(sp) DIACOTOMY ... quilting I actually do VS what I want to

[Cheryl K.]

It seems so thought out. Was there an epiphany or a gradual movement? eileenkny

LOL. :lol: Probably both. New Years weekend I was bemoaning the fact that my sewing room was so cramped. I realized it was because it was filled and stuffed with odds and ends from projects like shop samples, gifts, class models, etc. I am too frugal to throw away fabric so i started chopping up fabric and finishing UFOs. The rest just sort of came to me as I muddled through the sewing process. I thought of all the great quilt artists that I admire and looked at how they move their ideas to the finished product. I still don't know how they do all they do, but I do try work now with a little more focus.

I also learn from you all as I log on each day. Thanks.

[Liberata T.]

I have been sewing for years and years but only started to quilt last year when I retired. After a career in tech, I wanted to do something creative. Since I have loads of sewing paraphernalia, a good machine and no need for a wardrobe, I decided to take up quilting. My inclination seems to be toward art quilting. That's the explanation of why I quilt.

I have 2 projects going on now and I don't like it. I am a one project at a time girl and I finish them all. That's just me and not something I recommend. But since one project is at the stage of embellishment by hand, I can live with 2 projects. I can take the hand work project with me or do it when I don't want to be at the machine.

What do I do with my "unsuccessful" projects? I take them apart or I unstitch and redo until I am reasonably happy with the results. I am always trying new techniques and new challenges but I do a lot of practice before I commit to a "real" project. I am still searching for "my thing."

I am nuts, I give myself stress, and I have a list of projects I want to try to do that will takes years. Now I am fretting that I started this all too late in life and will not accomplish 10% of what I want to do. My only salvation is that I am learning to look at a designer's work and say to myself, "that's lovely, she/he is brilliant and creative, but it is not for me."