sewing obligations vs. what you really want to do
 

When I first started sewing I made myself a tote bag. People were loving it and wanted more. So I started selling them. It was really fun. Then I tried quilting and fell in love, madly in love. Now I have all these tote/purses orders and I just want to quilt in my own little world. I cant do that though and sometimes it makes my head spin. Whew, I need an intervention! lol

Finish up what you've committed to - and don't take any more orders.

They must have been nice to get so many orders for them -

I hope you were asking enough for them to make them worth the effort -

Yes, that is part of the problem. I really wasnt at first. I increased the price since then and the orders have slowed down. :) My best friend wants one and i will do hers for price of material. She has meant so much to me

DITTO! If you want to keep selling...just limit it to one a week or every other week. When I take my quilts to the longarmer...I have to wait weeks and if I send them to Charisma (longarmer on this forum) it takes months to get them back. But if they like your work...they will wait.

I have this same problem, but different (if that makes any sense... LOL!). I have a bunch of quilts I feel "obligated" to do (for 2 neighbors, a co-worker of DH's, etc) & they're starting to feel like "work". I want to make what I want to make! I know in the general scheme of things this is a pretty good "problem" to have but it still frustrates me. Does anybody else find themselves in this situation?

Unfortunately, I have this dilemma right now with a king size quilt I had planned on making my brother for his wedding. He does not know about it but my mother does and she keeps asking me about it. My family lives in Germany and my parents will be visiting me the first two weeks in September. The quilt has to be pieced, long-arm quilted and bound by then because they will have to take it with them. Mailing the quilt to Germany would be outrageously expensive and I am unable to attend the wedding. When I first found out about my parents coming (April) and decided to make the quilt, time was still aplenty. I bought a new pattern and the material in May...and have barely started on this project! Summer has just been extremely busy with kids, company and hubby wanting to do stuff on the weekends. I finally had to put my foot down this weekend. Thankfully, both my hubby and oldest daughter will be gone this week and my LAQ is a dear friend who is willing to get the quilt back to me within a week squared up and binding attached as soon as I can get it pieced! The whole project has now turned into a "must-do" and it seems to suck the fun out of it for me :/

When I take a commission it usually feels like a must-do work, too, and I struggle to get it out in a timely manner. Therefore I usually only allow myself 2 a year and I try not to start any other larger projects during that time, just to make myself keep with it. I also make a signed detailed contract with the buyer.

When I retired I promised myself that the "got to's" were not going to get to me.

Jan in VA

Each month I need to come up with new ideas for the TV program and then sew/quilt. A lot of fun but some pressure.
I now have a group of friends who are quilting examples each month. I give them the fabric, they make something, their project is shown on the TV program and then they get it back to keep for themselves. Takes some pressure off me and is fun for the group.

Learn and live, eh?

How about when the fact that you quilt means you should also be available for everyone that wants clothes made, or something mended or hemmed??? I CAN do it all but DONT WANT to!! I also make purses for a change, but if someone wants one, they can pick from the ones I have done at the time...If I took orders and had to produce on a schedule, I wouldn't want to do it at all!