...and a new project begun!

In the interest of "the process pledge," I thought it was time for another post about a project in process rather than just pics of a finish. So here 'tis--the very early stages.

I've mentioned the UFO Challenge that I'm co-facilitating in my guild a few times over the last few months. The other challenge I'm co-facilitating is our "Use It or Lose It Challenge." Participants list three items (or books) they've had on their shelves for a year or more and have never used. We are to use each item for its originally-intended purpose before the end of the challenge, or any items we haven't used will go in our guild silent auction. We don't actually have to create a finished product--we just have to show proof that we've used the tool in some way. (Yep--this was another idea of mine because I inherited a boatload of stuff from my Mom that I knew I needed motivation to try out or it'll still be sitting on my shelves 10 years from now. Not a surprise that several women in my guild were happy to join me in the challenge--apparently buying things and not *ahem* using them right away is a common ailment.)

I only have one item to go, so since the deadline is coming up (November), I decided I should take advantage of the break in action between one UFO and the next and, well, create another UFO for myself. So tonight I pulled out my last tool on my list and started to play.

My final tool is Marti Michell's Log Cabin rulers and the accompanying book. I inherited these from Mom. I think she'd only bought them about 6 months before she passed away. She and I had talked about these rulers a lot--we're both huge fans of log cabin quilts. The first quilt Mom made me when I was a kid was a log cabin, in fact, and I still have it today.

That being said, I'm not waxing particularly sentimental about these rulers. If they work for me, I'll be jazzed. If not, I'll be willing to put them in the silent auction.

I was just going to make a single block to test the rulers, and decided that might actually take almost as long as just having at it. I chose the first pattern in her book--not so much that I needed a pattern but just to have the fabric quantities and instructions for cutting easily laid out in front of me. The fabrics I have laid out are all from my stash: fat quarters and one strip. (The red on the top will eventually just be the little center square--it's a little dominating in this picture.) It'll make up to be about 54" square. If it turns out at all nice, I have a someone in mind who might enjoy a cuddle quilt. Meanwhile, a great way to use up 17 fat quarters!

I may get some sewing time in this weekend so I'll try to remember to post more pics as I go. It's fun to do a project that I'm not emotionally invested in--if it turns out, it turns out. Otherwise, I've just created space in my fat quarter drawer for the future!

The Process Pledge

I followed a link tonight and came across http://r0ssie.blogspot.com/, and ended up taking "the process pledge."

"I, __Sandy____, pledge to talk more about my processes, even when I can’t quite put them in the in words or be sure I’m being totally clear. I’m going to put my thinking and my gut feelings out there."

Rossie seems to be part of the modern quilter world. I'm not a modern quilter, but then I'm also not NOT a modern quilter. I defy categorization, LOL. Actually, I just like playing with fabric in pretty much any mode. But I agree with Rossie's comments that just seeing pictures of people's finishes isn't always enough. I like to know why they chose certain things, what their inspiration is, etc. Even if it's just to say, "These colors are purdy."

We don't always have to be deep. Too much pressure.

The main thing that Rossie seems to be promoting is not waiting until the end to post about a quilt project, but to be more cognizant of posting things in progress, talking about where we've been, where we are, and where we're going. I'm game.

BTW, Rossie's blog has an interesting conversation going in the comments section about what defines "modern" quilts, what's considered "art," and the like. Considering I posted a question in the BigTent group for "Quilting...for the Rest of Us" a few days ago asking, "how do you define your own quilting: as art, craft, or hobby" (or some wording to that effect) and spurred a great conversation there, it's apparently a hot topic. I'm still undecided. I think I don't like to label myself because that would imply there are things I don't want to try. And so far, I've wanted to try it all!