It’s been quite some time since I posted here. Life has been about the same. Work has been really stressful. Spring has come to the Pacific Northwest and I’m glad to see it.
Over the last two months since I posted here I’ve actually put my hands to some fabric, have completed one project (and almost all of another) and even had a little vacation. I’ll get around to posting what I’ve been up to but I’m going to take it easy and not do it all at once.
I read a post from someone I follow on Instagram and they said their creative life is made stressful by the feeling that they have to be constantly posting content… on social media, on blogs, etc… I totally get that! I think that’s part of what has caused the burnout that I’m trying to make my way out of. It’s been a long haul. I have to be honest… I’m sort of forcing myself to make this post tonight. So I’m going topic myself and not feel obligated to post several times a week.
Anyway, several weeks ago I took a six hour class at a local quilting store that was all about servicing and maintaining Featherweight sewing machines. I had been waiting for months for the class to be scheduled again and when I saw it was on the calendar I signed up immediately.
The instructor found my machine and the one next to me particularly interesting of all those in the class. Nice to know my machine is special.
The Featherweight sewing machines were designed to be easy to service and maintain. But I had always been a little intimidated to dig in and work on my own.
Well, I loved the class! There were around 10 people in the class, all with their gorgeous little machines, and we took them apart, oiled and greased all the parts, learned about how the machine and all it’s parts work, and then put it all back together again.
They had us bring a pie plate to keep all of our spare parts contained. You can see the blue paper towels I used to clean out grease and dirt from inside my machine.
I bought a really cool little magnetic thread cutter at the class!
I’m so glad I took this class! Now I feel confident taking care of this sweet little machine and keeping it humming for many more years.
After being in that room with all those machines and hearing them hum, I got the urge to get mine set up and start a project. So I decided to dig out my Kaffe Fassett woven stripes and shot cottons that I started cutting into 2.5 inch strips back in November of 2022.
I had already cut all the shot cotton pieces I needed. So ironed the 20 woven stripes that had been waiting for me and got one 2.5 inch strip cut from each one.
OMG! Look at all that gorgeousness! These really are amazing fabrics and the colors are so incredible. I could stand there all day and just look at all of this!
Now that I had 40 strips cut from 40 different woven stripes I paired each strip with a shot cotton and sewed them into strip sets, then cut, sewed again, etc… I got 20 blocks made and up on my design wall.
The close up photos are much more representative of the fabrics.
That was all a couple weeks ago. Then tonight I dug in and started sewing the final 20 strip sets together.
I got all 20 sewn, then finger pressed and ironed each one using my metal ruler method. Here’s a video I made a couple years ago showing how I do this.
I love the way my strip sets come out perfectly straight!
These stripes and shots are quite delicate and it would be really easy to press some wonkiness into these sets if I wasn’t careful.
I cut each strip set in half then sewed those twenty sets together.
Then pressed and sliced again. All 20 sets are ready for one more seam before they are sliced the final time.
The final seam, press and slice will go pretty quickly. Then I’ll carefully pin every seam so they nest perfectly. It will probably take a couple nights to get these done. Then they will spend some time on the design wall. It will be fun to see all 40 blocks up on the wall.
We celebrated Bender’s 12th birthday on April 9.
This kid is really showing his age the last few months. All the sudden he seems like an old dog. I’m pretty sure he’s got some doggie dementia going on. He is developing some odd behaviors. He’s always been a quirky dog, but he’s being creative with new quirks.
I’ve been enjoying spring. We’ve had lovely sunny spells paired with rainy and cloudy spells. So everything is growing like crazy! My lilacs are currently in bloom and the yard smells glorious in the evenings.
My boys love the weather this time of year. They are content to spend the entire day outside as I work from home.
It’s also a great time of year for pickleball! I joined some friends yesterday morning for one of our first outdoor games in months.
We had such a great morning! And look at that sun!!!
agilejack 
I think the entire world is a bit whacked at the moment. You’re surely not alone. Be kind to yourself, enjoy the pups and sit back and admire your fabulous creation. As we all will! I’m taking reflective time too and doing only what brings joy. No stress for me, my system can’t handle it right now. Blessings Anne.
