Quilts are doing my head in a little. I've developed a big love since getting over my issues. And the ongoing pinning I'm doing on pinterest has me dreaming of oh-so-many ideas and plans and designs.
And then there is reality. Reality means that I only get to make a few quilts in my life. I'm not a quilter by trade which means I'm really only making them for me and my peeps. The reason I'm making them is because I want to use the quilts, and so I know that at the absolute most I can probably make three bed quilts for me (without feeling excessive). More than three will just take up cupboard space. So if that is my limit then the question becomes which three????? Such a big big question.
Now I can hear Claire and Anna talking to me in my head as I write this telling me I am making this into a much bigger thing than it needs to be. And that I could make something and maybe not like it and then give it away. But that is not how my brain naturally thinks. I really want to love what I make and I really want to plan them well. So while I accept what they are saying, I still feel like I should be putting the time into the planning which quilt stage, rather than making things I'm unsure about only to find after all that effort they aren't what I want to live with, year in, year out.
So what do I want to make?
Well I'm making the dirty linen/denim quilt you can see in the top photo and I am chuffed to bits with how that is going. And then….
I would love to do a lone star (here are two examples). Just for the challenge and because they are traditional and beautiful. I may be able to get away with doing one of these for my daughter as she loves this design. It would scratch the itch and wouldn't be counted as part of the three. Win win methinks.
I would totally love to do a two colour traditional design with a lot of negative space. Something like this or this or this or this. But what? And what colours - blue and white because blue is my first love or should I branch out? Feels like a risky time to be going off piste.
I also have it in my head that I want to make this star into a much bigger design. One with maybe 16 stars on a linen denim background. How pretty would that be? So so pretty. But would I love it in years to come - again there is that pesky and creativity-stifling question about longevity.
I also have a naturally dyed number that involves the most beautiful indigo and madder dyed fabrics. And then and then….so many ideas.
Then there are my kids. They all need single bed quilts, and are being very patient with their waiting, but I know theirs need to go on the list alongside the ones I want to make for me. Which means that mine will have to sit on the back burner for longer than I might hope - so why am I wasting all this brainspace daydreaming about quilt ideas??
When you finally get through the list of ideas, then you have to consider all the time it would take to hand quilt them. Knitting takes up much of my couch time and so to ask myself to give that up for another passion….well the needles might get a little jealous. It almost feels like cheating with on my one true love - with some smokin' hot babe. Just because she is hot. But I've been with my love for many years… y'know surely that means I could have a free pass? It is all a little unsettling.
Now I realise that this stream of consciousness, that I am allowing to flow straight from my brain into my fingers, is not the most well thought out or the most consciously considered. And I know that Anna and Claire are right and that I am making this into something bigger than it needs to be. But do you ever get stuck on this stuff? The "if I make this then I can't make that so what on earth do I choose" dilemma?? I'd love to hear yours. Or do you feel freedom in the idea of boundless options?
Fel x
PS. This post really validates the message in My Making List 2015 about the freedom that can come with restricted choice….
