Thursday, September 15, 2022

Pigs with Lipstick

 The other day I meet with my Quilty Buddies 

And I made a confession.
I was really feeling like it was time to stop quilting!
I had lost the joy.  
I didn't feel like I had any creativity left.
I thought I was truly done.

They were shocked.
What was going on?

I shared how I had sorted through my stash
 and had lots of fabric I needed to part with.
But I felt guilty because of the money
 I had spent over the years,
 the amount of fabric I had collected....

  To justify these feelings, 
I felt like I needed to sew up some of these piles into quilts.
I had picked a pattern, cut and sewed. 
 I thought my plan would be to create
 something wonderful for someone.  
To pass on many quilts.

But I felt myself losing the excitement
 and joy I usually felt as I work on a project. 
 It was like walking through deep sticky mud.
 Agggh!  
 I was quickly sinking. 
 Maybe I was done.
  I mean,  really done. 
 That's how I was feeling.

After lots of questions, my one friend said,
Lipstick on a pig, is still a pig.



She went on to say,
if I was using fabric I didn't love anymore,
 why would the quilt I was making 
be something I loved, 
no matter what I did with it.
Was it as simple as that?
I think my friends were right in this case.  
My heart wasn't in it.
It really had made me depressed. 

Since then,
I have stopped that project,
 bundled up all the piles 
and made arrangements for a local sewing group
 to take it and do their good works with it.

*****

Let it go, let it go
Some of my fabric is tired and old.
Try as I will 
There just isn't a thrill.
Can't hold it back anymore
I need to pass it through another door. 
I don't care what others may say
I don't want to sew with it another day.

I have felt guilty long enough. 
It really is still good stuff.
Maybe someone else will find a joy.
So, the fabric is theirs to enjoy.

Let it go, let it go.
The decision has made me feel lighter
Sewing even seems brighter.
It's time to do what I love.
To dispose of, get rid of
The pieces from my overabundant stash.
That made me feel depressed and dashed.

I started a project, I really did try,
But then I started questioning why
I was unhappy and restless
I was not doing my bestess.
As time seems to be growing shorter
It was also time to stop being a hoarder.
I simply will never be able to use it all
But there are others who will be having a ball.
So, Let it go, let it go.

*****
And I have.
Until Next Time 
Kyle 

20 comments:

  1. YAY! You did it! Our wonderful, creative, talented friend is back!

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  2. I so get this! I went through the same thing about a year ago. Of course, I have acquired a new stash, but I love the NEW fabrics and there are way fewer of them. I now buy for just one project, not to acquire. I hope you find joy again in your quilting...or not. Maybe it is time for something new. Many of my quilting group have returned to counted cross stitch. I have taken on learning to do sketching and watercolor painting. BTW, your poem is wonderful.

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  3. I have found a newbie quilter who will be getting a lot of my stash. Pass it on and let another person enjoy making quilts. We reach that time in our lives when our passion starts to fade a bit and then goes completely. I do hope for you and me and others that is not the case just yet .....

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  4. Quilting is supposed to be fun! I’m glad it can be fun again 😀

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  5. Kudos to you for honestly facing your true feelings and acting on them! Passing on those fabrics is the perfect way to knock out the guilt. Time is precious and, especially later in life, enjoying what we’re doing as much as possible is paramount! Good luck in finding your joy!

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  6. Oh what a sad day it will be for us if you really do stop quilting.

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  7. I've felt the same way for quite a while and haven't sewn at all. I don't even want to think about it and, like you, was going to bundle everything up and dump it on the church quilt group (last I knew they had WAY more fabric than they could deal with after being given everything from a church member who'd died and had a HUGE stash!!). There are other reasons for the depression I've been dealing with which exacerbates my hesitancy to sew. But the past couple of days I have been doing some sewing--I had a MONSTER batch of the row by row kits and decided some of those needed dealing with. I bought them for years but still have yet to make ONE quilt with them. We'll see if I can get at least one or two done.

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  8. Kyle deseo tanto ver tus preciosos edredones, espero que no sea una decisión definitiva, saludos

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  9. Sometimes a pile of fabric can feel like a really heavy burden. You are wise to let go of some of those heavy weights, Kyle.

