tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post3707649797081742852..comments2024-03-25T23:42:12.771-05:00Comments on crazy mom quilts: creativity and the importance of playAmanda Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06311818385469850186noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-25841711417580488342015-09-28T12:12:56.137-05:002015-09-28T12:12:56.137-05:00I always have Hexies sitting by my chair and in my...I always have Hexies sitting by my chair and in my car. I think I have 4 million or so. LOL. This time of year the garden and winter food processing takes precedence over everything else. Plus I am making feed bag totes for a friend to sell at a market in Oct. I am beginning to hate these totes. They are boring, difficult to work and don't really net much money. However my friend promised to bring some to market this year for her regular customers. Don't you just love when someone makes a promise YOU have to keep? SEW on all!!Cindy Makihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18144338664382007334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-18976082660471719982015-09-27T21:43:57.551-05:002015-09-27T21:43:57.551-05:00I played today (Sunday), and boy did it feel good!...I played today (Sunday), and boy did it feel good!!! I am beginning to think of my sewing projects as "Sweet and Salty"...when I finish up something big (sweeet), I find I immediately make something small and relatively quick and unplanned (salty)...sweet and salty...and maybe just a wee bit silly! Thanks for a super post..so timely!SarahZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17848104380274247158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-24624541921021802432015-09-27T14:52:05.143-05:002015-09-27T14:52:05.143-05:00I need to sew for fun more often than I do, that&#...I need to sew for fun more often than I do, that's for sure. It's so liberating. One of my goals this year was to spend some time in my sewing room every day, and except for the 3 months it took to recover after breaking my arm, I've done reasonably well with that. NEXT year though I think the goal will be sewing FOR FUN a little bit every day! lol LOVE LOVE LOVE your work!Sandy Panagoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01371332247863196830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-59668009817525935912015-09-26T14:53:31.138-05:002015-09-26T14:53:31.138-05:00Since I do not sew for work, all creating that I d...Since I do not sew for work, all creating that I do is for fun. I don't think I would want it to be any other way. I notice that as soon as I have a deadline- even a self-created one- I instantly slow down and my creative process begins to tank. So I don't think I'd do too well with any sort of creative pursuit as my source of income! For me, sewing is fun, what I reward myself with, what I look forward to, and I can feel myself breathe and get happy just walking into my sewing room. I always want it to be that way! Nicole Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03128296625823087917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-67573951529749866572015-09-26T10:14:57.383-05:002015-09-26T10:14:57.383-05:00I quilt for fun and have run out of family and per...I quilt for fun and have run out of family and personal occasions to make quilts for so I do a lot of charity quilts. You work with fabrics you are given and that takes some of the creativity out of it. I enjoy reading blogs and seeing all the ideas out there and take some time to just run with a new project. Consequently I have many UFO's but quilting is my therapy to deal with personal losses. Thanks for all your inspiration, I enjoy your use of color.Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04958530778033763208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-57441352099462679982015-09-26T09:23:54.156-05:002015-09-26T09:23:54.156-05:00Few weeks ago I talked to my husband about this ve...Few weeks ago I talked to my husband about this very topic. There's so many (fun) things I want to try and make, but always ended up doing what "I have to" (ie: custom orders), which at times became like a "creative block". What I usually do is, I start doing what "I want to do" for a day or two and then get back to what "I have to do". Now, I must check the video :) ChezVieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11436129396819656098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-4855741502118258222015-09-25T17:55:02.914-05:002015-09-25T17:55:02.914-05:00Thank you for the information on Christoph! I real...Thank you for the information on Christoph! I really enjoyed the video and what he had to say. Your work continues to be so fun and inspiring!Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10859583182269770867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-11432388545742367512015-09-25T16:47:38.426-05:002015-09-25T16:47:38.426-05:00First of all, love the results of your play! Seco...First of all, love the results of your play! Secondly, I struggle with whether my art has a larger purpose all the time. I'm so driven to create, but I'm in no way making living from it, although I would like to. I figure if it ever does happen it will be like everything else - some of it won't be fun, it will be just work, but at the same time, my work will be something I love to do in general, even if I don't love every moment of it. I was a teacher for many years and I loved teaching so much sometimes I forgot that I was getting paid. But that doesn't mean that I loved every moment of it - and sometimes the not so fun parts took up way more of my time than I wanted but just