We had a great quilter at our guild meeting this week. I feel bad that I didn't catch her first name but her last name was Roach from Bloomfield Indiana. She has had quilts in Houston and Paducah and has won awards. I can see why I don't think my pictures are great but still worth sharing.
BY the time she was done, I was wondering why I have been quilting. I am usually a little intimidated with fancy quilting. But, I do it because I love to piece. She works as hard at the design process as the piecing. I would rather spend my time piecing. The top to me, is immaterial. I enjoy a finished quilt, but I just want to tinker in my sewing room. She said her motivation was to see if she could do new techniques, and, she certainly can. I like challenges, and surprise myself. But, at the end of the day, I want time to sew fabric together, free of pressure and constraints. Will I be sorry that I don't make quilts that make others ooo and ahhh? probably. I told my husband I would like to be a bit more intentional with my projects, at this point. Maybe, not be so willy nilly with starting new little projects that keep growing. So, what did I do? I ordered a new pattern - geesh. just keep sewing. What keeps you quilting?
Oh my — those quilts ARE gorgeous!! But don’t let comparison be the thief of your joy. You don’t go to a concert to hear a professional singer and then give up singing in the shower, right? Unless you’re entering a judged show, quilting isn’t a competition. I can have a great time skiing even though I’m never going to be in the Olympics, I can enjoy cooking even though I’m not going to write a cookbook or star in a cooking show on TV. What you do is beautiful and has tremendous value to you and your family. Those award winning show quilters are like the Olympic Gold Medalists who can inspire and fascinate us with their work, even if we have zero desire to work at that level. Also, if quilters only made spectacular show quilts, there would be no baby quilts or bed quilts or graduation quilts or chemo quilts…. :-)
ReplyDeleteSo well said Rebecca! Jane
DeleteThose quilts are lovely! I like to challenge myself also but not as much as that lady does. One of my latest challenges for the last several years, has been to make quilts from my stash. A small challenge but they bring a great deal of satisfaction. Happy stitching!
ReplyDeleteIn my younger years, I would dream of making that fantastic and complex quilt. Now in my 70's, I'm happy just to make some easy patterned quilt tops to pass on to a group that finish them and donate them to a charity.
ReplyDeleteHi Maggie, Those are amazing quilts but we all quilt for our own reasons and what's important is that you love to do what you do! I have the same problem as you - starting all kinds of new projects before the old ones are done. I also love learning new things so I'm actually learning how to make accordion books this week - with really nice paper. Now to add some fabric to them :-) Enjoy what you do, including your new project!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Those quilts are mind-blowing. But yeah, I’m never going to be perfectionist enough to make quilts like these. But I thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThese quilts are really one of a kind. They are all FABULOUS! This lady obviously excels in math. I couldn't be bothered to spend hours (because my math is average skill) figuring out the angles, hypotenuses and all. No, thanks. I rather keep my energy to sew. Don't feel diminished by her grandeur. Every candle has its own light. Personally, I love what you do. ;^)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Maggie! I mostly just want to tinker in my sewing room and have fun sewing blocks together. Those quilts are amazing, and probably very fun to see in person, but I'm not sure I'd know where to start in even designing one.
ReplyDeleteHer first name is Brenda Roach. I looked to see if she had a blog, but couldn't find one - she's too busy designing and creating quilts. I, too, would rather be piecing, so I founded a quilt group at our church and make baby quilt tops that I pass on to other members to do the other parts so we can give them to first time, low income mothers. That way I can do the part I like in my sewing room. Your photos were great. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHer first name is Brenda. I like to piece myself. So I make quilt tops for our church group who makes baby quilts for first time, low income mothers. Others in the group finish them. Thanks for sharing those great photos.
ReplyDeleteThose are gorgeous quilts. What is good about her style is that it is different from yours. if we all had the same likes, how could we be inspired??--TerryK
ReplyDeleteOne thing I know is that quilting isn't a contest. At least not for me. So I won't be designing award-winning quilts or entering quilts in quilt shows for ribbons. My friends enjoy that, and I enjoy that for them. The thing that makes me happy is creating my own designs and making them. And it also makes me happy to see beautiful quilts, but I don't compare mine to theirs because I'm doing what makes me happy. So are you, and your quilts are just as lovely because they are an expression of you! Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.
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