Well, despite all the tremendous encouragement and support from all of you, I did not finish "Baltimore Rhapsody" in time to enter it in the Sauder Village Quilt Show in northwest Ohio, which opens next Tuesday. I also will miss this Monday's deadline for registering the quilt for the August AQS show in Grand Rapids.
I am really close to finishing, I feel, so it will be finished soon. It was. maybe, a little unrealistic, considering the other events that were on my calendar (like running a huge fundraiser dinner this past Friday night for my daughter's school music program and all my music responsibilities at the church).
Last week, I broke down the quilting tasks that remained on this clipboard, mostly to help me realize that maybe I was crazy to think I would finish it before Sunday, April 28.
Every time I quilted something, I went over a tally mark with my black pen. Then I started timing how long it took me to do tasks, then multiplied the minutes by the numbers of elements left. Then I stopped with the obsessive marking. Yikes.
I thought that all the cross-hatching was the time-consuming part. Then I started quilting the blocks and swags, and...OMG...all that takes a lot of time.
And all those little creative hand quilting touches are so much more fun when there is not a gun to your head!
I remembered that hand quilting is my therapy...not what PUTS me in therapy.
So, tomorrow I go to drop off my quilt offerings for the Sauder show. I am not going empty-handed, so that is comforting. Was it tough not making my deadline...YOU BET!
I've been so down the last week and sad that I didn't finish, but then I ripped off the Wonder Woman cape and hid it in the back of the closet. One of the quilts I am taking is this one...not exactly "Baltimore Rhapsody, but I am proud of it.
I named it "Folk Art in the Vineyard." The center blocks are from Lori Smith's pattern Folk Art Applique, and I designed and added the two borders. I will post more details and close-ups next time.
Thank you again for cheering me on...it meant so much to read your comments and emails. I really am so lucky to have all of you in my virtual quilting bee!
In stitches,
Teresa :o)
Never mind about the deadline - you will quilt all the better without it, and won't need to get out the wonder woman cape :) The folk art quilt is delightful and beautifully quilted too! Love reading your blog and looking forward to the close-ups.
ReplyDeleteAll the best
Hilda
Oh sweetie, no beating yourself up - there will another opportunity for this one to shine. And you will be all the more pleased as you had the time to put all the loving stitches into it that you know you want to. The folk art quilt is a beauty too - and shows your talent and care and love of the needle and thread.
ReplyDeleteoh my dear - you are not at ALL falling short - you are getting AHEAD on the next deadline!!! It's just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteIt was a lot to get done in your time frame!! The fundraising and music and quilting. Your quilt you are going to enter is fantastic. We will cheer you on when Baltimore Rhapsody get entered into it's first show. This will give you a little more time to practice your answers for your prize winning interview!! Of course, you may need to think of the answers for the Folk Art quilt for this week.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you stopping the frenzy and now can really enjoy your quilting this glorious masterpiece! You deserve to enjoy every moment of it, and there are all sorts of amazing shows that this can be entered in when you do finish it. I'm so happy you can take a breath now! :o)
ReplyDeleteOops! Forgot to say......Vineyard is FANTASTIC!!!!!!! SO BEAUTIFUL!
ReplyDeleteglad the pressure is off now and you can enjoy the quilting, I thought about that too
ReplyDeletesometimes deadlines are good but in this case I wondered how much stress it was causing you.
the quilt is going to be amazing and when it makes it public debut it will be the right time and right place..... enjoy the end of the journey on this beautiful quilt.
Folk ARt Vineyard looks great! wow. have fun at the show and I know there will be a ribbon on that one too!
Kathie
Sounds like you made the right decision! Your Vineyard is stunning as well...how talented you are! And I love the quote about therapy...so true!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you have come up for air. Your Baltimore Symphony deserves the extra time it demands of you and you will enjoy it so much more, too. It is show stopping gorgeous. I love the Folk Art Vineyard. It is stunning. Take care and remember to breathe!
ReplyDeleteYour quilts are so beautiful. Take all the time you need. It will all be worth it. Quilting IS THERAPY so enjoy the ride!!!
ReplyDeleteBaltimore Symphony is amazing and will be even more so (and you'll have better memories associated with it) now that you are not pressuring yourself. How about Iowa or Houston for its debut?
ReplyDeleteThere is always next year though I was pulling for you to get it done on time. A massive undertaking to accomplish in such a short time.
