Most of the time, lately, I have gotten to this stage of a quilt....
and just hated it. Put it it the pile. Grrr.......
I started out with a fantastic background, one that had the right feel for the quilt that I wanted to create. This is very important to me, it's like I can see what I want it to become when I see the fabric. But...when it doesn't become what I see in my head, many times it's such a disappointment that I put it aside. Aside is a rubbermaid tub in the furthest reaches of the closet under the stair.
I have been putting an effort into figuring out this dry spell I've been in, so I plow through. I figure, it's better to put a finished, ugly quilt into the Aside than a clump of fabrics with pieces falling off.
I even posted on facebook and asked friends, "What is wrong with this quilt?". I got some great input, some from a design principle standpoint, some offered an emotional response, all were really good to hear. From the beginning, I envisioned a bird on this quilt, but I was so disappointed with it's progress, I had decided to just finish it this far and dump it.
But I liked it. I haven't liked anything I've done for a very long time. I hung it on the wall and let it percolate there. Every time I passed it, even with all it's problems, I liked it. Time to add that bird.
I woke up looking forward to making it! What a giant step in the right direction! I painted, quilted it onto Timtex, and attached it to the quilt. I made a sleeve and a nametag, "A Bird's Nest" (if you could see the back, you'd know). I printed the registration papers for the Suwannee River quilt Show, filled 'em out, and drove to White Springs. I turned it in to Lucy on almost the last day of registration.
If my motivation had something to do with wanting a new quilt for this show, because I love those ladies and I love that show, then so be it. I am just thankful to finish a quilt that I like.
Maybe I'll dig through the Aside bucket and find another orphan that wants to be finished.