reminding yourself like you did recently is enough to realize it is time to put on the party shoes and dance will make the grunt work more fun.the zen quilterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109269989556411207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-5767300536893054332015-09-25T16:19:10.701-05:002015-09-25T16:19:10.701-05:00I've done a lot of thinking about this recentl...I've done a lot of thinking about this recently and I've discovered that I promise myself I'll get into my studio, but only AFTER I get everything else crucial done first...and then I never get there because I move the goalposts and the day comes to a close. I definitely feel restless when I haven't had time to create and I'm vowing to remind myself of it's importance and value and then allow myself to get in there and create! Your blog is the best inspiration around!!! NebraskaNativehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458407473315239057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-72438007301559720452015-09-25T13:46:07.757-05:002015-09-25T13:46:07.757-05:00Right now I am working in a baby quilt my brother ...Right now I am working in a baby quilt my brother requested for his dear friends. I don't like their color choices do I am struggling. I'm having to force myself to get it done! I have been rewarding myself by working on a scrappy quilt in between!jennihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14491229599731366815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-73527867261788061302015-09-25T13:35:08.782-05:002015-09-25T13:35:08.782-05:00I do like the hexagon with the scrappy row.I do like the hexagon with the scrappy row.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-79519091268521622952015-09-25T13:13:07.900-05:002015-09-25T13:13:07.900-05:00YES! I have a friend that feels that way also. We ...YES! I have a friend that feels that way also. We have started getting together occasionally for a "procraftination" day. Working on projects that WE WANT to do. Rather renews the mental processes for us. Sometimes all we can manage is an "crafternoon" but it helps!Melissa Koehnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10240985967294959547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-49557589812826212492015-09-25T10:22:23.112-05:002015-09-25T10:22:23.112-05:00Your post hit a nerve with me at the moment. After...Your post hit a nerve with me at the moment. After spending the last few weeks with obligation sewing I find my joy in quilting waning. For that reason I've let many submission deadlines pass by. I want to get back to the fun of quilting and playing with fabrics. I desperately need to make whatever I feel inspired to for no reason in particular. Balance is not a word I've very familiar with . . . need to work on that so I can manage both obligation and personal sewing with equal dedication and joy.Anne / Springleaf Studioshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06114887911414187175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-4968677581409963022015-09-25T10:16:02.878-05:002015-09-25T10:16:02.878-05:00Sometimes deadlines interfere with my creative dri...Sometimes deadlines interfere with my creative drive, and sometimes questioning myself about whether an idea is "unique". Spending a little time sketching, or playing with bits of fabric each day helps me find joy in making, as well as asking the question "what if...?"Marlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17219281227169613013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-55219358652688814512015-09-25T09:28:18.053-05:002015-09-25T09:28:18.053-05:00I quilt and sew for fun. I make things for other ...I quilt and sew for fun. I make things for other people, but they are still things that I choose to make. <br />I've thought about sewing things to sell, and ultimately I've just decided that's not how I want to spend my time. I already have a full time job to pay the bills; my sewing time is for me!Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01868460584408444785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-6895468192313995792015-09-25T08:29:35.977-05:002015-09-25T08:29:35.977-05:00Your tiny scrappy strips remind me of your blog he...Your tiny scrappy strips remind me of your blog header. Love the color and fun of them. Recently, I have been intentionally increasing my blog activity. It is fun for now but I can see how it would be easy to lose sight of the balance and eventually burn out. Thank you for the reminder to always be mindful of that so that it stays fun.Debora Exumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11545469877968973364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-62100608929414647782015-09-25T08:24:27.771-05:002015-09-25T08:24:27.771-05:00I don't quilt for a living anymore, so I don&#...I don't quilt for a living anymore, so I don't have pressures that people who do it for a living have, but I do sometimes have self-imposed timelines (I don't like the word deadline) for projects--such as baby quilts to finish before a baby arrives. I try to leave space in my quilting, though, to make something "just because"--maybe every third or fourth project. It might be something for myself, or something I'll donate, but it gives me a way to make something that doesn't have to fit someone else's specification (or my perception of what they'd like) for size, color or design. JanineMariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13475847392355523001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-34896063691877234502015-09-25T07:38:11.881-05:002015-09-25T07:38:11.881-05:00I like where you are going