More on How Not To Make Curves

I'm down to my last day of my holiday vacations and still haven't had the time, energy or inspiration to quilt. However, I knew if I didn't do SOMETHING, I'd feel very disappointed in myself. Finishing this Storm at Sea bed quilt has been on my To Do List for well over two years. Every year I say I'll do it over my winter break, since I'm usually busy working with my horses whenever I have time off in the other three seasons. However, I've been sick with a series of health problems throughout most of my time off. Today, the last day of my time off, was the first day I started feeling 100%.

I didn't have the time to deal with freezer paper, pins, and pressing, so I tried sewing the waves onto the beach freestyle, turning down the seam of the curves as I sew. It didn't work. The fabric is still puckered. Once I rip the thread out, I'm going to have to resign myself to reading my quilting books on the subject of quilting curves, using that freezer paper and pins, and pressing a lot. If I hadn't already cut the strips for the waves, I'd abandon this design and just do something simple with a straight-stitch for the backing.

We need a new bed quilt. The dogs have managed to shred all of our old bed quilts with their toenails. Plus I'm cold at night. I've had chills off and on and am constantly shivering in the bedroom. I can't seem to get warm enough despite piling many layers of blankets and quilts on top of me.

If I abandon the curvy wave design for the backing, I won't take my quilting to the next level. I want to be able to do more with fabric and can't let a lack of time constantly be forcing me to take the easy route. I think I'll just have to take my time with the project and shoot for having it on our bed next winter.

On another note, there's something to be said about having your own space to quilt. I've got a husband and two kids home for winter break, and even when I put the ironing board in the corner of the family room, I've still got people and dogs tripping over me. The hassle of always having to shift here and shift there to make room for other bodies while I'm working on a large quilt causes me to lose my enthusiasm for the craft. Ultimately, winter break is not a good time for me to plan to quilt. Neither are weekends. I'll either have to take a vacation at a time when no one else is home and it's warm enough to put the dogs outside, or I'll have to just wait until I retire to get serious about quilting.

I had my time to quilt when the kids were young and I was able to stay at home with them. Until I can stop working full-time to pay the bills, my fabrics will probably remain on the shelf collecting dust. There. I said it. Now I just have to accept it.