Why is it that starting something you should be doing is the hardest bit?
Sometimes I can sneakily start something by just getting it out, not thinking and say I'll just do this one little bit! I think my reluctance to face up to the things I should be doing is why I start so many new projects! I want to sew just not necessarily that project!
So I am going to try something different! It sort of encourages my startitis but maybe in a more sane way. Instead of plugging away at one thing until it is finished I am going to allow myself to flit from one project to the next. After all progress it progress isn't it!?
For example a couple of my bees are finishing up soon and I want to get all the blocks done as soon as possible!!
I said previously I am starting all the overdue blocks for my Star of Africa bee - I have started four and I have two more to start, though I may leave one till last as it requires pre-washing fabric which I don't do as a rule!
I started those four bee blocks by saying I would just cut out the background. I have done a bit more than that on each one! Is my devious plan working?
Only time will tell but I have pushed on a bit further with that castle one of yesterday
The castle bit is just paper at the moment but it will be fabric in due course!
This is supposed to be Eilean Donan castle - Katy guessed! You will find it on lots of shortbread tins and the like as the setting is amazing! If you visit the West coast of Scotland I'd certainly recommend looking at it. Can't remember what it's like inside but it is amazing from the outside.
Not sure the comparison with my fabric attempt is doing me any favours! Just how can you do this place justice!??
I have also re-started a UFO (I know don't fall off you chairs) by telling myself I'd just cut out the pieces late last night when I was feeling too restless to sleep. The UFO is my school house Kona colour chart!
It used to look like this
It is quite intense as the blocks are 8"square - they have 18 pieced bits in there and two pieces appliqued on! Madness or what?
Anyway I came across some strips that the lovely Helen cut out of her store of Kona colours for me - how could I look that gift horse in the mouth?? Answer I couldn't! I have cut all the Kona bits I need to make 12 more blocks. Now I need another restless night to cut out the background.
Today imagine my surprise when I found part completed blocks in the box and so I decided I would get them finished.
I have changed the method of construction quite a bit. The roofs were previously completed with a bit of hand applique. Today I finished some by machine applique as the pieces were already cut out.
But I didn't like the fact that there were no crisp corners so I then completed the remainder by piecing the roofs. It wasn't that tricky and I didn't even need to paper piece it!
Ok I have three different methods of making the roof in this quilt but I'm not worrying about that. From now on I'll be piecing them....I doubt I'll notice when it is done and if I do care then I'll have 11 roofs to re do!
But here they all are, a bit blurry thanks to the grey sky outside! Think I need some a better balance of colours and I will be adding other text prints as the background. Hubby thinks this is a bit dark!
Wonder what I'll be doing tomorrow? As long as it is not starting a new project I'll be happy!
Oooh I might be sorting those mistakes out in those two yellow blocks - did you notice!?
Sometimes I can sneakily start something by just getting it out, not thinking and say I'll just do this one little bit! I think my reluctance to face up to the things I should be doing is why I start so many new projects! I want to sew just not necessarily that project!
For example a couple of my bees are finishing up soon and I want to get all the blocks done as soon as possible!!
I said previously I am starting all the overdue blocks for my Star of Africa bee - I have started four and I have two more to start, though I may leave one till last as it requires pre-washing fabric which I don't do as a rule!
I started those four bee blocks by saying I would just cut out the background. I have done a bit more than that on each one! Is my devious plan working?
Only time will tell but I have pushed on a bit further with that castle one of yesterday
This is supposed to be Eilean Donan castle - Katy guessed! You will find it on lots of shortbread tins and the like as the setting is amazing! If you visit the West coast of Scotland I'd certainly recommend looking at it. Can't remember what it's like inside but it is amazing from the outside.
Not sure the comparison with my fabric attempt is doing me any favours! Just how can you do this place justice!??
I have also re-started a UFO (I know don't fall off you chairs) by telling myself I'd just cut out the pieces late last night when I was feeling too restless to sleep. The UFO is my school house Kona colour chart!
It used to look like this
It is quite intense as the blocks are 8"square - they have 18 pieced bits in there and two pieces appliqued on! Madness or what?
Anyway I came across some strips that the lovely Helen cut out of her store of Kona colours for me - how could I look that gift horse in the mouth?? Answer I couldn't! I have cut all the Kona bits I need to make 12 more blocks. Now I need another restless night to cut out the background.
Today imagine my surprise when I found part completed blocks in the box and so I decided I would get them finished.
I have changed the method of construction quite a bit. The roofs were previously completed with a bit of hand applique. Today I finished some by machine applique as the pieces were already cut out.
