Being a perfectionist has its down sides, and I have been working on overcoming this weakness in me for several years now. One place where perfectionism is a particular problem is in quilting. Let's face it: quilts are NEVER perfect, even when they look pretty darn close. I have decided that I love quilting enough that I am willing to overlook a certain amount of error in order to be able to enjoy the process and the product. However, the quilt that I am currently working on (see the entry below, a little way down the page) is having enough problems that it is just about outside the reaches of the acceptable margin of error. I do not think it is fixable at this point, at least fixable at a level that I can still have some pride in my work, but I can't bring myself to abandon it either. So I keep (slowly) plugging away... sluggish because I know I'm not going to be happy with it anyway.
My mom, a master quilter, keeps telling me it's fine and that it will never be perfect, but I'm not really convinced on this one.
I am sure that when I am finished, many will say it is wonderful, and beautiful, and blah, blah, blah, but they will either be kindly overlooking the major skee-womp-ish-ness of the final product or will not be looking very closely. I will then have to smile and say thank you graciously while I sigh deeply inside, because no one likes it when you devalue their compliment with all kinds of, "Actually, it's horrible and I didn't want to finish it, but thanks anyway..."
Hmmm... I guess this one I'll have to keep struggling with internally for awhile. Maybe re-reading this post will help me see the foolishness in my ways.
4 comments:
Hmmm. I think I would drop a project that made me feel like that. Unless you think you'd be happier having stuck it out to the end. Quilts are supposed to make you think lovingly of the hands that made it, why it was made, etc. Sounds like you might frown every time you look at it. Hmmm.
Audrey - you're wrong, you're dead wrong. It is beautiful, and will be beautiful, and it will be true when people tell you so.
There. Someone had to say it.
Love, Mom
I don't know much about quilting (some day I will come live in Utah and you will teach me, yes?), but I'm betting if I saw this quilt of yours I'd be one of the ones saying it was beautiful. And I wouldn't just be saying that.
I'm trusting your mom's opinion on this one.
Hey Audrey this is Erin Bowler, I don't know if you are still in Utah but we have been talking about doing a Kirkland get together sometime. Let me know if you are in Utah and would be interested.
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