May 20, 2020

Starting vs Finishing

You'd think being under stay-at-home orders I'd find time to blog. Sadly that hasn't been the case. I have been having fun playing with fabric combinations though. These are potential new quilts. Bright. Happy. Can't wait to start these.




I fell out of the blogging routine the year my daughter got married. Three years ago next month. I managed one post a month for the last 2 years but somehow this year it just completely dropped off. During that time I have been quilting. Really. I have. Just check out my Instagram @springleafstudios for quilting and my other IG account @springleafcolor for color inspiration.

It finally dawned on me that one of the biggest reasons I haven't kept up with blogging is because I tend to only write about finished quilts. And if you know me even a little, you know finishing isn't my strong point. I'm much much better at starting.

So instead of waiting for the next finish, I'm sharing where things are at the moment. Today. May 2020.

I have two new tops and the backing ready to send out for quilting. These two were both pieced during the Covid-19 quarantine and I'm anxious to finish them.

www.springleafstudios.com


I also made a quarantine quilt I'm calling Looking on the Bright Side. Here's a portion of it. I'm not happy with the border so it's under contemplation. More later once I resolve what I want to do with it.

www.springleafstudios.com


I have five quilts waiting for binding. Some of them have been quilted for a year. The binding is prepared. I even do most all my binding by machine now. What can I say? No good reason they aren't done. Top quilt here has priority because it's my new favorite. It's also the newest top to be quilted. Blog post soon I promise.

www.springleafstudios.com


I have many projects in various stages of being cut or ready to piece. One of the top ones was for the 100 day project. I cut the circles and sewed the background blocks in anticipation of appliqueing a circle every day. Didn't happen. I don't think I'm cut out to do one small thing a day. I tend to be all or nothing.

www.springleafstudios.com


The biggest UFO is my bento box quilt started as a demonstration for the QAYG presentation I did for my guild. That was in 2018! Once the presentation was over it was out of sight out of mind. But since my daughter claimed this one, I finally got back to it earlier this year. I'm doing spiral quilting on each big block and love the look. 17 down and 8 more to go. Hopefully I wrote down the measurements for the joining strips. It worked perfectly for the demo. Check out the QAYG posts here to learn more.

www.springleafstudios.com


Here's a few photos of other projects and fabric pulls. Will I finish any of these anytime soon? Or will I start something completely new?


www.springleafstudios.com

www.springleafstudios.com

www.springleafstudios.com


I hope you are finding time and motivation to quilt during Covid 19. Some days are better than others for me. Some days I'm fired up and can't wait to start the next quilt. Some days I'm not motivated for anything. Most days I should simply try to finish the projects already underway. Starting vs finishing. It will be an ongoing battle for me but at least it's progress. I always feel like I'm moving forward.

How about you? Are you moving forward on projects during quarantine?

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19 comments:

  1. You have so many beautiful projects on the go Anne! And it seems you love to cut out! I’m the opposite- I’ll cut out one block at a time because I can’t wait to see what it looks like! Now for the pep talk to get that binding on. Just think how great it will feel to have all those quilts finished? You are so close! Go on, you can do it!!

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  2. You have the most gorgeous fabric in all these projects! So cheery. What size is your bento box block? Love that spiral quilting!

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  3. So many pretty fabrics! I don't blame you one bit for wanting to start 85 different projects with these lovelies. And I completely understand lacking motivation to blog. What is important now is that we are enjoying our sewing. I've been puttering around on various quilting projects, finishing tops but not getting to the quilting lately. Cutting up scraps and organizing them. All things that lead, eventually, to more quilts. Eventually :)

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  4. It's a quilter's constant dilemma! To finish; to start; which will reign. My goal for this year (note: not a resolution, just a goal) was to not start anything new, and finish things by becoming a one-project-at-a-time person. It's always sounded so impossible. I had been doing fine with the goal, and sticking to it. Then came stay at home orders. I kicked that time into gear and have, so far, finished 3 queen and 1 king size quilt tops. Backs are ready for 2 and the other 2 are on the way. Next will be the longarmers work before bindings, and a true finish. It is such a satisfying feeling. I encourage you to do one binding a week on those 5 quilt-finishes-in-waiting!