But I didn't like the fact that there were no crisp corners so I then completed the remainder by piecing the roofs. It wasn't that tricky and I didn't even need to paper piece it!
Ok I have three different methods of making the roof in this quilt but I'm not worrying about that. From now on I'll be piecing them....I doubt I'll notice when it is done and if I do care then I'll have 11 roofs to re do!
But here they all are, a bit blurry thanks to the grey sky outside! Think I need some a better balance of colours and I will be adding other text prints as the background. Hubby thinks this is a bit dark!
Wonder what I'll be doing tomorrow? As long as it is not starting a new project I'll be happy!
Oooh I might be sorting those mistakes out in those two yellow blocks - did you notice!?
I think you can find what works for you - and if working on one thing at a time doesn't make you happy then it's pointless because then it isn't enjoyable! I allow myself about 5 different things to 'flit' on - usually in different things so that if I'm not in a quilty mood then maybe I'm in a hand stitchy mood.
ReplyDeleteLove the little houses - what a treat to find some blocks and then it isn't so much work to get to quite a big quilt quite quickly! Love the colours & the background blender is perfect.
I work on a million things at once. I thought everyone did :-/
ReplyDeleteLove the houses!
I work on a million things at once. I thought everyone did :-/
ReplyDeleteLove the houses!
I work on a million things at once. I thought everyone did :-/
ReplyDeleteLove the houses!
Go with what works, don't beat yourself up over it! The houses look great, nothing a little creativity can't resolve!
ReplyDeleteFlitting from project to project sounds like a good idea - I'd get confused and stitch pieces from several projects together... Love the houses so far - glad you've found a use for those strips, it'll be a few years before I'm ready to use mine!!!
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be achieving well on your new regime of just doing a wee bit and sneaking in a bit more when your brain becomes absorbed by the "wee bits"! I get overphased if I have too much on the go at once, but if I at least have some idea that each thing is progressing I don't feel so bad. I think you need to do what works for you. Ploughing ceaselessly through some projects can be a bit boring and zap your creative juices. Very cute houses.
ReplyDeleteI think I saw that castle on a documentary recently regarding the Jacobites I think? The block is going to be amazing.
ReplyDeleteI like to flit from project to project sometimes week about so that I make good progress on each, or randomly just pick up when I am sick of working on them.
Go for it!
I have chronic startitis, your approach looks like it is working out well. The little houses are cute.
ReplyDeleteI've been doing a bit of flitting about from project to project myself this month and I like it! It might not be true, but I feel like I've gotten more done and have been more creative because I'm working on whatever I feel like at the moment. Who knows if it will last.
ReplyDeleteAlso a little trick for that block that needs prewashing: I made mine a tiny big, added some muslin (or scraps) borders, washed it on gentle, then removed the borders and pressed well when dry. All I had to do then was make sure it was the right size and trim if needed.
Love, love, love the castle block, can't wait to see it in all its glory!
ReplyDeleteFlitting works for me too, I call it my butterfly approach :)
the castle looks great, and looks amazing next to the photo! im guilty of flitting to, sometimes the colour thread in the machine will move me from one project to another!!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't normally get bothered by "mistakes" but yes i think those houses need sorting!
Oh your castle block is amazing. I have a watercolour painting of that same castle that my Grandpa did - it is really special.
ReplyDeleteI'm also a multi-project girl...but have been working on finishing some things as well. Looks like it's working for you.
ReplyDeleteYour castle block is going to be amazing! And I like your theory of tricking yourself into a finish!
ReplyDeleteI always multi project, it's good for the soul ;)
ReplyDeleteI wish I could trick myself into cleaning my house! I love the castle block. Your fabric choices are perfect. And before you fix the two yellow ones...you must know...it is said the Amish quilters leave mistakes in their quilts because only God is perfect. Works for me!
ReplyDeleteI'm certainly flitting; isn't everybody? That castle is lovely; are you picking a text fabric? Do you need more Kona solids?
ReplyDeleteThat castle is pretty awesome! Love all your projects :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm loving your castle piece, Nicky! Personally, I'm all for startitis. I like to have multiple projects on the go at any one time... that way if I get stuck on something and need to give myself time to work it out, I have something else that I can put my hands to. Maybe it's a big deception, but I like to believe its part of the creative process. ;o)
ReplyDeleteWell it's an interesting approach lol I think you need to find some newspaper print fabric for the actual castle, it looks great!
ReplyDeleteAs much as I admire start-to-finish quilters I'll never be one. I love having choices! The castle looks gorgeous.
ReplyDelete