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Saturday, October 1, 2016

October Quilty365 Linkup

Here we go again, a round-up of all the little circles for the past month! Adding these to the stacks gives me a total of 341. Wowsers! Counting the extra circle needed for leap year, that leaves me with only 25 left to stitch! Woohoo!
September Quilty 365
Okay, that feels like a walk in the park at this point. And some people get squirmy when I fess up, but seriously, I. Am. So. Tired. Of. These. Circles. Which is why I finally drifted away from raiding the scrap bin and starting digging {straight from the stash totes} for fabrics that made something inside me do a happy dance. Totally the point of the entire exercise at the beginning, but somewhere along the way I just narrowed my options--and then dug in until almost too late. Kept challenging myself to be frugal as an additional challenge, just because it sounded fun, and clung to the idea of being able to say 'Yep, and it was all made directly from the scrap bin!' So stubborn.

Yeah, well, about that. It was 'fun' for a long time and then I burnt out big time on that big 'ol monster scrap bin, which lead to being weary of the circles. Almost tossed all those bits and pieces piled up in the corner straight into the dumpster if you want to know the truth of it. Then something made me hesitate. Turns out I might just have another scrap bin quilt waiting in the wings of my imagination. One without any circles? hehe  I might have got tired of the repetitive-ness of these too.
All the little circle blocks....
But even as I write this, it's obvious that this circle quilt means something to me. It'll get done, you can bet on that. Getting disinterested in a project from time to time is just part and parcel of the creativity process for almost every single one of us. I talked about it over here once, the way the creative process works. With most projects there's just gonna be a tedious phase. That's a fact. Or perhaps two or three tedious phases.*ughh  Totally normal for almost all of us though!  It's that prep time or 'implementation' that is the work so it gets tiresome. So boring. It requires a little grit to get through--some determination and follow through. And if nothing else, having a daily, year-long project has taught me oodles about the in's and out's of how I actually like to work.

This daily, scheduled plan of attack {which eventually went to once a week and then thrice monthly?} has been a little tough on me, especially this last couple months. I've itched under the skin from the frustration of it all, groused to my family and friends, changed things up in little ways and then finally, just made myself be patient with the entire process. I'm so ready to charge ahead with the layout, but nervous too. What if I don't like the end results? What if, what if, what if? Yeah...., but.... What if I love it? What if it doesn't matter what it looks like as a whole 'cuz I love how it makes me feel? Huh? What about that? 

This is the creative process my friends, when we make it up as we go along. Plowing through the monotony. Coming up with solutions. Fixing mistakes or perhaps cluing in to what might have been overlooked {'it could have been so much better if only...'}. Finding a way to make everything look cohesive and like it was totally meant to be. LOVE that part. Don't you? Makes everything completely worthwhile.

So, please, please link up with us if you haven't already given up and moved on to something much more interesting. Frankly, I'm kind of surprised to make it this far myself! Link a thumbnail picture to a current post on your blog detailing:
  • What particular day you happen to be at now {such as 'day 300'}
  • A picture of all your September circles whether they are stitched to the background fabric or not
  • A link back to this post
  • Any thoughts or introspection you might want to add about this particular project

   

    An InLinkz Link-up
   

25 comments:

  1. Aunque a veces es difícil continuar, soy de las piensa llegar hasta el final... Qué bonitas son tus telas, Audrey!! Gracias y abrazos

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  2. Sorry you have struggled with your project which has inspired so many of us. I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on this. For myself I have enjoy having my daily task, but then I made my sewing very undemanding - quick raw-edge machine appliqué. I think I will miss it when I have finished my year.

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  3. and here I am half way done quilting my queen size circle quilt. I forgot to do a post for it today and will need to do one tomorrow instead

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  4. Yes, they have gotten tedious at times, but this was all about trying to improve my needle-turn applique. So, what will I do when this project is finished you ask - why, one of those 'forever' tiny basket quilts from "When the Cold Wind Blows" of course! It'll either kill me or cure me - applique-wise!

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  5. I knew from the beginning that I would make circles for six months because I did not want a king size quilt at the end of the project. That said, I plan to QUILT my circles before the November 1 link up. I love the quilt top and I can't wait to use it now that the weather has begun to cool down. KUDOS of giant proportions to those who are still making circles, BTW.

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  6. It is important to be honest, and I think it is wonderful that you point out that everything is not supposed to be easy and fun. Sometimes you do have to plow through the process. I have been neglectful lately but I will make some circles so I can link up!

