Curves

I wish I was posting about curves that I'm piecing or cutting, but I'm actually talking about the curves life throws you.  I thought that the first part of 2012 would be low-key with few commitments and more time to work on quilts.  But two things happened.  Both of them are Very Good Things, but they are both going to take away time from art.  The first thing is that we bought (or are in the process of buying) a new house!  Although we had started randomly scouting out possible locations and prices, we had not formed a clear intention of moving.   

But just like when I didn't really plan to buy a puppy, I started looking around, and something came up that we couldn't resist.  I knew in the back of my mind that if we found the right thing, we would know, and we would have to jump on it.  And we did.  In the next two weeks we should be able to close on it, but won't move for a little while, we need to do some remodeling first.   It's definitely a "fixer" but it's on a great piece of property, almost an acre of land, with woods and trees, and garden space.  

It has a huge workshop for the spouse, and a garage, and a greenhouse, and a garden shed, and a covered kayak storage area, oh yeah, and a DAYLIGHT BASEMENT FOR A QUILTING STUDIO!  Truth be told it's a rather dingy dirty basement.  The yellow paint on the walls and ceilings is a bit of a misguided choice, but I can envision miracles with a little paint and some broad-spectrum lighting.  The main thing is there will be space.  I can have a project out on a table and walk up and work on it.  No climbing over piles, clearing the table to eat, having to dig out a project and all my tools every time I want to work.   I have high hopes.

But the reality is that the whole process of remodeling and moving will be hugely time consuming.  I'm having mixed emotions about leaving my cozy little nest, where I've been for 23 years.  I know the move is the right thing, and we are not going to sell the current house, so there is always the option of going back if we change our minds.

Then there is the second thing I alluded to.  Thanks to my Rotary Club, I will be going to Thailand in May for the Rotary International convention.  The president is unable to attend, and I was chosen to go in her place.  Of course I'm not going all the way to Asia for four days so there will be before and after trips, and the spouse can only get away for a week, so there is the complication of figuring out how long to stay and where to go, etc. etc.  Of course I am thrilled to be asked, and super excited about going, and I'm sure I'll be hugely inspired by the art and architecture there.  But again... time.   Time not doing art.   Well, when life throws you curve balls, hit them out of the park!  I will make the most of both of these opportunities.