Tuesday 26 March 2013

Getting On..

Usually, I start something, get it finished and move on. I'm a one-job-at-a-time gal.    Well, I got it into my head that I would enjoy it more if I had several things on the go to flit between.  I thought that they'd be a sort of constant inspiration, so many other people do it, the sort of semi-immersion, depending on what craft takes your mood on what day. 

So how did it go for me?  Did I remember that I'm pathologically incapable of tidying up until the job at hand is finished?  The dining table has looked like a sewing table for over a month.  My armchair craft section has been buried in crochet squares waiting for attention.  My desk as you have probably seen, has been strewn with card making attempts at a theme I'm no good at.  The desk and dining table situation means that the business paperwork has piled up because I've got nowhere else to spread it out and do the books...no - I cannot use the floor.  I'm too old, unbendy and hey, I just said, if it's not finished, I don't clear up.  Imagine picking your way across all that every day too.  

Fair to say then, that it was a rubbish idea. I've been driven to distraction by looking at unfinished stuff whilst other priorities have taken over.    And I've made super effort to get it ALL finished so that I can start to enjoy it all again!  Crazy huh.

I've finished the quilt.
I've finished joining up all the squares and tucking and knotting and whatever-ing the ends.  I've even tidied my desk off and covered it with business stuff which is all but finished.  (Too boring for a photo...  files, ledgers and of course, a calculator!) 

So today, for the first time in ages, I feel slightly less put upon and happy that however imperfect, I can restore my house and time to my own haphazard methods! Remind me of this next time I come up with a theory, please.


28 comments:

Helen said...

You sound as if you've achieved loads, the quilt looks gorgeous and so does the crochet. Shame about the business paperwork...! Enjoy the rest of your day.

Neil said...

Well at least you know it doesn't work for you! I am opposite, always more than just one thing on the go, I don't see the mess till I can no longer move.

Ohhh Snap said...

Kudos on completion! Now you really know that you do best with one at a time lol. (Sorry, thinking that should have had a Pollyanna warning sticker on it).

Karen K said...

Hi, well done on finishing your projects, your quilt looks smashing.

Sadly I suffer with one projectitus and can't cope with loads of things on the go. I always have a cross stitch that I do in the chair downstairs but in the craft room I can't be doing with different things on the go.

The quilt I am doing at the moment is 88" x 86" so its huge, I am FMQ and it's taking forever. I had to make some cards and I found it really difficult....

I really must finish the quilt!

K x

Tamika said...

The colors in that quilt are beautiful Julia!

Annie said...

Well done you completing so much Julia. I like to keep all the projects I have on the go in their own boxes so that they don't take over too much......def could never finish one before I start another....I'm a butterfly and like to flit from one thing to another :-)
Hugs,
A x

Unknown said...

This is so interesting--because I think there could be some scientific theories going on here. I guess, instead of a theoretical physicist, I'm being a theoretical craftist! So theory 1--the start-lots-o-projects-crafter. Possible outcomes--UFOs (unfinished objects), space issues with dining tables turning into sewing tables, more exciting though, the added stress of needing to finish it all at once, but making the most of your stash, no place for paperwork, and ending up with lots of finished projects.
Theory 2--The one-thing-at-a-time crafter. Possible outcomes--boredom, no reason to shop for more stash, a neater house, less stress, less excitement though, no UFOs, paperwork gets done, ending up with one finished project, and no plans. Hmmm...I don't know Julia--I think I like to have lots of crazy projects going on!!! But I still admire you. You did a lot this week!

Redanne said...

It must feel so good to have achieved your goals, despite what you had to go through to get there! Well done you! Like you, I prefer to have one task on the go at one time, I still create a huge mess though.... Hugs, Anne x

Gill Edwards said...

you gave it a try and who knows, maybe the overwhelming clutter did spur you on to finish things, without you even realising

Gillx

Debs Willis said...

