I wanted to be good at machine quilting by now, really good; Sundance has lived here for over a year. I studied designs in the books like I was preparing for a final exam, I photographed and pored over the stitches of others. I traced and copied flowing feathers on vinyl with wash away markers, I did everything except put in the required hour a day on the machine. Somehow I had deluded myself into thinking that if I thought it I could do it. Where did that thought process come from? It sure doesn't work that way. I took a deep breath. I loaded a quilt. I'm doing the time. We're getting there... stitch by stitch. It's not really good; no, not yet, but there is improvement. There's no bypassing the actual time spent, no shortcuts, no express route to success. This is something my head already knows, how many times had I spoken these words to my own children? Why did I think this would be any different? There's an acute awareness developing deep inside of what it takes to walk the road toward becoming proficient at something, it takes dogged dedication and an hour of working at it each and every day, wanting it just isn't enough!
Life is Good!
...and getting better...
...and getting better...
"When patterns are broken
new worlds emerge."
~Tuli Kupferburg
16 comments:
I like what I see so far. Isn't it funny how hard it is to fit an hour in day to do something like that when the day can be so full already.
Thanks for asking about my elbow last night. Appreciate it.
That quilt is AWESOME! Creative you ... wish I was good at sewing. TTFN ~ Marydon
Looks good! I must agree...an hour a day is helpful. I too pour over books, thoughts, ideas, scribble...
So true about everything in life. Practice makes perfect and your quilt looks perfect to me!
Nothing can take the place of the practice time. But, all that dreaming and doodling will get those shapes ingrained so they will be easier when you quilt them. Keep up the practice and in no time you will like what you see.
First of all, I think it looks lovely! Second, I have trouble getting time to practice too. I get alot of my practice on a doodle pad. You do NOT have to learn the design path on your machine, you know how to operate the machine. Your brain does not know if you are using the machine or not. It helps me a ton to doodle and get my hand/brain co-ordination down, then when I go to quilt it, it should help! If you do not like your doodling, not to worry, most people say that they can quilt it better than they can draw! I hope this helps, it really does help me!!!
No doubt you will accomplish your goal and become a skilled long arm quilter - I have all the confidence in the world that you can do it!!!
Prayers said for your son and his wife. It is so hard to step out of our comfort zones into new opportunities, and doubly hard I am sure when it also means separation from those that love,encourage and support us.
I think you are better than you think! It's lookin' good to me!!
You'll get there. maybe you should commiserate with LTW about this!
No "Let's Talk Tuesday?"
& I saw your quilt on Ami's web page/newsletter!
An hour a day, in numbers sounds simple, but in reality...life gets in the way. Don't give up, the habit will happen and soon it will be automatic, kind of like eating, it becomes a habit...and if you don't you feel something is missing in your day! The quilt is lovely, the colors are just my favorites...keep on going, YOU CAN DO IT!!
Wouldn't it be wonderful if all we had to do was to "think" that we could do it! I'd be a concert pianist, a published author, a gymnast and a bunch of other things - including a proficient quilter! Good luck - but it looks great to me!
I, too, spend too much time "thinking" instead of "doing" ~ the hardest part is getting started.
Don't let yourself become a slave to that "hour a day" but it is a wonderful goal to work towards. Every minute you spend will move you along the path ~ you've made wonderful progress in this first year with Sundance . . . there's MUCH more to come (all in due time).
[And Chris is right ~ her doodling has REALLY helped her quilting!]
I really love what you have done!! I love coming by to see all the new things you have done((SMILE)). Thank you for coming by and leaving me the comment you did.....it really put a smile on my face! I was kind of having a bad day and you made me feel better..((SMILE))..God Bless you and know I'm thinking about you and your family....give lots of hugs to your grandson for me...((SMILE))
Skill building. It's not for the faint of heart. It's sort of like taking the time to focus on your spiritual path. It takes effort. A committed hour a day. I stray, oh lord how I stray but my life is so much better when I put the time in. I've done it, I've got that ability to focus within me. To be the better person I know I can be. Skill building.
That quote is awesome! I think I will hang it up in my sewing room, and think about it every day.
I think your quilting is beautiful, and your skills will only improve with practice.
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