Enjoying the Process

You would think as far behind on the two graduation quilts as I am, that I would be rushing to finish them....that is my modus operandi.
Instead, I have slowed the pace down and am enjoying the process of actually making the quilts. What a concept, right?!

{Disclaimer:  random unrelated photos because can't have a post without pictures ;-) }

Organized piles from cutting session

Don't get me wrong....part of me would love to zip quickly through these quilts and move on to the numerous other quilts screaming in my head to get out....but for today (and for as many other days as I can stand to) I am happy to thrill in the pondering over layouts and see the Shining Star quilt take shape....delight in honing my quarter-inch-seam-stitching skills when piecing the Shoofly Blocks....daydream of idyllic days spent on the beach watching the not-then-high-school-graduates-but-four-year-old-cousins build sandcastles....plan future quilts with the fabric scraps from these two graduation quilt projects....

Selvages saved

 Although all this "enjoying the process" will delay their gifts, I hope my son (Shining Star) and niece (yet to be named Shoofly quilt) will feel and appreciate the love and time that has gone and will go into these quilts....if not now, then maybe when they are older.  If not, that's OK because I am...feeling the love that is ;-)

LOVE fabric for future project

 I realize this should not be an "Aha" moment or an unique experience for me......this should be what quilting is all about...and it is....it's just sometimes I need to remind myself to stop and smell the roses enjoy the process!!!

Adorable quilty bird gift from a wonderful quilty friend!

Quilting is also about making and spending time with quilty friends.
This week I met with quilty friends (bearing gifts no less) at an impromptu sew-in and spent a couple of fun hours sitting, chatting, binding, cutting fabric, and discussing current trends/scandals/drama in the quilt world;
tomorrow I'll enjoy more quilty friend time at OMQG's Sew Day;
and in three weeks I'll reconnect with quilty friends (sans three) made last year, meet (and dare I say...make) a few more quilty friends, and see my sister at Gruber's quilt retreat!

{I'm finishing this post at my hairdresser's...don't you just love technology!}

Hope you have the opportunity this weekend to stop and enjoy the process too!