That Summer

You guys, writing this book is no joke. Seriously. I’m either making quilts, creating quilt layouts, researching quilts, shipping quilts, dreaming about quilts, stress-eating while avoiding making quilts, or otherwise consumed by quilts. My manuscript deadline is looming and if I break a finger, bust a sewing machine, or have one single hiccup, everything could topple.
But on the other hand, I am so gloriously excited about this project! Part of the reason I’m thinking about quilts when I’m not actually making them is because I am TRULY in love with this book! I wake up every morning and am excited to get to the studio and HAVE to make quilts! I have had amazing emails from readers telling me their quilt stories, ones that have encouraged me and cheered me on. I want to produce something that will inspire you all as much as you have inspired me.
The other night I rewatched the movie The Pursuit of Happyness. The first time I saw it I cried like a baby because I’m super sappy. He pulled himself out of what seemed an impossible life situation to accomplish what he’s done, it was unbelievable to me that this actually happened. I wanted to watch it again, to remind myself that everything can seem impossible until it’s done. The actual act of doing it can seem monumental, but once it’s done, it was worth it. And this book, my friends, will be done.
My family has been incredibly supportive of me and what I’m doing this summer. I thanked them on the Wise Craft Facebook page the other day, when I was feeling incredibly lucky to be able to have them. Without them, I couldn’t do this. Some days I feel like I’m in my vacuum, trudging along with my ideas, and then I see images like this one on Instagram, by my photographer, and I am reminded that there are people in my life who are helping me every step of the way.
I could not be luckier.
I imagine looking back on this summer will make me incredibly nostalgic one day. There was not a lot of travel, fun day trips around the city, or movie marathons this summer. It has been a simple summer. That summer I wrote a book I was in love with. That summer I would skip showering in the morning if it wasted too much time that could otherwise be better spent in the studio (I actually can’t believe I just typed that). That summer that I constantly carried around a thick notebook filled with illegible scribbles and scratched drawings, important pages marked with tiny torn post-it notes. That summer my kids learned more to be more self-sufficient than every before, out of necessity (for I am not pizza). That summer that I felt a kinship with quilt makers who made out of necessity, with little or nothing, yet still took the time to make it beautiful.
There are big things on my list, I can’t wait to share more. Thank you all for supporting me on this journey. I feel giddy and grateful.
But first, I will take today to celebrate my son, Ian’s 14th birthday. I can’t believe this kid is 14 (this photo is from 2006, it’s the way he still is to me).

That summer my kid suddenly wasn’t a kid so much anymore…
xo,
Blair