Comments on: How do you deal with TOO much inspiration? http://www.ctpubblog.com/2009/07/01/how-do-you-deal-with-too-much-inspiration/ Creative Collaboration at C&T Publishing Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:02:48 +0000 hourly 1 By: Kristy Zacharias http://www.ctpubblog.com/2009/07/01/how-do-you-deal-with-too-much-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-3262 Kristy Zacharias Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:00:37 +0000 http://www.ctpubblog.com/?p=5902#comment-3262 Thanks everyone!! Sounds like the best thing for me to do is to just get started on something....anything, right? Checking things off the lists seems like it is going to be the most motivating to me. Stay tuned, I'll keep you posted on my progress :) Thanks everyone!! Sounds like the best thing for me to do is to just get started on something….anything, right? Checking things off the lists seems like it is going to be the most motivating to me. Stay tuned, I’ll keep you posted on my progress :)

]]> By: Nancy http://www.ctpubblog.com/2009/07/01/how-do-you-deal-with-too-much-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-3213 Nancy Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:41:58 +0000 http://www.ctpubblog.com/?p=5902#comment-3213 One thing I didn't say about my lists, like Bridget, I only work on one project at a time, other than my block of the month blocks. As far as quilts, I have many projects that I have picked out and purchased fabric for, organized them, bagged them (with pattern to be used) and have them ready to go when I reach for them. I do hold my limit of 'Projects In Waiting' to no more than 6. But I never start a new one until my current one is finished...with the exception of the "Prayer Quilt" for a very sick friend that I pushed everything aside for and I will finishe binding that the first of next week and get it to her. Then I will get back to my BOM's and my current quilt. It is hard to do, but I make myself do it that way. When I first started quilting, I did have 3 projects going at once and was ready to pull my hair out. Then one day I stepped back, chose one and finished it, and so on until I was caught up. I would like to say I won't ever do that again but of course, you would know that we can never say never!!! One thing about binding Maggie, I can't do hand needle work any more due to health issues so I do all my bindings by machine. They work very well and I can bind a large quilt in a day if I have the binding strip ready. Even if I could do hand work, I would do my bindings this way. One thing I didn’t say about my lists, like Bridget, I only work on one project at a time, other than my block of the month blocks. As far as quilts, I have many projects that I have picked out and purchased fabric for, organized them, bagged them (with pattern to be used) and have them ready to go when I reach for them. I do hold my limit of ‘Projects In Waiting’ to no more than 6. But I never start a new one until my current one is finished…with the exception of the “Prayer Quilt” for a very sick friend that I pushed everything aside for and I will finishe binding that the first of next week and get it to her. Then I will get back to my BOM’s and my current quilt. It is hard to do, but I make myself do it that way. When I first started quilting, I did have 3 projects going at once and was ready to pull my hair out. Then one day I stepped back, chose one and finished it, and so on until I was caught up. I would like to say I won’t ever do that again but of course, you would know that we can never say never!!! One thing about binding Maggie, I can’t do hand needle work any more due to health issues so I do all my bindings by machine. They work very well and I can bind a large quilt in a day if I have the binding strip ready. Even if I could do hand work, I would do my bindings this way.

]]> By: maggie http://www.ctpubblog.com/2009/07/01/how-do-you-deal-with-too-much-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-3189 maggie Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:40:46 +0000 http://www.ctpubblog.com/?p=5902#comment-3189 I don't do lists as such but have a basket i put slips of paper in. When i get stalled on a project i shuffle the basket and pull out a paper. I tend to get bored easily so work on about 6 different pojects at a time, all in different stages. Items do get finished, tho binding is my big back-log. Hate binding! maggie I don’t do lists as such but have a basket i put slips of paper in. When i get stalled on a project i shuffle the basket and pull out a paper. I tend to get bored easily so work on about 6 different pojects at a time, all in different stages. Items do get finished, tho binding is my big back-log. Hate binding!
maggie

