Can I Become a One Project Person? Podcast #106

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately – can I become a one-project-at-a-time person? This is the question I’m bouncing around in this week’s podcast:

Listen to the podcast or download it to your computer using this player:

One Project at a Time PodcastFor years I’ve had so many projects in progress that I seem to get very little finished. And I feel distracted most of the time. Will limiting myself to one project at a time fix this?

More to the point, is it even possible?! LOL! I film multiple videos every week and have to have new projects for Frame Quilting Friday, plus the Friendship Quilt Along. I’m not sure it’s possible to cut down to just one project at a time, but it sure would be nice not to feel so distracted by so many different projects.

My main, #1 focus right now is finishing the text for the Goddess Quilt book. I just finished two more stories today so I only have a few more to go before it’s done!

Quick links to things I mentioned in this podcast:

Click Here to find my tutorial on getting to know the Grace Qnique 21. These were my VERY first stitches on this longarm and I shared the steps to adjusting my tension on the top and bobbin until the stitches looked perfect.

I filled an entire practice sandwich while checking my tension. I’ve also been planning to design a quilted pattern for two foam footstools for over a year.

Uggh! One project at a time, Leah!

Making Quilts for Demonstration

Another thing that stops me from being a one project person is the quilts I need for teaching and demonstration. I finished quilting my Stack and Whack baby quilt with simple quilting designs. I also tested my new ruler prototypes a bit. Can you spot the new shapes coming soon?

Stack and Whack Four Patch Quilted

Another thing I’m considering is using only print-on-demand panels for teaching. It’s so much faster to just wash and starch one piece of fabric than multiple yards.

Time is the major limiting factor. I want to spend the largest amount of my time writing, teaching, and designing. The more time spent in the piecing / applique / construction phase, the less time I have for everything else.

Quilting Friends Giveaway

I’m still in the process of purging my fabric stash. This week I realized I have tons of precuts that really need a new home. So we’re going to start doing a giveaway each week!

To enter, you just have to be a member of our Quilt Friends Club. Click Here to check it out!

This week I’m giving away a 2 1/2-inch strip pack of Free Spirit Clemetine fabric. Make sure to listen to Episode #107 to see who wins this precut pack!

Can’t Wait for Quilt Fantastic

This weekend we drove to Kingsport, TN to check out the Meadowview Convention Center and the room I’ll be sharing Quilt Fantastic. This is such an awesome space, with stadium style seating and nice big comfy chairs.

Quilt Fantastic Event Center

The only downside is there are only 200 chairs! We are already halfway booked on this event so if you’d like to come, make sure to contact Bob Bolton and get your ticket today!

Hello Mr. and Ms. Bunny!

On the way back from Tennessee, we stopped by a rabbit breeder and picked up our first four Champange D’Argent rabbits.

Champagne D'Argent Bunny Rabbit

I love having these bunnies to take care of outside. It’s pushing me to stop working and get outside every day. They’re a bit shy, but the more time I’ve spent with them, the friendlier they become.

So that’s it for this week. Whew! A lot is always going on and it’s pretty clear that I can’t be a one project at a time person, at least not right now. But I’m going to work hard this summer to not add any more projects to my plate, at least until I get my goddess quilt book finished. I can’t wait to be done with the writing so I can pull out my camera and start shooting pretty pictures!

Let’s go quilt,

Leah Day

More Hello My Quilting Friends Podcast Episodes:

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.

4 Responses

  1. Rebecca says:

    I’ve thought about your one-project-person musings. I like to be a one-project-person but I can’t always be so. I think the difference lies in things I want to do and things I have to do.

    In things I want to do, I am generally a one-project-person because I am really motivated to finish that project and I don’t mind what stage it’s at. I finished a quilt this weekend that I started in January. The only part of the quilting journey I don’t particularly like is the cutting (partly because I’m trash at it for some reason that I haven’t figured out yet). I’m excited about my next quilt and even though the cutting is my next stage. I’ll push through that knowing the fun parts are still ahead. I’m a big believer in feel the fear and do it anyway so I don’t tend to get hung up on the hard parts. Instead I research and learn the new skill I need so I can continue on. With this quilt I had a couple of weeks where I practised FMQ before I set to on the quilt. My hobby is supposed to be fun and if I start and never finish projects, it becomes a burden and not a joy.

    In things I have to do, it’s a different story. Since I started that quilt in January, I’ve also made three dresses for my daughters, one tee-shirt (with another just needing hemming – today’s sewing), a child’s sunhat, and a doll’s quilt, mattress, pillow and sheet. I still have to make a pillowcase (hopefully this week) and paint the doll’s bed (waiting for a fine weekend in the middle of winter!). If my children come to me and request clothing or they need something, I make it even though I’d rather be making my quilt. Sometimes I gaze longingly at my incomplete quilt but I try and console myself that I’m improving my skills as a sew-er and it’s an act of love towards my family.

    • LeahDay says:

      Thank you so much for sharing this Rebecca! Yes, I completely agree and I love how you put this because it’s also how I feel. I have things I have to do for my business and things I want to do and I need to figure out how to bring those in closer alignment.

  2. Louise Deveault says:

    Hello Leah, love your rabbits and I hear you when you say it would be nice to have one project at the time. When I started quilting, that’s what I did. Only one quilt at the time. I was also hand-quilting and it took me about 7=12 month to finish one quilt. At first, it was fine as we didn’t have much of internet interaction or I didn’t go to a guild. But now, I want to have MORE than one project at the time because I want to try a technique, learn a new skill, and some project like paper piecing or English paper pieces just take time. Meanwhile, I can sew about a dozen or more top-quilts and have fun with my fabric. So it all depends HOW much time you want to spend in your sewing room:) I usually am more productive from September-June. The rest of the summer I spend outside:)

    • LeahDay says:

      That’s a very good point Louise! I’m wanting only one or two projects because with the rabbits and the book, anything more feels very overwhelming. But you’re right, this does change depending on the time of the year and what I have going on. Very good perspective to keep in mind!

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