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  5. It's always a joy to come and look at the fabrics you've picked for a project. I'm almost done with a project I started in April. Nothing like a deadline to get me focused. My quarantine mate might suggest a little too focused. LOL

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  6. Anne you have given us a colour feast here! Lots of beautiful quilts in the process of being stitched and as usual your choice of fabric is exciting. I love your yellows in Looking on the Bright Side, so summery and as we head into the cold and wet Winter season this is so welcome!

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  7. So fun to see all your works in progress! I think I resemble you - urgent need to start a new project while the last one lies in wait to be finished! I have been making good headway during the past couple of months in finishing what I start though. And digging out long-forgotten projects that need to see the light of day. Side benefit of staying at home!

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  8. Your bright prints always bring a smile to my face. I hope that you can come up with a solution that makes you happy for the border on Looking on the Bright Side. I agree that some days are much better than others right now, and I try to find gratitude in the moments of joy.

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  9. I'm so happy you've shared (all?) your UFOs and WIPs. Collectively, they make for a gorgeously bright and happy blog post. I can see why your daughter wants the Bento Box quilt. Those small, quilted spirals are perfect! I adore them. As for waiting to bind a stack of quilts... that just can't happen at my house. When I'm THAT close to a finish, I can't contain my excitement to see it done, done, done. Done is the best feeling ever. I guess you'll get to experience "done" times five! :-) Super-duper happiness! It's always great to see blog posts about in-progress projects. Everyone knows quilts don't just happen. Walking alongside a quilter through a project is satisfying and reassuring. We make at a snail's pace, and that's okay. Keep up the beautiful work!

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  10. I was wondering what you were up to. I checked your blog recently and noticed you have not posted in a very long time. I love all your bright cheery works in progress. I am going to go check out your QAYG with the bento box. I am a longarm quilter and have tons of small batting strips perfect for those and it might be a good way to use up some of those. I used to sew clothes when I was young and still dabble in sewing clothes but since the shelter in place I have just been going crazy with sewing clothes with a few quilty projects thrown in........come have a look https://enchantingquilts.blogspot.com

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  11. Beautiful lovely fabrics and colors! Can't wait to see your progress. Thank you for posting the update. You inspire me!

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  12. I love seeing collections of fabric together whether they make it into a project or not. I see Brandon's Onion rings in there and I have some of that and want to incorporate it into a project soon.

    I'm not a one piece a day person either. I remember back in the 1990s when Pepper Cory showed us the quilt she worked on one block every day and I thought it was such a great idea. The farthest I ever made it was to Jan. 15th.

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  13. All fabrics are so energizing. They definitely encourage me to dive in and start sewing. So happy to see you back on the blogging circuit :-)
    Oh yes, I am quilting up a storm. Working on a Mercyful quilt right now and another is waiting in the wings. Stay safe, Anne.

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  14. Finishing is over rated. Starts are much more fun!

    You have some amazing projects in the works.

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  15. LOVED seeing all that you have started - gorgeous! If finishing was the bar for an effective blogger I would have to close up shop because my finishes are few and far between, but I love the process and finding inspiration in the blogosphere. Keep going - you'll land on what you want to do and finish when the time is right.

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  16. Just found your blog. Love all your bright quilts! I'm pulled toward bright fabrics also. I worked on a lot of charity quilts for Project Linus this past covid spring, it's very relaxing. Then not so much in summer, but winter is always good quilting time here. And here comes a noreaster today! Happy Quilting! Thanks so much for your blog, don't spot!

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  17. I'm leaving a comment here to say...fill me in on what you've been doing! I love all the beginnings of the quilts, I'm curious to know if the five quilts ever got their binding, and I was to see how the yellow Looking on the Bright Side turned out. I miss seeing your creations. :) E.

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  18. love your quilts!!! and your fabrics! I wish I had just a few fabrics in a stash like that! do you buy fabrics on line? Could you please reveal where you go or surf the websites to find your flowers and sunflowers? I saw two quilts that were for your SIL’s. they were the same pattern but OH, did I love them! and where did you get your pattern or do you do as I do and make your own? I would love to get the pattern so I can skip all the thinking! linda.gryder@yahoo.com

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  19. Lots of things happening over at yours, love all the colour! I'm in the starting team too!

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WaHoo!!! You're leaving me a comment. Thanks for stopping by and do come back again. Quilt on, Anne.