My computer crashed and I didn't know what it all meant, so I had my "guy" come to check it out. He didn't find a problem, and all was back to normal. So I had him load a new background for my blog. Hmmm. It may be a little too bold! I will try to mess with it some more when my computer is not revolting. Computers are so weird. Right now there is a slow delay showing what I type. Go figure! I just had a new AC for the zone that cools my sewing room and office. When do I get to sew??? Ok, so I have made some progress. Here is a photo of a corner of my room. BuggyBarn geese on the wall, and Stash project on the floor. Maybe I did get an hour in yesterday. But you can see I am rotating projects. It seems like I spend too much time rushing to get it all done. I really enjoy the process of construction. It never bothers me to work with small scraps. It takes longer to cut and piece, but I like the end result. So I guess to me, rushing is still a slow process. But an enjoyable process.
I keep trying to pull from the bottom of the stash for Judy's project, but still end up with some fresh stuff in it. I think I will end up with another quilt that I don't want to give away. Is that bad of me? You all donate so much. I admire that you are able to let go. I just sent a quilt that I loved to a relative and still haven't heard back from her, and I know she likes it. It has been six weeks. I want my work to be appreciated. Do I worry too much if someone is "quiltworthy"? Does anyone ever realize how much goes into the making of a quilt (other than another quiltmaker) ? OK, I will quit whining and get back to the sewing room. X>)
20 comments:
I am shifting, shifting, shifting gears... why do we quilters always feel like we should give away our works of art and love? Not that there is anything against that, mind you... but I have decided to start keeping the majority of my quilts instead of giving them away. Don't get me wrong - I still enjoy making quilts for other people, but I absolutely deserve the ones I love, love, love - even if I do have more than enough quilts for my bed. So, if it sings to you and you love it - keep it!
I had someone recently ask me for a quilt... and I said sure - we could swap hour for hour for something else. Sooo - she especially likes a log cabin which happened to take me EIGHTY hours to piece - haven't heard back yet... grin!!!
And my scrap quilts - I love my old fabrics, they are like old friends, but I do really like to throw in a few new pieces in every single top to keep things "fresh". Maybe no-one but me notices, but I notice so that makes it important and a little bit of a thrill.
Cheers!
Evelyn
I'm thinking along the same lines as Evelyn. Wouldn't it be nice if someday, somewhere, someone wanted to do a retrospective show of your quits. It is nice to be able to have more than a handful to pick from. Okay, so maybe that is a grandiose idea, but hey, dream big! /paula
I think many people wonder about those things. I have never kept anything I've made (but most are in the family - and the others are mostly baby quilts), but it's a big goal for me this year and next.
I keep a lot of my quilts and I do give my share away. But people just don't understand how much work goes in them and they just want one. I had a friend like Evelyn who really wanted something of mine, which took me about 40 hours to make. Now this gal sewed but was a bigwig at the company where she worked and didn't have time. So I said I would take 40 hours of her pay--she was shocked I would even ask that. I responded, "Oh, are you worth more than me?" She didn't know what to say and never asked again! I do donate to charities though with no qualms, because I feel that's something I have to do. And I do it cheerfully. But other than that, my family has received my quilts and a few special friends. boy--that was long winded--sorry!:)
I'm probably about even on giving/keeping quilts. Most recipients seem to be very appreciative. I have one friend that has been almost too thankful -- but it does make me smile that she loves them so much.
I happen to really like your background.
There are just some quilts I can't part with, but I've given away a lot of baby quilts in my time. I don't seem to have the same attachment to them.
You're doing a great job with your piecing lately. Don't worry if you're not working on just one project, so many people flit from one thing to another ... umm, like me!
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)
I'm having the same thoughts lately. I was asked this week - how many quilts do you need? It doesn't get that cold here.
Well I make something because I love the fabric and the design. I spend hours choosing fabric (my favourite pastime) then hours deciding on the pattern (my 2nd fave pastime). Then spend hours making it - why would I want to give it away? Does this make me selfish?
