I think I'm in a bit of a sluggish, slummy slump lately. Never really feeling like I get anywhere. I play, dribble and dabble at things but it never seems to add up. Am I ill? Look at this gorgeous fabric! And I haven't even cut into it yet. So indecisive. What if I ruin it I think to myself.
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| A potential quilt top |
And I'm being sneaky and working on this quilt already. 'Cuz I just can't stand not to. Plus, my word for the year is '
mindful' and I've tried to think about what and how I work. What my goals are or if
I even have any. I'm not sure about that yet. But for now I'm thinking this particular quilt may go into a show. If I get it done in time and if I don't chicken out. Oh yeah. And if they like it well enough to give the go-ahead. It's part of my 'what is my style' considerations. I seem to be all over the place and it's a curious thing to me.
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| The log cabin quilt... |
And Yay for me! I got 2nd place with my marlsala
entry in the quilt top category! When I opened up to the announcement
post, I was so very shocked! Wowsers. The hosts and judges are primarily modern quilters and my stuff really isn't. Am I slipping over to the dark side? hehe Totally kidding. I think there's room at the table for all of us dedicated quilters and no labels required.
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| Marasa and An Uncertain Crossroad |
The biggest source of my sturm und drang is no doubt the quilt project below. As of yesterday, I finally feel like I got through the very worst part of the dreads with it. {I hope.} The part that makes my arms feel enormously heavy as I'm stitching and causes me to feel incredibly restless the whole time it's staring me in the face. It's so painful and yes I'm whining. blah, blah, blah... Don't bother reading, I'm just getting it off my chest.
It takes me an hour {
an hour!} to sew about four or five letters and the entire time, I'm think, think, thinking. I'm sooo.... tired of it and I just want to be done. Yet at the same time I'm getting very excited to see it start coming together. It's exhilarating to lay it out on the floor together and imagine what it will look like all together. Exhilarating is good. I don't even care if it turns out to be a mess, it's
exhilarating! And now you think I'm crazy.
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| Auditioning some fabrics.... |
So it all adds up to not having much mental energy to put into any other quilt project 'cuz I'm a bit drained. Plus my kids are crazy busy with tennis matches and baseball games and I'm back to the book work in the office. Ughh. Let's not go there.
Lovin' these thoughtful and/or funny posts lately too....
so funny,
too funny, and
something to think about. There's something to be said for balance. In everything.
It is funny how sometimes you just get into a slump; at least I do; nothing looks good to me anymore; i jump from one thing to another and don't like any of them!! It all seems like "why am I doing this? what was I thinking? "
ReplyDeleteI think it is a thing that creatives go through; plenty of doubts, questions and searching and just feeling darn uncomfortable! Then one day it all feels ok again--some people call it a dry spell...I call it a pain in the butt (LOL). Take heart,
it will pass like dark clouds giving way to sunshine...hugs, Julierose
Congrats on your marsala quilt! I am internally nodding recognition at your thoughts, as they are very familiar to me too. Musing about what your goals are or if you even have any. Yup. Meanwhile, please dribble, dabble and play on, sturm und drang be darned, because you can't help but be creative, and we are all the better for it!
ReplyDeleteI think we all get in the same spot you are in. Family life and work and everyday chores can overwhelm anyone. Not enough hours in the day to feel productive. I went through almost a year of this and I thought why am I making myself miserable. I let it go and everything came back recently. BUT be kinder to yourself. WE all can't create 24/7 and have a life besides. You will find the balance and you will make time and enjoy it. Chris
ReplyDeleteI have very much been in a slump with my applique - I want to work on the two quilts but yet I turn to something else - it is like I just don't know what I want to do with them - so I turn to pick up the redwork embroidery as I know what to do with that - one color- one stitch :) or the tumblers - all the same shape, sew them together! the stars - the same thing - same pieces all ready cut up - why is it the applique gives me a slump when I really enjoy applique! so pleased to see your quilt got second for tops -
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of emotion sewn into your fire quilt - I'm not surprised you find working on it draining. Lovely, lovely quilting on the log cabin blocks! Congrats on your Marsala challenge :0)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your 2nd place in the Marsala challenge - that's great! Hang in there sweetie; keep dabbling and your mojo will return.
