Now - I have a problem. The problem is that I LOVE to start projects but I don't really love to finish them. Something always comes up that has to be done, sometimes I just don't know what to do, or something else just pops up that is more appealing.
Last week I started the snake trail quilt. And while several of the other bloggers in the EZ Dresden Challenge actually finished their quilts, mine sits there with only 8 blocks. (The first 4 I messed up, but I'll still include them in my final quilt.)
I also finished my 48 blocks for my granny square quilt (pictures to follow as soon as they're uploaded.) But I didn't quite feel like sewing them together (maybe because I know basting comes next. I hate basting.)
I did okay on the teacher quilts because there was a deadline.
But what is my problem? And what am I going to do about it? If any of you have any suggestions - I'm all ears.
For now, I think I'll start posting my WIPs (works in progress) here. Maybe it will help me to be more accountable? We'll see.
First up - which is something I have been working on for at least 2 years (and will probably be working on for longer than that) is my hexagon quilt. It is English Paper Pieced and it's kind of my work-in-the-car-on-long-car-trips-project. I have no timeline to finish it, and I tend to like big quilts. So it will be a while. And I'm okay with that. I have a few other hand projects on the list, but haven't started any and don't plan to until this one is done.
When this photo was taken, a few months ago, there were 88 flowers on the quilt. Now there are 110. So it's a bit bigger. The size of the sides of the hexagons are 3/4 inch. So they are rather smallish. Not the smallest size you can get, but not very large for sure.
The next WIP I'm going to admit to is one I started sometime in 2009. It is a Hello Betty double hourglass quilt. The top is completely done at this point and you can see a little bit about it here.
I got stuck on what to do on the back. I've got 4 FQs of the line still left. I'd be okay with a nice solid turquoise or dark orange, but I can't seem to find one (I've only looked at JoAnn.) I thought something pieced might be nice, and I kind of wanted flannel. If I would just decide on something and buy it, I could probably get my sister in law to quilt it for me. I just need to do it!
Are you like me - do you have quilter's ADD? Or are you really organized and focused and finish one project before you start another one.
I will be back with more WIPs. And I'm not even organized enough to get them linked up to Lee's WIP Wednesday. But I've got a long list I plan to post. Unless something else comes up.
Ugh - I was just thinking about all my UFO/WIPs yesterday...as I planned a few new things to start. The problem is that the fun is in the starting. And if there isn't a hard deadline, the ending isn't a fun. Although, that crinkled quilt out of the drier is so nice!
ReplyDeleteFirst up...a)is this really personally bothering you? or b)are you beating yourself up because we read all these wonderful blogs about all these fabulous people who seem to finish so many projects? I read about 50 blogs every morning and some days I beat myself up because I only like to start projects and sometimes I finish them and sometimes I don't. But you know what? Quilting is supposed to be fun and relaxing....so what if I start tons of projects? I love playing with fabric and if something strikes me and I want to finish it right away...so be it...if not why punish myself? If it is not something I am excited about, I make mistakes (which makes me more unexcited) and I wind up putting it away anyway...so why put myself thru it? I am 58, I've had cancer and I've learned that life is too short to place such high expectations on yourself that you can't enjoy it. I vote for enjoying the moment.
ReplyDeleteSo if it is really personally bothering you...ask some of us to hold you accountable...we will bug you till you finish them...I volunteer...but make sure that it is really something inside you and not outside pressure. You seem to be so blessed (husband and five boys) and you are so talented (I love visiting your blog).
My favorite saying: "If you don't like something, change it! If you can't change it, change the way you think about it!" I have been repeating this to myself for over two years now....and guess what...it works!
I wish for you a wonderful day, full of fun and love.
Oh, there are two of us! My started projects make a huge list -- you would not believe it! I have noticed, though, that every once in awhile I will suddenly, spontaneously, start finishing quilts, and will not stop until I have finished maybe a half dozen of them! Now I don't worry about it - I just wait for "finishing time" and have fun!
