********************One more question?*********************
Thank you to all of you who were so kind to answer my couple of questions last post. Just one more?
How do you decide what project to work on? Is it kind of a seat of your pants, impromptu thing, or do you have a plan of what you want to accomplish in your life, or what?
Have a super day!
Julie
21 comments:
I’ve been really diligently focusing on UFO’s this year, but if I feel frazzled or if there are difficult decisions to be made then I usually jump into a new project completely willy-nilly. I like to make mini quilts or mug rugs to use up scraps or new ideas. I really just jump around and start things without a plan, I don’t have enough room to store them all!! I’m enjoying it all, I must enjoy this sewing I do or otherwise I’m missing the point of this enjoyable hobby:) today I’m making up some binding that has rainbow prairie points down the middle, it looks fab and the extra effort really is paying off! I’m chuffed with it :)
I do have projects that have deadlines and those I try to get done right away. But the rest of the time, I sew on whatever tickles my fancy. For a few years, I did focus on UFO s. But now I just sew for enjoyment!
Though I like purple, I don't have much of it in stash.
Just what I like I should say exept when I work with a deadline. End of last year I thought I would like to try to finish a few projects but then I attended some interesting workshops and have started about 3 new projects.
Oh, I am loving those purple blocks! And the combined colors are really fun. :)
Deadlined projects take precedence, and I have been trying not to make many new starts (a futile effort, it seems). But I lean toward sewing what is calling to me the loudest.
I keep a list of projects on a whiteboard in the sewing room. I try to choose projects from the list but often squirrels get me and I work on one that catches my eye. I will occasionally have projects with deadlines and those are worked on first. Case in point - I have a flannel quilt to make for my son that I started on last week. Over the weekend I decided that I wanted a new purse. Suddenly in the midst of all the flannel I had a purse project going. Andnonce finished decided to make another. Quilters ADD is a problem at times.
Love your triangles especially the purple with the pinkish hearts, bottom left. Love it. I've tried different ways and the one that works best for me is to call it on my blog. It compels me into action. I like the paper-in-the-jar approach because I don't know what I'll get, even though I'm the one who wrote the task on the papers. So far, it got me to move things along that I wouldn't have touched otherwise. If I just pick something and say only to myself "I'll work on this", I'll jump onto another wagon after a few days. Typical of Attention Deficit person, lol. ;^)
I love your triangle blocks. I am a big fan of bow tie blocks. How many do you need to make for your quilt? I have so many projects going. I work on one till I get tired of it and then jump to another. The only project I work on continually is the one I am doing with Karen. We are on our 3rd quilt. I am also trying to keep up with the Land of Liberty sew along that Lori from Humble quilts is hosting. Hugs
Love the pinwheels and bowties projects! I had (barely) started a bowtie QOV but jumped to others. I also really want to do a churn dash but no start there yet. No rhyme nor reason to why I work on what..just usually run across something and think 'that needs to get done'! Sometimes it happens, sometimes not.
❤️ the pinwheel blocks!
I love all those pinwheel blocks. I go by deadlines or, what I'm having the most fun with at that moment.
Yes very much seat of my pants decision. Often my decision is based on what I feel like doing and even the weather, eg mindless machine piecing, quilting if its cold but not if its hot, or something that requires concentration. I come across projects when I am cleaning up and either run with them or stick them back in the pile! Sometimes I go looking for something because my friend asks me how that project is going...which prompts me to work on it. I am not good with deadlines, this is my hobby not work, so having a strict plan doesnt work for me at all.
I do so admire those of you who work on one color at a time and then switch to another. I know it's just for the one linkup, but it never seemed to work well for me though I think there's much to learn with that method! As far as figuring out what project is 'up next' it's a mixture of lists, impulse and the carrot-stick approach with me. I try really hard to rotate through my list often so a little progress is made all the time on pretty much everything. And then there's the detail/tedious type stuff that we always sort of dread. I bribe myself with getting to a certain stage on one project--then I can dive into something I've been sort of denying myself. Maybe a new, guilty start? hehe It's just whatever seems to work and always be pushing things forward. Sometimes I only seem to have the willpower to dig around in my stash totes and make decisions about the 'next border' etc. It doesn't really matter though because all that is important in the process! If and when something gets left waaaay behind, then I have to reassess and consider if that project is actually important enough to stay with me. If it is then I make time for it. It's just that simple and complicated!
My mother would only allow me to buy fabric for one sewing project at a time ( usually clothing). And despite her ability to stick to one thing at a time. I have always liked dabbling in things. But now I find, I actually get more done by having a few things going on at a time. As I get frustrated with one, I can quickly finish to a step on another one.
Having the internet is a blessing and a curse. There are so many sew-a-longs, mysteries and wonderful ideas. My Pinterest boards overflow. But it also pushes me to get things going for deadlines. Having the blog also makes you want to get things done to publish.
Love your blocks, great way to use up bits and pieces.
I'm currently working on a custom order and other projects are put aside. OMG! I can't make plans, absolutely nothing accomplished if I make plans, lol. I have quite some big UFO's and the goal for this year is to get a least a few of them done. In between I make items for my Etsy shop. I work on projects that make me happy. :)
When I have the focus/energy for measuring, cutting and using a machine....I'll work on a pieced quilt. But, when I'm feeling lazy and just need a mental break, I'll pick up a hand sewing piece. While I enjoy "stitching in the season"....I usually wind up stitching on a holiday piece months after the holiday has passed...lol! When I retire I hope to have more time to quilt/sew a lot for charities! :-)
I am totally absorbed by whim and creative urges, until there is a deadline like a high school graduation, a wedding or a quilt show deadline. Then I am focused. I think that playing with fabric keeps me alive during hard times so working on a whim is my preferred style.
If there is no deadline, I look at my UFO photos on my computer and decide which one to work on next depending on the season I'm in at the moment. A visual aid helps keep them in my face, so to speak. There are summer hand piecing projects for the cottage and winter projects to help decide which one to work on during those seasons.
I usually have three projects going at once. I lost my right arm to cancer in 2007 and was so sad to think I would have to give up my love of piecing but my BFF said she would keep things cut for me. I make quilts for returning missionaries in my church so those are a priority as needed. But, my mountain of UFO's are usually a focus as my OMG. I try to limit myself to three new starts a year: 1. Bonnie Hunters Mystery Quilt, 2. My friends Mystery quilt in the fall and 3. RSC blocks. Most fabric comes from my stash just limiting myself to buying for the 3 B's - Borders, Backs and Bindings. Most of my UFO's are to the Border stage. Pieced the blocks, know what it looks like and I find doing borders boring. My goal is to have one a month ready to be quilted. So far, so good.
I wait until "something" gets me moving! Not planned at all - bad me, but that's how I work. Have to feel driven by the desire. Absolutely can NOT do something that someone else asks me to do. 8-(( www.elaineadairpieces.blogspot.com
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