Pat Sloan's Corner

What's on YOUR cutting table?

Just so you know I REALLY DO sew things .... not just type on my computer (although some days it FEELS like all I do is type on the computer...)

I give you a photo of ......

My cutting table!!

I'm working on a quilt for my book. I've taken a pre-cut 10" square package and separated the fabrics by color... marking them for certain locations in the quilt. It's a challenge to work with just one line of fabric and not add in tons of other fabric.

 I ADORE a design/creative challenge... it makes me think.  I've always created with 'guidelines'.... from designing and writing computer systems that had to meet certain criteria, following a pattern to sew clothing, to designing quilts that others can duplicate or at least USE my pattern to do their own thing.

This is where I thrive... give me a few guidelines and I'll make them sing.... in this case.. it will be a wallhanging with yummy reds, pinks and browns.... ohhhh.. can't WAIT to make up a block!

What is on YOUR cutting table? Can you SEE your table? Post a photo at my group flickr folder!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/patsloanquilters/

I MIGHT just have a random giveaway for anyone that posts their studio table.... you up for the challenge?

A trip to the Emerald Isle

 Have you taken a trip to the Emerald isle?  Come along... I have a splendid table runner in this issue of Irish Quilting magazine!  And a few copies in my store JUST FOR YOU!

My runner is made with Arabella fabric....so fun to use it in all different combinations!

Click here to buy your copy of the magazine
Click here for Irish Quilting Website where you can see the other projects in the book

ps - LOVED hearing from you yesterday.... I got lots of tips for my flowers.. I think I may need to move the bush so it has a bit more sunlight... no help for the prior bush. And I've put my new mantra of 'knowledge' into operation for some other things!

Tuesday Musings

When chatting with my mom the other day I had one of those moments where an an idea 'clicked' into place.

A thought became crystal clear.....

It was a moment where I could HEAR the bolts go Click, Click, slide, Click right into place. 

It was an 'Ah Ha' of great magnitude.  

I have always been the type of person that has had a great desire to learn CERTAIN things. Not everything, but certain things.

And when I want to learn something I am NOT swayed by anything. Not a ruined outfit when I was learning to sew, not a scary moment during my first driving lesson, not a room full of coworkers my father's age when I was 19, not picking up and moving to another state, and certainly not the 'your going to do what' comments when I started my own business.

What became clear the other day was that two items have to be in perfect harmony for some things to work. Not only do the moon, the sun, and the stars have to be aligned just right but....

1- you MUST have the right Knowledge

2- and you MUST have the interest and desire to use it.

 If you are full of interest and desire but lack the right knowledge to do the job you may not continue. And at best it will take a great deal of perseverance to keep at it when you are missing key bits of knowledge.

But let's say you HAVE the knowledge, but lack the interest and desire to do the job.  Then it pretty much doesn't happen for you. No amount of compensation can make you do a job or project you have no interest in.

I've seen this over and over in my corporate career with computers and staffing.  The knowledge and interest combo was VERY key here.. if the business bored the programmer they certainly would not put their vast knowledge to use.

And I've seen it with my quilt students time and time again. They have the desire to machine applique or machine quilt or paper piece but lack all the bits of knowledge to be successful.

So someone might try machine quilting on a machine that is not well suited, using products that are not of high quality and they do not get good results. And it's because they don't have some 'key' knowledge that would have allowed them to be successful.

This is super major for me... it sounds basic but it's actually a building block.

If I have the immense desire to do a task and something is not working as I expect it to. Then I must be missing a key bit of knowledge. Once I find that missing knowledge all will fit into place. Having this building block will save me endless hours of time. I just need to realize WHEN I'm missing knowledge and go get it.

Think about it. What do YOU want to do... REALLY want to do. Do you have all the knowledge? If not, get it so it is easier and more fun. After all who wants to try and do something for years when all you need is a bit of the 'right stuff'?

 So tell me what you have a huge desire to do. Do you have the knowledge? If not, what will you do to get it?

ps - why Hydrangeas? Because it's one project that has not worked for me for many years. I can't seem to get them to flower for me... lack of knowledge... I WILL get my bush to flower!

 Flower photo from Fickr and The Cottage Gals blog visit their store in Historic Leesburg VA.. it is AWESOME!