I am slow and steady like the tortoise but seem to always have a deadline. I rarely keep my quilts, but use the opportunity to learn new techniques by gifting them. Seems like there is always someone in the family or close circle of friends, that are having a new baby, getting married, having a birthday etc. Right now I am working on a 6" finished churn dash set on point for my mom's 90th birthday in October. I have to have it to the long armer by August. I have been sewing like mad the last week however as tomorrow we pick up our two long awaited Golden puppies. They may slow me down a bit, ha, ha. Next is a baby quilt (didn't tell anyone until June as she had previously had miscarriages) for a dear couple we "adopted". After that it is a Tee shirt quilt for my DD as a surprise Christmas gift of her old HS, more recent college, and work shirts that she designed. The list seems to go on and on. I enjoy the process but am always looking forward to the next one too. I have TONS of projects ear marked for me, (or someone who just happens to need one,) in the closet, so never run out of ideas or projects.

I agree with you paoberle. I take my time with every quilt. I love the beginning, finding a pattern. Then the fabric choice or visa versa. The process is slow because I am an artist who loves her art. And...I can relate to the sadness once a quilt has been completed.

I do not hurry I love the process and I really don't know what the rush is unless it is for something that has to be done at a specific time. I love quilting I do have a sewing room where I can go down and work on my quilts and never have to put anything away when I am done. Except for turning off the machine, TV and radio.

There are times when I'm on a deadline, like the Family Reunion quilts I make every other year, as it has to be done in time to ship and arrive by July 4, although one year all they got was a picture as the quilt didn't arrive until the next day, but they understood. I've even been hand stitching the binding to a quilt which was to be raffled off the next day. We had just spent 2 days getting from NH to NE, I was exhausted, but had to finish the binding, although I apparently kept dosing off, and my niece was trying to capture me on film asleep, although I guess I woke up just before she snapped the picture - that would have been cute. Then I've had years where I was sewing/quilting before I went to work and after I came home, before dinner and after, although I was making items to sell at my church's holiday fair, and it was for a good cause. It also helped keep me sane, although now I have the time to devote more time to quilting, but life keeps getting in the way. Fast or slow, I enjoy the process and when I start getting crabby my DH tells me to go quilt, as I'm happier then.

Time is in the hand of the beholder ;). I like to take my time when sewing or quilting because I have little of it for that and it goes by so quickly! Not sure I fall into the perfectionist category but I do know what *my* standard is and try to stay there.

I completely agree with you. Quiltmania is my favorite magazine.

It is a fast paced world. It is the way of things these days. I quilt to relax and i take my time so I can enjoy the process. It is a real joy to see the project completed but I don't rush things. I just plain enjoy being creative at a turtles speed. lol

I don't rush, but there is always that "other pretty fabric" to use right after you are done with the present one!lol:p

Gotta use up what I have so I can get more!! Hehehe

Lildinks, I like you avatar. It gives me a peaceful feeling.

Quilts Japan and Patchwork Tsushin - both in Japanese. But the photography in the instructions is so amazingly detailed, you can usually figure out exactly what's required. At the very least, I find them incredibly inspirational. Older copies are sometimes available on eBay and I think eQuilter carries both. Pricey, but worth it.

Oooh, I'd forgotten about the Patchwork Tsushin mag! I've only seen it in a Japanese store in Portland, Oregon. Might be time for me to make another trip down there! And you're right - the illustrations are so well done you don't really need the words. :)

I'd love to be able to work faster. Probably not faster but have more time to sew. With only a few hours a week if I'm lucky, it takes awhile for me.

Is there some contest we don't know about------like who can make the most quilts? I enjoy the process especially now that I hand applique. I think some people work faster than others.

Well I do get in a hurry, but I don't know its how I want it to be. I like planning, picking fabrics and piecing but I work full time (55 to 60 hours a week) so what time I can find time to sew I want to make the most of it. Last week when I was off work for 9 days in a row (wow that was awesome)... I was sewing as fast as I could. I wanted to finish my quilt while I was off work. And I know what you mean about it being a little said when its done... but on to the next one :)

I know some people have deadlines for one reason or another, but I am not fast and could not handle a deadline. I had decades of a career with continual deadlines, so now is my time to relax and do things on MY schedule -- which is usually no schedule at all. Ah, retirement!

I do enjoy the process, even correcting mistakes--well, at least most of the time. However, about 1/2 way through one quilt, i get antsy and want to get it FINISHED--in my head, the next quilt is already calling.

I'm in a hurry because I don't want to die before I use up all my fabric!!! At 62 the clock is ticking.

I try to finish one project before I start another, but always in back of my mind is what is waiting for me and that I would like to get started so therefore I hurry too much and even though I do, I procrastinate and don't finish as soon as I would like to. Therefore, sometimes I do not really enjoy my project. I love to create and to hand quilt--there just aren't enough quilting hours in a day. (quilting hours=time I am able to sew)

Krystina--I am 81 and I know what you mean about the clock ticking. I hope I finish before I did, but sometimes I just get such a hot flash knowing that I have so many projects lined up while that old clock is ticking faster and faster. I love what you said--I'll have to think of it that way.

I'm so slow that me being in a hurry is the same as others doing it at a leisurely pace. lol

My thoughts exactly! I always struggle with this. Just this week I wanted to add about 3 more quilts to my 'want to do' list.

Different people move at different rates, and for different reasons. If someone has a line of family members begging for quilts they are likely to shift faster than someone who does quilting for their own relaxation. Each to their own as long as they enjoy it.

That said, I do think that magazines and such assume everyone is in a hurry, and emphasise quick and easy too much in their content. Sometimes I like to footle with a more complex design!

Personally I am pretty slow and fairly easily distracted - which is why I have quite a few UFOs LOL

So many beautiful fabrics, so many lovely creations to make. Slower than the seven year itch, but keep trying to churn them out before the clock ticks down. I just some FABULOUS new fabric, already have about 30 waiting but oh so tempting.

I've been working on my current quilt for nearly four years, and although I've grown very...attached to it, I'm starting to get impatient now that I can see the finish line. ;)

I totally enjoy quilting...if not I would not be doing it. When I start, I just can't stop...I love to finish projects. This does not mean my work is not quality work. My seams match. Just means I like to get things done and do another one. I also have the tools that help me make the quilts quicker.