What I've been up to...

*blows dust off neglected blog*

Wow. Two months since my last post. I knew it had been a while, but I didn't realize it had been that long. I wanted to get a quick update up and continue blogging in the new year.

I know people have been wondering about the Early Morning Club because they've asked me. I made a conscious decision to discontinue it back in November. I began it thinking that it was an open-ended project that I would continue as long as it was a help and not a hindrance. After a few successful weeks, I began looking long-term and committing to it for a year. And for a while, the idea of the long-term commitment was helpful.

I loved the little hour or so I carved out for myself and my art every morning. It was a great way to start the day. Every morning I would wake up, create a little piece, place it in the stack with others, and continue my day. I made great gains in understanding my own preferred aesthetic and in learning new skills.

But as autumn deepened and my life got busier, I began resenting my morning commitment. There were other projects I wanted to work on and other UFOs I wanted to finish, but many weeks the only quilting I had time for were these little stand-alone pieces. The creative ideas my morning pieces inspired were left neglected because I just didn't have the time to work on them.

I actually have the last week of pieces that I never got to blogging about. Although I made them, my heart wasn't in it because I created them in a state of resentment. It was on that Sunday, when I usually would photograph and blog about the previous week's work, that I decided to discontinue the project and just focus on finishing projects.

In the two months since I have been busy with quilting projects for the shop and for myself. I finished designing, piecing, and binding 2008's Block of the Month. I finished two Christmas mystery tablerunners. I finished a large throw for my family room, finished a couple Christmas gifts, designed some fabulous journal covers, and finished several other UFOs. The idea was to finish projects and clear the decks, so to speak, for the New Year.

I've also begun rearranging my studio to make room for a large 7' x 8' permanent design wall. I've never thought that I've needed one because most of my art quilts are small. But my work in the Early Morning Club inspired me to work larger. Reorganizing my studio has lead to a bit of chaos at home. I've moved out large bookcases and a desk, leaving only the essentials: sewing table, cutting table, drawing table, a single bookcase, and fabric storage.

I'm quite excited moving into the New Year. I've whittled down my UFOs to just a few. I've designed a more functional and less cluttered studio. I have a stack of morning pieces to inspire. I'm ready to focus on my work and apply the lessons I've learned.