It is funny how things look different once they are all together. I hadn't noticed until it was done that the star blocks made with two different background fabrics read more like 'x's. While the star blocks made from a single background fabric really pop as stars.
This quilt was a frustrating at times as well as being a joy. I love working on projects with other women. Actually I love to sew and craft with other women. I don't really love to work on the same project as much. I believe it is because while I am not a perfectionist, I like things to be done right. NOT PERFECT, just right. I want 1/4 inch seams to be 1/4 of an inch or at least close to a 1/4 of an inch. Not 3/8 to a 1/2 an inch. Maybe I am too much of a control freak. I do like to be in control of my projects.
The other frustration came in the quilting of the quilt. I will be getting a long arm quilting machine within the year. I may not be able to get quite everything I want but I really need a machine to quilt on. It's either a long arm or an expensive sewing/quilting machine with a stitch regulator and a bigger throat space. If I go that route, it will be forever before I get the Long Arm and I can't do what I want on that type of machine. I may as well get the long arm. I can add the computer later. I already have some stencils so I can use those until I can afford the computer.
I love the way I feel when a quilt is so excitedly accepted. The parents were so happy to receive this gift and I am sure it will be treasured. The appreciation made making it all worth while. I think the kids did like that their pictures were on it but after that it was just a dumb ole blanket. But they are all under the age of 12 so it is hard from them to get excited about the quilt. But the Mom and Dad both thanked me personally.
Today at church, other women complimented me on how the quilt turned out. Even though they helped with it, they recognized that Tatianna and I did a lot of the work. Plus they were amazed at the picture blocks. I think that many of these women have only done traditional quilting when they were younger. There are so many modern techniques that make quilting go so much faster now that it is nothing to get a quilt done in a month. Of course the quilting still takes time, especially if you don't have a machine to do it on.
To illustrate my point, two weeks ago Tatianna finished 2 quilt tops in a week. Well maybe she finished them, she is debating adding borders. The only reason she hasn't done 2 more is we are getting ready for the Holidays. Of course the fact that she is not working full time does allow her the time to sew. Truthfully I think she would love to be working but at least she can be productive by quilting. Plus since she uses Mom's stash it doesn't cost her anything.
So while I enjoyed working on this quilt, I will be happy to get back to working on my projects. I have 2 quilts to finish and many more planned. There is just not enough time in my days to do all I want to do. My friend Kerri Lynn likes to remind me that that we know how many hours we have each day and that everyone gets the same number of hours. Sometimes I think I need 36 hour days. Then I remember that I can't pull all nighters anymore. So I know I am grateful for 24 hour days.
But still I want more time to quilt. Oh well, I will just quilt when I can. Do you ever feel like you never have time to do the things you love to do.
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