PJ Kytlica 805-660-4400
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Knowing your interest in pickleball i noticed suzyquilts has a bag pattern you may like.
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Good to hear from you again. Bender looking good, and you got your sewing mojo back. Missed your posts. Debbie
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bonjour anne
j espère que tu vas bien
ce que tu as réalisé avec tes tissus à rayures vraiment splendide comme d habitude
tu m as manqué mais je comprends je te fais des bisous de France
josette
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LOVE Bender’s birthday photograph.
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Good morning Anne. Welcome back into my room. It is good to see the signs of spring. Ours seem to be an on and off again thing. I love it for sure. It’s bee good to hear from you
Lynn
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Yes, it is difficult to feel inspired these days. 😢Sent from my iPad
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Good to hear from you again! Happy belated birthday dear Bender, handsome as ever 🥰! I have taken the Featherweight class too and learned so much, not afraid to service it myself anymore. I hope Rico is doing well too, hugs 🤗!
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I was glad to hear you tell the truth about why you haven’t been posting. Thanks for that. Go forth with the new and enjoy your life. It’s okay. Sometimes the passion that you had for something becomes a thing of the past. Live big !
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I totally get the burnout, have been through a couple and sometimes it takes a long time to come out the other side. I’m always glad to see your posts though, they help keep me inspired 🙂 Good for you learning to maintain your featherweight – they are such a sweet little mechanical marvel, and so easy to care for once you know what to do. I used to teach a fw maintenance class many moons ago, and I loved seeing so many leave class with the confidence to keep their machines running smoothly for years.
I confess I am looking forward to seeing what you do with the Kaffe William Morris line (if that one appeals to you).
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Well golly. It is good to hear from you again; I am very glad you pushed yourself to post. As others have said, do what you can when you can. The world has turned life into a struggle every day—I feel the same. And it is also true that I love watching you create. I love Kaffe Fassett’s fabrics, but I never have been able to muster much enthusiasm for the woven stripes or shot cottons. I think it is mostly the way they feel that turns me off. And yet I really love the project images you posted here. I hope you will make another post when you have gotten all the blocks completed. Keep on keeping on.
Janet
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Good morning from Niagara Falls, Ontario, CanadaI enjoy your posts, always an interesting and fun read. I also have a featherweight, which looks similiar to yours. Sometimes th
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oooh! Love that pattern and fabric. ❤️is it your own design or a pattern to purchase?
Thank you for the beautiful spring pics, it is still brown here in Northern WI.
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oooh! Love the pattern and fabric. ❤️is it your own design or a pattern I can purchase?
Thank you for the beautiful spring pics, it is still brown here in northern WI.
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I love your Kaffe quilt! My favorite fabric to collect and sometimes even cut up and use in a quilt 🤣 I can almost smell your lilacs. We got a little snow overnight here in Wisconsin.
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It’s great to see you are again up and running… especially with your little black beauty! You have inspired me to get mine out, clean it and use it.
You probably learned that you can discover where and when it was manufactured by using the serial number on the right back side. I think the website is simply Singer Featherdating.com
Love my local NPR, WAMU! We’re in there right with you!
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Color you are the best when matching.as always stunning work.
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Glad you are back. You are an inspiring person. Burnout can be difficult. Be kind to yourself. Get outside and enjoy the spring renewal. ☀️
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Good morning! I am happy to know that you and “the boys” are well. I so miss hearing from you, but I totally understand the need to pull away from things to refresh yourself. Thank you for the post today. Have a great week. Sincerely, Terry
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So happy to hear from you, Anne! You were missed and it was a lovely surprise to see this post in my inbox this morning. It’s a sad time for so many, with no satisfactory outcome in sight. Take care of yourself and those sweet boys, who I’m sure give a positive purpose to your days. We will be here and waiting when you’re ready! Hugs
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Great you have realized you need to give yourself some grace. While I loved your posts and wondered how you were able to keep up the pace, I have missed your communication. Doesn’t mean you should guilt yourself back into a frenzy to post so often. Years ago, I used to blog about all our overseas travel vacations. I had several hundred followers which today isn’t a lot, but these were all friends and family. Every night I couldn’t relax until I had the perfect story and photos on my blog. Drove my husband nuts. It was ruining my vacations. Many times we were cruising and internet connections were sketchy and/or expensive. It was much easier when I turned to Facebook and posted there, but I, too, learned to give myself grace and relax and be in the moment of my wonderful vacations. Enjoy spring. I could easily smell the lilacs you said are blooming.
