Process Tip: Dealing with Distraction

Has this happened to you?

It started innocently enough. I have a new placemat pattern I'm working on and decided I needed to get quilting them. Last weekend my husband and I moved a big desk down into my quilting space and today I used it. It's wonderfully big - there's easily enough room for a 24 x 36 inch cutting mat. This morning it's a waiting station for the placemat backs. 

I bought this orange fabric to use as binding for my Halloween 1904 quilt. Recently I realized that the orange would not go well with the chocolate 3 Sisters fabrics I am using for the back. So now this fabric is up for grabs again and I decided it would go great with these new placemats - you'll see next week so you can let me know if I'm right!!



Okay. So here comes the distraction.

Cutting the orange fabric for the back made 2 leftover cuts. There's lots more of the orange, but it will now get to go into my stash. My brain started wondering what to do with the cuts? 
I could cut them down into units for Little Wishes blocks.
I could just fold them and put them with the larger piece into my stash.

THEN I remembered this panel! I think I bought it 2 years ago at my local quilt shop. It came in a kit to make a bag - which I promptly took apart and used the other fabrics for other things! 

I've never made anything from a panel (that I can remember) in my almost 20 years of quilting. Really. I kept this panel because of the cats and the green and the cute use of candy corns. 

My orange fabric looks good with it. I could make it into a bag or a banner for Halloween.
Then I remembered the little mini charm pack I just picked up at the quilt shop. Reel Time by Zen Chic. 

Hey! I think I just made my own kit:)

Now I'm already working on placemats today, but I took a moment to take apart the mini charms to see if the fabrics liked hanging out with the black kitty cats. They did! They did! But look - there's BLUE in there too?! hmmmmmm.

Can you tell I'm distracted by this possible project?


Here's my tip for Dealing with Distraction when it comes to a new project - or anything really:

Make a Decision


It really can be that simple. Make a choice - do I want to invest time into this project right now? All the other head noise/chatter/excuses won't stop until you make a decision. Then stand by it and enjoy the outcome, whether that means you start a new project and enjoy it or you pass on it and continue doing something else that is already bringing you joy.

The decision is yours to make.

Once I realized that I could make a Decision instead of staying Distracted, I felt a lot better!


What do you think I decided? What would you decide?


With Joy,

Sarah V

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Kids Create Joy Too

BOO to You and Yours today! 

We had lots of fun around here this weekend, especially carving our pumpkins last night.

 My daughter worked at my sewing machine on her quilt.
You can read her post about it here.

 My son, with his box and Picasso Pumpkin hat, on his way out to the garage with daddy and some paint.

 Hours of Fun! And a painted box which he can fit inside of and try to scare us - if his giggles don't give him away:)

Here's a witchy quilt for today. It was made by Vickie who subscribes to my blog through Feedburner. Her completed quilt won the People's Choice Award at a quilt walk in Lynden, WA. Vickie drives truck and her email tag line is "Life Needs More Green Lights".  I think Vickie needs a blog!! {wink wink nudge nudge!} Thanks for letting me share this treat, Vickie!

I'm home today and should be doing some blanket stitching.

I'll get back to it now, after I remind you that

the SALE ends tonight at my Etsy Store. 

Use the code: 100sewjoyers to get 50% off my patterns.

With Joy,

Sarah Vee

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