The backing fabric. Who knew? Who knew this little teeny, tiny, insignificant little design decision would leave me pulling my hair out, tangled in my underwear, a husband threatening divorce, my children going without snacks and cost me close to 36 hours of production time.
The matrix is a look at various attempts. I sewed the acorns and candy canes together not once but twice. I drove to Esther’s 3 times. I drove to Heirloom Fabrics in Poulsbo. I even thought about going to Wal-Mart. Just when I had myself convinced a choice would work I’d step back and feel my stomach churning.
Greg: “What’s wrong with the candy canes? I really like them.”
Kathy: “I have absolutely no idea what’s wrong with them. I just don’t like them.”
And so it went for 36 hours. The kids and my husband stood back and watched mommy obsess. I’ve settled before. I ALWAYS regret the decision later. A beautiful project spoiled a bit by a fabric that wasn’t quite right. I try to remember these things and get my zen on. Go with the energy of the project, be patient, wait until the right choice presents itself.
Fortunately, my third trip to Esther’s late yesterday afternoon was the charm. I found this fabric and I really like it. I like it a lot. I step back and I smile. I like that the red is a true red. Not Cranberry, I think that’s what was wrong with the candy canes. Not Maroon or Burgundy, or Carmine. A Christmas red. A red that makes me happy when I look at it. A just right Red. I like the motif too. Ornaments just like the ornaments that will hang on the advent tree. I thought of that on my way home and it made me happy knowing it was even more perfect than I thought. I liked it when I took it out of the dryer. I liked it after I cut it. I liked it after I sandwiched my fabrics and started quilting.
All this liking makes me joyful. It makes me excited about finishing. It makes me smile!
to be continued…
Hi,
I am here looking, reading your blog and I must say thank you for the post about your sewing machine!!!! I can’t believe now I know about that strange bar!!! I have a Janome Harmony 8080 and it came with 2 bars. In the manual doesn’t really have any explanation for them. And I never took sewing classes, I learn from books and online. I am a begginer!!!
It may not have been *the one* for this project, but I LOVE that folky fabric with the people, flowers and deer.
I’m glad you found the right fabric — it would be a shame to work that hard on something and not totally love it.
Love your fabric
Earlier you were discussing making pockets. I used to make dollies clothes and making tiny pockets that were crisp and had sharp corners became an obsession with me. The best method I found of doing it was as follows:
Assume you are making a pocket you want to finish 3″ wide by 5″ long and using 1/4″ seams. Cut as follows
Width + seam allowances = 3 1/2 inches
Double length + seam allowances = 10 1/2 inches
Interface pocket as desired.
Right sides together, start stitching the short (width) edges together. Stitch seam for about 1″, leave a gap of about 1 1/2 inches (you’ll turn the pocket through this later. Then sew the remaining 1″ or so of the seam. Press the seam open.
Now, still with right sides together, sew the side seams, positioning the previous seam roughly in the middle. Clip corners, turn through the opening, poke out the corners and press. Slip stitch the opening closed. Top stitch about a 1/4″ down from the top edge of your pocket.
Because each corner you create is made up of only one seam and a fold, there is far less bulk and you can get much sharper corners.
I hope the above is clear – if not feel free to e-mail me for further details.
Regards
Izzi
Can’t wait!
Oh, thanks for visiting! Yes I live in Arizona near NM boarder. But I am moving to Flagstaff. We get snow here, 2 inches before yesterday. High elevation (6000-7000 ft) that’s why. But last year Phoenix got a bit of snow too. Isn’t it weird?
So glad you found something that you liked! I’m the same- I’ve visited shops and shops until I found the ‘right’ fabric when I work on quilts. Cannot wait to see the finished calendar!
you are so cute! i keep changing the back of this one little lousy quilt i have been working on forever as it makes me crazy to not have just the right color/pattern. good for you to have found it!
love the calendar! go go go!
Congratulations on finding the perfect fabric! I’m eagerly awaiting the final product! I gave up considering an advent calendar this year. I’ll still plan on putting it on the schedule for January.
I very much dislike settling as well – on anything!
Non quilters don’t understand the premis of “it’s not wrong or bad…it just isn’t..right” We know when something is perfect. My hubby likes to watch me ‘create” as he calls it and agonize over decisions that seem small but make all the difference. At least to me anyway.
I think you held out for just the perfect fabric! Can’t wait to see the finished product. The quilting…what I could see from the back looked really cool!
oooooooh… i´m so curious! can´t wait to see the front.
the quilted tree looks lovely, and the fabric seems to be just “right”.
(and i just *have* to mention that i´m delighted to hear that there are others around who also need hours and days just to decide for the “non-important” backing fabric!)
Lovely chhery fabric. I hate it when you can’t find what you want and you can’t explain what it is but you will know it when you see it.
i firmly believe that waiting for your project to “speak” to you is what distinguishes a true designer from a craft enthusiast. Your work is fabulous because you are prepared to wait.
Good for you for holding out for the fabric you love. Sometimes it’s so hard to find the right fabric when you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for although you sure know what you don’t want. Can’t wait to see the finished creation.
You have perfectly described the joy of creating when things come together well! I think it may be related to Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of flow–doing something that takes all our concentration/energy and doing it well. I search for that feeling and find it most often in sewing.