Monday, February 01, 2010

How To Fill Up A Weekend

No divorce proceedings yet! The OC is a kind and generous person but does not suffer fools gladly. All he wanted was to be done with airports, get home, put his feet up, do his crossword and sleep on his own pillow. Not so much to ask. But then a fool intervened, checked the wrong flight, and Voila! He got a bonus hour to enjoy airport ambiance. But, one's own bed, in one's own house, a weekend game of golf, albeit in gloomy, gray rain, a walk in the nature preserve, and not having to shave for a few days, have wonderful restorative powers. He is rested and refreshed. And gone on another trip. And, most importantly, the number of his return flight is chiseled on the inside of my forehead.

It was a good weekend. In spite of miserable weather, to which we are not accustomed in these parts, this time of year. [Is that my daughter I hear, playing a mournful tune on her tiny violin?] How can it possibly be Wednesday already? I think the gray weather, carrying over into the early part of the week, made it seem like the weekend had been extended.

Anne Tyler held me hostage with her latest book, "Noah's Compass." She drew me into the lives of her perfectly ordinary characters, to such an extent that I had to finish the book before anything else got done. And then I had to go to the library and rummage through the shelves to find another Tyler fix....




......which I am trying to hold at arm's length until I finish "Pomegranates" which, while interesting, does not carry me along so effortlessly from page to page as Tyler does.


I found a new recipe for Irish soda bread.......We polished it off in record time. Definitely a keeper!





And a project to sew on while listening to the rain spilling down outside......





I've had this cream floral fabric for more than a year. My sister-in-law bought it, but since she mainly buys fabric, then fondles it now and again, but rarely makes anything from it, I volunteered to make something for her. That something is a table runner. Which I started at the weekend. And could, with luck, finish by Friday! [Another manifestation of the New Me, the one who finishes things!]

But.

I'm not too sure I like it. That mauve-y-lilac-y-purple-y colour seemed perfect when I bought it. And the purple with the sparkle in it serenaded me from the sale shelf at the quilt shop. I seem to have an affinity for purple. Maybe from the purple cloth that covered all the statues in church, during Lent, when I was growing up? Or maybe white hair and shades of purple just go together? But purple has a bad reputation. My Bulgarian friend, Julia, told me once, that, in Bulgaria, purple is the colour for practitioners of the world's oldest profession, for which I do not have an affinity. After she told me that, I dressed very conservatively for our weekly voyages of exploration into Brussels! And then there's another dubious connection. Purple prose. Of which none of us would want to be accused.

Now I'm wondering if these two fabrics take the table runner out of the "demure lady" category, which is certainly descriptive of my s-i-l, and move it into "tart" territory, which would not suit her at all. I no longer trust my own judgement. That lilac/lavender/mauve has been luridly leering at me since I started. But, I am not ripping it out now! If she doesn't like it she can give it away, donate it to charity, or use it to wash her car. I started it, so I will finish it!

It has progressed to this stage:





Layered and pinned. After that there's only one more dilemma---to bind it in the sparkly purple? Or the more demure green? Or.....maybe two dilemmas......Which brothel to donate it to if the finished product is indeed too "tarty?"

If you'd like to weigh in on the matter, I'm all ears! But hurry. I want to get it finished before my next run to the airport!

23 comments:

ChrisB said...

Hi Molly,
Greetings from the UK!

Just discovered your blog and thoroughly enjoying reading it, so thought I would say hello. Noticed on the picture of the soda bread that you have the same polish pottery as me, don't you just love it!

Thimbleanna said...

You're so funny! I always thought red was the color for those ladies. And red is very popular these days, so it doesn't seem to have stopped anyone. The same should apply to your pretty purple!!!

molly said...

Hi Chris---welcome to the funny farm!Always nice to have new visitors....Do you have a blog?I'd like to visit but could only find a profile page. And yes, there is something really homey and appealing about Polish pottery!

