I’m just catching up on a months worth of emails (consigned to the ‘do it tomorrow’ list ) and have just ticked everything on the ‘inevitabilities’ list ! Except it’s not a kettlebell it’s weights and it’s Tuesday and Thursday mornings…. 😂
I too have so much in common and operate so much like you. Unlike you I came pretty late to art quilting. actually in my 70’s after a foray into weaving and traditional quilting. I also combine a lot of stitchery with my art work. I am a collector and stasher of everything that can possibly add to my stuff. I am 89 now and have started the process of decluttering.I wish I had seriously reflected over the years about the aging process, the knowledge that I have limited time on this earth and to seriously stop buying books and stuff . I am now drowning in an ocean of lovely hand dyes. rust dyes, painted fabric and bits and pieces that I will never ever use and nobody really wants, they are silently drowning too. I don’t want my kids to have to deal with all this stuff. I wish I had thought earlier that my life was one day going to end, could be tomorrow but I was /am so addicted to what I am creating. I have been listening recently to younger quilters talking about helping to clean out studios of older quilters who have died and had never gotten around doing any real decluttering. I think this is worth a lot of study. Are there any books or articles out there looking at this problem of art/textile quilters.?
Hello Marilyn, thank you for reading and for commenting - another kindred spirit! It’s so difficult, isn’t it? We’re creative beings, we can see the potential in all sorts of things, we love creating beautiful things…but life is finite, there will come an end point. It’s certainly a salutary experience, clearing out someone else’s workspace. I’ve helped to do it myself, for someone who is still ‘here’ but ‘not here’ if you catch my drift? So sad, seeing and recognising materials bought for certain workshops that were either not started, or only half. The quantity was quite staggering, and the pressure was certainly on to find good homes for things, as otherwise the family had a skip waiting outside on the drive. But what have I done with the threads that I rescued? Erm…the machine ones have been used, but certainly not all. And the hand embroidery threads I’ll never ever use up, as it’s not my main focus. But now they have a home in my own desk drawers. My daughter said the other day ‘is this all to look forward to’ when I was rummaging in my cupboard for something for her. That definitely brought me up short! I wouldn’t wish it on her, sorting through all my nonsense. So I’m afraid I don’t know the answer, but it’s something I’m thinking about more and more these days. When you’re young, you can’t imagine an end point, even when experiencing bereavement. But things definitely change post-50 when physically you don’t feel quite the spring chicken any more! If I come across something in my travels, I’ll be sure to pass it on - it’s up on the radar now. Thanks again for reading.
Interesting! And nope, according to the last time I did it, you’re 75% wrong 😂 but like I say - I think I know myself better now. I might have to find a freebie type test and try again!
I’m just catching up on a months worth of emails (consigned to the ‘do it tomorrow’ list ) and have just ticked everything on the ‘inevitabilities’ list ! Except it’s not a kettlebell it’s weights and it’s Tuesday and Thursday mornings…. 😂
Perfect!! I should really do something weighty mid-week too, but…
I too have so much in common and operate so much like you. Unlike you I came pretty late to art quilting. actually in my 70’s after a foray into weaving and traditional quilting. I also combine a lot of stitchery with my art work. I am a collector and stasher of everything that can possibly add to my stuff. I am 89 now and have started the process of decluttering.I wish I had seriously reflected over the years about the aging process, the knowledge that I have limited time on this earth and to seriously stop buying books and stuff . I am now drowning in an ocean of lovely hand dyes. rust dyes, painted fabric and bits and pieces that I will never ever use and nobody really wants, they are silently drowning too. I don’t want my kids to have to deal with all this stuff. I wish I had thought earlier that my life was one day going to end, could be tomorrow but I was /am so addicted to what I am creating. I have been listening recently to younger quilters talking about helping to clean out studios of older quilters who have died and had never gotten around doing any real decluttering. I think this is worth a lot of study. Are there any books or articles out there looking at this problem of art/textile quilters.?
Hello Marilyn, thank you for reading and for commenting - another kindred spirit! It’s so difficult, isn’t it? We’re creative beings, we can see the potential in all sorts of things, we love creating beautiful things…but life is finite, there will come an end point. It’s certainly a salutary experience, clearing out someone else’s workspace. I’ve helped to do it myself, for someone who is still ‘here’ but ‘not here’ if you catch my drift? So sad, seeing and recognising materials bought for certain workshops that were either not started, or only half. The quantity was quite staggering, and the pressure was certainly on to find good homes for things, as otherwise the family had a skip waiting outside on the drive. But what have I done with the threads that I rescued? Erm…the machine ones have been used, but certainly not all. And the hand embroidery threads I’ll never ever use up, as it’s not my main focus. But now they have a home in my own desk drawers. My daughter said the other day ‘is this all to look forward to’ when I was rummaging in my cupboard for something for her. That definitely brought me up short! I wouldn’t wish it on her, sorting through all my nonsense. So I’m afraid I don’t know the answer, but it’s something I’m thinking about more and more these days. When you’re young, you can’t imagine an end point, even when experiencing bereavement. But things definitely change post-50 when physically you don’t feel quite the spring chicken any more! If I come across something in my travels, I’ll be sure to pass it on - it’s up on the radar now. Thanks again for reading.
Your thoughts are so me! Makes me think not alone in this world. Myers’s Briggs are you ENFP?
Interesting! And nope, according to the last time I did it, you’re 75% wrong 😂 but like I say - I think I know myself better now. I might have to find a freebie type test and try again!