Saturday, June 5, 2010

I Drive Myself Nuts...

I love to look at quilting blogs.  There are amazing, creative, talented (patient!) people out there.  I get inspired, and a little overwhelmed.  But I want to make something.  Something beautiful and exciting.  And I have a cupboard of fabric to work from, so it doesn't even have to cost me much.  Maybe some batting.  And thread.  Mostly time.

So I start looking at pictures and thinking about what I could make, and what fabric I would use.

I'd like to do something like this crooked 9-patch...


or this huge Irish Chain...


or this colorful Jacob's Ladder...


or this vintage-y looking hexagon pattern...


or even these applique marbles, but not so much with pinks.




And I start looking through my fabric cupboard.

And then I see them.  Little piles of fabric that I'm not quite sure what to do with.  Leftovers from other projects.  And a few, "What in the world was I going to do with that?"  And I start thinking, "I should use those up before I cut into something new."  Right.  Because I'm all about practical.

So I spend a ridiculous amount of time trying to think of something to do with, for instance, a stack of 2 1/2 inch vintage squares, left over from something else.  When I finally come up with a plan, (which takes awhile, because the art side of my brain and the math side don't always play together nicely), I realize that I've designed something I have no interest (or purpose) in completing.

No fun.  No excitement.  *ugh*

So I put it all away and go back to looking at pictures.  Anyone else?

But I will break out of this rut over the summer.  I will.

8 comments:

Felicity said...

I sure hope you do! I really like the Jacob's ladder quilt.

Anonymous said...

UFOs? (Unfinished Objects). If they're really outdated and are no longer an interest, pull them apart and relegate the fabrics back to your stash. Find something small, a honey bee pillow or something. You can do it, go baby, go!

I used to go to Int'l Quilt Market ~ talk about drooling!

http://remnantsofmylife.blogspot.com/2006/11/market-photos-round-1.html

Cutzi said...

Ohhh... you know I love that repro. fabric! Especially since it in my.. uh...er... Xochi's quilt. So of course, I love that vintage-y hexagon quilt.

Gramma Grasshopper said...

THANK YOU, THANK YOU for making the pictures small on yesterday's post........not that it helped a lot........but a little. Fortunately Tate is a very obedient guy when it comes to me SCREAMING at him, "DO NOT PICK THAT UP!!!" when he's up at my home:)

leah said...

I would really drive myself crazy if I had talent with sewing- I just love quilts! I'm a sucker for the vintage one.

I'm the queen of unfinished projects, though (even if they're not sewing in nature)- I really need to work on that!

Beautiful quilts, and I'm sure you'll put those fabric scraps to good use!

Deanna said...

This so happens to me in scrapbooking. But the new stuff is so inspiring sometimes I just have to put down my old pages and get out the new stuff. Playing and having fun usually inspires me do get those old pages done!

melanie said...

Those all look like fun =)

Unfinished projects you don't love should go away and become someone else's treasure, don't you think?

And now you remind me I have to sort the boxes of fabric in my closet.. (...along with the schoolwork collection in the same closet... and our clothes... and... See what happens when the mom&dad have the walk-in closet?!) :0
After I recover from painting, I will be ruthless. I will. I hope.

The dB family said...

You too? Maybe we should both set some goals and see what we can accomplish. I can't decide which quilt I like best.

Blessings!
Deborah