ReplyDeleteI always plan to never set deadlines - I want to enjoy the process too much!
ReplyDeletegood luck on whatever you did enter instead.
Wonder Woman "be darned"...well, you know what I mean. This quilt is just so gorgeous and it should reflect all the loving care and inspiration you've put into it--so now, you can remember it (in your "reclining years" LOL) as a labor of love....it is just breathtaking!! Hugs Julierose P.S. (Breathe...)
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful quilt.....You are an inspiration to us all by taking on this huge task of hand quilting such a large quilt. I hope you decided to enter it in the Houston show in November. I plan to go to that one this year and would love to see your master piece in person!
ReplyDeleteDo not be too hard on yourself. It is a labor of love and it will be finished in due time.
The quilt you entered is beautiful also! Wish I could see it in person too!
hugs and best wishes from South Louisiana
beebee
Love the Folk Art Vineyard and it is ready to enter, no more stress. We all have been in your situation and know the disappointment not finishing, there is always next year. I just missed the deadline to enter my quilt that is already finished. Take some time and smell the roses!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry that you didn't make the deadline, but I think that what you're taking is wonderful. There is always next year, right? With all that you had going on, I think that you made remarkable progress. It's such a stunning quilt.
ReplyDeleteAwww that's alright Teresa. Just think of all the fun quilting additions that you will be able to do and that make all your quilts really stand out :0)
ReplyDeleteCrispy
Take a deep breath and remember we quilt for the enjoyment of it...this quilt will make its debut when it is ready! It is beautiful...
ReplyDeleteYes, quilting is supposed to be fun! It will be so amazing when you are finished and now you can enjoy the time you spend on it. I love the folk art vineyard - I remember you working on it but have you shown it since you quilted it? It looks SO beautiful!! I can't wait to see close ups!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that cape came off. You can enter it next time. I love Folk Art in the Vineyard and it is every bit as stunning as Baltimore Rhapsody, but in a different way. Now, ENJOY some quilting time with no deadlines.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so sorry you weren't able to finish in time. I'm glad you have something else to submit. I remember the grapes and the luscious purples. You've motivated us all to do more than we think we can.
ReplyDeleteLove it...NQA in June in Columbus is still open...in case you need another deadline....I totally gave up on Sauderrs this year. Wonder woman needs a year off.
ReplyDeleteYou sure got so close, it's a shame when we must eat & sleep, otherwise so much more would get done!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness that's a LOT of quilting! Yes my friend, the wonder woman cape is fun to wear but totally exhausting! LOL Your arms, hands, and fingers must be worn to the bone!
ReplyDeleteThere is always another quilt show to enter...enjoy the rest of the quilting!
Your "Folk Art in the Vineyard" is most awesome!!! Glad you are back to enjoying quilting but sorry for the disappointment of thwarted - albeit mission impossible vs. superwoman - goal. Everything you have accomplished is incredible! It is a great pleasure to see what you post each time. There are so many exciting pieces in your closet!! Looking forward to each time you share your work!
ReplyDeleteSorry you didn't make the deadline but now you can relax and enjoy the process. Folk Art in the Vineyard is an amazing quilt to enter in the show.
ReplyDeleteRelax and enjoy! Just found your blog and LOVE the quilt you are taking... how awe inspiring .. the grapes are wonderful! The quilting is exquisite! Thanks for sharing your frustrations and your joys :) Kathi
ReplyDeleteAaaahhhhhh....I'm sooo sorry you didn't make it in time Teresa! (insert sad face here) I thought about you sooo many times, wondering if you were on track to finish or not. I put a new quilt into my frame on April 15 and as I quilted along I was thinking about you and yours. I am always amazed at how long it does take to quilt one even when I push and push to get it finished.
ReplyDeleteYou will have this MARVELOUS quilt to enter next year.......
You have nothing to be disappointed about because when this one is done it will not only be STUNNING but with the original design, this one should be entered into an even bigger show! Maybe Houston in the fall or Paducah next year?
ReplyDeleteKeep on truckin'!! (although since I'm coming to this late so you may already be done!)
Not only is there next year ----- there may be a show to better present "Baltimore Rhapsody" --- so please give yourself a break and enjoy the remaining quilting... one thing is for sure, your blog readers have enjoyed this quilt from start to quilting!!! It is really worthy of a book... the background you gave on the instruments, etc. Oh, so now you can become obsessive about a publisher LOL
ReplyDelete