Thursday, January 6, 2011

How much is too much?

I do the same thing at the end of every year and at the beginning of the new year. I say I am going to get this, this and this done. But what I end up doing each year for the past 5 or so now is add on to what I wanted to accomplish the year before. I still never get any of the UFOs done and just have more on my plate. I have more than 5 years of projects that need to be completed and that is not right.

As I was thinking about what I wanted to blog about today I went out to check the mail and do you remember one of my Christmas presents I had wrote about, the block of the month put out by Shabby Fabrics for Bunny Hill Design’s “The Night Before Christmas” quilt. (Goodness, I have reread that sentence ten times and it still makes no sense to me but my flu”ey” head cannot make it right, sorry.) Anyway, the first block came, I was half excited and then the other half of me was saying, “This is what I am talking about!”

It is pretty!!

I am going to get to my point because I am feeling dizzy and starting to think this is not going to make sense.  A good friend of mine and I have discussed this many times in the past, we do this all the time. When we worked at the same quilt store we would do it there. Always volunteering to do this shop sample and that shop sample and maybe we can just add this one more project to our never ending lists. It has to stop, at least for me.

I want to enjoy my sewing/crafting/doll making/quilting, not think that I have to keep up with all the great things going on. With so many blogs, “ning”, yahoo, and other groups out there, I have a list two pages long of the most awesome groups of creators, crafters, sewers, etc. you could imagine. But I don’t have to belong to them all. The swaps, the challenges, the blocks of the months, and everything else, they are all awesome. But I need to let them be awesome and sit back and enjoy what I enjoy and be my own kind of awesome.

I am not pulling the plug on any obligations I have already signed on for but I am not going to get caught up in the excitement any longer of being part of this great group, or this great project, or this great swap. They will still be great but I will be a lot less stressed and have so much more time, well I don’t know about the time part.

I am going to pare down all my lists and groups and want to do’s and just pay attention to my “am doings", yeah, that makes no sense but I got it. One of the things that made me really think about all this, besides being sick, is I received a notice that the Cloth Doll Artistry Ning group was going to be charging $12 a year to be a member, which is not bad, if that is the only group I am into. I had to make a decision that no I don’t need to belong to the group and I need not feel guilty about it. It is an expense that I definitely don’t need to spend. I have done very well the last year with limiting my fabric purchasing and I hope this year to do even better using what I have and doing some of the fantastic kits I have put together with my fabrics.

I am very excited about my new plan. I have some tweaking to do but I think it is going to be a great year. Now if I can just get this flu out of my system so I can get to sewing!!!

Sorry I was so wordy today, hope I didn’t bore or confuse you. Heaven knows I will probably read it next week wondering what I was thinking when I wrote it!!

Have a great day and don’t forget to find a little stitching time!!!

Jennifer

12 comments:

Cheryl said...

Hi Jennifer I understand so much of how your feeling. It can be very overwhelming at times and like you said there are so many blogs out there I have a time staying focused on my own blog. I find myself getting lost in blogs out there and before I know it I am too tired to even bother with posting on my own lol. I still have dolls that I need to take pictures of to list not to mention all the sewing I need to be doing at this very minute. Hope you feel better
Peace and Blessings
Cheryl...Snatch JOY~!

Lynn said...

Terrific post, I agree with every word. Whenever I get too overwhelmed I think that I have to step back and rethink what to do and also be thankful that I'm creative, wouldn't it be dull if we weren't? But the guilt over the list of ufos and want to makes is overwhelming at times.

Anonymous said...

Hi Jennifer: First, I'm glad that you're feeling slight better to even post at all....I know how you feel as I have done that several times this past year with getting things done, swaps, etc (oh and remembering to care for the family and pets too). I think sometimes as women...creative women, we tend to take on too much. Somethings need to give....now go back to bed!! (and please for the love of God, don't worry about our swap as I am overwhelmed right now too. (smile).
patti

Anonymous said...

I understood every single word ;-)... I see myself there at times. That's why this year I am not going to the Quilting and Fiber Arts Marketplace. I need to use what I got and only get what I really need (not everything I want...lol, but seriously).

That's why I'm challenging myself to use my craft books and do the projects I will really love to do. However this year I'm joining my 1st BOM's ever (2 BOM's and 1 SAL) and for the only reason that they have stitcheries in them.... love to stitch...lol and as a beginner quilter I think I would be able to learn a lot and get a bit of experience in quilting/patchwork by doing them.

Have fun with your new goals for this year and enjoy doing what You want to do!!!!

paperpest said...

Yours is one of the blogs on my list of doll blogs. I agree with how you feel, about the need to pace oneself, and not get carried away with all the swaps that sound so wonderful. I also dropped a ning group because of a request for a yearly fee. No it wasn't overwhelming, it's just that every time I turn around I seem to be hearing the same story.

Love Bears All Things said...

I understood that perfectly.
Mama Bear

Unknown said...

It made sense to me! There is a Pumpkin Quilt I would love to make but I discovered I rather make dolls and things right now. I have also challenged myself to use my stash of supplies. It has been going ok but I'll see. lol
take care
Kim

Chookyblue...... said...

enjoy your year in the back seat.......enjoying the creating for yourself....looking at the scenery along the way............there are a barrage of things out there at the moment.........I have a post partly written........
I don't agree with people charging others to be part of a group or a swap.......find another one or make one yourself.........

Unknown said...

I understand completely!simplify and enjoy. Hope you are continuing to get better, nasty thing that flu!
take care of yourself,
Sue

Vicki ♥ said...

Hi Jennifer.....just wanted to let you know that you won one of my pdf patterns in my giveaway...you were one of the ten runner ups to win :) Come on over and pick one of the patterns and let me know which one you want. :)

Unknown said...

Thank you Cheryl, it is easy to get lost in "blog land" that is for sure!

Lora I am so happy you left a comment. I enjoyed looking at your creations!!!

Lee said...

Jennifer, I totally know how you feel. Thank God, I have never worked in a fabric store.
Sometimes you just have to step back and realize quilting/stitching/and crafting is a hobby not something you should let yourself feel guilty about. I am working on a quilt for my sister and I have had the bom since 2000. She is excited and I have the first block finished. Yea! Lee