The curse of perceived perfection

Have you ever been working on a project and realized it was going ... well ... perfectly? So perfectly that you became scared to touch it?

For a week I've ignored my Flora strips awaiting the final seaming.

Last Thursday evening after the first round of strip pairings was sewn, I was ironing the seams and chatting with my husband (who was giving me his most engaged uh huhs while staring at the PC). I looked down and saw just how darned well I'd sewn the narrow strips. This pleased me greatly as I've been working hard to improve my 1/4 inch seaming. I glowed in my little happiness for a bit, then went to bed. Fully intended to get up the next day and move forward, but I've been stuck. All those beautiful seams could go to hell from here. Had to wait a bit and glance guiltily at the strips this whole week to work up my nerve.

Com'mon, we've all done it - there's no use denying it. We've all totally screwed up something perfect. The freaky moment when the rotary cutter is possessed and your finished quilt top is carved. The dropped stitch that runs for its life through hours and hours of lacework. I still clearly remember a moment from my late teens that taught me about hubris. I was hungry and darned excited about a plate of pasta I'd made all by myself. Cooking was never my forte, so this start to finish creation was a big deal and I was feeling quite proud. Plate and fork in hand, I swung around quickly from the counter to the table and the entire pile of spaghetti & tomato sauce demonstrated Newton's first law as I and the plate stopped, but it didn't. Properly humbled, I scooped it up off the floor looking much worse after its flight. No, I didn't die. 10 second rule.

Well, as you can see, I've overcome my nerves and started joining again today. All is well, but the next potential crisis looms:  quilting. In the meantime, my roses are quietly supporting my color choices.

Notice the photo above of the strips on the towel rack? Seems like a rational thing doesn't it? The ironing board sits just three feet from the guest bath and that rack is usually empty. So why did it take me almost TWO YEARS to notice it was the perfect spot for just ironed patchwork, all that time draping my ironed patchwork bits on the back of the office chair or sofa where half the time a visiting child/dog/husband sat on them? Sometimes I feel mentally deficient.

Whenever I get too excited about a crafty perfection I walk outside so Mother Nature can knock me soundly on my all too human arse.

The butterfly bush is living up to its name.

This bee is one of literally 30+ swarming over the basil at any given moment. The bush gives off a beautiful hum all day. I have a neighbor who's scared of bees, something I honestly can't fathom. They don't want me - they want my flowers. Here's how big this basil bush has gotten. Sorry for the overly bright light, this is the only photo where I managed to get Cami to sit nicely for a size reference.She wanted to play ball and couldn't figure out what was so special about that spot. That orange plant is sunset agastache. I try to go out at least once every day and listen to that hum as my personal Om.

 

Comments

[juliet]

The quilt is gorgeous - and even if there was a mistake, then that it would still be perfectly beautiful, a mistake is just an opportunity to take the scenic route in life, besides we are usually the only ones who notice our mistakes usually and as for trh Duh! moments - well I have plenty, I am remarkably slow on the uptake. Anyways, the colours are lovely and are like bringing your garden inside, totally impressed by how still Cami sits.

[Beth]

When I first saw the top picture and hadn't started reading yet I though, "She made a beautiful ironing board cover, but it's a little impractical. Um, so it has been a long day.

The quilt will be absolutely beautiful. You should be proud!

[--Deb]

It looks great.

[Kate]

Beautiful, beautiful quilt!

[Dolce]

Every time I take a look in your blog I'm so impressed. The things you're making are so beautiful and the photos are gorgeous!

[Barbara George in South Carolina]

Another beautiful quilt! I agree with your reader's comment it is "like bringing your garden inside". Your combination of the color nuances is lovely.
We can hear the bee in the photo humming and we can "almost" smell the wonderful scent in the air coming from herbs and roses. The photography, as always, is so beautiful.
I am still in pursuit of the new camera. Canon cameras do offer nice choices.

[Steph]

I'm a new reader, and I love looking at the projects you make and the photos you take. (yes, that's a rhyme. lol) It's inspiring to me because I'm somewhat of a beginner in the craft world, and I love to see the projects that talented people, like you, are making.

[moni]

great pictures! The flowers and the butterfly shots are truly gorgeous!

Your quilt top is also amazing. I may pull out my sewing machine this weekend and work on mine...

[Christiane]

this quilt is so delicious looking, I'm in my autumn projects with dark and rather dull colours that I am fighting with myself :should I cut a little bit of that highly attractive and mouthwatering fruit fabric and join in making some delicious fabric strips? Perhaps after sewing the other things as a kind of reward :-)

[sheree (sheree's alchemy)]

That quilt-the colors--just perfect!! And your garden blooms are also lovely--just the right colors for that quilt for sure.

[amanda cathleen]

your quilt top is beautiful! The colors are wonderful. And I totally get messing up! The biggest reason I dislike sewing or quilting, its too easy for me to mess up

[Louise]

I have that plant too: Sunset Agastache, huh?
(Yes beautiful colors on the quilt & accompanying flowers. When you discover every secret your house has to offer to support your needs: you'll never want to move....)
Lastly: at a museum (Detroit Institute of Arts) display, oh, about 45 years ago, my mother read that the "Indians" made a mistake in their weaving - to 'let the devil out'.

[Terry]

Beautiful quilt top, beautiful flowers! I had to smile at "and chatting with my husband (who was giving me his most engaged uh huhs while staring at the PC" - sounds quite familiar :)

[Jolanda]

I love, love, love your choosen colours!

[Megan]

PLEASE finish that quilt...I am dying to see it. The colors make me so happy!

[Julia]

I do so love your color sense. I have none of it. Oh and the garden photography is stunning.

[Jody]

Your latest quilt is just gorgeous!

I love me some sock monkey fabric too!