SOmething to remember about swaps and stressing over them

[Evie]

I know I'm behind on my BOM. I just have to do the machine appliqué on my 3 blocks and I will have November's Egg Money blocks done.

[CindyB]

BTTT

[justdawne]

This Kim is a very wise woman!

Dawne

[sewcarolyn]

Thank-you for bringing this back to the top. This is the first time I have seen it and I appreciate the wisdom in this. I think what really sets quilters apart from a lot of other crafters and seamstresses is that quilters acknowledge the work that goes into a project. I am an avid scrapbooker too and at retreats too often the critical comments seem to fly. I stopped going unless I am with my daughter and a couple of close friends.
I also sewand design costumes and in the flurry of last minute creations during production week it is fun to have someone hold up a dress with crooked seams, buttons sewn on for looks with a weird color thread and velcro instead of snaps or a zipper...and be able to truthfully say "on stage that will look wonderful" and see the smile of the creator. The stage lights and 50 ft away from the 1st row mask the imperfections and transforms the actor into another dimension....
and the love and energy that goes into a quilt block transforms those little "quirks" into "personality". I have been stressing over sending my blocks for my 1st swap, hoping that my choice of fabrics expresses my intent. After reading this I won't stress and if my future swap blocks become orphans in a charity quilt well....my love will be spread even further.

[astitchintime]

I didn't read this the first time it came around.......I wish I had. I love the fact that each of us reads the directions and even when we see the exact same words printed, we have our own idea of exactly how we want our project to turn out. So many different color and fabric combinations and the love we put into each seam as we create the block. Thank you so much for helping to remind those of us who may need to keep in mind that the main reason we should be quilting is because we love it not because we must have the perfect block. I know my very favorite blocks are the ones my grandmother made as a very young bride but never got around to finishing the top. Now many years later they are being made into individual wall hangings for all the grand and great-grandchildren as a keepsake. Every uneven seam and point that doesn't match up are precious to me and I wouldn't want them any other way. Bless you for sharing this with us.
Happy stitching!!
Debi

[beatr]

WHAT A WONDERFUL REMINDER - I ALWAYS FEEL THAT IF THINGS DO NOT COME OUT EXACTLY THE WAY THE PATTERN SHOWS THEN IT IS UNIQUE

I AM IN THE AUTOGRAPH BLOCK SWAP (MY FIRST SWAP EVERY) AND AM LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THE BLOCKS FROM EVERYONE - THE LOVE AND FUN EVERYONE PUTS INTO THEIR QUILTS IS AMAZING

I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE ARE MISTAKES, THEY ARE JUST SOMEONE'S INTERPRETATION OF THE DIRECTIONS.

YOU ARE ALL WONDERFUL AND I KNOW PUT LOVE IN EACH AND EVERY ITEM YOU CREATE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU.

A DAY OF QUILTING IS A GREAT DAY AND LOTS OF FUN.

[Tulpje]

*SMILE*

Man, how I needed to 'hear' this.

I am/was suppose to bring the heart blocks for EL after I found the perfect basket and what ever not I 'was' going to do.

Then I became sicker and sicker, and once I get my health back 100% I still need to go back to the heart blocks. Hmmm, someone suggested to me to bring them with me to Paducah. I think I'll do that.

Thanks SO much for this post.

***Tulpje***

[quilterbee]

That's the honest truth if I've ever heard it! Thankyou for sharing this, Amie )

[SusieQ51]

This is part of the reason I don't get too involved in the finished block swaps. I am afraid that my work won't be up to every one else's standards. If EVERYONE would keep this particular thought in mind, I might give it a try.

Diana

[institcheswithrosie]

THANK YOU!! I am so insecure about my work, I'm delaying doing my blocks for a swap.

Rosie