Crafting Stress
One of the main reasons that I craft is that I think it’s relaxing. Trust me when I say that the very last thing on earth that I need is more stress in my life, more pressure to do things and do them right, more obligations or deadlines. In fact, I’d bet that not a single person reading this needs any more of any of those things. At all. Ever. Still, there’s plenty of all that junk in life from many sources, and I choose to deal with it by having outlets: sewing, reading, crochet, and cooking being the primary ones, with travel not too far behind.
It’s also why I tend to avoid projects that create stress. Last week, though, I happened upon one that just drove me up the wall: my Christmas tree skirt.
The skirt is pieced and quilted (stitch-in-the-ditch style) in blue and green fabrics. I did all right through part of it – basting, even the quilting. It turned out to not look bad at all. See? It’s my tree –> . It’s a pretty tree. It has lots of ribbon and there’s the skirt down there at the bottom. Never mind that it’s sort of the wrong size now because I have to keep the tree up off the floor due to the depredations of a Certain Cat. Hey, I never expected it would do double duty as a tablecloth!
But when it came to putting on the borders turned out to be too much for me. I got mad. I wanted to throw things. I desperately wanted to find a trash can and not look at it ever again. Nevertheless, I persevered, because one thing I am not is a quitter. Also, I can’t throw things away.
The main problem was that I started this project eight years ago. It’s hard for me to continue those kinds of projects, and I really should learn to just let them go and turn whatever progress I’ve made into something new. Or maybe – and here’s a novel concept – I should finish them faster!! But the fact remains that after a few years or even months, whatever inspiration I once had for a project is gone. And if it’s something for my house it’s likely I’ve changed decorating colors anyway. Plus, my skill level does increase, which means the challenges 8 years ago are probably going to bore me to tears today.
Anyway, I gritted my teeth through it and finished it, so at least it will NOT be hanging around for a NINTH year. Good lord, sometimes I really wish I didn’t like Christmas decorations, because although I think I will like making them, they do often cause a bit more stress than I should really add into my crafting area.
Y’all ever head into stress territory with your projects? Things you just can’t stand after a while, even though you might have once loved them?