Good morning Anna! So--Purple or green binding? Or donate.....?

Warty Mammal said...

Color connotations vary with culture. That table runner looks like a keeper to me.

Pam said...

Oh, Anne Tyler! I've got all her books and love them, particularly the more recent ones. The earlier ones are a bit dark sometimes.

I wish she would write them as fast as I read them. (Do you think this is an unreasonable wish? No, nor me.)

My verification word is "onsionsi". Really good word.

ChrisB said...

Hi Molly, No I dodn't have a blog of my own just a reader I'm afraid - maybe one day.....

riseoutofme said...

Purple.

persiflage said...

I think purple, the darker one if possible, would draw it all together satisfyingly. Your SIL and I share the characteristic of just buying the fabric....but there is nothing (much) wrong with that.
I am glad domestic bliss has been restored. and I must try some Anne Tyler.

Ali Honey said...

Purple: Purple: Purple!
I love purple and don't believe there is anything unpleasant about it.( Whatever that says about my character )

I like this new finishing things Molly person. Well done Molly!

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

For the binding I'd use a deep shade of the darkest leaf in the flowered material ..... but whatever you use your Sister-in-law is going to love it !
Anyway , do brothels have table runners ? I thought they ran more to buxom ladies in fishnet ?

molly said...

S&S---Hot and cold running maidens, my informants tell me. Possibly even running across tabletops, in which case the runner could serve a useful cushioning purpose!

Pauline said...

Purple is royalty. A mysterious color, purple is associated with both nobility and spirituality. Bind it in the green. And may I have the recipe for the Irish Soda Bread?

Pauline said...

Molly - I have a new URL. That could be the problem. Check your blogger dashboard to see if my link is up to date. LOL at pond scum green.

silfert said...

Ooohhh, I can't decide which I'd like most: the bread recipe or the beautiful mugs! Maybe I'll just come by for coffee and bring a cake?

Meggie said...

I see no bad vibes from the purple, love your choice of colours. Bind it in the sparkly Purple!
We always were told it was red for 'Scarlet women' A friend took his new English bride proudly home to his mother in rural NZ. New Bride had beautiful fingernails, painted bright red. Her new MIL frostily told her "Only the village Tarts wear THAT colour!"

The Lass said...

I'd go for the purple, too :)

Unknown said...

i vote for binding it in green.
but i'm not overly fond of purple... so maybe i don't get a vote at all.
green. go with the green!!!

Anonymous said...

Oooh yes, purple. Lovely.

Kacey said...

I love it, but then again.....I love fabric, any color, any time. I think you did a great job of pulling the colors out of your major fabric. Don't question yourself when doing something kind for a friend. I have 22 1/2 yard fabrics lined up on the buffet. (All sliced into 2 inch strips) They are headed for a Bargello, soon, but we think we bought a house in Punta Gorda and most of my thoughts are with the idea off moving from Ohio to Florida fulltime. I am just too old for all this jazz!

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

Well, I love it. I think it's absolutely beautiful. Trust your judgment, lady, you are spot on.

...it makes me smile that books hold you hostage; as they do me.

...it makes me smile that your 'new you' is to finish things that you begin; as is mine, this year. I'm working on it. Good luck with your efforts, too.


And, huge hugs for all the smiles that you give to me every time I drop by for tea and a few hostage moments in and among the words of your world.

XO

Scarlett & Viaggiatore

Stomper Girl said...

In my house too much purple is barely enough so I shan't weigh in on this. I definitely don't think of purple as "tarty" though.

irishpatti said...

Well dear childhood friend. You are the splitting image of your mam! You always were a great writer in school & I always loved reading your composition books.
Caroline asked me last nite to google Molly Bawn and there's yourself!
Padraigin

jkhenson said...

I adore the quilt. The colors go well together, I think. :) The soda bread looked delicious, and the books will be added to my ever growing list of "to reads". Maybe I will get to them on summer vacation? ;)