Let me begin with my Farmer's Wife blocks...well, they're really not all Farmer's Wife blocks anymore...I've loved the blocks I've done so far, but there are a lot more blocks to go...but I came to a screeching halt...I just didn't like most of the remaining blocks, either I didn't like the way they looked or I didn't want to do them. I've struggled and struggled with this...I kept thinking that I needed to do every block as the designer had planned...but then the other voice would say "It's your quilt, and it's your time and you need to do what you want and what makes you happy"...this conversation went on for a very long time...can you just see the 2 little people sitting on my shoulders arguing back and forth?....neither voice took charge so I just put the blocks away and decided I'd deal with it another day. They've been in the box for a long time, well, then sometime in January I came upon
Johna'Lee's post about her Rancher's Daughter quilt along. I've been watching her posts and have found that I really like them all...then Lori over at
Bee in My Bonnet has done her version of Farmer's Wife and now is doing wonderful barns with blocks in the middle...yes they're just the right size and she had a wonderful block that she had a tutorial for...I loved it...the argument was OVER! Just like that...OVER! Everything became perfectly clear...it is my quilt...it is my time and I want to LOVE this quilt...so yes, I am making it mine...I'm even throwing in some blocks that I'm drafting to the right size and I'm having a BLAST! Why, oh Why, oh Why did I let this silly argument go on for so long? Who did I think was going to come and say "You can't do that!"? I would never put this in a show...it's just going to be mine so my thought now is...I can do what I want and that's what I'm doing. I've decided that I will do 4 blocks a month...so here are my blocks for this month...
the top 2 are Johna'Lee's blocks, the bottom left is Lori's block and the bottom right is mine...and yes, I had FUN!
Yesterday I finished my Fat Quarter Shop Designer BOM block...
2 more blocks and this quilt will be done...I'm all caught up and I'll be ready to start the new BOM. Love Fat Quarter Shop Designer BOM's!
Now here is my New Leaf...I know you've been trying to figure out where that title came from...as I mentioned in my last post, I came up with a sheet to keep track of my monthly commitments...
I sat down one day and wrote down everything that was a must for me to get done each month...and made myself a little chart...some blocks are divided into 4th's since those are the projects that get 4 blocks a month. Then I spent some time thinking about things that I'd like to get done this month...
No pressure on these...if I don't get them done, and still want to do them they'll go on another month's sheet. I've already saved a LOT of time, no more spinning my wheels trying to decide what I need to do, just look at the sheet and I get right to work. I'm really liking it...hmmm, took me a while to figure this all out, but maybe I won't waste sooooooooo much time...because the time is flying and it doesn't seem that anyone is adding anymore time to our day, so I have to make better use of my time. Making me happy!
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20 comments:
My shoulder "people" always torment me ...."Are you going to match those plaids" and "Those plaids will never match".
I was a garment seamstress first and you ALWAYS matched plaids. But these days, fabrics are "printed" so plaids on cottons rarely match.
I ought to talk your lead - make it "my own".
Hugs
It looks like Yvette's list got to you too! LOL I too keep a list, I have modified it several times but now I have it the way I like it. I am working on Farmers Wife too, but I am setting mine as square in square blocks, they had it done that way at our local quilt shop.
I saw Lori Holt's barn block tutorials a couple days ago and saved them. Liked them a lot.
Yes, you should make the quilt to suit yourself. You will be happier in the long run. I have the book for Farmer's Wife but I don't think I ever made even one block.
I am so glad you shared this. Your blocks are beautiful and yes, your quilt is your own. There shouldn't be any quilt police. That's what makes a quilting journey beautiful - your pace, your creativity, your time. I wanted to make the Farmer's Wife Quilt but after reading so many negative comments regarding the CD I decided to make my own version. I had a quilt book here with 100 blocks & the choice to use templates or rotary so I ended up making 63 different 9" blocks with templates. Cut out & pieced by hand. Just got to do the sashings. This quilt saved me mentally while going through a rough time. Love quilting and the pleasure it gives. :)
I am really good at not getting them done and rolling them into the next month. Some of my better quilts came from waiting for the right time. I love your idea about the Farmer Wife Quilt. I checked the book out at the library and decided it was so not for me.
Looking forward to seeing yours completed your way.
blessings, jill
Hey I know that argument - I have been having it for years with the Dear Jane quilt I have in the works - for 12 years now. I like your organization and isn't it fun to color in those blocks?
It is better to enjoy the process than not to. Enjoy your quilt YOUR WAY!
I love your chart! What a great way to keep track of things.
Remember: there are no quilt police!
Don't you think you will get more done when you enjoy doing it? Why would you want to do something if you didn't enjoy it? I am talking to myself here also. I think you made a very good decision.
I love what you are doing with your FW blocks "special mix". Great idea. Nice to see your BOm's also... writing it down is a great way to divide and conquer!
I am cheering for the winning "voice"! I've been through those same discussions and happily, the same voice won. I did the Barrister's SAL with Randy and actually stopped a few blocks short because I had enough for the layout I wanted to use. That was hard to let myself do that. Silly, I know. I had started a second set of blocks in Christmas fabrics and gave up on it after a few months. Now I am doing two of Johna'Lee's blocks each month to finish that one up. It will definitely be a one-of-a-kind quilt, and aren't those the best? : )
Hurray for you! It should be all about enjoying the process, not doing it someone else's way. MAKE IT YOUR OWN! Four great words for quilters everywhere!
I'm impressed with your chart! Sometimes it is a good thing to settle down to specific tasks.
Love you FW blocks.
Yay for your little voices. It is indeed your quilt and you should make it like you WANT it. Your new blocks are very pretty!
I love your blocks. As a New Year's resolution I decided to finish up some old projects. I start the beginning of each month by writing a list of what I want to accomplish. I have BOM's, new projects and pick 3 UFO's to finish. It has worked out pretty well. I know you will find the list helps. Hugs
You know I love your plan. I think this will work for you - there's definitely a 'song in your heart and smile on your face'. :-)
Have fun!!!
love this post in every way. I'm coming for a visit and you can help whip me into time managed shape, lol!
As for the FW blocks. I feel just the way you do, but chide myself that I got "this far" and there they sit. Now I'm convinced they can sit and linger a bit more until I discover MY way of dealing with them. Have a great day- I'm still trying to decide if Mother Nature will warm up enough to take away the snow she left me. I really do not want to go out there and deal with it again. Ha! decision made- I'm heading to the sewing room :-)
I need to devise a plan like yours...some days I feel hopeless with all of the piles and unfinished projects. Have you worked ahead on your sashing for the FQS BOM? I've kept up with each months block, but haven't started the sashing.
Don't you feel liberated?! AND you are having fun! Sounds like a good plan! I think we all need tiny little flyswatters to shoo those pesky shoulder voices into a dusty corner. I am a list maker too. No pressure, just gives me the focus I need to keep making progress and I make sure that 'fun' is penciled in next to every item. :) I like your new leaf!
Loved your post! And I so love when others share their lists, drawings scribbles etc!
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