Hi, I am sitting here for quite awhile going through all the interesting things to read, and the beautiful quilts to see. I sometime don't know if that makes me happy or sad. There are so many beautiful quilts and I am wondering if I will ever get to the caliber of some.
I like what I do and enjoy what I do. But it seems there is so much to learn. For some reason today I feel overwhelmed. Must be the Wi. weather.Pickle

Then I recommned that you stay here on the QB for a while and gather up some inspiration. Maybe today isn't a sew day for you, but tomorrow probably will. Have fun!

I understand completely. All I can do is the best I can do. Since joining this board my quilting projects are improving!:)

Yes the weather here stinks! (also in WI) I need to do some cleaning and just can't seem to get the ambition to do so!!

Just take it one step at a time. Pick one pattern that inspires you, and go for it.

Welcome to the club.I read a lot of threads, admire a gazillion beautiful quilts & look thru tons of tips to make quilting easier. Sad to say, I realized many moons ago, that I was & am just a top maker.The beautiful applique,perfect points & squared quilts are beyond my talents.The tips haven't made anything easier...I can mess up anything,but guess what?
That's ok.No one knows unless I tell them.But no, it doesn't make me want to quit.My quilts are done to please me...& no one else.As long as it interests me, I'll keep at it.

yes, but I know there will always be quilters out there more advanced than me. so i shake it off and go on.

There probably is someone/something at either end of the scale - either best/most or worst/none - but most of us are somewhere in the middle -

I know I've come quite a way in my skills - and I know that there are many that are better than I am.

I do the best I can with what I know and have right now.

Those wonderful talented quilters who create the gorgeous quilts didn't get that way overnight. They have been quilting for a long time, building their skills quilt by quilt. It's hard to create a masterpiece if you haven't first worked on the simple nine patches, log cabins and the D9P's. Do what you are comfortable with at this point in your quilting journey. Somebody is sure to fall in love with your efforts and you can progress from there.

We have so much to learn but we also have a lifetime to learn it.

i feel the same way alot of times but i learn alot of stuff off here and it helps me to learn something new and better way to do it.

it is just the weather! ya need some sunshine! :)
we all feel like that sometime or another..but quilting is a work in progress..learning all the time!
i honestly don't know how anyone does it with work and or kids. i took up this hobby after i retired,and the kids were grown..i have alot of respect for those that work around thier lives, and still manage to get some sewing done!
hang in there, and come here for motivation and friendship!

I got a lot more done when I was working (for pay) and the kids were young and at home.

Don't know what happened - guess my get up and go just got up and left.

I'm in a creative rut too. The only thing I've really worked on lately is Quilts for Kids and turning a shower curtain into a window curtain for my MIL. The weather is yucky here too, I'll blame it on that.

There will always be more to learn. Quilting is a learning process. Remember you have to crawl before you can walk? lol

I had those exact thoughts some years ago....

Just remember, the two most important things about quilting is, an exact 1/4 inch seam and cutting precisely...all the rest falls into place after that.....learn what the straight of grain and crossgrain are as these are important to your design and makes a huge difference between a nice square quilt and a wobbly one.

Great advice!
i find making small projects get me back in the swing too!

Hey, I have an idea... can I have your spare hours (ya know, the ones after the house is cleaned and the meals are cooked!!)??? I need more hours for quilt designing and making!!! I hate that I only started this hobby in 2002...so many quilts in my head and here I am 70
Probably only have 20 or so years left...so I'll take any extra hours you have....unless of course you want to start using them to pick out your next quilt project! :thumbup:

I am in the same boat at 70 hahahahh...I plan to be quilting until my last breath ahhahahah

How can you tell? I've always wondered.

I feel like u @ times. I'm still a beginner a
Nd ppl r so talented on this site. They arê eager to help. Just do the best u can and it's the love and effort that ppl love.

here ya go..

http://www.sewaquilt.com/fabric-grain.html

the top and bottom of the fabric off the bolt is the Selvage..where the "printing is" or where it is tightly woven..

seeing the beautiful quilts, gives me inspiration. I am rather new at quiting and when I put something together, I am told it looks great. I may not be as good as someone with many,many years exp, but, each quilt I make is the best of my ability at the time. The next quilt I challenge myself a little more. I love this site

make sure you take pictures so you can see how far you have come! i never thoguht to take pictures when i started out..there are about 10 or so, quilts out there,without my name on them..maybe that is a good thing!

8-) ;-)

I am not a beginner ... but, during the whole time quilting I have found when i don't feel like quilting more than likely something else is going on around me. It is only later that I began to see this in a positive light.

If I force it and sew/quilt I find I make a lot of errors. If I use this time to restore my creative juices, then when I get back to sewing/quilting I can do more and better in less time.

Sometimes it is just plain the arthritis is acting up. sometimes I never really know the why. But the waiting it out and relaxing while waiting has always been positive once I 'let go' and tried to control it all.

If it isn't fun ... don't do it!

ali

The older you get, the faster it leaves !

Don't know what happened - guess my get up and go just got up and left.

Well after I re read my post I got down in my sewing room and finished a Sq . I was working on, it turned out very nice I am happy with the color and surprisingly how well I got the seams matched.
Pickle

I love to look at the quilts on the board. I have learned so much and gotten so many ideas. I do spend more time here and less time quilting than I should. :)

You are in the right place. You can learn a lot more here than from any
single book. Use the search engine - it's a very valuable tool and if you
can't find the answer, ask away. Happy quilting. :D

Look through some magazines or books and get inspiration for something you want to do an ask the board. Someone will always help you.

I am happy right where I am right now. I can't look too far into the future as far as a new design is concerned. I am in the process of making a huge sampler and scared to death that I don't have enough fabric. Actually, the only thing that I really really want to learn is the Marriner's Compass. I just received my last quilting book. I am never going to order another one, because I will never live long enough to do what is in the ones I have. I will page through, one of these days, and find a baby quilt that I am going to make, but what I have now is more than enough to learn and practice with. Have a good day. Edie

I'm with you texas, there will always be someone slimmer, prettier, funnier, but if we do the best we can with what we have, whatever we do will be wonderful.

It never hurts to try new things. I have my big idea book(3 inch binder full of pictures and patterns from magazines) that I would love to do all of them. I don't have the time and energy to do it all.I just take one step at a time. If I find something neat I want to make, I try it...if it don't work out, it's just fabric. Move on to something else. I live in Wi too...and the weather is crazy...hope it's not getting you depressed. Have fun!!! :)

Hey, it isn't a competition here.
We are all here for enjoyment and inspiration and companionship and encouragment. ;-)

Even though I have been quilting for many years, I still go through slumps where it is hard to get motivated...even to quilt. I usually spend that time going through books, magazines and finding patterns I may want to do, and usually all of a sudden one will pop out at me and soon I am back in my sewing room starting another project. And when that doesn't work...I will sometimes just start sewing 4 patches or 9 patches and even those simple blocks can turn into wonderful quilts.

I started a quilt top for my son - tan, brown and blue with white and for the life of me, I cant seem to finish it...just dont get the inspiration, I sort of feel like it is the colors, as I usually work with brights. This is the first time I have experienced "slump" It is not pleasant!

Isn't it true that half of our enjoyment is the anticipation of what is to come? I know vacations are like that...picturing the beautiful scenery and laying on quiet beach.

I start working on quilts in my mind sometimes...maybe I will never actually do them...but I also might! I plan on it anyway.