How difficult would it be for you --- if you were/are/wannabe a perfectionist in your quilt-work---to let it go? Meaning …no matching of seams, no pinning, no precision cutting, no matchy-matchy fabric choices. Could you do it?
This was a topic of much discussion, teasing and bantering within yesterday’s Love Shack class in Greensboro.
I told the class to imagine they were making 3rd grade art ---and let it go.
And you know, it’s easy to “nudge nudge” those who are totally uncomfortable with having things be “WRONG” according to them ----and I hope they took the good natured cajoling in stride, knowing we were laughing WITH them, not AT them…because I’ve had the shoe on the other foot, and sometimes it pinches when we are being pushed outside of our own comfort zone.
For instance --- if your self esteem is built on the “as close to perfect as humanly possible” nature of your patchwork…….chopping off the points of a star may really go against every grain you’ve built up for yourself.
This has been a topic of deep thought since I have been posting my Nearly Insane blocks and getting comments like “Ooops, I see some unsewing in your future” “Asymmetry drives me nuts, please fix that” “Did you mean to do that?” “It would look better if you turned the triangles RIGHT”. ((It also always amazes me how vocal people can be in posting a “you sewed it wrong” comment to a blog post!))
To me – the most important thing about yesterday’s class was EXPANDING BOUNDARIES. There may have been one or two things in class that can add some more tools into your “quilt knowledge tool box”. And it might not have been the chopping off of the points, or the mismatching of the seams. It could have been the freedom to explore more fabric choices that gave some more breathing room. It could have simply been spending the day in the company of other guild friends that was what the mind, body and soul needed.
Sometimes --- the things we learn in class are the things we can cross OFF our list as things that are not of interest to us….but I hope yesterday’s students had a great time, because I sure did!
A couple of great Aha moments:
Lettuce containers from Sam’s Club are a great way to store and sort crumbs and bits by color!
A beautiful painted piece of Polish Pottery can provide inspiration for a GREAT color combo for a future quilt! ((Say “Painted Piece of Polish Pottery” 3 times fast, I dare ya!))
Thanks to many suggestions for other slide show alternatives, today’s post is brought to you by SMILEBOX! Let’s see how this works, shall we?
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| Free slideshow design customized with Smilebox |
I’m home for a few days - - I don’t leave again until the 15th. Today will be full of final edits with a phone session ---this is how it works. I print PDFs and go through them with a fine toothed comb, marking up my copies with needed changes. She does the same….then we phone conference and go over them all. It’s getting CLOSER to being done! And as soon as I have a cover --- we will start pre-orders! YAY!
Have a great Friday everyone!
Smilebox worked GREAT!!! I always enjoy the slide show and seeing other groups having so much fun in your workshops!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to pre-order.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteyeah that would be hard to just fling them all together! but they do turn out OK. Ihave a hard time letting go like that. The slide show worked well!
ReplyDeleteThe only thing missing was the Love Shack tune, lol!
ReplyDeleteI love the pictures and Smilebox worked great. The idea of letting go is pretty hard to do. Can't wait for the new book.
ReplyDeleteSmile slides worked well Bonnie. Thanks for posting them.
ReplyDeleteI would have trouble letting go, but will try hard :)
Aughh! those comments you wrote about are what make quilters like moi, believe there really are quilt police "busy bodies." They pluck at my stupid, learned in institutional school to never vary from the standard boring, habits. I can't tell you how many times I invoke your name with: it great as it is and don't re sew, to my pathetic point matching sewing obsession, lol. Am I ranting. The Lord must always being saying, well done good and faithful servant to you, cuz besides praying to Him, you are the person I seem to be relying on next for strength and comfort!! I'm doing love shack next for therapy. Happy Quilting Day!
ReplyDeleteI liked the lettuce containers; I use strawberry containers.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of sewing "Bonnie" fashion, putting new things in new places and not allowing the "need-to" police control your creativity.
