I don't think I was meant for block swaps. I am not sure what I was meant for. I am going to put myself on trial and you get to be the judge and jury. The question before you is am I crazy for quilting the way I do. I am hoping that the verdict will be that I am not crazy, and maybe there is someone out there like me. Let the trial begin!
Exhibit A
June
Last June, my family and I went to a quilt show for my birthday. This is the fabric my daughter just had to have; Have a Very Sherry Berry Christmas. She was 4 at the time. The quilt store that I had bought it from said that they would be providing a pattern for it. Great, wonderful. Fabric got put away until late fall, when it was realized that no pattern had come. Time to think about something to make with it.
Exhibit B
Fall
Okay, now it is late fall. I know it is highly unlikely that it will be done at Christmas, but I would like to have a start on it. Love star patterns, and they seem to be "in style" right now, especially wonky stars. Read my follow bloggers and came upon this from Life is a Stitch. Ah yes, the lucky stars quilt. I have this pattern and actually all the fabric to make this quilt. I have had it for a few years, but decided I did not like the fabric. I had chosen the soft marbled fabric. I may have to change my mind after seeing Andrea's Kona Solids projects.
In the meantime, I have been doing some research, aka online shopping to get a cheap deal for backing for the quilt. While doing this I realize that the fq bundle I bought has very few of the larger prints in the collection. Lucky Stars is great for fussy cutting and showing off those fabrics. I end up buying the backing and some half yards of those great prints.
Exhibit C
Decide I would like to get at least 1 block done in 2009. I end up getting 3 done. As per my norm, I do not completely commit to pre-cutting all the fat quarters. Progress has been made, I am happy.
January 2010
Exhibit D
All of this brings me back to my Christmas swap. It has taken me so long and I realize that is because I treat the swap the same way I do when I make a quilt. It is driving me crazy. I don't precut anything. I take a long time to decide how my block is going to look. Then I make a test block, and then I do a bit at a time. On top of everything else, I signed up for the swap twice. Let's see, I work full-time, have 2 young children who thankfully love spending a lot of time with me, and an incredible supportive husband who through no fault of his own is frequently away for business. What was I thinking? Thankfully, I also have supportive parents who will look after my children if I have a quilting deadline. Part of the reason for joining twice was too make a Christmas quilt for mom. She loves Christmas and has lots of Christmas decorations.I am almost done the blocks and I am really happy with them. I should be able to show some pictures tomorrow of them.
Closing Arguments
I am organized within my quilting room. My problem is that I can never shut my brain off from thinking and I see too many possibilities. Sounds like I am arguing for the prosecution. In my defense, I do get a fair bit of quilting done for my time constraints, and 95% of the time I am very happy with what I make. When the project is all finished I never want to give it away.
So, the question to you the jury is I am crazy for quilting the way I do? How do you organize your projects and quilting time. Is it cut then sew, or it is more free flowing? I definitely think my days of block swaps are over, though I have learned never to say never. I have the signature swap to start on, as well as the potholder swap. I do quite enjoy the small wall hanging, potholder, place mats, pincushions etc. type of swaps. I also enjoy the quilting bees.
Both the Prosectuion and Defense rest!
I do appreciate all of you helping out with your civic duty in this matter. Please let me know when you have reached a verdict.
13 comments:
That all sounds perfectly normal to me.
I say you sound as crazy as all the rest of us!! LOL! But then again - look at all you finished in 2009! Don't worry about the unfinished stuff - you'll get to it..............eventually!
Have a great day - thank you for making me laugh!
Laurie
If you are crazy, then most of us out here are crazy...hummmm now the question is.."Am I crazy"?
Too funny! I'd say we're all nuts!
Well, my dear, Michelle, I think you're in very good company. Try to just relax and enjoy. :-)
Oh my we are all crazy, I also work in a funny way, and I need to have several things going at once. First something to hand quilt at night while I watch TV, second something at the machine, in case I have a minute to sew, third, something to cut for the next project, fourth, cutting and getting fabric ready for my store.
Fifth something to bring to sports games, in case I have a minute. Sixth, things I want to do, 7th fabrics I want, 8th, stores I would like to go to, 9th, 10th, and 11th, 32 hours in a day!!!
I think it is nice you take your time and think things out, I do not and then I have to use the old seam ripper!
Sounds normal to me too....LOL!
Oh, and I don't know where you get your backing but I thought I'd share 'Fabric Depot'. They have some good prices for backing.
Hey! Are you my long lost sister? :-)) We have the same name! LOL You sound perfectly normal to me. ;-)
You are completely not alone, but with one exception. My quilting room is so NOT organized! There are small piles spread all over... unfolded fat quarters, pieced blocks, and whatever the baby has pulled out and spread across the floor (my box of greeting cards at the moment).
(Oh, and for what it's worth -- I like the second pattern with the different star shapes). ;)
I could fill up a page with my opinions on this pro and con swaps and about each of your exhibits. I've been there and done that. I am very choosy with swaps. I don't have much time to spare. But I'm ok with a quilt if I don't get it done in time for the "holiday" it was planned for. That way it is early (if I don't keep putting it off) for next year's holiday. Love the star with Sheri Berry. It is fabulous.
Yup, you're crazy. LOL
But I think we all are. There are just so many neat things to try out, and we want to do them now!
I've stopped buying fabric for any quilt projects (except those solids) until I have used up the fabric I bought last year for projects.
I've tried doing multiple projects at once, but it's just not working for me. I need to do one at a time, from start to finish.
All I can suggest is make a list, but start with an easy quick finish first, and alternate between big projects and little ones.
I can't believe, I, Ms.Canadian Quilt Procrastinator is giving out advice. LOL
Hi Michelle ~ Thank you for dropping by my blog and leaving a comment! I had so much fun reading your post and I can see a lot of myself in there too. No, you are not crazy, at least not any more than the rest of us quilters/crafters?!?
I find it hard to commit a large amount of fabric to one particular fabric since I think a better suited pattern will come along. But now I realize, if a better pattern does come along, then it gives me the excuse I need to buy more fabric :-D
All sounds good to me! Very familiar! Perhaps I should also be on the stand?!?
Thanks for the smile and for making me feel "normal"!
It all happens because you are so creative! And if you are having fun, that's all that matters!
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