Pick 10 projects. Sounds easy? Believe me, it's not!



Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  I send best wishes to each and every reader.  Even if you don't live in the US and do not celebrate the holiday, please take a moment along with us to give thanks for the joy and comfort quilting brings.  Quilters worldwide are very fortunate to be members of a generous, creative community.  For this, I am truly grateful.

American Album

Before you continue reading, if you did not read my previous blog We All Start Somewhere, please take a minute now to read it or else you will feel like you walked into the middle of a movie and the plot will not make any sense.

Civil War Bride

After I wrote to all of you about the Power of 10, I set out to apply it to my own endless stack of projects that range anywhere in progress from "sew on a binding" to "gleam in my eye".  Below is an excerpt of the conversation with myself as I set about putting the Power of 10 into practice.

Pick 10 projects!  No problem. Done.   Work only 3 hours on each and move on to the next one.  Hmm...okay.   I really wanted to stitch on my project some more.   Now the next one.   Uhhh...wait a minute.  I'm not sure I love this project enough to spend my precious 3 hours on it! Okay, leave it for last and go on to the next one.  But, I haven't been able to find a background fabric I love for this project yet.  Okay, next.  

Teal Baltimore

Very long story short, I ended up revising my list several times and my productivity did not increase.  Instead I spend my precious free time re-working my list.  However, I did learn a few important lessons that I would like to share so that hopefully you will not repeat my mistakes.

1.  If you are going to limit yourself to 10 projects, only pick projects you LOVE!  If you don't have 10 that fit the category then pick 3 or 7 or 17.  The key is LOVE.  Otherwise, you will not stitch on it or, if you do, you will resent it, and look for excuses to NOT sit and quilt.

Christmas Surprise

2.  It is very important to keep all your current projects (the ones you are actively working on) in a state such that you can sit and sew, baste, quilt, cut, embroider, etc. at all times.  This may be 1 project or 100 projects.  Always be ready to quilt when you have a few spare minutes or a free afternoon.

Baltimore Liberty

3.  If a project is waiting in the wings but it's still missing a critical piece, e.g. the perfect background or if already pieced/appliqued the perfect backing etc., and you want it on your Current Projects List, plan a shopping trip to you local quilt shop or you stash (yes, you can shop your stash; you will be surprised what you have and have forgotten!)  ONLY after you have all the pieces and parts assembled, do you add it to your list. Otherwise, you will waste precious sewing time holding the pattern in your hands and daydreaming.  Ask me how I know!

All that being said, here's my Current Project List, in no particular order:

1.       Baltimore Row

2.       A Christmas surprise for my husband so I cannot name it here

3.       Blue Moon

4.       Civil War Bride

5.       A Cottage Garden

6.       Baltimore Liberty

7.       Teal Baltimore

8.       American Album

9.       Spring Flowers

10.   Naturalist Notebook

Baltimore Row

A Cottage Garden

I also have several projects on my "I Should Be Working On or Finishing" List.  However, they do not meet my criteria so I removed them from my Current Project List.  I am much happier, I am making progress, and stitching is FUN again! 

Until next time ...   Happy Thanksgiving! 

Ricky's in training for the Thanksgiving feast!

Best stitches,
Mercy in Miami