It's Wendesday once again and, well, you know that it means a progress report.
I have started work on the last border of the bias tape quilt. The material is a length of beautiful Jinny Beyer border fabric and I am simply quilting along the outline of the pattern.
Anyone who has done this kind of quilting knows that it can be quite tedious, however pretty the design. To turn the boring work more interesting I am listening to audio books. Right now I am enjoying Stephen Fry as he reads the Harry Potter stories.
Another pastime for longish quilting sessions is to let my thoughts wander, sometimes without a plan, or I set myself a Question. E.g. Why and since when do I like purple? or Is it OK to cross the street when the light is red but no cars are coming? It was after reading the Alexander McCall Smith's Isabel Dalhousie stories I started this highly private 'The Quilty Philosophy Club'.
How do YOU spend time while doing a boring job?
WIPW, Work In Progress Wednesday, an excellent idea of Sharon Boggon of Pintangle, means that you 'show and tell' about your progress on an ongoing needlework project. Take a picture, write a line, or two, post it on your blog and then put a link in the comments field on Sharon's WIPW post for the week. It is interesting to follow fellow needleworkers' work, share tips and ideas, give and get encouragement. This is a good way to turn that UFO into an FO.
(UFO=UnFinished Object FO=Finished Object)
19 comments:
this is a great way to embellish a border fabric Queenie. You ways of amusing yourself when working one a piece that does not need too much concentration is interesting. I tend to listen to the radio or my CDs Chris de Burgh being first choice, but also others and show ones like Les Miserable and Miss Saigon etc.
How do I spend time while doing a boring job? I usually get so frustrated I put it away, but sometimes the job just has to be done. Then I listen to music, or a talking book. Sometimes I break it into little sections and do interesting things in between. But my best ploy is to avoid it!
I guess you have seen those shows? and can see them in your head when you listen to the music. I find classical music the best to help my thoughts wander freely.
Forgive my poor English; when I said boring I did not mean the irritable feeling of' fed up-boring' which would get me frustrated too. Quilting has never irritated me, yet, but I can feel the action is monotonous and slow, and then need something stimulating to keep my brain active.
Your progress looks interesting and beautiful, Queenie : you gave us nice ideas :)
Have a nice creative day,
Isa
I love the idea of a private Quilty philosophers club what a great way to sort out a problem, or just as you say why have certain colours come back into my life. I loved purples, pinks, oranges, in the 60's and I now drifting back to them, I kept my favourite mini skirt with all these colours on stored away with lovely memories got it out the other day and decided I would like to use these colours again. A good one to muse whilst quilting.
What do I do when my projects are monotonous and slow? (I embroider, not quilt) A few things. One, I listen to music or put something educational on the TV to listen to. Two, I always have a couple of projects going, so I set myself a goal and then "reward" myself with a few minutes working on a less monotonous area of the project or another project. For example, I tell myself that if I finish a certain tedious area (perhaps many rows of the same color) I can take out my other (more fun) project and finish a small part of that. That tends to work better than anything else for me. Sometimes, I just take a break and "snack " my cat, (give him a treat and a skritch), go take a quick trip into the backyard for some deep breaths or go make myself some iced tea or cocoa. Though, the thing I do most often, is just to choose projects that are not likely to become tedious. That does not always work, because the reasons for tedium depend on what else is happening around me and going on in life, but it does keep my hobby more often a pleasure, rather than seem like work.
Love the sun in your beautiful block.
I also listen to music - which one depends on my mood or I consider the pros and contras on a problem I have to solve.
I like the quilting in the Jinny Beyer fabric. Quilting is boring without some music. Sometimes I plwy a CD or I listen to the radio. But I think an audio book would be nice too.
I listen to music [radio/CD] or think too. But most times I watch the TV at the same time, but I do often miss the plot.
I like purple too, the latest book I'm working on is based on that colour.
Good to know there are other members of The Quilty Philosophy Club! Keep the music on, let the thoughts roll...
You, too, have a good day with lots of creative activity.
I see you are a serious member of the Quiltey Philosophers Club. I too find the colours I liked in younger days now becoming attractive to me again. So the philosophical questions is WHY? I will ponder this while I stitch that Jinny Beyer border.
I have tried watching/listening to TV while stitching, but I feel I can't concentrate on either activity. The screen always beckons me to WATCH.
I like your idea of taking baby steps and stopping for a short break or interchanging between two projects.
You have a good point there, about how tedious something feels compared to other activities.
The quilting is the simples of simple!
Many people talk about listening to the radio. It seems the radio has got a lot to offer these days, with small stations popping up everywhere.
I have tried doing my needlework in front of the TV, but I feel lured into watching the screen all the time, or like you, miss the plot. Also I have better light at my worktable.
Looking forward to more reports on your purple book.
I don't actually "watch" just listen to it. :-) That is why I choose educational DVD's, as opposed to entertainment. Try sitting in a chair where you cannot actually see the TV, or put a tablecloth over the screen. That is how I taught myself to listen to the TV when I wanted to listen instead of watch. :-) Good luck!
Lovely work!
During a tedious job I also listen to music.
I alternate with fun work...one boring thread, one fun thread.
No thinking, I can't think/chat when I'm stitching.
Post a Comment