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Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Fabric... Welcome to the Patriotic Quilter where I like to share all things quilty as well as red, white, and blue! Please feel free to look around and enjoy yourself! I would love to hear from you.

Friday, November 15, 2013

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

Hi Everyone,

I got quite a few comments yesterday on the Countdown to Christmas post about how some of you are too overwhelmed to thing about starting something else.  Last week, I was in the same place.  All I could think of was all the things that I "had" to get done.  I'm making two nieces a nightgown each, a couple purses, a few other things which are "unmentionable" in case the recipients are reading this blog, and I signed up for a postcard swap and a Santa Swap.  In addition to all of that, I had planned to make small, zippered bags for everyone to hold their giftcard, small gift, etc.

Last week when I would go in my sewing room, I just got depressed.  Or I simply bounced around, unable to focus on anything.  Part of it was that I didn't have my trusty best friend to help me (Bernie), part of it was the mess (I couldn't focus on anything) and part of it was the overwhelming feeling of drowning in projects that should be fun, but when there are so many and with a deadline, they just turn into "work."

Once I cleaned and got my Bernina back in place, I had a fresh, exciting feeling.  I jumped right in to the Countdown to Christmas as a "reward" for my hard work.  Each new step for it is posted on Friday, so I'm going to make sure that I "worked" hard during the week, so I can take the time to play with that as each week's reward.  I work really well with a reward system. <grin>

Then I started pulling out the patterns and fabric for all the stuff I was going to make.  And I quailed!  As the pile grew, so did my...  anxiety?  horror?  dread?  Hey, this is supposed to be fun!  So I decided then and there to make it fun and simplify.  So I decided not to make the bags for everyone.  Maybe if I get in the mood, I'll make some and keep them for next year, adding to them whenever it strikes my fancy.  Now things are much more "doable."

Or they were until I was working away yesterday morning and suddenly remembered that the postcard for the swap was due to be mailed today!  So I threw the nightie stuff that I was working on to the side, ran downstairs to hopefully get inspired on Pinterest (for me, the hardest part of making postcards is coming up with a design--especially under pressure!)  And then I spent the afternoon making a royal mess but ended up with a cute card.  (Actually I always make at least 2--one to give and one to keep as an "archive" or else a future need.)

So in case you missed it, I went from a serene "I can do this" feeling to sudden panic in the blink of an eye.  You have to really love this time of year, don't you?

When I post this, I'm going upstairs to tidy up again and then refocus on the nightgown.  I will not work on the new step for the Countdown to Christmas until the nightie is done!!  Ha ha.

Have a great day!
JoAnne


9 comments:

  1. Glad to hear that you are just like the rest of us with big, big, big ideas of what we can accomplish before Christmas. Why didn't we start in July?

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  2. I love reading your posts - you have a great style AND it is all about quilting!

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  3. LOL...I could have been the author of this post. I am/feel the same way! So overwhelming sometimes, but if I work from a list and just chip away at it, it's not so bad sometimes. I went looking for something this morning and was quickly overwhelmed by so many unfinished projects and "want to do" projects. oh my...

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  4. I'm chuckling! I see myself in your ... Ummm....slippers?

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  5. From calm to panic in the blink of an eye? Yes, been there. Sounds like you handled it well. I looked at the sew along yesterday and I'm interested. Maybe if I can find some mid winter reds. I have a red and white quilt, so I've been resisting tbe mid winter red pull, but I'm beginning to give in to it........hard.to.resist.

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  6. I've been in your shoes, too. Sometimes I forget that quilting is supposed to be a hobby.

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  7. Don't we all do this to ourselves? :) I don't know why either...it IS supposed to be fun. I have resolved to just let the unfinished things go. I have tons and tons of projects that would be so amazing if I finished them...but the magic happens when you're inspired and excited and less so when you're feeling obligated. I just try to remind myself...this is my fun, my hobby, my art! :) I try to make a few goals and stick to them...and the rest...well...the rest was practice for those great things that I DO finish! :)

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  8. Oh JoAnne this sounds so familiar. I'm starting to feel a bit overwhelmed myself and not really sure how I'm going to recover. I like your idea of dialing it back a bit.

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  9. I totally understand the feeling! I have made a list of things I have to do and want to do and the other things all go on a different list... That being said sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. So hard not to be overwhelmed. Good luck on your nighties!!!

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