Saturday, March 12, 2016

Your Inner Bulldog

Do you have an inner bulldog?  What is that you say?  It is the determination to hang on and complete whatever task is currently on your platter.  Mine is strong and I don't know if it is the result of nature or nurture.  Bulldogs (the animal) are known to hang on to whatever they are biting, and they don't let go.   It does help to have this determination to hang on when you are stitching a quilt.  I love sewing and quilting, but like every piece of life there are some aspects that either get boring or others that you just don't enjoy as much.  As you can tell, I am hard up for a post subject today as I troll along on the less interesting part of quilting the Phoenix.  Mind you, much as I love quilting, at times it seems like it takes forever to cover the ground.

It is like climbing a mountain.  It sometimes gets to be a chore to place one foot in front of the other.  Below is Hallett Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, and yes, I have climbed it several times.  All those tiresome, uphill steps lead to the release of friendly endorphins, and you begin to see the lovely, small things along the trail such as wildlife and mountain flora.  When you reach the top you forget the hard work and bask in the glory of exhilaration and the beauty before you.  The achievement of that goal stays with you the rest of your life.

Hallett Peak and Dream Lake, RMNP
Later you look at your quilt and forget the hard work and difficulties and enjoy the accomplishment of a finished product.

Don't forget to smell the flowers along the way - the small steps of artistry that have been created by your hand and mind.

Columbine

Enjoy the wildlife.  Stop to pet your dog or cat or whatever runs around your house.  A child, friend or husband will enjoy a little of your attention too.

Pika (member of the rabbit family)
Sew a happy seam this week.

7 comments:

  1. Wonderful post - I needed that uplift. I worked long hours on a quilt last week, and got burned out. Felt like I was wading through mud with that one. But your right, I'll forget about the journey and enjoy the accomplishment.
    Susan @ quiltfabrication

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  2. I am elated at a quilt finish, too, but sadly I have lots of flimsies or WIPs and not as many finishes as I'd like. Thanks for the inspiration. It's a great fit for me since I love hiking, too!

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  3. Wisdom here, not just in being patient at the hard work needed in some of our quilts, but in taking the TIME to just be in the moment and enjoy what is around you... or step away from that quilt, and enjoy those around you, the sun, Mother Nature, your fur kids... :-)

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  4. Great inspiration! Thank you for saying it with photos!

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  5. Agreed! Thank you for the pep talk, we all hit our highs and lows in life and quilting

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  6. Sometimes all you can do is put one foot in front of the other, or as I have tailored the thought to suit the medium, take one stitch at a time.

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