It is a dilemma. For me to give something away it has to be made specifically for that person (I still miss it) or specifically for that reason. I have to make it knowing that it is going away, and have to emotionally distance myself from it. Does this sound too weird? I've got to get out more!
oops, I just wanted to add to my last comment.... arg...... Its not wrong to wonder if a recipient is "quilt worthy". It depends on what sort of quilts you want to give. I give some projects to a charity, but it sure wouldn't be a baltimore quilt or anything else that had taken huge investments of time. I might, however, give such a quilt to a relative....
I hate giving a quilt to someone I don't think will appreciate it. It's funny but I get more positive feedback from the quilts I donate sometimes than the quilts I give to family.
Mom and I just made a quilt for my niece who's going away to college and although she called Mom to thank her I haven't heard anything from her. The quilt label clearly says that it was made by both of us for her. Luckily I did it for Mom not her - in fact I wasn't even going to put my name on the label but Mom insisted that the quilt was a gift from both of us.
I feel I often get more back from giving away a care quilt to a cause of my choice than to give a quilt to a family member who might not give thanks.
Those in my family giving thanks have got quilts from me and I have several myself.
The care quilts are made from my heart, and they give me pleasure to make, but I use less complicated patterns and more happy colours than I want to keep myself.
To much sewing time available maybe ? ;-)
I kept my first quilt, but the second one was made specifically for my mum - top is done, but not finished yet, and the third one was made for a sick friend. Making them with the recipient in mind makes it easier to let them go.
Hope you get some acknowledgement about the quilt you gave away soon. Not being thanked really sucks.
Oh I have always wanted to make those buggy barn flying geese! And I love your hour a day quilt too! They look so wonderful and so me!
Marcie, I cannot help but wonder how the storm coming up the coast may effect you in coming days. Judy too.
Marcie--
I understand your dichotomy on the keeping and giving of quilts. You know me -- baby quilts anonymous. I have done nearly 25 in the last 2 years with all the new babies in the ward.
I love making baby quilts to give--it warms my heart to think of some new little baby spitting up on something I made. I make them with the intent of giving them, so I don't get too attached to them. What does bother me, though, is when the quilts are hung on the wall and displayed rather than puked on and peed on. I would rather have them used to death than shown off.
I do keep a lot that I make. The hall linen closet is full to bursting and I am moving on to another room. Between class samples and quilts I just can't give up, I do have the keepers.
But I don't worry about if someone appreciates the work or not. It's enough for me to be able to make something and give it, than to worry about someone understanding the amount of work that goes into it. Only another quilter can truly understand that.
Besides, making quilts to give away gives me an excuse to clean out my stash and buy new fabric!!
Every one of you "projects in progress" is a stunner. You like my kind of colors!
Most people don't appreciate the value of other people's time. And nonquilters don't appreciate how much work goes into a quilt. I have had people ask me to make quilts for them for free, but they didn't even have the time to go to the store to pick out their fabric. Somehow, it is because I am doing this for fun, it doesn't really count as work, and therefore not valuable. "She has nothing to do with her time anyway."
I think it is best to give purchased gifts. If you really want to give something you make, make sure you get enough pleasure out of making it that pleasure the acknowledgement is not necessary.
I like your new background! The tan and brown goes great with the parchment page. ;)
I'm the same way... I've given things to family, and little fast baby quilts, but not big quilts yet!
I haven't given awau too many quilts but all have been received with so much praise it makes you feel good! Of course my mom always asks when I am going to sell some. I finally told her that there was no way I could get what they are worth and she dropped it.
I'm so glad you found me! It's nice to have someone close by that quilts!! Even just 1 hour away! I love what's on your design wall. Is that one of your patterns? Love the sashing and the corner stone stars! I also love the baskets wall hanging!!
I'll have to spend some time and go through your pages to see what I've missed!!
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