When I should have been at least half-finished I was beginning all over again. I finally chose brown for the sashing and a red/rust for the cornerstones. I cut the sashing and cornerstones, no problem, and I thought stitching would take an afternoon. Hah! As I said, things take longer than I think they will. And then, as usually happens, partway through stitching the top together I wondered if I'd made a bad choice for the sashing color and again questioned the arrangement of blocks. I'm satisfied with the sashing and cornerstones.
My lesson with this goal is not to set a time limit on a creative decision. I really can't rush creativity. I need time to imagine possibilities, play with options, and let the quilt speak. (Maybe it's another introvert thing.)
Above is a flash photo taken inside. The colors are just a tad too bright. Below is a photo taken between rainbursts today when the clouds thinned out just a little. The colors appear greyed and less warm than they really are. (But this quilt will have other opportunities to be photographed.)
Despite the problems I mentioned yesterday and despite how it looks in the photo above, the quilt did turn out very close to square -- an attribute I always aim for because it means my piecing and stitching are becoming more accurate.
As it is now, the top measures 59" x 82". I think it needs a border. I've had several ideas but need to play and dream a bit before deciding.
Even without the border, I've accomplished my One Monthly Goal for March: to sew the star blocks together with sashing.
Please visit OMG: It's Finished! Prizes added to March Linkup! at Red Letter Quilts to see other quilters' finishes for March.
I'm also linking this post to
> Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
> finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts
Thanks for visiting.
--Nancy.
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The sashing color compliments the blocks beautifully. And no, it doesn't need a border. But that's just my opinion. If it were mine, I'd hang it on the wall and revel in another fantastic finish!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your kind words about this quilt, Gypsy Quilter. I'm really pleased that the brown looks so good with the stars on the light backgrounds. When a quilt is finished I can see what works and what doesn't, but when it's in progress i have a little trouble. Maybe I just can't be objective at that point, I don't know.
DeleteSeveral people have commented that it doesn't need a border. I'm going to play and see what I think. Maybe it IS done.
Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. I appreciate it!
What a happy quilt, Nancy! I really like the sashing and cornerstone colors for these blocks. To me it only needs a border if you want it to be larger. If not, I would probably bind it with the cornerstone color.
ReplyDeleteAs to things always taking longer than you think they will, that is the story of my life, and I have never been called an introvert. Don't know that I have been called an optimist, either, but I like to think that is why I think things will get finished faster than they do. : )
Since quilting is my therapy, I don't like it to be filled with deadlines. Other than gifts for special occasions, I try to keep my quilting deadline free, which, for me, means no monthly goals with link-ups. After doing that for a year, and always squeaking my link in minutes before midnight, I said Never Again!! *LOL*
Thanks, Janet. I think the quilt looks happy, too. I started it before I had surgery in November so I'd have something to work on if I wasn't able to be up and around a lot. In a way, it's a recovery quilt.
DeleteLol. I hadn't thought of the optimism aspect of imagining things will take less time, Janet. I guess I'm an optimist, too.
I don't usually do deadlines -- this year just one/month -- unless I'm close to finishing or need to push myself to keep going on something that I might otherwise lay aside or procrastinate finishing. This is the first time I've put a deadline on a creative decision but I won't do it again.
Deadlines have their uses but setting realistic goals has become a very long learning curve for me! I consistently underestimate how long it will take me to complete each stage of a quilt project. I like your description of letting a quilt speak to you, that process can't be rushed. Still loving seeing your quilt top ☺
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting and leaving a comment, Allison. It seems I'm not alone in imagining how long things will take -- you and several others made the same comment.
DeleteYou'll probably be seeing less of this quilt until I decide on a border and then begin quilting it. I think I must have photographed and posted nearly every star in it by now!
I think it is lovely! I agree that creativity can't be rushed. I kind of liked what you said you read in that book about creativity and "moving forward." I'm still pondering that. But, in reality, it just doesn't work out that way sometimes! Some of us just have to think it through, even it is turns into overthinking. Otherwise we can't be satisfied with it. I agree with Janet O. If there is a deadline attached, the project is not as much fun for me.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kathleen. Yes, I agree that we can't rush creativity, but I also think indecision (which is my problem sometimes) can be a thief of creativity. I've thought about the idea of "moving forward" too. I think we sometimes need to take a break from one project in order to receive inspiration but while we're doing that, perhaps we can continue creative forward movement by working on another project. Sometimes in the past when I've made quick decisions for creative projects I've regretted them because I didn't take time to think the decision through.
DeleteDeadlines sometimes work to help me push myself a little (especially if it's just a commitment of time) but as with this goal in March, when the deadline was for a creative decision, it was much less pleasant.
Thanks for visiting and joining in the discussion, Kathleen.
Woot woot! They turned out well!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brenna!
DeleteLove the way it turned out! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Loretta. I hope it still looks great after the next border!
DeleteThis top is beautiful. I just love the colours. Can't wait to see it all finished.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ariane. It will probably rest for a few weeks, at least, but I'm looking forward to continuing to work on it. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment.
DeleteOh My, This is gorgeous! Although I often wish I were not slow in my processes (and I am!), I don't think it ever pays to rush things. It works for me to do like you have here by choosing to focus on completing one process of the quilt. Congratulations, and Thank you for linking up!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Heidi. I agree that it's not good to rush things -- at least for me. I know there are some people who can make quick decisions, but I enjoy taking time during the process of making a quilt to get inspiration and then enjoying what I'm doing.
DeleteThanks so much for hosting OMG each month. I appreciate it.
You always make the perfect selections, Nancy! Your sashing and cornerstone choices just made the blocks sing. I love watching your progress with each project so thank you for sharing your process. This quilt is now a part of my quilt inspiration file...it's fabulous.
ReplyDeleteYou are too kind and very generous, Karin. I often want to apologize for posting so many photos of the same quilt, but when it's the only one you're working .... I think this is the first quilt I've worked on continuously, without interruption -- until now when thinking about the border.
DeleteThanks for visiting and leaving a comment, Karin. I appreciate it.
I absolutely adore your star quilt!!!! Your background fabric idea is perfect.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rose Marie. I'm feeling a little partial to it myself. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment.
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