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  7. I think this happens in every long term project. I have several applique quilts that sometimes need to have a time out. My quilty 365 is still chugging along. I started making melon shapes on January first and have kept up with them. I'm still enjoying this hand stitching start to my day.

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  8. Yes, I also love the "I meant to do that" part of the creative process. It may be a mark of enjoying the process more than the product that I seldom finish anything...
    I so admire you for sticking with it all this time! Huzzah!
    I looked at my 'circles' recently (they're actually orange peels) and decided that I'll definitely take it up again this winter. I'll just have a long hiatus in the middle. Not the first time I've hit a gap in life...


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  9. So incredibly inspiring Audrey! I don't know if the link up would feel like a burden or motivation to me - it can be hard when you want to be free to be creative and others are relying on you! Kudos to you for bringing everyone together for so long. I'm so disappointed that I didn't get close to a year, but I've got the beginnings o. Some great quilts that I plan to continue with as soon as things settle down at home.

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  10. I am lagging a little in even posting a blog post, but that's because life keeps interfering in my creative space. I find that a simple task such as those circles can sometimes be the only task I get through in my sewing day. The circles have been a discipline, and I thank them for focussing me through some very unsettling times. My appliqué skills have improved which proves practice does indeed work, and selecting fabric has allowed me to assess my moods and for me to diarise my moods. Yes it's been a long project but at the end I may well miss the discipline and the steady rythmn.

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  11. Day 152 for me. Some days I don't find a fabric for the circle that inspires me either. It gets hard sometimes as my stash is very limited.

    I am enjoying the whole process though. I am sewing rows together as I go so it will be together when my circles are done.

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  12. you certainly have stuck to this project and are nearly at the end I can see it got boring at times but just think of the amazing quilt you will have when they are all sewn together

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  13. Oh)) Same story. Tired but also excited… He-he)) Anyway I really love this project!! Thank you for inspiration!!)))

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  14. My projects have a cycle just as you described--from "Love it!" to "Why did I start this?" and anything in between. But in the end, the finish is worth it. And most of the time, I truly enjoy the process. Kudos to you for keeping up with the circles!

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  15. Some processes are just harder than others. The end is in sight.

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  16. late coming to the party but I had other things scheduled on the blog. Love all the circles

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  17. I agree, it's been hard to keep up lately....but we're so close to the finish line that I'm going to keep at it. I don't have a blog post for this month, but I'm determined to be caught up at the end of October and ready for the final sprint!!!

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  18. You are so close to the end now! I am still sewing, but am behind and this week have totally failed to blog. I'll try to squeeze in before the link up finishes.

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  19. Funny, but I think this is the one project I am not tired of. I almost gave up on the Shenandoah Valley Botanical blocks and then somehow I got a burst of energy and I am back in the game. I just love getting up each morning and seeing a little feedsack circle staring up at me. O.k., that sounds weird! Can't wait to see how your stacks come together.

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  20. I just started the challenge and finished my FIRST month. Don't have many (34) to show for it but so far, I'm enjoying the process. I'm using my circles to 'journal'; I take something from each day to circle quilt about. I've even started to keep a written journal with just a few words to explain that day's circle/idea/thought. I can see that there are days when it's difficult to carve out even a bit of time to 'circle' as happened this past weekend with family visiting.

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  21. I'm fascinated by your thoughts on process. While I regret not be able to join you at the finish line, I am so happy that I made it to the six month mark. I was running out of fabric (really!), and the shift in seasons made for a natural end. I am truly grateful for the experience and am beginning to apply what I learned to other projects. Thanks Audrey!

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  22. The first six months was a piece of cake, but after that, It became tougher for me to keep up with my circles. There is a month and a half left and then the fun part, sewing the blocks together; can't wait!

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  23. Only 25 left as of this post--wow, the end is near (in a good way, LOL)! Loved this post, Audrey, hearing what you've been thinking and processing as you hit the dregs of it. I've missed the linkup because we have been on vacation, but I did take my circles along. I am behind a bit, but have adopted the attitude of "it is what it is." May not get to 365 but I'm trying to stick with the color theme in any event. Still finding the process enjoyable.

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  24. For the last 4 months I remember to late to link up LOL But I have made my 365 circles and loved every moment of making them, I have 1/3 made in to a wall quilt and 1/3 sewn together ready to sandwich and the other 1/3 waiting to be sewn together. THANK YOU Audrey for a wonderful project that I have enjoyed and loved doing the whole time. Cheers Glenda

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