Well y’all, I finished Harlow’s quilt! I had so much fun hearing everyone’s opinion and perspective that it has me scheming how I could somehow do some sort of Choose Your Own Adventure: Quilt Edition. I have no idea how I could do it..maybe come up with three options for each step, poll y’all and go with the majority? Hmmmm. Might have to give it a try — what do you think?
In case you missed my dilemma, I had originally decided upon one option, but then came up with 2 more…. only to then find myself stuck and crippled by indecision. I wasn’t sure if deep down I knew which one I liked best….so I thought I would ask you all!
And let me just say — it was SO helpful! I found myself nodding along with almost every opinion as I read them. So many of the “this is why you should pick this option” echoed all the reasons I wavered between the options — each of them had positives that I really liked!
And while I didn’t go with the winner….. I went with Option 2! Harlow loves it, and I love it, so we are happy, happy, happy!
I’m really excited to share some quilting tips and tutorials with you all soon — I’m working on a few completely new patterns and designs as well!
{I’m thinking about working on a quilt together — we will walk through fabrics, design, piecing, quilting, binding, and everything in between. Is that something any of you would enjoy doing? Send me an email or leave a comment! Don’t be scared, okay?}
Lately, I can’t get enough of Harlow’s giggles: I really wish that I could attach a sound effect to this photo. She has a real talent for laughing, making up new laughing sounds and expressions each day, she seriously keeps me in stitches.
Our new afternoon tradition involves painting, blowing bubbles, laughing and giggles galore, yelling “hi!” to every person walking by, fixin’ things, drinking green smoothies, and waiting for the best daddy ever to come home from work.
Happy Friday! Today I’m asking y’all to help a girl out. If you follow me on instagram, you’ve probably quickly realized my love for designing and creating. I stay awake at night thinking about what I could try, what hasn’t been done, or what I maybe want to reinvent in some way.
Lately? I cannot stop quilting. I can’t stop won’t stop.
In between quilting for new babies and friends, I’ve been working on a new blanket for my sweet Harlow London girl. Sometimes I feel like I am becoming a shoemaker, so I’m working on making special projects for my own family — as well as others!
I’m rambling a bit, but here is the deal. I am completely and totally indecisive about how I want to finish constructing her blanket! This quilt isn’t too large, but a perfect blanket that will be hers. Right now she is using the blanket my amazing mom made me. I want that blanket to be one that each of our children can use, and a special one for each of them as well! I love all of these scraps and colors we pulled together for Harlow’s blanket — she even helped me pick out a few of them!
I think in my gut, I might know already which design is my favorite, but I’m struggling to make the plunge and just do it! I honestly hate when I can’t make up my mind, so it’s driving me crazy! I even tried the trick my big sis, Bri, would use on me when I couldn’t decide between two dresses, two tops… two whatever! She would hold out both of them and make me choose one. She would then hand me that garment and say, “okay. You made your choice!” And then one of two things would happen!
I would completely agree. Yup! That is the one I knew in my gut that I wanted all along.
or
I would know in my gut that it was really the other one I wanted — the thought of leaving without didn’t sit right.
Try it. It works!
But for some odd reason–maybe because I have three options? Perhaps because my little sis and I totally disagree about which one I should choose? I’m not sure. — I cannot, cannot, make up my mind.
So here is the deal…
The quilt is a triangle quilt, {dun dun dunnnn Captain Obvious, I know.} but I want to switch up about 1/3 of the quilt. Depending on the orientation, it would be the right third or the bottom third of the quilt.
The first option {above photo} is for the triangles to rotate for a small section — the rotated section almost creates it’s own larger triangle, if that makes sense. :/
The second option {above photo} is for the small section to still be rotated, but with an added stripe. Perhaps you like this one, but hate the mint colored stripe?
What color stripe would you choose?
The third option {above photo} keeps the stripe, but rotates the triangle pattern 180°, so the patterns/solids switch places.
See what I mean about the larger triangle that section creates? Each of the options are consistent in that regard!
Okay! Time for you to let me know what you think. 1, 2, or 3?
