Process makes Perfect

Okay.. Still awake and it just hit me. I should talk about process. I did take the process edge after all. When was that... Lol is it still going. Anyway.

Process makes perfect, or at least better. This post may ramble a bit, but the focus is on what happens when you spend hours and hours and hours on something only to realize it SUCKS. What do you? Plow ahead, finish it or toss it as a loss. Or do you spend just as many hours undoing it so you can do it over.

Well, for the first time ever in my quilting, crafty life, I have spent in excess of 3 hours painstakingly removing about another 4 or 5 hours of stitching. Initially, I thought I was smoking something. And I dislike smoke of all kinds including incense. Lol

But as I was stitching the "Man in the Mirror" I totally messed it up. I say that because I had not picked various shades of threads, was only using one color, which may have worked if I used a different movement. Although I still think the various weights and colors made a huge difference.

I had way to much movement on parts and areas that ultimately should have been different. Overall, the effect made the subject appear old and it lacked depth. So I ripped it all out. Free motion stitches...yes almost 3 hours of it. Needless to say, it was a humbling experience. Also a well received lesson in quilting.

During the removal of hour and hours of stitching, I was able to see why the original stitches did not work. Of course not to say it still can't be improved upon, but I do believe it came out pretty darn good for not sketching any quilt design first. While removing I decided on the various thread choices, and while identifying why a pattern didn't work, I was able to visual what would work better.

See the mistake below.

So then after I went back at it, after experiencing a level of defeat, and not worthiness, I got back in the saddle/chair. Acknowledged myself for having the ability to see that it was not to my liking and all be it WRONG. And then had the fortitude to try again.

Eight different threads later and a load of patience. I was thrilled with the outcome.

215 to go, oh my baby Jane

Okay so I have 10 completed. I guess I haven't really worked on that many since i began. I just did five over the past two days. I figure if I can manage 2-3 a day minimum, and then perhaps with more than an hour and a half... I can complete more. I have been machine stitching. I thought It would be faster. It still takes prep work.

First you have to trace the block then cut it out of freezer paper. Then iron it onto fabric. Then outline the shapes. Then cut the shapes, pin and finally sew the various parts. I suppose as I progress I will learn to appreciate it even more.

I can say it is teaching me patience, and the importance of straight stitches and lining up my seams. It is even teaching me the need for precision. So it is definitely a fruitful endeavor that will prove to sharpen my skills.. I mean make me take the time to cut and piece properly. lol

Let's see when I have 100 done. I publicly promise to complete all 225 blocks. And so the journey continues.

All in a days work..

I had to stay home yesterday to let go of NY1 and get faster services for less $$$. Anyway, I decided to make something new. (like I had no other projects that could be worked on or needed finishing, rlol)

So this came to mind. It is for a gift and I had people sign the fabric with best wishes. After freely piecing and Chopping, this is why I ended up with. The colors are not truly representative of it.

But on a process note. I actually focused on ironing my top and back. Yes, I know shocked, yeah I hate to iron after every stitch. More on things I don't like to do....

I taped all the pieces down, and painstakingly pin basted. I then stitched in the ditch, all over, and now I will quilt it.

I see why you are suppose to do those things. Question is, will I make it a habit? Lol.

And It Feels Soooo Good - Fabric Love

Okay.  I said I was on a fabric diet.  I should have known that I would be in trouble.  I went on a spending spree around the holidays.  I actually did use much of what I purchased.  I have faithfully, began cutting into my stash and creating things without going out to purchase for each new idea.  For instance, I did not purchase one item for my aunt's gift that I made.  Not even a bead.  So that was difficult, but I survived.  I did not purchase fabric for most of January, until last week when my Rochester buddy was here.  That was only $22 dollars.  She also gifted me fabric, as you see in the previous post.

So its February 1, the day begins...and off goes the roller coaster ride.  I reigned in much of my emotions and feelings, but at 63 degrees in February and raging emotions...off I went to my favorite City quilt store.  As I walked in the door, I felt the tension slipping away.  I immediatly touched the fabric and felt a cool breeze come up from behind me.  I lifted a few bolts of brightly colored prints and I could hear the ocean soothing my soul.

Yes, I know it sounds a bit odd.  But it is a euphoric feeling when you have "Fabric Love".  You are instantly transported into a better, kinder, gentler state.  For example.  Last week was an extremely taxing week, both physically and mentally and after all was said and done with 16 hour days, I found myself with my quilting buddies chatting and hand stitching for a few hours.  As soon as I walked in the door and saw the equisite hand pieced quilt I was instantly rebooted.  The energy started surging through me.  I felt elated.

So, why does that happen?  What is Fabric Love?  Are you born with it?  Does it grow on you?  Do you catch it?  What makes fabric different from food, shoes, clothes, drinks, drugs, cigarettes, working out?  Is it because we then take that love and transform it into something else?  Why yes, many of us look at it and pet it, but we also use it to create.  Does that make it different?  What do you think?  I would love to know your thoughts.

What was I thinking....

Isn't it funny how you plan things and they never seem to turn out the way you painstakingly planned.  Well that was this weekend.  It was a fantastic weekend, so I am in no way complaining.  It started with the Vogue Knitting Live at the Hilton NYC.  An evening of fun and laughter with the ladies. (See posts from that day.)  Then it continued with hanging out for drinks with friends after.

My Saturday was filled with meetings and "baby" love.  I ended up breaking out the knitting needles on Saturday night to whip up something for a dear friend.  Yes it was finished by the morning.  That was a wonderful intermission.  It allowed me to be able to focus on the 15minutes of play BOM quilt that is due on Wednesday.  And that brings me back to "what was I thinking".  I managed to complete all of the blocks by GAME time on Sunday.  So at that point, I thought I was right on schedule.  Then the game ended up being a longer night of hanging out with friends...So there was not stitching when I got in Sunday night.

This morning I was up at the crack of dawn...and the machine started to whir.  And thats when the plans grew a mind of their own.  I was going for simple, straight forward, quilting.  Blocks were chosen, the quilt was sketched out, the layout and all.  Then....the ideas came.  (Darn that knitting intermission.)  The details just kept getting more and more ornate.  At one point< i had to chuck a few ideas, because there was no way I would be able to finish it by the January 18 deadline.

So, I plowed ahead....and the top is finally complete.  The back is finally pieced together.  I am exhausted, as I worked non stop from 8 am till 7pm, with only a 30 minute food break...smiles.. whew.

A two hour errand run to prepare for the week and the back was pieced by 10pm.  So, I decided to pack it up and baste it during lunch tomorrow.  But then I have to quilt it...Yikes...and the ideas developed there as well, including a run to Michaels to get some perle cotton.  Yea, ha lets see if I get that far...ha ha ha...

So here is what I have thus far.....I am excited...so I started this back when (I posted on the 15 minutes site....when I made a few with the simple idea in mind.)

Happy New Year 2012

It will soon be the year of the dragon. I find this first calendar day very interesting. It is at 12:01 am that promises are made, new resolutions set, and a path to change is forged. All in one minute after you didn't do those things. Lol.

Change is a process. A lifelong one indeed. So I wish each of you, all the best in keeping to your process of change. I continue to change, and hope to continue to develop a greater skill level in this craft that I adore oh soo much.

This was the last thing I had on my machine before I had to start cooking. (note in my mobile blogger it looks as if the pics shifted, but oddly the fabric pieces blend wonderfully.)

And then the cooking began. Jerk chicken, rice and peas, salt fish and callaloo, stamp n go (aka codfish fritters), banana and yam, sorrel, rum punch, rum cake, vanilla cake topped with champagne. Yum