It's an overcast day here in Lancaster County
today. We're supposed to have snow flurries
today - I am not ready for winter!
My computer has been slowly dying. It's been
making a loud roaring noise. I brought it to
the Geek Squad and the guy told me that it's
my motherboard - )o:
My daughter was visiting from NY and brought
a Laptop that I could use in the meantime.
My old computer won't read any of the CDs
that I have; so I decided to use the Laptop
to look at the old Cds and then store some of
the photos and files on a flash drive.
I found a couple of quilts that I had made
when I first started to quilt.
The photo is not very good; I took it with one
of those disposable cameras.
I took my first quilting class back in 2003 and
then joined my Guild at the end of that year.
In 2004 we had a challenge to make a Black and
White With A Touch of Red quilt. I forgot the size
that it had to be but I know that I went over about
2 inches. I was frustrated that I had to cut off part
of my quilt on the right side which changed the
whole look of it. I was so frustrated that when
the challenge was over - I threw it into the garbage!
I was so sorry that I did that I could have learned
so much from my mistakes! So now I'm glad that
I found this photo so that maybe someday I can
do something similar and better.
Here's another one from that same year. It has
some 3 dimensional flowers and also the butterfly.
The next year was the first quilt that I gave away.
I was so nervous because it was for my cousin's
baby shower. I didn't know if she would like it.
Well, she loved it and stood up and walked around
to show everyone. I was relieved! It's a bento box
pattern that I just loved.
Again, the photo was taken with a disposable
camera. That God for digital!
It was fun going through all my old photos.
BEING CREATIVE IS NOT A HOBBY IT'S A WAY OF LIFE
Happy Quilting!
When I have the time; I love reading blogs.
Two of them made me really stop and think.
One said, I'm paraphrasing, "....exhibit or show
your work, have it published or teach" other than
that - it's a "hobby".
Now to me personally, when I'm creating something
that pops into my head; I'm not doing it thinking -
Can I enter this in a show? or I wonder if I could
have this piece published or maybe I can have a class
and teach it to others." This would stress me out - it
would have to be perfect, in my mind anyway.
"Will a judge find this good enough, Is it perfect?"
I am not putting quilters down who do this - definitely
not! I so enjoy looking at and admiring their work!
As a quilter; I can appreciate the time and effort that
they put into a piece.
But it's just not for me....yet.
I make what I feel even though it may not be perfection.
I do have to point out that I do use all of the skills that
I have and learned and try my best to make quality pieces.
But To me it's about the creation process and it
shouldn't be stressful; it should feel like a release -
releasing - like freeing a bird from it's cage - go out
into the world, sing your song and be happy.
I don't consider it "just a hobby" because I don't "show,
exhibit, publish or teach."
I love making and designing functional quilts, to
display in my home, to give away, to donate to
charity or for a cause and also I make quilts to sell.
All of this brings me joy, peace and happiness
- just like Christmas.
And what the heck is the definition of a "hobby" anyway?
According to wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobby
"A hobby is a regular activity that is done for pleasure, typically, during one's leisure time. Hobbies can include: collecting themed items and objects, engaging in creative and artistic pursuits, and playing sports, along with many more examples. By continually participating in a particular hobby, one can acquire substantial skill and knowledge in that area.
Generally speaking, a person who engages in an activity solely for fun is called an amateur (or hobbyist), as opposed to a professional who engages in an activity for reward. An amateur may be as skilled as a professional, the principle difference being that a professional receives compensation while an amateur does not."
(I guess that explains it some what )
If you're a beginner quilter - learn all of the techniques
that you can to develop your skills, just have fun - do
what you feel - and enjoy the creative process. You're
in your own space - there's no one standing over you
telling you "you're doing it wrong" - just "go with it"
and be yourself. Make it "your own". Then you can decide
whether you would like to "show, exhibit, publish or
teach" it or ......you can be just a "hobbyist" (o:
The other blog that I mentioned will have to wait for another post.
In the mean time -
Happy Quilting!
Still working on the Star Wars quilt.
I had taken down my design wall to
clean the sewing room. It's not
very large anyway and I might have
to re-do it. I covered it with
batting and there was lots and lots
of tiny pieces of thread stuck
to it. It drove me nuts!
So, the bed in my spare room is
the design wall for now.
R2D2 is put together (over 500 1" squares)
and I was debating whether to put an extra
row of white around his block. I was really
stressing about this!
I thought it would be too much white
around all of the dark fabrics. I realized that
I don't really work with a lot of dark fabrics;
I'm used to a lot of mediums to light.
I don't like working on the dark side (-;
I couldn't resist.
Along with the printed Star Wars fabrics
comes this mint green and pale blue - personally,
I don't think it blends well with the backgrounds
of the other fabrics. But I have to work with it
cause that's what DD wants.
Then I got this brainstorm to make blocks to
go with R2D2....
I think it's going to work.
I like this idea but now I have to make 16
of them - consisting of 36 - 1" squares !
wish me luck!
Happy quilting!
