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Monday, November 5, 2012

It's Been Awhile...

They say that it's better to just jump in the pool instead of gradually wading in. Kind of like ripping off a band-aid. Just do it. 

Apologies first. 

I never meant to just bounce out like I did. Life got completely crazy and hectic and I got so overwhelmed that I went into hibernation, for lack of a better word. I was in full on quilting mode for over a year. That's all I did with all of my free time. If I wasn't working, cooking, cleaning, or putting on my taxi hat to cart my kids everywhere, I was quilting. Every.  Spare.  Minute. 

I was burnt out. Seriously burnt out. Quilting was supposed to be fun and it nearly turned into another full time job. That's not how I ever intended it to be. I was having so much fun creating new tutorials and patterns, but along with that came the editing of pictures and actually creating the tutorials. If you've never done one, they are a ton of work. 

I am not complaining. I enjoyed it. It just got to be too much and I wanted to be able to do other things. I'm pretty sure my kids were sick of me always quilting, too. 

So long story short, I wanted to take a break with out really announcing it. I just wanted some time. But that time turned into weeks, then months, then *gasp* over a year. I kept saying that I'd post and then I'd forget or something would come up or I just didn't feel like it. 

Sincere apologies for skipping out for so long. I honestly never meant to. If any of you are still around, I hope you will understand and forgive. 

On a different note, I do plan on posting again. Perhaps not as often. Probably not like I used to. Maybe. I really don't know where this will take me. All that I know is that I have missed crafting. I miss sharing exciting things that I come across. So I am going to give this another go and see where it takes us. 

I hope you'll come along. :)

All this got started because Christmas is coming and I was thinking of gifts. My new baby niece was born January 23, 2012 and I hadn't even made her a quilt yet. ACK! Her brother and sister each have two. I felt terrible. Yes, I know she has no clue but that's not the point. 

I started looking for a quilt to make. I kept coming back to the string quilts and fell in love with the baby lattice quilt that Ashley made from Film in the Fridge.  So after about a week of obsessing over Pinterest (that's a whole different post...lol) I decided to do this string quilt. It's such a happy little quilt! 

I went to my craft room in search of fabric to use because I knew I had more than plenty. I finally settled on a favourite called Pick A Bunch by Nancy Mims for Robert Kaufman and off I went. 

Five hours later I had this...

And during most of that time I also had this...

A very happy kitty in a box full of fabric. Silly kitty :)

Hope all of you are well...and until next time....

Much Love!!!

P.S.  I have to laugh at myself because I have completely forgotten how to edit my pictures, add watermarks...etc so I hope these come through ok.

46 comments :

  1. Oh, Karrie, it is soo good to have you back! I have often been wondering how you have been but never wanted to bother you. Glad that you are ok :) and don't feel that pressure anymore. It sure can get overwhelming :)

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  2. Nice to see you blogging again. I totally understand about taking a break then not being able to start back up again. Hope you can find the balance!

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  3. Yay! It is good to have you back.

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  4. Karrie! I'm so glad to see you're back! We've been worried about you here at the Stitch & Bitch, but you need to do what's best for you.

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  5. Nice to see you back. I have wondered where you went. I am glad that there was nothing seriously wrong.

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  6. Welcome Back! I hope you've refueled and found your middle ground!

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  7. Glad to have you back. It is completely understandable to need a break!

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  8. Karrie, I've kept looking at my blog list and seeing you at the bottom and wondered if you were okay! Glad to see you back, however often you decide to post!

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  9. Yipee!! You're back!! I'll be glad to see whatever you post, whenever and however often you do it!! You've been missed!!

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  10. O!!! M!!!G!!! THANK GOD YOU ARE BACK AND FINE I HAVE NEVER TOOK YOU OFF MY BLOG ROLL !I HAVE MISSED! YOU I KNEW YOU WOULD BE BACK ! NO PRESSURE THO!
    TAKE CARE
    DIANA

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  11. I'm glad you are back and rested.

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  12. I had to look twice to make sure it was you! Welcome back. I have missed you

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  13. I'm new to your blog so it's fine with me that you spent time doing what you love. I'm sure your kids enjoyed having their Mom around more. I know I sure love spending time with my grandkids. They grow up fast.

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  14. Oh I'm so glad I had some horrid visions of you lying in a hospital bed or kidnapped for ransome even so sick you couldn't get out of bed ... So glad your back.

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  15. Oh my gosh, so good to see you again Karrie. I often wondered where you had disappeared to, but figured, like most of us, life gets in the way sometimes and you just needed a blogging break. So glad you're back :)

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  16. Through reading several different blogs for quite some time now, I have come to realize that absence is often good as it means the bloggers have their priorities set on themselves and their family. I have all the blogs I follow in a reader and is just ever so happy when I see a rare blogger popping up, like you did today - welcome back!!

