Sometimes it seems that all I do is move quilts from one pile to the other….this afternoon – I moved these 5 quilts from the waiting to be trimmed pile to the waiting for binding pile. I also have piles for waiting for backing, waiting for quilting, waiting for hand stitching bindings & labels, waiting for washing, and waiting for donating !
As much as I love my work with HeartStrings, I put a lot of pressure on myself to keep things moving from one pile to the other and feel guilty if I’m not getting enough done. Silly I know but I tend to be very goal oriented.
I’ve decided that there will be NO goals for June, July, or August. I’m taking the summer off — I’ll still be quilting along with traveling but I plan to read, go out for lunch, walk, bike and generally do whatever I feel like each day — guilt free!
What are your plans for the summer?
I’m amazed at how much you do, and I think you should enjoy a guiltfree summer. I’m taking off July for a vacation and I’m looking forward to it. Do you consider Heartstrings your fulltime vocation?
Your house must look a lot like mine (except for the longarm!) — I have Linus piles everywhere. Sometimes it gets overwhelming, but in the end, I’m glad I’m doing it. It really does cut into my own quilting time, though.
Nothing kills a passion more than feeling obligated. Taking a break will definitely make your work more enjoyable.
I ususally lighten the quilting goals during summer as I have a grade schooler home with me! The older one will graduate high school in two weeks! woohoo!
Have a fun and guilt free summer 🙂
Mary,
Good for you, hope that you have a fun filled
summer. No real plans for me just enjoy each
day as it comes.
Marilyn
Good to hear that you are following in your sister’s foot steps. I’ll be spending my summer much the same as you, Mary. It’s all very very good!
Good for you for taking a well-deserved vacation!
What a wonderful plan!!!! Summer vacation begins today for me. I plan to sew, read, take walks with Rusty, meet friends, go shopping. All these activities help recharge my spirit. Will look forward to reading about your adventures.
Good for you! You get so much accomplished but you do put a lot of pressure on yourself. Hope you enjoy your summer and have lots of fun things to share with us.
I think taking the summer off is a great idea. You deserve it.
You deserve the summer off. It is not good to get burned out on something you ultimately love to do.
I really like your plan. But, that is my retirement plan and I have been living it for almost 3 years. It has been wonderful.
Good for you Mary. It’s nice to take a break from the things that you love. It helps quilting to not feel so much like a “job”. Plus, you will appreciate it that much more when your projects move from the “have to do” pile to the “want to do” pile.
Enjoy your vacation.
I start my summer vacation in 8 school days. I can’t wait. Then I get to quilt full time 🙂 I am making quilts for an orphanage in Kazakhstan and have a goal of 150 by the end of the summer. I am going to be busy! I have some helpers who are going to be making the tops for me, but I will be doing all of the quilting. I’m figuring at least 3 quilts a day at this rate. I think I will have to teach someone how to bind these things for me and I will be able to make my goal. My quilting vacation will come when school starts up again 🙂
Good for you! We all deserve a little time off ~ guilt free! I just finished mine, so I will be back to the lists/goal setting/etc…come June 1. But I enjoy it, too. I was starting to feel lost without my quilting “to do” list (if only I could give up my other to do lists as well?!?). ~Jessica
Balance is always a good thing Mary… you taking a bit of the pressure off yourself will tip the scales back in balance. Enjoy yourself and the beautiful weather!
Cheers! Evelyn
Good for you, Mary! You work really hard and deserve this break. I’m looking forward to retirement in 2 years … right now I’m committed to a 60 hour work week and am exhausted most of the time. It will be coming to an end though and my dream of being able to call each day my own will be realized. Enjoy your time off … well deserved!
Flatlander (Linda)
Good for you!!! Everyone needs a break now and then or you will get burnt out.
This summer I have my 15 year old niece coming. Pray for me…pray hard. I’m also going to keep up with the garden…quilt….learn some new vegetarian dishes…ummmmmmmmmm drink wine…yep, I am nothing if not exciting!
hugs,
dawn
Sounds like the perfect summer to me! I generally lighten my load in the summer too. Well as far as quilting goes anyway. I concentrate on entertaining Ethan, working in the gardens (both flower and veggie), and just sitting in the shade enjoying nature!
All things in moderation…will keep burnout away!! This is a good plan. I bet Chesty approves! lol He’ll get even more attention, if that’s possible. I bet you still get a ton accomplished…maybe keep a things accomplished list instead of a goals to attain list for these months…just to see!
Lori in VA
I like your plans for the summer…perhaps I’ll bump into on the river path!
Laurie
I plan to move my piles of quilts around this summer. Hee! Just kidding, it is just that your experience with piles is so much like mine. We would like to take a small road trip this summer, just enjoying America.
Good for you!! Everyone needs some time to themselves. Me, I am volunteering, camping, reading, and piecing!
Sounds like a great summer!
I plan to do some hand quilting and some camping,
and lot of reading.
Great plan! You should enter into Jacquie’s Spring to Finish giveaway 🙂 (Tallgrass prairie studio blog). You get a freaky amount of stuff done. I love to do things in batches too: looking at a pile of quilts all ready for the next stage of whatever helps give me that sense of accomplishment even if it is just one task :). BTW your raving about the GO is seriously making me want to buy some dies. I have an accucut for my cardcrafting, and have pooh-poohed the whole die cuts for fabric idea but the half square triangle demonstration…I dunno….it’s making me weak. Help!
Sounds like a great plan for the summer! While you are enjoying summer, I’m going to be trying to stay warm. It’s winter here 🙂
Sounds like a great plan for the summer! While you are enjoying summer, I’m going to be trying to stay warm. It’s winter here 🙂
I am so pleased to hear that MAry. Good for you, we all need a break now and then.
Jan. x
Mary, you’ve set quilting goals most of the year and last year AND made them. Time to celebrate!
Good for you! Have a great guilt free summer!
Nice information…Nice photos..
Thank you very much…
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Andrew
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