Ah, quilting. It can bring great joy and great frustration; at the same time. Why is that? It might possibly be because expectations and reality don't always match up.
Expectation: Undisturbed sewing time
You have a: full hour, half a day, full day, whole weekend and it is all yours. You are going to finish that quilt; catch up on your Monthly Color Challenge; finally start on those Christmas gifts. Whatever it is, it is your time you have been looking forward to for what seems like forever and you are going to get it ALL done.
Reality:
Everyone suddenly needs your attention, including the dog. Suddenly that long lost cousin stops by to catch up or Dad calls and thinks now is the time to get chatty. Does this happen to anyone else? It seems as soon as I am prepared for some serious sewing, that is when the phone lights up with calls and texts. Your baby who ALWAYS sleeps for a good hour refuses to rest today. The dog pukes on the carpet. Or.......
Expectation: Smooth sewing time
You just picked up your machine from a much-needed cleaning. You've missed your best friend and you have such plans for the two of you! It's going to be amazing and your machine is going to sew so nicely since you took such good care of it.
Reality:
Everything that can go wrong will. For whatever reason you will start getting pretty little nests on the bottom of your fabric. You will start to applique without switching your presser foot and snap a needle. Your thread will keep breaking. Or......
Expectation: Smooth pattern cutting time
You have your fabric and pattern chosen. You've put in a new rotary cutter blade, your space is free and clear of clutter. You are going to get that pattern completely cut out and ready for sewing.
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| Radiant Paisley from Benartex/Kanvas Studio |
Reality:
You know where this is going right? You don't have enough of the main fabric. Sometimes you have enough fabric, but you realize too late that your husband used one end to wipe his hands on. Either way you don't have enough and you bought this fabric eight year ago at a close out sale. Or........
Expectation: Smooth quilting time
You've finished your quilt top and you are going to quilt it yourself. You have the perfect thread chosen, you know the pattern perfectly and you have the perfect backing. Ah, sweet perfection.
Reality
You forgot to get the batting. You've run out of basting spray. The backing is too short. You can't get the tension right on your stitching. You five year old used the thread to make booby traps all over the house. So many things. Or......
Expectation: To enjoy crafting time
We expect to enjoy our craft when we have time to do it. Sometimes we only get an hour here or there, or some time on the weekend. Some of us can work on it all day, every day if we wish. However much time we may have to work, we expect to enjoy it.
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| Click on the picture to be taken to my Teespring shop where you can get this mug. |
Reality:
The reality is life happens. It's beautiful and unpredictable, and gets in the way and it inspires. It can be frustrating to have our time taken up by other people, issues with our machine, not enough fabric, etc, but in the end we are the only ones who can create our own joy and contentment. Sometimes it's through crafting, sometimes it has to be through walking away to breath.
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| Gradient Stars, click on the picture to be taken to my Etsy Shop. |
I hope you enjoyed this little look at Expectations vs Reality. I hope it made you smile, maybe nod your head in understanding and possibly gave you a little break away from that reality. 😉
