Thank you all of my kind friends for your sweet encouragement...sometimes we just need a good cry.
On to the new quilt...the fabric is amazing! It is from Robert Kaufman's Imperial Fusion. I must admit that I was a little intimated by this fabric initially, it is so rich in color and texture. Once again there were so many decisions that had to be made before I took a single cut into that glorious fabric. Have you ever thought something to death? Trying to make something so much more complicated than it has to be? That's what I was doing with this fabric...trying too hard. Sometimes I have to have a little meeting with myself (I invite the cats, but they generally don't care what I have to say, as long as there is fabric for them to lay on). So back to the meeting, I kept trying to turn this fabric into something fancy & grand; but take a look at the fabric, how much fancier, and grand could it be? Gilding the lily comes to mind. When I'm stuck in any aspect of my life, when confusion reigns supreme, there is a sure solution that ALWAYS works, going back to the basics and the fundamentals. Why was I trying to turn this fabric into something that I'm not? I'm not a fancy quilter...I can make meticulous fussy little blocks, but that is not who I am, and that is not what I do well. What I do well is make bold statements with geometric shapes. That is my strength, that is what I know how to do, day in, and day out. It's what I love, and what I'm comfortable with, so why was I trying to do something different? Silly Cherri. Once I accepted my strengths and weaknesses, I was able to move forward. I was able to stop trying to be something I'm not, and consequently something my quilting won't be either. Hallelujah, what a relief (big sigh!) Well the fabric is all cut, strips are being sewn, blocks are made, and I am in quilting heaven.
I can't wait to see what it becomes. I'm struggling with a project much like you express - and you are right. I need to go with what I'm good at. Good advice. Always.
Posted by: Nanette | July 15, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Money money money... gold and silver? You make me curious. The fabric is RICH!
I know what you’re talking about. When I want to make a handmade gift I always tend to making the most impossible, difficult stuff I’ve never done before. Failure is guaranteed! It sometimes can be so tough to see the big lines and to stay close to yourself. And I always try to remember that less of more...
Posted by: nicolette | July 15, 2008 at 01:11 PM
PS. my goodness, sorry for all the bad English in my comment.. and less IS more.
Posted by: nicolette | July 15, 2008 at 01:13 PM