The Process by Debra Gabel for general philosophy and
Practical tricks for quilters and creatives
I know I have felt guilty about a project that bought and was SURE I would complete then, time and or interest goes by the wayside?
Judgement and Patience
Is it time to focus on the projects you really want to do? It is okay to rid yourself of UFO’s (Unfinished Objects) and projects you may no longer be interested in. Donate the projects to local guilds or list them on Facebook Marketplace. You might even arrange a swap day with guild members or quilting buddies to swap started or unwanted projects! You will feel better not having them in your “To Do” pile, especially if you have lost interest in the subject. If you do decide to start or finish a project, here are some thoughts to ponder.
Whether your project is an original or you are following a pattern, you are probably not going to make a Mona Lisa the first few times out of the gate. Beethoven didn’t write his first symphony after his first few sittings at the piano. Take your time. Start small and slow and build your skills. Set achievable goals. Start with smaller projects. Scientists say it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something. You do not have to become an expert, but go ahead and start logging in those hours without harsh judgment!
Be Brave and Do Your Best
Walk through the Whole Process. Complete the whole process. Don’t stop if your sketch is not perfect. Don’t stop if you are having issues with color or positioning. When you feel frustrated, walk away and look at it the next day. Take a snapshot on your phone and look at it in picture form. It really is the journey that is most important. Learning and growing by trying is the REAL success. The time and effort you put into every project is like one building block to creating a solid foundation for expressing your individuality.
Get Support
When you get stuck or are doubting yourself, ask for help. If the color seems off, or the proportions are not quite right, ask a friend or quilt shop associate who has a good color sense or an artistic flair. Join a critique group or start one with other quilters who might like to join you on the creative journey. Just keep on going. Ask for guidance or support. Today we can use free Ai. I love Chat GPT
Practice with Quilt Challenges
Practice by engaging in challenges presented by the quilting community. It does not matter who else enters the challenge, experts or beginners. It just matters that you do! Challenges set specific parameters. Quilt guilds, fabric companies, and magazines run tons of challenges. Challenges have been the seed of many successful Zebra Patterns. The line of over 400 postage stamps started from a guild challenge! Who would have ever thought something like that .. launch a business?
Go for it. St. Francis quoted:
“Start by doing what is necessary, followed by doing what is possible, and suddenly you will find yourself doing the impossible!”
-St Francis of Assisi-
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