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Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Quilter's ADD

Do all quilters have Attention Deficit Disorder, or is it just me!?!

I find myself on a snowy evening trying to decide which project I'll work on next.  I just finished binding two give-away quilts, and a third is started with yet another one waiting in the wings.   I'm tired of binding. I'm ready to work on something else!

But what! I've got my Roll, Roll Cotton Boll mystery-to-date all finished, string blocks and all -- and the next installment doesn't come out 'til Friday. Sigh.  The Layer Cake Quilt Along is up to date, too.  So far, so good!

So what to do tonight!?

I've decided I have ADD -- nothing keeps my attention for long....

There's my Dear Jane...Do you know I'm just borders away from finishing the top.  I mean -- the borders are ready to be attached!! I just haven't been in the mood.

The Bali Sea (or Batik) Stars is ready to put together -- blocks stacked in rows, borders determined/pieced and ready to attach when the center in done.  I don't know.  I'm just not wantin' to tie into it. 

Both these projects are on my Finish in 2010 list. I've only got about 15 days -- at least a couple of which will be spent with in-laws and out-laws celebrating Christmas, eating, gift exchanges, dinner and catching up on all the family gossip.

So why am I being pulled to other things.... ?
Like this little slip of a thing from Quilt Shack by R. Norum & H. A. Krohg, called "Wheels on the Bus."  The blocks finish at 6" square.  I have my fabrics all picked out for a blue-billion of 'em so they'll make a large quilt.

Another option is my version of the Clarissa White Alford Quilt....
Clarissa White Alford Quilt, c.1886
I have a couple of blocks completed in civil war repros and the makings of plenty more in a box -- complete with gridded paper (I love Triangulations --   whoa! they have v. 3 now which does half-square triangles in 16th increments and flying geese!!) ready to sew.

And I sooo need to get downstairs to the Hobby Quilter and learn to use it so more of my quilt tops can become real quilts!!

Is anyone else ready to throw out 2010's projects and move along?

Sometimes it's so hard to focus!!

Paul understood how easily we can get distracted from our goals.  "Do you not know," he writes in 1 Corinthians 9, "that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (verses 24-27)

It's time to quit "beating the air" -- and settle down, not to a long winter's nap, but to "strict training," projects that need just a little more time and effort, and to accomplishing some goals.  Bali Stars and/or Dear Jane. Bindings. Finishing!

It'll feel good to mark them as "Finished" in the ever growing lists of "To Do!"

Blessings!

15 comments:

antique quilter said...

ah yes my hand is raised I must have quilters ADD too!
its ok now I know I am in good company!
LOL
nice projects oh love that clarissa white quilt
no I am not making it but that wheels on the bus quilt maybe hav eto figure that one out!
love scrappy quilts!
Kathie

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

Gorgeous works in progress at your house... (Dear Jane, WOW!)yep, it's contagious; I have quilter's ADD too. I suspect it's an epidemic. Sigh.

Stray Stitches (Linda G) said...

I'm in awe of evertything you are working on!! They are all beautiful!

As far as ADD, I most definitely have it. I can't seem to stick to just one project and change daily (sometimes hourly) on what I want to work on - lol! But I know we are not the only ones out there - so I guess it's happiness in numbers.

Anonymous said...

The Alford quilt is so stunning! I love just looking at it...wow...beautiful!

krisgray said...

I have days just like the one you described. Is it ADD or just some need to be inspired by something new? Hard to say - had it last week and this week I'm ready to get stuff finished.

Crispy said...

Normally I suffer from Quilters ADD too but this year I'm making myself get all UFOs finished so I don't have so many different things to distract me. We'll see how this really works out when I am free to start something (or many somethings) new :0)

Crispy

Staci said...

Me, too!! Me, too!! Me, too!!
It gets silly, doesn't it? I've got 2 ready for binding that are supposed to be gifts that need MAILING!! A top and back that need layering and quilting, a top waiting for me to piece a backing, and I'm going to stop the list there, because it could go on and on, and I have no desire to work on any of it! I keep looking at a box full of fabrics I've been collecting all year and thinking how I just want to start cutting it up!

Focus, focus. Need to stop and focus on what is in front of me, and soon I really will be cutting that fabric! Sometimes it is just hard to stay on task!

Lori said...

It looks like you have some lovely projects waiting in the wings!!
I find it hard to stay focused too. Congrats on getting all your string blocks done! Woo-Hoo!

Cheri said...

Your Dear Jane is very striking, can't wait to see the borders.

Meredith said...

I have my own list of quilts I want to accomplish wich is really really long. Then there is all the inspiration in blogland. I do get excited to start something new. Your progress on your quilts is great. They are all very pretty as always.

Sarah Craig said...

I have some personal projects that are still only partly done, but I'm joining Myra's PhD Challenge next year, to see how many Projects Half Done can become finished projects by the end of June! Maybe you should join us?? A little friendly competition may be just what you need to get motivated...

LuAnn said...

Oh I have Quilters ADD for sure. I have a clothes basket full of tops just waiting to become quilts when they grow up. Love your Dear Jane. Are your blocks 6" or is your sashing wider?

Kathy said...

You have a real gift for combining your quilts and life experiences with the scriptures. I start reading your blog and then you move into the part that teaches us the Bible and lessons in life. And I feel good, I think, I reflect, and I learn. I hope I am also becoming a better person by seeing parts of my life reflected in your writing.

Thank you!

Carol said...

I'm right there with you...I work on a little of this and a little of that...but I never get bored...LOL! Love your Clarissa blocks.

Quilt Doodles said...

Congratulations on your adorable Dear J ane quilt. Your post was so funny. I think all of us quilters have some degree of ADD. :-)