Comments on: Uninspired

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:02:42 +0000

Was it you that talked about quilting just 15 minutes a day a couple years ago? Or am I confused?

Anyway, I’ve learned that on days I don’t feel like quilting if I just make myself start one small task, I get into the sewing room and always end up spending more time than I’d planned.

I think it’s just the getting started part that’s hard sometime.

By: Gari

Gari — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:32:25 +0000

That is exactly what I realized shortly after I started quilting. I found that I was exhausted after 45 min so I set a limit and didn’t allow myself to exceed that. When I had exceed it before I almost regretted getting the machine because it took the joy away. Now I can quilt for over 2 hours but require that I take breaks so that I don’t loose the joy again.

By: ruth anne shorter

ruth anne shorter — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:24:50 +0000

thanks for that great tip! I need that encouragement.

By: Julianne

Julianne — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:45:11 +0000

Great advice. Thanks for reminding me. I may not have the same amount of time each week. SO I am going to check my schedule ( calender ) each week for the next week or maybe two weeks ahead….look for me quilting time and block that time on the calendar. I will just Do IT.!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks.

By: Cynthia H., El Cerrito, CA

Cynthia H., El Cerrito, CA — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:47:12 +0000

When I started on my personal mystery project (Labor Day weekend) of finding my cutting table under all the “stuff,” it kind of morphed into a habit of spending 20 or so minutes working in my quilting area every day or evening. Sometimes more! I know it’s a habit now, because I feel weird if I haven’t done it. Like David Allen says, the scuzz factor kicks in; I don’t even have to put it on my daily To Do list because it’s now a habit.

“Working” can be pulling fabrics, organizing them into ziploc-type bags, labelling them with Post Its, washing donated fabrics for QOV or HeartStrings, pressing fabrics for cutting, actually cutting them, sewing them together, etc.

For instance, today (even though it’s a Sunday) is heavily scheduled, but I’ve already spent 10 or so minutes pressing open some light/dark pairs of 2.5-inch strips I sewed together Friday night in a blissful one-hour session.

Because “working” in the quilting area is so open-ended, I can do it even if I’m not feeling particularly good on a given day. That might be a day to update my UFO spreadsheet (a task I reserve for just such times) or quilt one or two passes on a baby quilt on my Elna.

I don’t do any cutting when I have a migraine, though, or have had to take pain meds (chronic pain from multiple causes), because both migraines and meds can affect one’s depth perception–definitely NOT something you want when you’re running a round razor blade so close to your hands!

Maybe the flexible concept of “working” in a quilting area will help some citizens of Quilting World make more progress….