Friday, January 09, 2009

Pride before a fall

I was going to write about what a terrible longarm quilter I am - it was that kind of night as I quilted the 3rd of 10 tops for January. This one pieced by the St. Mary's quilters in CT and sent to me to quilt and donate for HeartStrings.

You probably can't see the quilting (leaves and loops) which wasn't the problem but if I ever tell you here that I'm thinking of quilting for hire, please talk me out of it. I felt completely incompetent tonight although in the end the quilt will look fine. (Not great, but OK).
I think I must have been admiring my quilting on the last few quilts too much. You can't tell so much from this photo but I liked the swirling/dwirling quilting I did on this one and was admiring it as I finished the binding tonight....just before going downstairs to quilt the above top. I must have jinx myself.

Here's a photo of the back, certainly nothing complex but I thought it had a pleasing flow.

At any rate, that's one more quilted and one more bound. Progress is being made.


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22 comments:

Mary said...

So what is wrong with that one? I see only wonderful, even quilting. I'm still working on my Christmas Mystery and NYE Mystery. You out do me for sure! I am a night-owl too.

Vicki W said...

It looks just fine to me and will be treasured by the recipient.

Anonymous said...

You're too hard on yourself, Mary ... you're New Year's resolution should be a little kindness to yourself! The quilts are all beautiful and, as Vicki W said ... they will be treasured by the recipients.

Flatlander (Linda)

Suzanne Earley said...

Been there, done that, don't be so hard on yourself!

I LOVE what you did in that bottom pic.

Purple Quilter Queen said...

I have been waiting for you to say you would quilt for hire! I admire your quilting alot!!! I'm not one for fussy detailed quilting (no offense to Deb she does beautiful work) but that's just not my style. PLEASE reconsider and let's get this venture underway! I have tons of tops that need quilting!!! Jennifer

Wonky Girl said...

Mary, if you start quilting for hire---- I will be your first customer!

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

please. it looks great! I am not great at machine quilting. But I don't mind. practice practice practice... I rush, don't 'take my time, just want to finish etc etc...
I do know how frustrating it can be though. thread issues, needles breaking... errr... usually when your on a roll.
Wanna do my pile? I got a stack here.
:-)

Mary L. said...

I sure don't see anything wrong at all. They both look beautiful!

Marilyn said...

Mary, you are your worst critic. You do beautiful work and sounds like a lot of others think so as well. Sometimes with quilts it can be the fabric, the seams and how they lay, or that the fabric and thread don't want to play nicely together. You could call your quilting business--From the Heart Quilting--because that's what you do.

QuiltinLibraryLady said...

Mary, I don't see any problem with your quilting. Stop being so hard on yourself.

YankeeQuilter said...

There is a time with every quilt I've ever made that I wonder why I call myself a quilter...then I get over it! You will too. I think this looks fine and so will whoever is the lucky recipient! (Maybe you just need some sleep or a bit of chocolate?!)

InfinityQuilter/Knitter said...

I'd hire you in a second!

Anonymous said...

mary - you are way to hard on yourself .. that is just gorgeous .. I know when I was quilting kyle's it didn't feel right - i had no flow - i do not think that it's my best work, but it'll do (rather sad as this design is wonderful) but we all feel that way about our work ..

maybe when you feel like that, walk away for a bit and maybe piece a block and try to recenter yourself

you can do my quilting anytime

hugs

grace

Laurie said...

looks SUPER to me! someone will love it and whoever that is, they have no clue what good/bad quilting is!!!
laurie

Julia said...

I was discussing just yesterday with a fellow quilter, that we are too hard on ourselves. When creating something, you are so close and intimate with it, that you see things others never will! No matter what you say, you inspire me!

Tanya said...

You do fantastic quilting and yes, if your want to hire out please let me know! I have a quilt that would love to be under your needle!

Anonymous said...

I agree you are hard on yourself, probably just like the rest of us, me anyways.
Have you ever noticed that once a quilt has been washed all those "imperfections" we see when we are six inches away from it disappear?

meggie said...

If I lived alone, I am sure I would stay up really late, & sleep late too.
Love the quilt!

Helen in the UK said...

As many other have said .... you're too hard on yourself!! I especially like your combined swirls and dwirling :)

linda said...

Hey Mary,
Don't be so hard on yourself. Your quilting is fine. I know how you feel, I am my own worst critic too. Sometimes I hate my work, but my customers end up loving it. I like the flow of this design. It works.

Randi said...

Mary, I've been so tickled to see how well you are doing with your freehanding. You remind me of someone else I know ;-), in that you are too critical of yourself and your own work. Now, how do you stop doing that? I don't know. When I figure that one out, I'll let ya know...lol.

Granny said...

If it makes you feel any better, after over 10 years of longarming, I still have days when I wonder what ever made me think I was able to quilt for others!