Looking ahead and scared to death...

[Brenda R.]

Thanks everyone. I guess I'll just forge ahead, enjoy today and worry about tomorrow tomorow.

[Lynn K.]

I think the fear is a motivator to keep looking at ideas and learning new techniques and being open to "Wahoo" moments. Just last night I was browsing through the new AQS mag and it is all so perfect and beautiful, I just had to keep telling myself, "Lynn, they all started in the same place you did!"

So give yourself some freedom and just have fun! It just makes my stress fade away when I pick up a needle and thread, either by hand or machine. It just does!

[Susan B.]

Listening to the pro's talk about their process, especially free-motion, is a many year endeavor because there is so much to be learned. There are resources everywhere. My favorite is Cindy Needham's "Design It, Quilt It" on Craftsy because she teaches users of home machines how to listen to their machine to gain control. She quilts really slowly, as does David Taylor (see his TQS show). Me, too. Diane Gaudynski "warms up" for several minutes on sample pieces before working on a piece. I have a stack of samples that I may put together to make a king-sized quilt one day :lol: Samples of threads and designs might take as much time as actual quilting.

Learning a couple of basic shapes or designs is where many of us started, and added on as skill developed. Over time, we learn to relax and enjoy the process, as important as a finished product. Don't get over-whelmed!