]]> By: Francine http://www.ctpubblog.com/2009/07/01/how-do-you-deal-with-too-much-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-3150 Francine Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:01:16 +0000 http://www.ctpubblog.com/?p=5902#comment-3150 This is a topic I wanted to blog about. My PROBLEM is that I am a strong divergent thinker which means I get ideas by the bushel while at the same time being interested in too many different art forms: metal, fiber, paint and paper and lately altered art forms. On top of it all I have a demanding full time job. I do all the jotting down and at times elaborate on ideas by making sketches, mind-maps and documenting in all sorts of ways in journals and notebooks. I date my items and create headings : idea for this and that. Because I lack extended time and still want to indulge in my creative making muse (not just thinking and inspiration muse) I test out and explore ideas: making swatches and journal pages. What happens is eventually feeling scattered and unfocused, too many small projects that end up feeling like busy work. I began thinking that perhaps I should assemble all my swatches and small art works into bigger pieces to get a feeling of some kind of accomplishment. I worked with an professional painter at one point who told me that certain well known artists have a series of ongoing projects that are completed over time, in contrast to those who focus on just one idea and get it done. QUILTER BRIDGET seems wise to say stay focused and finish one before you begin the other. I like the nuanced proposed when she says she still indulges in 'hunting and gathering' for the next project but does not let herself actually begin making. I think this may suit me just fine. Thank you. This is a topic I wanted to blog about. My PROBLEM is that I am a strong divergent thinker which means I get ideas by the bushel while at the same time being interested in too many different art forms: metal, fiber, paint and paper and lately altered art forms. On top of it all I have a demanding full time job. I do all the jotting down and at times elaborate on ideas by making sketches, mind-maps and documenting in all sorts of ways in journals and notebooks. I date my items and create headings : idea for this and that. Because I lack extended time and still want to indulge in my creative making muse (not just thinking and inspiration muse) I test out and explore ideas: making swatches and journal pages. What happens is eventually feeling scattered and unfocused, too many small projects that end up feeling like busy work. I began thinking that perhaps I should assemble all my swatches and small art works into bigger pieces to get a feeling of some kind of accomplishment.

I worked with an professional painter at one point who told me that certain well known artists have a series of ongoing projects that are completed over time, in contrast to those who focus on just one idea and get it done. QUILTER BRIDGET seems wise to say stay focused and finish one before you begin the other. I like the nuanced proposed when she says she still indulges in ‘hunting and gathering’ for the next project but does not let herself actually begin making. I think this may suit me just fine. Thank you.

]]> By: sue clark http://www.ctpubblog.com/2009/07/01/how-do-you-deal-with-too-much-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-3117 sue clark Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:26:10 +0000 http://www.ctpubblog.com/?p=5902#comment-3117 I gave up on Lists, too many lists. i do have piles and bookmarks of Items I want to do/ inspire something. If I buy fabrics with a purpose in mind, I attach a note to the fabricw itht eh purpose and any relavant info. My sewing area is a post tornado disaster. .... I gave up on Lists, too many lists. i do have piles and bookmarks of Items I want to do/ inspire something. If I buy fabrics with a purpose in mind, I attach a note to the fabricw itht eh purpose and any relavant info. My sewing area is a post tornado disaster. ….

]]> By: Eileen Keane http://www.ctpubblog.com/2009/07/01/how-do-you-deal-with-too-much-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-3116 Eileen Keane Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:45:33 +0000 http://www.ctpubblog.com/?p=5902#comment-3116 I have things I've started in pizza boxes. Problem is-now I have pizza boxes all over the house! I've tried a lot of different things but this is the only one that's even worked a little for me. I have things I’ve started in pizza boxes. Problem is-now I have pizza boxes all over the house! I’ve tried a lot of different things but this is the only one that’s even worked a little for me.

]]> By: Nancy http://www.ctpubblog.com/2009/07/01/how-do-you-deal-with-too-much-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-3113 Nancy Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:06:56 +0000 http://www.ctpubblog.com/?p=5902#comment-3113 I also make lists...without them, I would be lost. I write poetry so I keep pad and pencil by my bed to jot down thoughts that do a fly by in my mind during the night...or those "Revelations according to John" when I have to get up in the night to answer natures call. Since I started quilting, those ideas also get jotted down, many times in the middle of the night. No way I would remember them all without my 'list'. I also make lists…without them, I would be lost. I write poetry so I keep pad and pencil by my bed to jot down thoughts that do a fly by in my mind during the night…or those “Revelations according to John” when I have to get up in the night to answer natures call. Since I started quilting, those ideas also get jotted down, many times in the middle of the night. No way I would remember them all without my ‘list’.

