Focus, Motivation, and Honoring Feelings

LeahDay

Leah Day has been teaching online since 2009. She's the creator of the Free Motion Quilting Project, a blog filled with thousands of quilting tutorial videos. Leah has written several books including 365 Free Motion Quilting Designs, Explore Walking Foot Quilting with Leah Day, and Mally the Maker and the Queen in the Quilt.

15 Responses

  1. Saberz Mom says:

    Leah… your insightful discussion has awakened my own awareness of similar thoughts and feelings I have from time to time. Thank you for sharing. And what a GREAT idea to display your Duchess, even though she is not finished! She will quietly sit in the background being subtle about reminding you that when you are ready to work on her again, she will be ready to be worked on! I don't know how you balance all that you do, including teaching your Craftsy classes. You are an inspiration to me! Linda from Maine

  2. Shar says:

    You have done amazing work! Being positive really helps out! I have tried the same thing this last 2 weeks!

  3. Susan Owenby says:

    She looks fantastic Leah. It is a most excellent decision to take a break. I almost always dislike things that I force my way through "just to be finished". She'll wait for you and be ready when you are.

  4. Oh Leah….I will never get used to looking at your quilting. I am a long time hand quilter; trying to learn…lol I just bought a Baby Lock Tiara long arm…and trying to learn; but I still feel out of control. I never know what I want to quilt when I sit down..lol; and I cant draw!! lol

  5. Leah, this is stunning. What an artist you are!

  6. Binky says:

    The Duchess is stunningly beautiful.

  7. SewCalGal says:

    I am amazed you created such spectacular beauty in only 12 days. You definitely deserve a break. And, I too am a firm believer breaks, changing what one is focused on and later coming back to it can really help with the creative process.

    I think she is an award winning quilt in the making. And, I certainly look forward to seeing her on display in a quilt show one day (whenever she is ready).

    SewCalGal
    http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

  8. это великолепно, я поражен!

  9. Wow leah the center is absolutely stunning! I think you're doing the quilt a favor by honoring your feelings as well. I had this same feeling with express your love but I felt as if I had to work on it, my fmq suffered because of this unfortunately so I've taken a break from her! I'm always amazed by what you can do with thread, you continue to inspire me every day!

  10. Leah, Thanks for the insight into motivation. I find I often put a project on the shelf when it's almost done. I think for me, knowing how the quilt will turn out at that stage takes away some of the magic and excitement. Recently I've been doing a little better with finishing. Writing a blog, communicating with others on various social media sites about what I'm doing, and attending a regular quilting group is helping me to stay motivated to the end of projects. Thanks for the great thoughts. Have a super day!

  11. Malini says:

    Wow! Your goddess quilt is just amazing. I can't believe you have accomplished so much in just 12 days! Your ROCK!

  12. I think this is why I obsessively have half a dozen projects on the go, all different techniques or at different stages. I need to be able to chop and change otherwise I get bored with a project, put it away and it becomes a forever-UFO

  13. Just beautiful!! I had a similar situation arise this week. I finished a quilt top (first one I have ever made from a kit), and even though I had all of these embellishment ideas, I was pressed for something to take to longarm lab on Wednesday morning. I took it, along with 2 pieces of floral fabric that I thought I'd just practice on if I changed my mind. AND yes, I quilted up the two pieces of fabric and kept my poppy garden quilt top for getting the embellishments and dimensional work done, then I'm going to do the quilting on my domestic machine. I realized that my longarming it would not enhance it nearly as much as doing it on my home machine, where the control is actually much better. AND there's noone looking over my shoulder to give there 2cents worth on it, if you know what I mean. I think I will have my son make me a special hanging device for "works in progress". I know exactly how it needs to be done so I can show off what I'm working on whether finished or not.
    I enjoy hearing what you're up to and I have totally enjoyed all of the books you've recommended. Have you ever read anything by John Maxwell, he has some great stuff out there that most of us can benefit from.
    Have a great day.
    Luann

  14. LAQuilts says:

    I love your insight. I too have taken a break from my quilting for the past two weeks. I am now back in Alaska, one week to settle in and company for one. Now off tho a 5 day retreat and back to quilting.

  15. Karen Powell says:

    Leah,

    I just wanted to thank you for giving me the permission to take a break that I couldn't give myself! You are doing such beautiful work on all your quilts. I have so many projects going that I wonder if I'll ever get some of them done. But, I find many of my ideas come to me while lying in bed relaxing and then I implement them and make adjustments as necessary. I think we all need to forgive ourselves for needing time away from something that is such an emotional and creative storm that goes through our heads before our hands can be put to work again on it. Thank you again.

    Karen

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