with these thoughts. I ...I like where you are going with these thoughts. I want to join the community of creative folks who reap monetary benefits for their work and ideas but I'm not sure the payoff is what I really think it is. So for now, I juggle my own creative deadlines and even those can get me bogged down. There is joy in creating. I want to always Devote myself to its pursuit. Thanks for the video link. Suzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02568944733073812787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-30144305093916450852015-09-25T07:30:58.130-05:002015-09-25T07:30:58.130-05:00I work full time at a law firm and quilt for gifts...I work full time at a law firm and quilt for gifts and myself. There are times I am so jealous when I read blogs when it seems like they just get to quilt all the time, but it has to be stressful. Like Carol said, I used to do craft fairs and it is so stressful to know what people will buy and more importantly what they will pay for something you've spent so much precious time creating. Love your blog and your creativity. You inspire so many of us - so thank you for that.stamperwithdayjobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15028560448686521360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-10754894037247690262015-09-25T06:30:43.111-05:002015-09-25T06:30:43.111-05:00Balance is illusive. Years ago I crafted for love...Balance is illusive. Years ago I crafted for love. Then my husband lost his job for two years during a Recession. Crafting for income became obsessive. Constantly striving to determine what the public would buy in the next season became far too stressfull. That lasted 5 years before I became burned out. Now I have retired and am finding so much gratification in "just" stitching to satisfy myself. It's liberating. I hope you find your balance because you are so extremely talented.<br /><br />Here's to a great and relaxing weekend.<br />xx, CarolCarol- Beads and Birdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11062821517519300477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-39981851317871676802015-09-25T06:13:36.386-05:002015-09-25T06:13:36.386-05:00Yes YES! I love these kinds of posts!
I've be...Yes YES! I love these kinds of posts!<br /><br />I've been taking on more commissioned quilts and sometimes they suck the creative need right out of me. It's still quilting, but the drive to finish is just to get it done. There's no "play" in there. Sometimes I have to talk myself into challenges -like, okay for THIS customer quilt, let's focus on accurate cutting and piecing, to increase my skills there. Just to keep it interesting.<br /><br />So right now, for me, this means leaving enough room to be able to switch to a bit of play between customer quilts. If I don't I get cranky. :) Sometimes I work on a non-quilted project and I'm been heavy into bag making all summer.Andrea Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10555940591810773230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-27175839435338752292015-09-25T06:09:41.958-05:002015-09-25T06:09:41.958-05:00You are dead on! That's why I quilt mostly onl...You are dead on! That's why I quilt mostly only for fun, family, and charity. My daughters tell me to have an etsy shop but I know it will take the joy out of quilting. I'm working on a scrap vortex quilt and absolutely love the free unencumbered sewing! Working on that helps me then get back to ufo's. Thanks for sharing your creativity with us all!JanetDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09636455396303811567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-27798904864406653192015-09-25T06:02:58.157-05:002015-09-25T06:02:58.157-05:00I agree with Carie above the coloured strips are w...I agree with Carie above the coloured strips are wonderful and you should definitely go with the flow. I can see your dilemma and think play time for someone who has made their career from their hobby is absolutely essential. As to me I'm afraid I'm a very selfish sewer. I'm a hobbyist only so don't have the deadlines and I assume in some cases prescribed patterns / fabrics to use. Whilst most of my quilts are gifted if someone has asked for a quilt then I take them through my Pinterest board for their preference. Needless to say everything on there are designs I'd like to make so win win all round. Jenny - the lilac cathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05341506207731309678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-21833931061528624192015-09-25T01:00:54.372-05:002015-09-25T01:00:54.372-05:00Firstly you definitely have to sew the strip quilt...Firstly you definitely have to sew the strip quilt up like that, it's awesome!! And as to creativity, I need some creative time in my day because my job is creative only with words. I fidget if I don't have a project on the go!!Carie @ Space for the Butterflieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13060566680311122115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37018101.post-45140838592657549742015-09-24T21:39:30.022-05:002015-09-24T21:39:30.022-05:00I sew purely for the fun and creative aspect of de...I sew purely for the fun and creative aspect of designing unique garments I can wear. My friends and family often tell me I "should" sell them and make a business. I feel that it would suck the joy right out of it. There is something so perfect in losing myself in the flow of making, I believe I'd lose that if I got paid for my work. It's important to have a hobby or interest that you do for pure fun.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05616007208451694113noreply@blogger.com