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
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it was so good to hear from you. I was thinking about you yesterday and hoping all is well with you. I can only imagine the stress you must in your job, hopefully this will get all resolved in a positive way.
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Good to heat from you again, also enyoing spring, Magnolias coming into bloom (my favorit), lilacs yet another 3 weeks I guess
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I started a blog a few years ago and so
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Wow fantastic 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
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What this really fantastic🔥😍😍😍😍😍😍🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
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I’m always grateful to see a post from you. Quilts and fabrics are so beautiful.
Don’t stress yourself out by trying to post everything.
phyllis
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I used to be a news reporter and so when I began quilting, blogging seemed the natural thing to do. But if you have never blogged before, most people don’t understand the amount of time and effort that goes into creating a post. So as my kids would say, “You just do you!” No pressure from out here. Just do you!
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No need to apologize for not keeping up with your logs. I have read your postings for almost a year and am amazed by your vibrant color/fabric choices, your constructed quilts, and your enviable life with your wonderful dogs. I’m a retired school counselor and can only encourage you to give yourself permission to take a break. You’re not obligated to keep daily records of your life, and certainly not obligated to send them out to the world.
I’ve been grateful for your sharing but would not want you to feel any pressure to continue that in any way. You’ve been incredibly generous to bring us (I’m guessing you have many followers) into your life, your thought processes about your quilts, your stories about work and pickle ball, and mostly your lovely family with your dogs.
You’ve sent so much of your energy out into the world and now, I’m guessing, your body is telling you to slow down and bring some energy inside. Some might call it “wintering,” others might call it a time for “reflection.” But it’s really a time for rest, to watch and appreciate your dogs, to take some deep breaths and feel the beauty of spring. You’re already doing it with your appreciation of the lilacs:)
With gratitude,
Laura
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So nice to see your post this morning. I totally understand your lack of posts recently. I’ve been in the same “funk”, but realize I can’t let current events define who I am and what I do. Spring helps with the emergence of plants in the gardens and potential for this year’s vegetable garden. I also dug out a UFO from my sewing stash that my mom began about 25 years ago. Working on it is like getting a warm hug from her again!
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So good to hear you and your boys are OK! I think Bender is so gorgeous. Both are truly. I support you taking all the break you need!You have shared so much knowledge and fun!This is a tough time. Find wh
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Nice to see you back and enjoyed your mail. With Bender’s age creeping up have you tried giving him COSEQUIN daily. It’s made a huge difference with my cats. It may slow down that dementia some.
Take care of yourself and try to get through this year so you can retire and play.
cc
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Happy birthday Bender. Love your picture!
Always love seeing a post from you!
I appreciate your time and creativity!
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Thank you!!! so very happy you are taking time out for You. (that is very important.) the wait was worth it. Love shot cotton with stripes. thank you much for sharing 👌🌻
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I have my Mothers Featherweight. She taught me to sew on it 65 years ago. My Mother could do anything on that little machine. She made a Canvass Ice Fishing Ice fishing shanty and my dad made the frame. She purchased upholstery fabric at a fire sale. It was in a real fire. lol lol She put it on a tarp o. Our lawn scrubbed it dried it and tore apart my dad’s recliner and upholstered that chair. When I have memories of her I am still amazed at everything she accomplished. On top of all that we almost never ate store bought bread she as an Avis Bread Baker as well. lol All that and raised 5 kids. Nice to see pictures of the boys. Thanks for posting. Your posts are an inspiration for many. Have a great day and a Better Tomorrow.
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Sweet Bender. So hard when they start to show their age.
