I have been thinking lately, and if I said this to my husband he would ask me if it hurt....so let me save you the step incase you were "thinking" it. Yes it did!!!
First off I am preparing for a quilting class that I am giving next month for those that are interested in it (I am so nervous!) But while at the library checking out books I came along this book....
I started reading it and couldn't put it down! Lisa Boyer wrote it from her point of view on quilting! Let me just say that she is FUNNY! I LOVE IT! She has another book too that I checked out called "Stash Envy". At first I just it was so funny, but as it went on it made me think, and this is where the "hurting" began! It changes the way I look at quilting, and made me more proud of my work. Also it made me ask the question "Why do you quilt?"
So let me ask you, why do you quilt? Why do you go through the hours of working with stubborn fabric. Do you do it so that you can show off your work...and say "hey look at me?" Do you quilt so that you can use your quilt or use them for art?
I realized that quilting is not the same for everyone, and how I look at quilting may be completely different from the person in the same quilting class. Does it make mine any less important or less beautiful? NO! And it takes a lot for me to say that because I am such a people pleaser!!! For instance I was emailing back and forth between a fellow quilter and she didn't like my choice of batting....what did I do?? Cried for a little bit, but then I refocused and realized that my quilting is for me...where are the quilts that I have made? They are on my bed! They are on my children's beds and that is what I wanted. My children and husband loves my quilts. And if I have ever needed to know if my quilts are good enough, look at my children's eyes when they got their new quilt. So for me, I am more of a practical use of the quilt, they aren't for a quilting show or ment to be in a museum, they are ment to be used. So if my corners don't end up a perfect 90 degree angle, I am okay and I am not going to stress about it. It's a learning curve for me and I am fine with that. Now the hard part is to keep this idea in my head and when I get " judged" again for my quilting techniques....I can hold my head high and know that it works for me. 
(I just realized I don't have a picture of Nathan and his quilt... I will fix that today!!!)
5 comments:
We use our quilts the way you do, and I feel the same way. My work isn't perfect, but you could never tell my family that...they would argue and take ya down!
I quilt for my sanity. I get stressed so easy and when I quilt I get rid of that stress. I get things done around the house just so I can quilt and then I am amazed at all I got done(quilting and housework)
They are so cute with their little quilts. Lots of love in those quilts of yours.
I am brand new to quilting, so I have absolutely no knowledge as to techniques or brands to use or anything. But I am making my first quilt for my 10 month old daughter. I know it's not going to be perfect (anywhere near perfect actually), but I am making it with love, and hopefully that will mean more to her than that the seams meet up perfectly. I'm hoping that we'll use the quilts I make in the future too, instead of hanging them on a wall or stuffing them in a closet. I want them to get dirty and worn and used a lot. By the way, your kids are beautiful!
I'm like Crafty Maine Mom, quilting for sanity. Unlike CMM, I don't get things done around the house first, hee hee. Anyway, I loved reading your post & seeing pictures of your happy kids. I'm more about the love than the perfection! Just keep doing what you're doing...
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