And if your vote isn’t in the majority, please leave a comment to let me know what you think! I’m honestly not sure which one I’m going to choose at this point — I’m kind of leaning towards one, but that has changed 4 times already today.
I know. I told y’all I was being completely indecisive!! help!
Harlow and I have been getting out of the house–one of the challenges I made for myself the first few months of this year. I know it’ll get easier as the weather gets warmer, but I’m thankful for knit goodies and her Gloriana scarf to keep her warm!
I imagined bliss and babies and smiles and laughter.
I imagined never getting frustrated.
I imagined an always-clean house.
I imagined the void of desiring all these things to be filled once I said
I do.
I’m not going to say these things aren’t true, because all of these dreams take place in my life and marriage.
Our life isn’t perfect, but it’s perfectly us.
The bliss, the babies, the smile, the laughter: they are all a part of the big, beautiful picture.
The frustration? It happens, and it’s usually my mess and junk and selfishness causing it.
And my house. The clean. I’ve decided that clean is a relative term.
But that void? That’s where I had it wrong.
In my head I understood that my identity needed to be found in Him alone, yet I found myself relying on my husband and life’s satisfaction for all these things.
So easy to say, yet so difficult to do. And do consistently. Every day.
_________
This is an old post I found hidden in my drafts. I’m not quite sure when I wrote it, or why I let it sit.
Yesterday evening when I glanced it, it made me pause.
It challenged me in a new way. As if someone else had written it.
I needed to hear it again. I always will.
I needed to hit publish.
So I did.
I will be working on listing the wooden prints in the shop today! Available for purchase tomorrow. Thank you for being patient!
Winters and I don’t get along very well.
I have always lived where winter equals cold.
Kacia + cold = not a happy Kacia.
This year, I told myself it would be different–we are in a new house, more space…all of that.
Yet somehow, the gloom has reappeared.
I think it’s partly just being ready for spring and bare feet mixed with the extreme cold temperatures and no sun.
Any tips? I’m going to start planning out our week with more activities–but all this sickness has me paranoid, I admit. I’d love to hear any suggestions you might have!
Anyone else deal with the when-is-winter-over-blues?
________________
My dear friend snapped these photos a few months back, and I can’t believe I haven’t shared them yet. Harlow’s joy is contagious.
It is currently 12°F here in Pittsburgh, so these photos help me keep things in perspective a bit. Spring is coming….spring is coming….spring is coming.
right?
Until then, we will bundle up in sweaters–I can’t wait to share a few of my favorites with you soon!–and snuggle to stay warm. There is good to be found even in the coldest of temperatures, I am sure of it.
This sweater is a BB Dakota sweater I received in a fix from . I had a few similar in my post yesterday–I also have one on my Wish List page!
choosing optimism until Spring knocks on my front door. yes, I will be anxiously waiting.
xo.
I am so proud of Rachel, as she was named one of the Knot’s Best Wedding Photographers for 2013! She is also returning from an incredible trip to Rwanda, and I will definitely be asking her to share some of her adventures in this space.
I’m what you could call a Scandinavian mutt. I grew up knowing that I was 1/2 Norwegian, 1/4 English, 1/8 Danish, and 1/8 Swedish.
That’s something everyone learns after their name, right?
I took a lot of pride in those percentages–I still do.
And even though my mom isn’t Norwegian at all, she knits the most absolutely gorgeous Norwegian sweaters. She’s probably turning red as she reads this–she’s super humble and extremely talented.
Back when I was in high school–and still had the ability to focus on a project longer than a day–I decided I wanted to knit a Norwegian sweater. But my mother, being the genius she is, told me that I needed to knit a toddler sweater before attempting an adult size.
Yesterday?
Harlow picked it out to wear.
Sure, it’s blue and black. Not exactly the most feminine.
Sure, it was too big. I had to roll up the sleeves 3 times.
But I couldn’t stop smiling.
Did I think about my son or daughter that would someday wear it?
Did I wonder what life would be like with a child? with children?
I know for sure that I didn’t realize I would get a little emotional as she walked down the stairs.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
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