04 January 2010

The Dicipline of Quilting?

Photo credit: iStockphoto.com

Here it is a brand new day in a brand new week in a brand new year. I stepped outside to retrieve the morning newspaper and noted a light dusting of snow had fallen overnight and now all sounds were muffled by the cold fog that blanketed my little corner of the planet.

I have been in a reflective and curious mood lately. I see things that are happening around me and I think "what if" or "is it possible"? As I read Karen's post this morning, my answer to her question just smacked my upside the head.


Karen, over at Living Life at LeeHaven  asked the following question: "What do you think the "discipline" is when it comes to Quilting?  Is it merely the hours you put in or is it finishing all the tops we have? Or is it more about things such as: • Studying/Reading books and magazines. • Honing your technical skills. • Networking and absorbing information.  •Trying new things.

Let me start by giving a back story. I used to do technical illustration and get paid for it. Old school style that included a LeRoy set and a Staedtler Mars professional compass set. It is this second item that brought this subject to the forefront of my brain. The LeRoy set has long since been removed from the premises, but the compass set has been useful in quilting. I needed it this weekend and do you think I could find it? No. During the search, I realized how much stuff I had for my 'hobbies'.

Scrapbooking consumed my life for several years and I have ALL the supplies. Rubber stamps, paper, ink pads, adhesives, doo dads, and paint fill drawers in a closet converted for scrapbooking. Knitting has recently taken over my hands in the evenings. And with knitting there is another stash, this time of yarn and needles. And let's not forget the quilting and it's own stash of stuff, not just fabric but books and notions and acoutrements, O my! I collect. I collect things that enable.

What has all this to do with Karen's question? I had already decided to be less of a conspicuous consumer; you know the old saying about 'use it up, make do, or do without'. My pocket book will thank me, the hidden but bulging spaces in my house will thank me and I will thank me.

I answered Karen's question by saying that follow-through should be my dicipline. And that is so, but it is only part of the answer. Go over to Karen's blog and let her know your thoughts.

10 comments:

  1. Great post ~ I stay far, far away from the scrapbooking aisles at the craft stores because I do not want to be 'swallowed alive' by all the doo-dads and gee-gaws that go with the craft. I love looking at what others do and I know I COULD do that, but I choose not to in order to maintain my focus on my fabrics.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds far too familiar. I still buy scrapbooking stuff - when was the last time I scrapbooked? 5-ish years ago...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well, thank you. I've got a couple of health challenges right at the moment (and don't I hate it! I'm a dreadful 'patient', nor am I patient.)So when I can't sit at my machine, I shall give your question a good ponder. Hmmmmmm.
    Happy New Year.
    Marne

    ReplyDelete
  4. It seems that we have the same disease. Expensive hobbies! When you think of how much money scrapboooking/rubber stamping and quilting costs, it makes me crazy to think about it. It seems the self-discipline should be had in order to remain in control when buying items for these hobbies. I guess I should get some. Discipline that is!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What an interesting post. I need to ponder the question. I'll let you know when I have an answer.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love what you've written. Completely on board. I don't consider myself to have this ENORMOUS stash, but over Christmas doing some picking up--- I realized pieces I had that I had forgotten about. With our family being on a "budget" this year....I asked for batting for christmas---while completely un-romantic I know I'll be glad, and my goal is to use up and make do with what I have.... It's a great feeling. My gifts I show on today's posts... felt like freebies, because I didn't go out and buy for the occasion.....

    ReplyDelete
  7. You hit the nail on the head for me. I collect things for my varied hobbies and never want to let them go and am always looking to buy more.....this year....NO more, I vow!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I "collect" in my pantry as well but this month I've vowed to only buy milk and bread and cook from the freezer and pantry exclusively. I think I can do it! blessings, marlene

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am stretching myself by taking on two challenges this year. One--to use my favorite fabric I've been saving FOREVER. Two--to make a quilt that is NOT MY COLORS with weird cutting sizes. Something I dislike. I've gotten much better over the last year and buying fabric. I no longer have 27 cans of chili beans. (I think I was a closet hoarder of canned food) DH and I cleaned our closet (much to his whining that he could still WEAR that shirt!) So, I think I'm trying. I've been making our own laundry soap, sure saves money!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think living in a small house helps, I periodically gift my craft supplies away to others, when it becomes clear that I need, or want to move on. Of course I still have plenty.
    I wonder how long I could go on finishing projects this year, and not have to buy anything?
    Maybe into next year
    Vicki

    ReplyDelete