more time than I usually need at this stage. A book proposal is necessarily detailed as it is - table of contents, sample chapter, and quilt examples all required - but this one needed even more to get the concept across. I got all this together and then they came back with a request for an actual quilt to see the concept in action.

Sigh. 

Sure, okay. I went right to it. Got the quilt top all made, got it basted, then stopped. Life got busy. And it's never really stopped. No excuse, because I've made other quilts in the meantime. But the mojo slipped away after the initial burst of work. Then the reality of whether I truly had the time to actually write another book sunk in. I did not. Not for about 2 years there. I so desperately wanted to, but unless I became both a) suddenly flush with cash and b) able to function on zero sleep for months at a time it wasn't going to happen.

I won't lie, I shed some tears over this. Frustrated and annoyed at the position I was in - even though I put myself in that exact position - I wallowed for a bit. I got depressed seeing the success of others in the industry via social media, jealous even. It was ugly and mean spirited on my part, to be perfectly honest. And that is before I beat myself up on the regular about it all.

Not sure how exactly, but gaining some perspective changed everything. At some point I took stock of my own successes and felt proud. I started to play my own game. I saw all the freelance, short burst writing I was doing as practice for everything else. My schedule, or at least my approach to it, allowed for more time. So I re-pitched the book concept. 

Shot down again.

This time though I decided the quilt I'd started needed to not languish on the closet shelf. Up there it mocked me, made me feel like a failure. It was time to reclaim that part of my creative history. At worst, it becomes another story to tell at a trunk show (or on a blog). At best, it becomes a cool quilt gifted to a beautiful baby. So here it is. 

This quilt went on a creative adventure. The book never came back alive, but that's okay. The journey was still worth it. And who knows, that concept hasn't died entirely...

Quilt Details:

-  Fabric is a couple of Mini Charm packs of Carolyn Friedlander Doe mixed with her curated selection of Kona cottons. It was a give away from Quilt Market a few years back. The background is Essex Linen.

- Backing is also from Doe.

- Binding is Carolyn's crosshatch in this amazing green. I wish I could find more.

- Quilted with a pale yellow from Aurifil in straight lines changing directions. There were a million knots to bury with the quilting pattern I chose, but I do love the end result.