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Thanks for your candid update. Your blog posts have given me a lot of joy but blogging is not a lifetime obligation. If it is at the expense of your creativity and energy everyone would want you to choose yourself.
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1st I would never want you to feel obligated to post! If the spirit moves you or the winds blow or don’t blow, so be it. I think during the pandemic we were all looking for bright happy inspiration or was it distraction? (That may have even been why you started blogging.) Your creativity, your seemingly boundless energy, Bender (his health issues) and Rico and both their antics, your gorgeous local flowers, coastline photos, forest hikes, unique projects finished in record time, your pickleball prowess stories, Sheep herding, adorable lambing, fish tacos and all the other stories made us feel connected to something wonderful and refreshing. As we find a new normal 5 years after the pandemic we can’t easily forget all you have shared with us. The inspiration we have all gotten from you should have your ears ringing every time one of us refers to Agile Jack, Anne Ibach or sweet goofy Bender. I’ll speak for myself when I say you have definitely influenced my creativity in a good way. Hats off to you Anne and hugs for just being you! Whether you continue to share or not we will all have a special place in our hearts for you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!🫂
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When I miss your blogs I go back and reread past ones. Glad things are well in your world. I just bought some of those stripes. Still deciding what to do with them besides admiring them. LOL. Your quilt is beautiful. Thanks for your time and inspiration.
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Thank you for this. I really enjoy your posts but you must look after yourself and limit wh
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So glad to see you again! I’m not surprised that you experienced burnout – we all do at some point in time. Your new project looks wonderful. I’ve never cared for the shot cotton and stripes but they do make a wonderful quilt. I hope you’ll give all your fans at least one post a week especially if you’re working on a sewing project. You inspire all of us!
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So glad to see you again! I’m not surprised that you experienced burnout – we all do at some point in time. Your new project looks wonderful. I’ve never cared for the shot cotton and stripes but they do make a wonderful quilt. I hope you’ll give all your fans at least one post a week especially if you’re working on a sewing project. You inspire all of us!
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Good to hear from you again Anne. And posting small posts is just fine. I love the stripes. I’ve just started collecting them,but haven’t decided what to do with them. There are so many options. Yours is beautiful as always.
Take care and share the finished product when you can. Thanks for sharing your creativity with us!
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Given your job, I’m not surprised you’re stressed, probably more than many of use. I’ve learned it’s not unusual for you to take blogging breaks, so I wasn’t too worried about your absence. Spend as much time as you can with Bender. And take care of yourself. Hopefully, the arrival of warmer weather and the ability to get outside will help.
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Hi…Wordpress is not letting me post/send you anything as it turns up blank when I type in my password. I’ve been getting your emails for a while now and the password isn’t working if I want to respond. Nice receiving your email after such a long hiatus …I’ve moved up to the Hillsboro area from Los Angeles 4 months ago and it’s quite a change. I never thought it would be such a difference and I feel so strange with all the dark clouds and rain..but now that Spring is here, my mood is perking up. Now that Im here, I can see how it feels during the seasons..so far have experienced both Winter and Spring…what a difference! We dont have spring like this in Southern California…so amazing. I also have not been quilting for the past 4 months so it’s good hear some other people have the same issue.. it’s sort of an “on” “off” hobby thats for sure. Anyway, Hope you retire soon! It’s absolutely wonderful! Susan
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I’ve missed you! Take care of yourself😜Sent from my iPhone
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where can someone pick up a Featherweight sewing machine? that would be my best bet to purchase a singer sewing machine, I love the treadle type thank you for any suggestions.
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Got it. Great to hear from you and see the new project. Enjoy the creative process!
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It’s good to see a post from you. With a full time job and your love of pickleball, you have less free time than some of us retired people. I post every day, and somedays it’s just one photo and one paragraph, but it keeps me in a routine, which I need.
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I am so thrilled to find you in my inbox again. I would much rather hear from you occasionally than not at all. Pace yourself – do what feels right. Women put too much pressure on themselves to live up to some unattainable goal. I learned that the hard way. I took a ‘Playing with Stripes’ class from Mary Mashuta some years ago and have been collecting striped fabric ever since. You have inspired me to pull it all out and play a little.
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