Saturday, November 19, 2011

Quilter's Cramp............

Quilters cramp

Okay - where do I start. I have had this quilt on the racks for a while now - I have worked a ton of hours on it, but I still have three rows to go. It is taking all that is in me to finish this thing. It's going to be gorgeous and I know that I will be proud of it, but I am having a hard time finishing.

I am so disorganized that I get so distracted. I should say my brain is so disorganized that I can't face what I need to get done when I need to get it done. Please tell me I am not alone in this........

Every day I wake up thinking I am going to conquer the world by getting everything I need to get done that day. When it all comes down to it - I don't get everything done and I feel so far behind.

I am the kind of person that allows myself to get distracted when it comes to quilting because I feel so far behind. What I need to learn to do is to stick to a task until it is finished and not allow myself to get distracted. I have realized something about myself though - I have to make each quilt a masterpiece. I can not just skip the stitch in the ditch - I can't leave out the fillers, I want every quilt to be amazing! So, I end up taking so much time to finish one quilt that during the middle of it I get -- Quilter's Cramp!

Truth is - sometimes I just want to crawl up next to Clint on the couch and watch TV with him - even if it's football.

PS -- Please, please don't think I am complaining! I love to work on these quilts - I just need to find a better way to get them done faster!!!

27 comments:

Vicki {Quilting Lodge} said...

You are definitely not alone. I have so much to do before Christmas that I feel like I'm in a fog. I should be quilting and sewing every minute that I can but I find myself doing anything else but that. I think I do it when I feel overwhelmed.

Vicki @ Quilting Lodge

Carla said...

Christmas is the best time of the year and it's slipping through your fingers! Simplify your life... hire a cleaning woman once a week. Throw out some clutter. Let those quilts flow out with some wonderful all-overs and no SID. Start the Christmas music and play it throughout the house for the next two months.
Then get a mug of hot chocolate and snuggle up with your husband on that couch.

Leeanne said...

I'm with Carla!....take it easy on yourself, I seem to remember you giving me the same advice....say to yourself and others 'I don't do perfect, I do human'
It works for me....well most days!!!LOL.Gee you have a young family too, in a few years they become more self sufficient.
Happy days!

Scottish Nanna said...

Like My Grandma used to say there is always tomorrow for what you cant finish today and it's true if you think about it just take things easy and dont stress yourself it will get done.
Hugs Mary.

Sharon - Lilabelle Lane said...

I'm with Carla also and PLEASE don't forget to cuddle up on that couch with your husband :o)

Pat Merkle said...

You are sooo not alone. I feel like Santa's slowest elf! I think we just have to remember that we are "human beings", not "human doings"! Your quilt is going to be stunning!

Sheila said...

Simplify things in your life. More is not always better. It's just more.

Dawn Hendrix said...

I have this problem also.. it is getting harder and harder to push through.. but I tell myself imagine the END and the result which I LOVE to SEE.

You are not alone just know this...

Vroomans' Quilts said...

We all are worked into this corners - but I'm with Sheila - 'more is not always better, it's just more.'

susansew said...

Judy, You are an artist, not a quilt factory. Enjoy some time with Clint, even if it is watching football. It will all get done. Or not. You have to do what you enjoy, not what you feel you have to do (in the quilt dept.) You cut corners, you won't be happy. I'm betting Picasso didn't leave anything out, just to get it done. :)

Mommarock said...

I have my hexie quilt being hand quilted.. next to me on a frame, and my arthritis is acting up so much that I'm tempted to take it upstairs and switch it to machine quilting.. (which by the way I cannot do) just to get it finished. I'd love to have this quilt DONE and be able to enjoy it.. but instead I work on others.

Barb said...

Yep....I get it...and get distracted....I make myself and sometimes it is hard to do even that...turn some music on.

How do you get the stitches to look nice even when they join in the middle and not look like a jumble of thick stitches?

Spoil yourself and to to the couch and sit with that man of yours...

Dirt Road Quilter said...

Breathe. I think most of us feel this way...especially this time of year. You are an artist my dear, not a chain store and art takes time. Now go curl up with that hubby of yours and recharge. Now I'm off to take some of my own advice. :)

Colleen said...

First can I just say how much you inspire me?? I could never quilt like you do, yet I LOVE looking at your quilts, getting ideas and inspiration. You are an amazing artist. You are not alone in feeling behind. I think it's maybe like writer's block?
Love your blog/quilts!

debbie m said...