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  10. I'm so glad you had this visit with some of your quilty friends. It's so true, if your fabric isn't doing it for you, then it's going to be very difficult to dress it up into something you feel good about. I'm sure it's hard when you think about all that you've invested in it, but like you say, time is getting shorter. I'm sure your husband wouldn't want you to feel obligated to something that you've lost your joy in! I'm very thankful that I've been able to turn my mostly older stash into a challenge that interests me, but even that takes an effort. Some days I dig through what I have and just want to throw up my hands thinking there could possibly be anything left to do something creative with! lol

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  11. I hope you don’t feel bad about letting go of something that no longer brings you joy. Think of all the space you are freeing up (physical, mental and emotional) now available for other endeavors, creative or otherwise. You may revisit quilting at a later date, with totally new and different inspiration - and fabrics! I wish you the best, and hope you keep in touch!

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  12. You are right, there's nothing that can sap your creative energy any more than feeling the need to use up those old fabrics, even if I once loved them. I've started using those fabrics, mostly calicos from the mid 80's, to piece backings after cutting off a few 1 1/2" strips for Log Cabins (anything goes for those). Quilts need a lot of yardage for the back so when I need anywhere from 6 to 10 yards to back a quilt, I look to the old stuff and then happily use my new purchases for new projects.
    Enjoy your freedom!

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  13. I can imagine that quilter's have a huge amount of fabric, Kyle. And I totally understand your reasoning on having spent money on it and now not really liking it. I have that a bit too with some stitching charts. But, just think of the joy that your donated fabrics will bring to many fellow quilters--they will be thrilled! We should be stitching and quilting what brings us joy, right? Enjoy the rest of your month!

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  14. I am happy to hear you have come to some peace about letting things go. I also have done that, and need to do more of that. You are not alone.
    I am heartened to see that you said "until next time" does that mean you will still quilt a little?
    Still Blog? I hope so. But I also know there are seasons in life.
    I've always felt inspired by your blog and quilts.
    xoxxo

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  15. Oh, I hear you, Kyle! Holding on to fabrics and using them over and over is a certain way to lose interest! I've been there. Lucky for us there is always someone or a group who will love acquiring our older stash. Thank goodness we moved a couple years ago. It was the perfect time to unload books, fabrics, sewing collectibles and lots of other stuff that was bogging me down. And it really did feel good to Let it Go! I do hope you still have it in you to quilt a little--you do such beautiful work!

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  16. Oh, Kyle, I know what you are going through! It's really hard to let go but once you do, it feels so good! Sometimes that is just what we need. No sense in being bogged down with things that no longer make us happy. There are plenty of groups and individuals who would love to have some of our stash. I'm hoping you'll still be quilting a little. You do such beautiful work!

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  17. Certainly, you are not alone in The Too Much Fabric Club. We don’t set out to join - it casually happens over time. Years ago during a move, I did a major purge of not-so-favorite fabrics. A local guild was the recipient for use in their charity projects. As I love the remainder of my stash, It’s hard to be realistic on what can finished. Therefore, I slowly continue to donate and review my stash prior to attending a quilt show. Sew with what you love as its much more fun!

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  18. When a new quilter asks about how much fabric to buy to acquire a stash, I always recommend that they only buy for projects and not get a stash. This is hard advice to follow because I do love a good sale. I do try not to feel guilty about the fabric and just use the ones that call to me at the moment. It is about enjoying the process and making quilts I enjoy making. I am glad you found a good solution that still inspires you to quilt.

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  19. oh my dear Kyle! What an epiphany! It seems that nature just seems to tell us when it is time to "hang up" certain things. The things that used to make us happy don't always go on forever. I truly hope that quilting remains a part of your life. I know you will always have a needle at the ready, but I certainly do understand the need to thin out the herd. I hope I can follow your lead and rid myself of some of the chaff that has been accumulating here. Please take care of yourself and enjoy your embroidery and whatever else makes you happy. By the way, embroidery pieces count as monthly minis, if I should continue to do this crazy monthly mini scheme for another year!!

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  20. This is such a thought provoking and timely post for me. I have been feeling the burden of too much stuff, too many quilts too! (Can we have too many quilts? Well... ya... kinda... we can?). Your experience is inspiring me to really de-stash further, and I want to reexamine my priorities in the sewing room. I hope you sang your Let it Go version at the top of your lungs, lol! Thank you for sharing your big "ah ha" with us all.

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