Julia, this did make me laugh! I am in the middle of a project but woke up yesterday with the urge to try something I saw at the NEC. So I shoved tha part complete project to one side, shoved the new, not yet tried purchases to the other side, and set to with paints, inks & stamps. Didn't finish the new project yesterday, so all of it is still on my desk - who knows which one I will continue with - not me!!!
Hugs
Debs x

Lynn Holland said...

I think I would get more done if I stuck to one job at a time but as we speak I am surrounded with different projects. My mind is like a butterfly, it flits about all over the place.
You've done a wonderful job on the quilt, the colours are lovely and vibrant.
You are very mutiltalented Julia.

Kyla said...

Oh fabulous quilt, tidy desk AND finished crochet....you are wonder woman after all!!

I couldnt possibly comment on being untidy or working on more than one thing at a time (today I have been embroidering a hand printed cloth, finishing some resin work, altering storage and rusting some keys!!!!) as you know I am OCD about being clean and tidy (NOT!!!) :-)

Kyla

Belinda Basson said...

What else is a theory unless you can put it to the test?

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

The idea has obviously worked, though, Julia, if you have finished all those projects. Well done, and you carry on with any theory you come up with. xx Maggie

Sarah said...

I just can't cope with several projects on the go at once!! Great quilt! x

Almo said...

Hi Julia I always have lots of thing on the go at once, but they do get finished eventualy. Nice quilt. Hugs Mo x

Neet said...

Wow Julia you have been busy and are putting me to shame. I have endless half finished projects - just need the mojo to shift over to them.

See you tomorrow.

Hugs, Neet xx

fairy thoughts said...

hey it might not work for you BUT you did acheive a lot and finished several projects so well done. I have so many things on the go I can't even remember, they are in various boxes all over the house!! many sre long term projects I pop in and out of.... my trouble is I want to do it all... maybe when someones makes an 8 day week
janet

akilli melek said...

oh i am too much a gemini to just have one thing on the go at a time. Loving the crochet.
caroline

Crafty Lark said...

Great achievement. I am now definitely down to one thing at a time, I get distracted just doing the one. I have even undone my unfinished knitting as I mislaid the pattern. xx Flora

Bernice said...

Oh, well done on getting all those things finished! The scarf and quilt both look great. I'm one of those 'do everything at once' kinda girls - at present I'm in the middle of about five different projects! - so you can just imagine how untidy my house is!
Bernice

Meihsia Liu said...

Wow....that's a great achievement! And your room is organized again :)

RosA said...

I've ALWAYS got multiple projects on the go. Can't seem to change this method just seems to sort of work, up to a point, anyway :)
Love the scarf! Looks very fashionable, I think.

Sandy said...

You sound like you have got it all under control now love the bright happy quilt and your squares are lovely.. It is great to have multiple things going all at once, I know I have several.. The only thing is it is such a relief when something is actually finished and you go yay done.. UFO's I call them, stands for unfinished objects..
Sandy :)

scrappymo! said...

Glad you got the quilt finished as that solved your dining room table dillemna...such fun colours too!

All I can say is that it is a good thing my scrap counter is really long. If I have a couple things on the go, I just take over the area I have for friends! That forces me to finish it up B4 she comes for our weekly craft night!

If I had to work on one thing at a time, I would get really bored.

SandeeNC said...

Well, I don't even think about how I plan to do anything...sometimes it's both methods for me...lol waving hi from the hills of North Carolina ♥

Eliza said...

Ah we all have moments like this, you will be alright, just ignore it and get to it when you can. It will still be there tomorrow and thats the bright side LOL

Love your crochet, looking good....

Happy Easter
Eliza

voodoo vixen said...

Ah, the old UFO's versus completed projects is always a good one... I am in the second category, really like to have stuff done and then clean up and move to the next one. This does not mean I have no UFO's... but they aren't out and in my face!! Love the colours in your quilt, it is beautiful!!