I LOVED the Smilebox; I think you have a winner here, Bonnie. I especially liked the way the pics are enlarged each time the come across the screen. And the slideshow continues until you stop it. Good find, girl.
Have a great day....
Faye in Maine
Love the idea of using strawberry containers - fished one out of the trash just now.
DeleteI used to be more of a perfectionist, then had kids! My quilting on the other hand has never been perfect. All my imperfections give the quilt personality and character! I never notice flaws in another person's quilt unless they point it out. Then it's like playing Where's Waldo to find it.
ReplyDeleteSmilebox worked fine for me. That's some good stuff! I'm working on releasing the perfectionism. I can piece crooked strings now, but I don't think I could chop off star points yet. I do like wonky, though.
ReplyDeletewhee.I hope that amongst the quilters who discover liberation isn't for them, you also find some who love it. the blocks look great and woohoo for the book nearing completion.
ReplyDeleteSmilebox worked great for me too and I totally agree with the thoughts that perfect is not always best. My montra that I sing to everyone is this "As long as it doesn't fall apart in the wash and as long as it makes someone feel warm and loved, it is fine", When someone starts harping on the colors, this is the other thing I ask "What color is a quilt in the dark", with these two comments, they are usually speechless ;) Happy Friday and if you need help editing your next book, I'd love to be a guinnea pig :)
ReplyDeleteSmilebox work great. Love Shack! Awesome. I am working on a little wallhanging for my 2 yr old grandson with Tonya's Letters. I didn't do them wonky but am thinking I should have. Next time. Glad you got to go home this time! Nothing like your own pillow!
ReplyDeletesmilebox works just got rid of a lettuce container I see more salads in my furture Would love to take this class looks like lots of fun and get the creative juices flowing. Donna
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with asymmetry, when it's called for..I love making your crumb stars.. but you'd better put a patch on the back of "Insane" saying you intentionally copied the wonky, or decades from now someone might be looking at IT in an antique store and asking "What was SHE drinking?" ;D Chris Gray, Augusta
ReplyDeleteI was recently having a discussion with someone who wanted to "correct" all of Salinda Rupp's "mistakes" in her version of the Nearly Insane. I guess there must be at least two types of perfectionist, those who want to replicate the quilt exactly, "flaws" and all , and those that want to "fix it", I am just happy to get the blocks together with some resemblance of the original and most of the points intact. I wouldn't dream of redrafting a block
DeleteGreat post Bonnie! It reminds me of how liberated I am after having done some of your mystery quilts. BB (Before Bonnie) I was a matchy matchy girl. Whenever I see someone in my quilting group struggling with perfectionism and the matchy matchy thing, which can be a nightmare of agonizing over multiple choices until you find just the exact right fabric, I tell them: "you need to visit Quiltville and do one of Bonnie's mysteries. It will liberate you!"
ReplyDeleteThank you again for all you do! You make the quilting world an exciting place. I for one have been liberated!!
Bonnie: I'm new to the blog world and have enjoyed your blog tremendously!! Wish you were my neighbor! Keep your adventures coming!
ReplyDeleteI really like the old slide show arrangement. The movement makes it difficult for me to watch Smilebox.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Great blog post Bonnie! Enjoyed reading about your class...sounds like great fun!
ReplyDeleteAny way you want to post photos on your blog is fine with me!
Smilebox worked, but then the other slideshow never gave me any problem.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe the things people say to you. Seriously? I feel like I am a perfectionist on some levels (not everything), but I also realize that not everyone has that need and it is all good!
OOOOhhhh, goodie! I have been waiting and watching for your announcement about pre-orders. Can hardly wait for this book!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brenda about the movement, it was hard to watch and see the differents photos because of the movement.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes find it hard to be wonky, I like to match everything, but love those blocks and the stars are great in their wonkiness.
Love to watch the slide shows and see the different sewing machines and see if I can identify them, Thanks again for your blog. Ramona from Maine
Smilebox workedgreat great .I am still just looking at the nearly insane quilt ,waiting for time to take the plunge, you are an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteLove the slide show with Smilebox. I love the to repurpose the plastic box from lettuc, grapes, etc for "leftovers" of fabric.
