The WIP Box Reflections

About nine months ago I wrote a blog post, setting the goal to empty my Works in Progress box. I've been planning for a few weeks now to write and share how I didn't reach my goal. My WIP box is still full. But this morning when I sat down in front of my box to take stock, I realised it wasn't full of the same projects, but with different ones. In fact, I think apart from a pile of dresses that I just can't manage to finish off, most of the quilts in this box were all started last year.
So it got me thinking about my year of WIP box finishes and how I feel about this old box that has haunted me since I started collecting projects as well as fabric.

I've always wished I was the kind of person to work on one quilt at a time. Press, cut, sew, press, quilt, bind, give or sell. Then move on to the next one. It's such a clean process, that I've assumed my head, which is always busy with kids and ideas and expectations, would find restful and comforting. This could be my one area of life that is ordered and clear cut. That was my goal last year. To clear out my box of disorder so I could have a clean slate. But instead of changing my habits, I think I discovered/accepted something even better. For me, anyway.

The first important thing that happened was that I pulled this box down from the shelf, made a new home on the floor, and opened the lid. Then, as I needed gifts for friends, or new inspiration struck for old, forgotten blocks, they were there to work on. Quilts like the one above, which I'd been working on for over a year, came together in the end, quickly and joyfully, and with great purpose. I realised that often I'd lost joy for a project because it was taking so much longer than I had anticipated. But coming back to it fresh was a bit like starting again, but with all the little, time-hungry piecing or cutting already done.

Projects that I really wasn't happy with, I let go, and took to with the seam ripper. If a friend came around for a coffee, I gave her one too, and we sat and chatted together and made the work go faster. I was surprised at how satisfying this was. Much more, in fact, that pushing on and spending time and money finishing a quilt that I didn't like. And now I have that fabric back! Albeit in 2.5" strips or 5" squares, but I've now given them their own bag or box and I dig through them often.

There are times (in the month? I'm sure it's hormone related!) where I'm absolutely bursting with ideas. I spend my evenings drawing and the kids rest time cutting and laying out. Then there are times when all I can do is sit and chain piece, while I let my brain mull over things that are tricky, or tune out completely. The quilt above started as a Collage layer cake that I won nearly two years ago from Fabric Bubb. Then, when in the mood for playing, out came different co-ordinating fabrics, which became a pile that sat together for 6 months or so. Then one weekend late last year, while Tim was away, even thought there were gifts to make and boxes to pack, I pulled out my Accuquilt and started cutting in front of a movie one evening. The cut pile went back in the WIP box until after Christmas when I just needed to work on something that was already thought through, something I could stitch in short intervals between unpacking and hosting guests. When inspiration hit again, a completed quilt top was set aside while I followed my fancy with this new quilt below. Then on the weekend, the longing for long, monotonous quilting struck, and and I finished the quilt last night.

I think the thing I love most about blogging is the discipline of taking note, sharing goals, and telling stories. It helps me appreciate who I am and how I work best. Without it, I'm not sure I would have learned to embrace my WIP box as something that enables me to work effectively rather than as a sign of a lack of discipline or productivity. I would have kept assuming that I'd failed at my WIP box challenge, rather than succeeding at the most important parts, that I let it empower my creativity, and learn to use it well. I would have assumed my habits hadn't changed, rather than realising they'd changed in a wonderful way - I was rifling through this box regularly for inspiration, rather than hiding it in a cupboard in shame.

So my goal for this year? To trust myself. To put something down when I don't have the drive for it anymore, knowing I'll come back to it later with a fresh vision and energy. To not let those scrappy strips or charm squares hang over my head impatiently, but to wait for a good idea to use them. And to enjoy the seasons of creating and innovating, rather than squash them out with a list of rules and unfinished projects.

Want to join me?

Linking up to Fabric Tuesday and WIP Wednesday.