Carry the Zero

Whenever I have to describe myself, one of the first things I note is that am a voracious reader. I used to say “an avid reader”, but my reading habit is really more intense than that. My pace is an average of a book per week, and pretty much has been my entire life. Naturally books like Anna Karenina and East of Eden are not completed in one week; depending upon the subject matter, a regular 400 pager is no problem. I know that I read this much because years ago, I started keeping a book journal of everything I read. I use this log to reflect on what I’ve read, recommend books to friends, and honestly, to simply keep track. There are times where I begin a book and experience deja vu, only to open my book journal and confirm that yep, I’ve already read the book. I also reread books as there is value in enjoying something again and/or reading a book with a fresh set of eyes.

I also know how much I read because I visit the library once a week to exchange books. Libraries are incredibly sacred to me — I find comfort, joy and solace there. Just think about how amazing it is have places where at no cost, you can learn and explore anything* you want! (*Unless you live in a place with absurd book bans.) In high school and college, I studied in libraries hoping that my surroundings would help me absorb my lessons. I enjoy visiting when there are activities such as story time or crafts to witness the joy and wonder on peoples faces. I am still that person that walks in to the library thrilled that it exists. Although I manage a healthy hold list, I have also found some real gems just walking the aisles and perusing the stacks, which is actually the only kind of shopping I enjoy. So, yes, the library is of unquantifiable importance to me. Due to my deep affection for books, research and libraries, I’ve often been asked why I am not a librarian. Well, it is because I require separation between work and life. I want my visits to enrich my life and not where I go to earn a paycheck. I believe librarians are rockstars, and I’m happy to just go watch the band if you will.

There is something special about having a bag that is devoted solely to library trips, like a basket for the farm market. Last fall I made the above tote for my weekly visits. The quilted tote is a gift for my cousin’s daughter who was recently recognized by her library for reading 1,000 books. She has a yard sign commemorating her achievement! OH and the best part is, she is 5 and starting kindergarten this fall! (There is hope.) Both totes are the free Forty Minute Tote pattern by Purl Soho and constructed of materials in my stash. Neither of these took me 40 minutes, but as I’ve said many times, it is about the process as much as the final product. The pattern is highly adaptable; for my bag, I embellished the front with an improvisational piece in my favorite wonky lines style. For Olivia’s, I wanted something sturdy (see the volume of books she carries), so I adapted the pattern to a quilted tote. The outer layer is made of unused quilt blocks quilted to a piece of batting with a lining added to the inner bag. Now is a good time to confess to my LQQ friends that the blocks are from the “Wanderer’s Wife” pattern and that I will not be completing this quilt….which I am sure you all realized two years ago. I am so damn pleased with how they both turned out — especially the quilted bag. What a fun way to ferry books to and fro.

Lately I’ve been enjoying pulling up my digital music library and hitting shuffle. When you have the uh, diverse, collection I do, brace yourself for a wild ride! One sequence pivoted from Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five, to Mum (an Icelandic band, singing in Icelandic), to Red Stick Ramblers (Cajun), over to Mother Love Bone (early grunge), then to Dr. John, onto Beth Orton and finished with Django Reinhardt. A real roller coaster of genres right there. It is definitely entertaining if you’re in the mood for that sort of random order. I’ve often wondered just how random the shuffle function really is, because I’ve experienced too many times when songs are played that fit the moment perfectly. My ipod Claude has a tendency to play exactly what I need to hear. Lo and behold, this strange occurrence happened again just as I was sewing the last bit of Olivia’s bag together — “Carry the Zero” by Built to Spill. A song with the word carry in the title and, I’m fairly certain, the only math song in my musical library. I laughed so hard when I heard the opening notes. How hilarious, how serendipitous!

I cannot imagine life without reading and sewing. Just as I don’t believe certain books or genres are guilty pleasures, I also don’t fall prey to the idea that everything I make must be challenging and grand. All reading is reading and all crafting is creation! No matter the size or time spent on a project, I am still pouring my creative energy and heart into it. Encouraging reading of any kind is essential, although I don’t believe the reader this bag is destined for needs any incentive to visit the library, others do. Lastly it is important that we continue to support our libraries and understand just how invaluable they are to our communities. Libraries are under constant threat of underfunding and twisted political agendas. We must protect the places where anyone can learn for free and a 5 year old can read a 1,000 books just because.

Music listened to, a wild assortment of songs not in this order: The Meters, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Mother Love Bone, Chris Cornell, Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Richmond Fontaine, The Jayhawks, Wilco, Beth Orton, Mum, Bjork, Tuba Skinny, Pine Leaf Boys, Red Stick Ramblers, Drive by Truckers, Damien Jurado, The Alabama Shakes, Nathaniel Rateliff, Anders Osborn, Fats Waller, Fats Domino, Esther Rose and Built to Spill. The song “Carry the Zero” is from the Built to Spill album Keep It Like A Secret, an album I love.