ReplyDeleteI like your class pictures no matter which way you post them. I can't tolerate people who gripe when their talking dog can't sing.
ReplyDeleteI try to match seams and get nice points but I don't spend time fretting about it if I don't. I don't look at that part of the quilt, I look at my good parts.
I'm one that "close is good enough" for some projects but others I do want it perfect. Quilters tend to be hard on themselves..I work at a quilt shop and the first thing everyone points out on a quilt they bring to show us, is their mistakes. My response is always, "did you have fun and enjoy the process? If so, then the quilt is perfect!" Lighten up...life is way too short!
ReplyDeleteI agree with many of the above comments regarding the "quilt police" and judging approach that some quilters take when they look at someone else's work. What I wonder is how hard they must be on themselves as well and whether that's a healthy attitude to have in how you approach a hobby, or the rest of your life. Just look at the beautiful antique quilts that you show on this blog. Very few are absolute perfection and yet they are enduring works of art and the heart. Thanks for keeping on doing what you do, Bonnie. Ignore the slings and arrows.
ReplyDeleteLove that Smilebox--looks like you all "let it go" and had fun--there is certainly no "perfection" here !! :--)) Julierose
ReplyDeleteIf you wish to study a picture a little longer, there's a pause button center bottom, right under the pics (looks like an "equals" sign turned on it's end). What a bright, fun, relaxed class! I think I need to finish something quick and then reward myself with some play time this weekend :)
ReplyDeleteIt was fun seeing the pics from the workshop. Wish I could have been there.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed meeting you at guild meeting and seeing your quilts. Thanks for a great program. It was definitely worth the drive from Mooresville!
DeleteCindy, The Purple Quilter.
that worked so well, hope it was easy for you...
ReplyDeleteSmilebox tried to install something on my computer before I could see the slideshow. I didn't let it.
ReplyDelete2 ladies commented on the Webshots show that they didn't like the amount of time between pictures. There is a button on the bottom of the box that allows you to change the amount of time between the shots.
I think Skywriter and Webshots are still the best choices.
Teresa
Oops. Meant to say Skydrive, not Skywriter.
ReplyDeleteTeresa
It took me years to learn to enjoy the process and accept the imperfections! I am MUCH happier now! A while ago, I went to a lecture given by a woman who demanded perfection. I left the lecture and took a nap .... :) Keep on stitching, Bonnie!
ReplyDeleteSlide show worked fine...always something new to see with all your photos. I feel as if I was there.
ReplyDeleteI am so shocked that someone would criticize anything you post. You are right...they need to take a deep breath and think if they would honestly say this to someone's face!!!!!
XOOXOX Subee
Now, THAT would be a terrific workshop! The Smilebox worked well, too.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing you at Village Quilters next week!
I'm having a problem with my power supply so have to resort to using my I- phone. I downloaded smilebox - the free one and have tried to view the slide show. I can't view it. Am I doing something wrong. I just click on the arrow to watch and it keeps telling me to install smile ox for iPhone. ???
ReplyDeleteSmile box
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to add that those lettuce containers are available at regular grocery stores too, in the organic section. They come in those large 10 oz sizes and also 5 oz sizes. Smile box worked for me, also the old way you used to do the photos. What a headache technology can be sometimes, but overall it's wonderful. Please keep the slideshows coming, girl. They make my day. And when you have the same workshop two days in a row, please still show the photos from both. Don't worry about being "boring". They aren't ever boring. I just love to look at others' fabric choices, how they worked or didn't work, and seeing all the different sewing machines, etc...too. Take care.....
ReplyDeleteIt must be me. I've installed the Smilebox app on my iPad but I can still only get two pages - one of a sky with clouds, the other asking me to download the Smilebox app! But no one seems to be having trouble - unless it's because I'm in the UK?
ReplyDelete