I find the first step is to make realistic expectation lists! It is so hard to do. We want to accomplish so much, and try to do it all. Don't say 'I can finish this quilt in a day', say I'd like to finish this quilt in a day, but realistically it will take 2 (10-16 hours) but if I get intricate it will take 4! Don't forget to let your customers know that you have all the work you can get done before the holidays. If you end up with a little extra time I'm sure you can find a customer near by...or just take those extra hours to love those beautiful children and supportive husband!
Holiday Blessings to you and yours :o)

carina said...

thank you thank you thank you they are arrived mi scotsch flannels, excuses for mine poor english!! you can seen them on mine blog http://tuinpatchacarina.bolspot.com
Greating from holland Carina

Linda said...

Oh my gosh, Judi...it's as if you are reading my mind!!!! I know exactly what you are saying!!!! If there is way to procrastinate, I find it!!! Every night when I go to bed I think, "I'm going to get up extra early and quilt away." I get up instead, find other things to avoid what I SHOULD be doing!!! LOL! Are we twins??? :-)

BobbiG said...

I know how it goes. My kids are all grown but I never, ever regret going out back to throw a ball, and I don't remember all the things I didn't get done but I do remember all the fun we had. You do beautiful work! I am still too scared to try machine quilting - maybe next year!

sandra said...

I feel this way every Christmas and so you are not a lone. At my age you would think I would have conquered this feeling but naught. Just remember nothing is as special as family. Blessings

Jean said...

I feel this way every day. Not just with quilting but in life in general. There is so much to do in my house and yet so much easier to say "another time or another day" and go curl up on the couch with my hubby. Or more often then not, I end up on the computer looking at all the lovely blogs, like yours, to get inspiration to get something done. You are amazing and I know you can do it, no matter how long it takes!

Donna Becker said...

You are NOT alone! Breathe deeply and remember what's really important in your life. Clue: it's probably human and very close by. :-)

Auntie Pami said...

I normally don't quilt or sew everyday. I'd like to. Really I would. I am blaming my lack of focus on the weather and the time change. I agree, take time to enjoy your little ones, they grow too quickly. Football may be boring, but snuggling never is.

Капитолина Журавлик said...

I really helps in these situations - to keep himself in the topic, learn how to focus the topic. Your work is utterly beautiful. But you have so many ideas that you can not focus on a nearby subject.
But if you want to be able to watch TV, it's best not to deny yourself, otherwise vzbuntuetes and quite upset.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Nope you are not alone, and I am going to go read all your comments for any advice!! I make lists - lots of lists, and then I make lists of the lists and then I lose them and ... well.... I only have 3 kids - you have me beat LOL

Vesuviusmama said...

So not alone! I am a hand quilter, and about halfway into a quilt, when I realize I've been working on it for months and I'm still only half done, I get paralyzed with the enormity of the task ahead of me. In fact, this is me curling up checking blogs instead of doing the quilting I should be doing. I've learned to make my daily lists very elemental - I break tasks not tiny bits so even if I don't complete the whole task, I can mark a couple of parts off and feel like I've done something. And I only have 2 little ones afoot - I don't know how you do it with all your little ones! Hang in there! You are a creative genius, and I am in awe of you!

WesternWilson said...

Judi, you are so not alone! And give yourself some credit here...you have:
1. a business to run (longarm quilting for clients)
2. another business to run (quilt store)
3. a full time job of a young mom with young kids
4. a marriage
5. your life as a quilt artist
6. an active role in a charitable enterprise

These are all absorbing commitments that do NOT lend themselves to a multitasking approach. Women are under considerable pressure now to "do it all", do it all at once, do it perfectly, and look fabulous (and relaxed) while it's all getting done. And I find with your age group, there is a lot of intense pressure from your peers to be the best at all the above, all the time. That is unrealistic and strikes me as inhuman! For the next few years, you will have to juggle competing interests and responsibilities in your life. That just isn't easy, and sometimes, often, things have to fall off the end of the list.

So give yourself time for breaks, go cuddle on that couch, and the energy will keep flowing.

Jenny said...

...well... reading everyone's comments apparently your not alone, you just have the gut's to share your feelings. I have those same feelings!! So what can we do as longarmers to not get burned out? I'll think about that and let you know :o) !!