WOW: Almost there...

WOW = WIPs On Wednesday

 

I've been making progress (I should really call it catching up) but still feel like the week has just rushed away. I didn't realise just how much I value the time I carve out for my quilting throughout the week and I've missed the time I usually spend on all these little habits I've created. It got me to thinking about how I allocate my time each day and I wonder, what about you? How much time each day do you commit to quilting or any other craft of yours? I'd love to know.

 

I'll admit I've been quite frustrated out going over my pattern work for the next BOM. I really dislike doing things twice and it also means that all my computer time has spent spent on this one task. The motivating news is that I'm nearly finished and excited all over again to share it with you...finally...

 

I missed out on my usual blog time and was looking forward to catching up with the WOW and already it's a week on.... oh well, I'm getting there and am looking forward to seeing what you're all up to...

 

 

 

What's Your WOW ?

 

 

WOW: A Polygon ate my BOM

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

 

If any of you have faced this dreadful error message, you'll know just how I feel.

Weeks of work - gone. Erased in a few seconds.

 

 

I don't know what's worse: losing an entire quilt project in a split second? Or the fact that I didn't learn my lesson the first time around? You see, this exact thing happened to me last year with my last BOM, Forget Me Not. I ended up re-drafting that entire pattern by hand. I had no other choice. And I was determined not to make the same mistake. Why did I give it another go? I don't know. I don't know what I was thinking. I should have learnt my lesson, if I had I'd be sitting back with a coffee browsing through the WOWs. Somehow, however well intentioned, I always end up creating more work for myself. Why? I don't know. I do always start out with the intention of making things easier, faster, better. Hmmmm. Somewhere, amongst hundreds of drawn applique pieces there was a polygon that was no good, and this little polygon somehow had the power to wipe out my entire quilt.

 

Don't get me wrong: I don't want you to think I've given up, I simply can't. The upcoming BOM is perhaps the most intricate quilt I've worked on and I'm looking forward to sharing it with you. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

 

What's Your WOW ?



WOW: Creatively Organised...and other myths

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

 

I've done a lot of work to minimise my creative space in the last 6 months. It feels like I've spent years collecting items I thought would prove useful at some point, but it all became too much and I found that I was using just the same small 'kit' over and over. I wanted to reclaim more space. A lot of items went out. And what is left is on borrowed time - if it doesn't prove useful it won't stay. My aim is to get down to the minimum amount of tools required for the maximum output. It's all connected to my WOW resolution - to get my WIPs finished and have a big satisfied quilt pile to show for it.

But sometimes, when I see the last few cluttered patches of 'space' it's just too overwhelming, I need to escape my creativity and go lie down...
 

 

Take this lovely drawing nook, full of natural daylight, the perfect place to review my sketches....or store those last bits and pieces and oddments. I really should sort it out. Why is creativity so messy? Or is it just me? How do you manage your WIPs and household space? Do you stay in your sewing room or do you spread out and create creative nests on surfaces everywhere?
 

 What's your WOW ? 

WOW: Wednesday again...already?

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

 

Is it just me, or has May arrived rather quickly this year?

 

Yesterday I unpacked my sewing machine - it's been packed away for months, I simply havent had the room to put it to use (or the motivation to create enough space for it). I know how unlikely this sounds, but I assure you, it's been sitting there and I've just been too overwhelmed with WIPs and tidying up my 'creative space' to give it any time or attention. Well it's out of the box now and I've decided on some sewing to get me back into the swing of things.

First up is adding a collar to the stripe top. I just think everything looks better with a collar but so many tops that are otherwise fine just don't have collars anymore... so I've dug out some black and white print fabrics to add my own.

 

And whilst I'm adding on a collar, I thought I might as well make myself a shirt from some floral print I love. Surely having as much fabric as I do means I get to wear some of it?? I'm planning on sewing it up this week, so I'll keep you posted.
 

I love this print and I wear so much green it will be a nice shake up for my wardrobe...

 

So I'm getting my domestic sewing out of the way because I have bigger WIPs on my mind: the new Free Bom. There will be 2x launched this month, both quite different. I'm really looking forward to these quilt designs seeing the light of day and can't wait to tell you more in the next few days

 

What's Your WOW ?  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WOW: Playing with Greens

WOW = WIPs On Wednesday

 

It's nearly time to launch the next BOM so I've been going through my fabric stash and digging out the greens that are calling out to me. I'm also thinking of buying fabrics specifically for one of the quilts but want to make the most of my stash first if possible. You know that with any of my designs there'll be plenty of foliage..so I'm thinking ahead.

On my last poll my BOM Group Members voted to see the next BOM before beginning the quilt, so it will not be a mystery. Well that's fine with me! I like a mystery but I understand how frustrating it can be, fabric wise.

This time around you'll have two BOMs to choose from and two very different quilts.

Stay tuned...

 

What's Your WOW ?

 

 

WOW: New BOM Preparations

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

 

 

 



This week I enjoyed being a Quilt Angel over at the AQC. There were so many beautiful quilts on show and so many familiar faces to catch up with, it was a real privilege to help out and discuss techniques with interested viewers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I did take some photos but didn't get time to ask quilters for their specific permission (quilt shows and people's attitudes to taking photos have changed so much that I don't want to post any here with express permission from the quilter), so I'll show my favourite features of the building - the historically reproduced stencil wall and ceiling features that I always love to admire.

 

 

What about the new BOM ?

 

 

With Forget Me Not finished, I don't want you to think it's all cosy evenings and knitting around at my place - no no! I'm busy at work on the new BOM which I'm super excited about and there are a few surprises in store, it's a whole new approach for me.

 

So stay tuned...

 

What's Your WOW ?

 

 

 

WOW: Exercise…for Quilters

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I’ve never been super keen on fast paced exercise (or really, any exercise) and I don’t own any pieces of gym equipment. But as I get older I’m coming to realise that I really need to take control of my fitness levels so that I have the stamina and endurance to keep doing the things I love.

Unfortunately, most of the things I love, like quilting, involve sitting down. A lot of sitting down. I can get so involved in my quilting that I can sew for days on end, barely stopping.

This isn’t a quilting only problem but it certainly is something that affects a lot of quilters. And I’ve no doubt, other creative people as well.

My desire to quilt and the time I've invested in doing what I love has seen my fitness level plummet.

It didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen.

My love for creating has created a version of me that isn’t me at my best and isn’t me at my most productive.

I'm a member of so many great quilting groups, which i joined to better myself. But I'm not a member of any fitness groups, which I probably should be, for the same reason.

I’ve got to change that. I’m going to be a fit quilter. Not a tired quilter. Not a sit down to catch my breath quilter. Not a can't climb the hill quilter. I want to be ready for any adventure.

So I’ve started walking first thing in the morning, every morning. It’s my first step towards being healthier and living longer, so I can do more of what I love.

It’s my most important

Work In Progress.

What about you? Do your hobbies have an impact on your health? How do you find balance?

What's Your WOW ?