Monday, June 6, 2011

Slowing down, way down...

When I first learned to quilt at my local quilt shop back July of 2008, a new lady entered the class that fall just as we had one quilt complete and were moving on to the second quilt.  The difference between us, me and her, was she was an experienced sewer, I was not.   Having a bit of competiveness in me, I tried to match her pace and her enthusiasm for getting tasks completed as quick as possible.  I dislike finishing last.  I learned a bad habit.  Today I must unlearn the need for speed.  I need to slow down.  I need to take my time.  I need to enjoy the process.  

What I find when I speed through a project is it ends up sloppy(in my eyes) and unacceptable.  Shifted fabric, uneven straight sewn lines which leads to bad pressing and unintentional wonky blocks.  Getting the 1/4", not getting the 1/4".  One word... INCONSISTENCY.  Going fast may work for some, but it really is not my style.  I want my the process to be easier not harder.  Going faster than my comfort zone and SKILL LEVEL makes it harder.  Rip, Rip, Rip...No, No, NO.  Slow, Slower, even slower.  Yes, Yes, YES!

I am starting over.  I am doing it MY WAY.  I am relearning all the techniques that works for me to make my blocks acceptable.  I am slowing down and making sure I don't have to Rip, Rip, Rip.


  

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Happy Birthday Ashton

When I asked my nephew a few months ago what kind of quilt he wanted, he told me "one with Babs on it".  Babs was his first dog, a cute pug, that had past away a few weeks before.  So, what could an Aunt say but "okay!".  Along with including some pictures of Babs and Ashton(spanning from when Ashton was born till he was six), is some Mississippi State Pride.  He, along with is parents, are huge State fans!

I had hoped to have it made by Christmas, but my hands had a different plan. But, thankfully, last week I have had a good week and was able to sew, sew, sew!  And on Thursday night, it was done!  Just in time for his birthday party on Saturday, the 12th (today is his actual birthday).  His reaction was amazing which reminds you why you spend hours upon hours creating quilts for loved ones!

This will be something for him and his parents to treasure for a long time to come.  Happy Seventh Birthday Ashton! 

-Darlene




Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Design Wall - The Girl I left Behind BOM

While my husband was deployed to Iraq from September 09 through Sept 10, I worked on The Girl I Left Behind Block of the Month.  I have had the blocks finished since October, but have not been able to work on finishing the quilt.  I am changing the setting from the pattern because the setting wasn't for me.  I will finish up the rest of it this week and then send it off to a long-armer to be quilted.
This is the year to work on finishing projects and not just beginning them.  This is the first of many UFO's you will see on my design wall in the coming months.  Stay tuned...

Happy Sewing,
Darlene