UFO Done and Perfectionism

My applique leaf UFO quilt is done! Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and kind words. I tried to find something to use as a sashing and could not find anything in my stash that worked. I have vowed not to spend money on fabric to finish my UFOs. I realized that I was beginning to over-think. When the over-thinking mode happens, I start to spin, feel tense and nothing happens. I can be my own worst enemy. The realization that over thinking may be a form of perfectionism also occurred to me.

Perfectionism is a killer to creativity. I have watched it happen with friends and students. I have experienced myself. Just Monday night I was talking to the intern in my pottery class. She never finishes any of her painting because she is worried that she won't get it "right." Yesterday I talked to a former student who shared that she could not create "serious" art until she had the "perfect" studio. It did not seem to matter to her when I shared that for years I created on a small rickety card table set up between my washer and dryer. Or that I always travel with handwork of some kind.  I wish I could have made her believe a little more in her abilities and less the need for the "perfect" place to create. Hopefully she will realize this sooner than later. Thanks to everyone who shared that perfectionism has been a problem too. It is good not to be alone and have support.

Julia Cameron in her book Finding Water: The Art of Perseverance said it best. “Perfectionism doesn't believe in practice shots. It doesn't believe in improvement. Perfectionism has never heard that anything worth doing is worth doing badly--and that if we allow ourselves to do something badly we might in time become quite good at it. Perfectionism measures our beginner's work against the finished work of masters. Perfectionism thrives on comparison and competition. It doesn't know how to say, 'Good try,' or 'Job well done.' The critic does not believe in creative glee--or any glee at all, for that matter. No, perfectionism is a serious matter.”

Here is to gleeful creating with no need for being perfect!

And once again I'm participating in Nina-Marie's Off the Wall Fridays.

Nominated for Teacher of the Year and Thoughts on Power

I've been nominated for Teacher of the Year given by the International Association of Professional Quilters! This is my second nomination. I have no illusions of winning. I'm simply and deeply touched that a student of mine would take the time to nominate me. It feels so good that I can touch people's lives in a meaningful way.  It's also a great way to start of the year.

And nine days into the new year, I keep journaling and thinking about what I want this year to be for me. I know I want to continue my journey of learning to trust my intuition, developing intention, being authentic and holding my own power. It's not easy. I'm most certainly not a saint. In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron says, "The first rule of magic is self-containment. You must hold your intention within yourself, stoking it with power. Only then will you be able to manifest what you desire." I remember how deeply reading this affected and still affects me. It helped me understand that many of the people in my life didn't have my best interest at heart so I needed to release them with love. Now I am surrounded by much healthier people. I also had to admit to myself that most of my life had been based on meeting the needs and expectations of others and that had to change.

What does the word power mean to you?

Do you think of yourself as powerful? For me, it wasn't easy.

Do you think you are more powerful in the domain of "being" or "doing"?
For me, it's definitely doing but I am working on also feeling powerful in being.

You know how much I love typography. The poster is by Francesca Ramos, a 22 year old graphic design student. Isn't it wonderful? You can download it for free courtesy of the artist! I have and it's going to hang on my wall as a reminder. As always, thanks for sharing with me.