Originally Posted by
Sandrea
Thanks zozee for those tips on how to conquer the overwhelming feeling "where to start" Your ideas gave me some encouragement. Good ideas. I tend to look at the whole picture and then give up before I can get started. I liked the idea of setting a timer for 15 or 20 min. I think I could handle that. The only thing that scares me is the part of rating a number and purging the lower numbers because even though I may never use some of the fabrics, I have the feeling that if I want to try something new and not use real good fabrics, I can do a sample with the fabrics I'm not too fond of anymore, just to try something new in case I mess up. What do I do about that? I have trouble parting with things. I tell myself I love all of them, so I don't have the courage to part with things I purchased because I liked them. Oh my zozee. Is there any hope for me????
Sandrea, yes, there is still hope for you! Most definitely. You can do this. As for keeping fabrics you're not too fond of to make something you might mess up, I say no. Why? Most likely it'll turn out well, and then it'll be in fabric you don't love. What's the fun of that?
If you mess up, chances are you can rip it out ,or turn it into scraps. One tip I read (here?) for making sample blocks is to make them all in one colorway. The lady makes all red/white/blue sample blocks so that she can put them all together in one patriotic quilt if she decides she doesn't want to make a bunch of the ones she didn't enjoy making. Practice with your "8" rated fabrics. I do keep SOME reject fabric to make 20x20 sandwiches for FMQ. (A solid helps you see your stitches, but is not necessary.)
Try not to think of giving what you don't like , but keeping what you love. I learned that from the Japanese organizing guru/best selling author Maria Kondo. It makes deciding so much easier. If it gives you a good feeling, keep it. If you have to justify it, or it brings you down, or you find yourself saying "I might do this or I could do that with it" you will get stuck. Free yourself mentally. When it's gone and you have space to see and breathe and move, you will feel like a new woman. I found that it got easier with each 15-minute session to decide what to keep or not. It's like gaining a new talent!
Giveaways on here are loads of fun. Might try that. (I do guessing games for some fun.)