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  17. As a new quilter I found your Charm Pack Quilt Along Tutorial about a year ago. It was my first "complicated" quilt. I have learned so much from reading quilt blogs and have kept yours on my google reader in honor of your showing me that--yes I can make a quilt! I even call that quilt my "Freckled Whimsey Quilt." That said, please know that even when you were on a break--you were still encouraging someone. Keep enjoying what you do.

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  18. Glad you are back. I completely get it. Sometimes the blogging aspect takes on a life of its own and it isn't what you bargained for. I have taken a lotta unannounced breaks myself!

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  19. Oh my goodness I am so glad you posted!!! I have been worried about you. I just took about a two month break from things, so I know how it goes. I hope you post a teeny bit more often, as I love to see what you do!

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  20. So glad you are back :O) You were definitely missed! I was just on your blog Saturday referencing how you do your pillow backs...just happy to see you are ok!

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  21. Welcome back Karrie, you were missed! I'm looking forward to seeing what you create next (whenever you get around to posting it).

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  22. Yay! You're back! I really missed you - your tutorials were among my favorites. But I understand how overwhelming it can get. And hi to the kitty, too!

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  23. No apologies necessary! Seriously! Your life is just that--your's. I was terribly worried that something tragic had happened, and have actually prayed for you and your family a few times over the past year. I love your blog and you are a very talented quilter. I hope you have found the love and fun in it, again, without it feeling like work. WELCOME BACK!!
    Laura

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  24. I have thought of you often...so glad you are back=)

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  25. Miss you so much. I am so glad you are back.

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  26. So glad to have you back. You have truly been missed! But we all understand that life "happens" and it sounds like you have handled yourself, your family, and your priorities beautifully! God bless!

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  27. So glad to have you back! I have loved your blog and was kind of worried when you disappeared but so glad you are well! Welcome back and God bless!

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  28. Same as above: Glad you're back, glad you're ok,and I missed you.

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  29. I am so so so so SEW happy that you are alive and doing well! Take your time, enjoy your family, sew when you feel like it and show us some pics (if you feel like it)... so I can be jealous of what you have created! LOL I wouldn't worry about tutorials and fancy edited pics... Life is meant to be lived so don't sweat the other stuff!
    BIG HUGS!!

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  30. Glad to see you back checking in with us all. As you can see, you have been missed. Do what is best for you and your family.

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  31. So glad to see you are back! I kept checking and was about to accept the fact that you were not coming back to blogland. So . . . yeah! :) The baby quilt is adorable!

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  32. Hey Girl!--Glad to see you posting again! I've checked in here every now and then & am glad to have you back! I get the whole burned out blog thing!--I've been swamped lately and it's always the blog that gets pushed to the back burner. =)

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  33. Apologies not needed. I am super excited to see you back posting. I was doing a happy dance. I cannot wait to see what creative juices you have flowing in your world. If you ever need a shoulder I am here girl! Best wishes!

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  34. Welcome back!!! I hear you on the quilting becoming overwhelming. I've been doing other hobbies that interest me and just working on quilting project sporadically. I've finally let go of the 'keeping up with the Joneses' mentality. SO much easier!

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  35. Seriously I had to jump from reader to the blog. .just to make sure I wasn't missing anything. So much hapens in life that we don't know the other side of each other's lives.

    So glad you're back {even for a moment} and once your on top of it. . to show your awesomeness again.

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  36. Yay! I was a devout follower of yours, and would check back often to see if you were back. Mostly I was worried that something was wrong. But being burned out is totally understandable. Mostly I'm glad everything's okay.

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  37. Welcome back, totally understand about being burnt out. Family first remember that, we are only readers of your blog which we love to read. Glad you are back, also things will slow down to a normal pace before you know it.(10 years).

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  38. So glad to see you back :) I missed you!!

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  39. Just seeing this now and I am so glad to see you back! I was in Bee Splendid a while ago with you. Seems like forever ago! Totally relate with being burned out and needing to do something different. I am just so glad nothing bad had happened to you! Happy quilting and I look forward to seeing your posts again!

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  40. Oh my goodness! I'm glad to see you back! It was my guess that you had burned yourself out; I just had a feeling based on some of your posts. Don't let blogging take the fun out it for you. Take time for fun and family and I'm glad you're doing fine ;)

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  41. So nice to see you back and catch up on your blog! You were missed but totally understand taking a break. You are just as awesome as always!

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Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I really love hearing from you!! :)

Happy Quilting!

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