Friday, September 30, 2016

A Little Encouragement from Gwen Marston

Earlier this year I found Quilting with Style: Principles for Great Pattern Design by Gwen Marston & Joe Cunningham.  It's primarily a book about hand quilting -- choosing quilting designs, adapting patterns, about marking patterns, etc. -- with quilting encouragement throughout.  When I was reading it I didn't know about the Gwennie Inspired Medallion Quilt-Along, but the words below struck me then and now seem particularly appropriate as I work on my Gwenny quilt.  Great encouragement, I think.
     Working on quilts or any creative process can be lonely.  For us it helps to remember that we are not alone.  We are not the only ones who have ever felt intimidated, who have ever felt inadequate to the task, who have ever wondered why we started this in the first place, or who have ever gotten halfway through a quilt and had a sinking feeling that there was something wrong with it.
     These feelings are all part of the creative process.  Try not to worry about them.  Just keep working and you will soon feel some of the other feelings that are part of it as well:  the feeling that you are the only one who ever made this particular quilt, or that, unlike with many of your daily activities, here you have something to show for your efforts.  And nothing can top the feeling of getting a quilt done and sharing it with those you love.

I love those words of encouragement.  Don't you?  Just keep working.  Just keep going, past all the uncertainties and doubts.  It will become something in the end.


I hope you have a great weekend.

--Nancy.
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14 comments:

  1. Isn't that validating? Thanks for sharing these words with us, Nancy!

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    1. Yes, Janet. It makes me realize that I'm not the only one who sometimes feels challenged. You know, we see all the beautiful finished quilts but rarely do bloggers talk about the challenges the face, the decisions they made and why, or even the frustrations they may feel. So it's nice to read Gwen's words.

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  2. Marvelous quote - thank you for sharing it!!

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  3. Press on! The best advice ever.

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  4. Lovely! Thanks for sharing...and have a great weekend!

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    1. Hi, Jennie. I agree: lovely. I hope you are having a good weekend, too.

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  5. Well said. Gwen Marston is my quilt hero.

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    1. Hi, Lisa. I've never met Gwen but I understand she has lots of energy, a great sense of humor, and obviously, she knows about quilting!

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  6. Thank you for sharing Gwen's wise words. I know I've often felt that way when working on a quilt. I always second guess myself. I would do well to memorize Gwen's advice and repeat it on a regular basis.

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    1. I'm like you, Karin: I second guess myself, too. We need to put little posters on our walls with her words, huh?

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