ReplyDeleteIf you need some Hello Betty in that color way I have some Big cuts of it left. I'm guessing I have a 10 yards. I was planning to use part of it on my quilt (that has been in progress for years) but I would be happy to part with the rest.
ReplyDeleteI'm so quilter ADD it's not funny!! I guess it was about 8 years ago that I wrote a list of what I started, and the list had about 12 quilts. Now, I won't even write down how many there are!! At the quilt guild where I used to go they talked about PROCESS and PROJECT people. You are a process person, like me, and the people who finish quilts are the PROJECT people. Trouble is, we process people tend to compare ourselves to the project people and beat ourselves up over it. I guess I hit a place in the quilt where it seems hard (like the actual quilting) and I just set it aside till I am brave enough. So you are not alone, and I LOVE the flower garden quilt that you are making!! Show us it a little more up close: it looks delicious!! And just keep sewing: it's a hobby and should make you happy, and if you don't finish anything up too often, that's ok. Your hubby and kids still love you, and we love connecting with you on your blog :-) Have a great week!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so quilter ADD it's not funny!! I guess it was about 8 years ago that I wrote a list of what I started, and the list had about 12 quilts. Now, I won't even write down how many there are!! At the quilt guild where I used to go they talked about PROCESS and PROJECT people. You are a process person, like me, and the people who finish quilts are the PROJECT people. Trouble is, we process people tend to compare ourselves to the project people and beat ourselves up over it. I guess I hit a place in the quilt where it seems hard (like the actual quilting) and I just set it aside till I am brave enough. So you are not alone, and I LOVE the flower garden quilt that you are making!! Show us it a little more up close: it looks delicious!! And just keep sewing: it's a hobby and should make you happy, and if you don't finish anything up too often, that's ok. Your hubby and kids still love you, and we love connecting with you on your blog :-) Have a great week!!!
ReplyDeleteHello again!! I just realized that i can click on the photo and see your quilt bigger. the flower garden is wonderful!!! I love your fussy cutting to create the starburst type flower and the fabric choices that you've made: so pretty!! :-)
ReplyDeleteI also love to start projects (not just quilting) and then when something is partially done, it isn't so interesting anymore. I'm not the greatest housekeeper, would much rather read a book, but the house was always cleanest when I was in grad school and had a paper to write (oh my gosh, the kitchen floor is filthy, how can I even think about
ReplyDeletesitting down to work on that term paper?). However, when no paper was due, it really didn't bother me so much if the house was messy or my children's clothing was becoming permanently pleated in the laundry basket. I can procrastinate with the best of them. Just keep thinking of how rewarding it is to finish a quilt. That is what I keep telling myself (with about 10 half-finished tops) to focus on. Do as I say, not as I do is very applicable if you ask my advice. My other advice is that (speaking from experience) it is much easier to change when you are younger than when you are a grandmother and you just want to play with your grandchildren.
Your quilts are beautiful, and when you finish them they will be even more beautiful!
ps
ReplyDeleteI find I get much more done if I get together with another quilting friend and we're both working on whatever we want to work on than if I'm home alone.
That hexagon quilt is just amazing!! I want to make one of those before I die. Maybe I should get started ;)
ReplyDeleteI have HORRIBLE crafters ADD! It's not that I hate finishing projects... it's more that I get inspired so frequently and have the attention span of a gnat, so I just simply START a lot of projects. I have so many WIPs that I think I could ride out the rest of the year just finishing those up. Sigh!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Holly and her comment just above. I've so many ideas and so much fun fabric calling out to be used that I just don't always "finish" things. Guess I'll start posting WIP's too cause otherwise I never seem to know what to blog about.
ReplyDeletethe hexie quilt is AMAZING!! i'm always in awe of people who handstitch that much! the double hour glass is going to be really cute too! i've always wanted to try that.
ReplyDelete