ReplyDeleteWonderful job on your Marsala quilt. Sometimes it does feel pretty risky just stepping out to share our work with others. Glad you did. Hope that was a confidence builder for sharing your fire quilt with others too.
ReplyDeleteAwesome news on your Marsala! I admire your perseverance when it comes to applique, seems like I'm good for smallish projects only. As far as feeling all over the place with your "style", I totally get that. Maybe that IS a style, haha.
ReplyDeleteOh and thank you for the link :)
ReplyDeleteGoodness sakes! You may feel like you're in a slump, but you're looking very productive to me! First of all, you're working through a very emotional time with the fire quilt. Naturally you touch it and then rest for awhile. It will come together in its own time, as the experience is worked through inside you. Congratulations on your Marsala top!! Your log cabin is looking fabulous with your quilting. I often have to remind myself to not make quilt-making another obligation. Life already gives us plenty of those! Quilt-making is our escape. Do whatever you feel like doing.
ReplyDeleteThe pile of fabric is oh so tempting. I would do an applique project with it but it is not mine to play with. You will undoubtedly do something very creative with it.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your award!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the Marsala quilt! Your fire quilt is taking a lot of creative energy, so anything else you do at the moment should just be FUN (loving the log cabin still by the way). I think you already have your own style, and it's one I am drawn back to over and over - as far as I can see the chances of your ruining any fabric by cutting into it are virtually zero.
ReplyDeleteI am not surprised that your marsala quilt won something...the color play is so vibrant in that quilt!
ReplyDeleteAs to your slump, ha ha ha laughing all the way to the quilt hoop. You get so much done! :)
Your fire quilt is what's draining you. ...but in the end it will hold so much of you that it will be a precious treasure :)
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Deb, it's not surprising, your quilt is just fabulous. Congratulations! And I love the association of fabrics in the first picture, one of ma favorite and I could never make it as I did not find yet the tone of fabrics I wish.
ReplyDeleteSlump? You??? You have accomplished so much in the short time that I have been following your blog. In just a few months, a second quilt has gone into the hoop, and I think you've finished three to four tops. You are downright prolific!!! Celebrate!
ReplyDeleteHang in there, it will pass. And congrats on 2nd place!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your Marsala. I think it's beautiful. I love your future quilt fabrics but know what you mean. I purchased similar colors several years ago but never made it. Need to start again. I do enjoy your mix of piecing and applique.
ReplyDelete"What if I ruin it"...you can send it to me.
ReplyDelete"If they don't like it well enough to give the go ahead"...you can send it to me.
That marsala quilt I knew would be a winner...you can send it to me!
Keep up the excellent work! ...that you can always send to me!
Congrats on the Marsala kudos. Well deserved. Its a beauty of a quilt.
ReplyDeleteI think we all get into a slump from time to time. the mojo always returns. However like others here , I don't think it looks like your mojo has gone anywhere !
I'm so glad your Marsala top won. I certainly voted for it, I love it. I do hope you put the log cabin in your show. It is wonderful. As for the "fire" quilt, I felt the same way about my "Cooking with Jane" quilt towards the end, and I didn't have the emotional aspect attached to it like you do with yours. It will come to an end and you will be relieved and we will all be joyful to see it. Enjoy the day. And thanks for the links to the other blogposts. Sometimes it is good to read new blogs and realize - we are not alone in our quest for an uncomplicated life!
ReplyDeleteI've been jumping from one thing to the next too. Love the funny posts! I just read all 3!!
ReplyDeletecongratulations on your win! well deserved.
ReplyDeleteYour emotionally difficult quilt will be so rewarding - just take it slow.
Excellent - good for you! Thanks again for another post that rang so true for me!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on second place! I think modern and tradtional quilts have so much in common! Yeah for you!
ReplyDeleteI feel ya Audrey - I feel like that too! I have a baby quilt to make and I haven't cut any of it yet! They are circles and I have to use a circle grid to cut them out - I am soooo scared to ruin my beautiful fabric that I bought - what to do???? So, am still working on Ole Glory - my eagle quilt and am enjoying the applique - also am sending you some really cool fabric for you - very cheerful fabric - I think you will like! Many Happy Hugs, Mary
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