]]> By: Carol R http://www.ctpubblog.com/2009/07/01/how-do-you-deal-with-too-much-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-3110 Carol R Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:22:49 +0000 http://www.ctpubblog.com/?p=5902#comment-3110 I am a list maker, too. After a list is made of all the projects I want to accomplish, I set a goal for myself to achieve their completion. For instance, I have one baby quilt, cry packs for my son's wedding, a gift for my sister's birthday, and a kitchen set for a bridal shower to make on my current list. The time frame involved is what determines what I will work on first. The baby is due the first of August, my sister's birthday is the middle of July, my son's wedding is the end of August and the bridal shower is the middle of August. So, the order in which they will be made is birthday gift, baby gift, bridal shower gift, and cry packs for wedding. I like to allow for having each item completed at least one week ahead of the scheduled day to allow time for mailing if necessary. As these are all local and don't require mailing, I don't have to worry so much about the deadlines. This always helps me to get things going in the right direction and to stay on track with finishing projects. Don't get me wrong, I have a full stack of UFO's that I will get to eventually. I am a list maker, too. After a list is made of all the projects I want to accomplish, I set a goal for myself to achieve their completion. For instance, I have one baby quilt, cry packs for my son’s wedding, a gift for my sister’s birthday, and a kitchen set for a bridal shower to make on my current list. The time frame involved is what determines what I will work on first. The baby is due the first of August, my sister’s birthday is the middle of July, my son’s wedding is the end of August and the bridal shower is the middle of August. So, the order in which they will be made is birthday gift, baby gift, bridal shower gift, and cry packs for wedding. I like to allow for having each item completed at least one week ahead of the scheduled day to allow time for mailing if necessary. As these are all local and don’t require mailing, I don’t have to worry so much about the deadlines.

This always helps me to get things going in the right direction and to stay on track with finishing projects. Don’t get me wrong, I have a full stack of UFO’s that I will get to eventually.

]]> By: Liz W http://www.ctpubblog.com/2009/07/01/how-do-you-deal-with-too-much-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-3104 Liz W Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:14:25 +0000 http://www.ctpubblog.com/?p=5902#comment-3104 Oh yes. My lists are legion! I do tend to use a lot of paper because I will print out a tutorial or a picture that inspires me. If it is single picture I will post it in my journal and then make a few notes. If it really catches my attention, I will make a folder for it. The ideas that won't leave me alone - or the ones that I have for a specific challenge or swap, etc. - go into a box on my worktable. Recently I started pulling 6 projects from this box as "Goals" for a specified period of time. That way I've only got a few projects going at once and I can actually see when I'm making progress! When a project is completed, I'll go through the box first, then file cabinet and journals, to pick the next one so there are always 6 goals. Mind you, it doesn't always work! But I have the illusion of being organized and just reviewing the folders can break me out of a slump. And . . . the lists still get made and re-made and pile up way too fast! I think listing is an addiction! Oh yes. My lists are legion! I do tend to use a lot of paper because I will print out a tutorial or a picture that inspires me. If it is single picture I will post it in my journal and then make a few notes. If it really catches my attention, I will make a folder for it. The ideas that won’t leave me alone – or the ones that I have for a specific challenge or swap, etc. – go into a box on my worktable. Recently I started pulling 6 projects from this box as “Goals” for a specified period of time. That way I’ve only got a few projects going at once and I can actually see when I’m making progress! When a project is completed, I’ll go through the box first, then file cabinet and journals, to pick the next one so there are always 6 goals. Mind you, it doesn’t always work! But I have the illusion of being organized and just reviewing the folders can break me out of a slump. And . . . the lists still get made and re-made and pile up way too fast! I think listing is an addiction!

]]> By: Wanda http://www.ctpubblog.com/2009/07/01/how-do-you-deal-with-too-much-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-3102 Wanda Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:18:06 +0000 http://www.ctpubblog.com/?p=5902#comment-3102 I make little sketches and notes as I am inspired and they stay in a pile on mycomputer desk for awhile. Then I spend a little going through all of them, throw away the ones that don't interest me any more and put the rest in a more permanent form of sketch in a journal. I make little sketches and notes as I am inspired and they stay in a pile on mycomputer desk for awhile. Then I spend a little going through all of them, throw away the ones that don’t interest me any more and put the rest in a more permanent form of sketch in a journal.

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