Saturday, September 25, 2010

I Am A Wonky WIP


This is a WIP.

When I first discovered quilting blogs, I also discovered quilting lingo. I learned two terms that are now integral to my life as an amateur quilter: WIP and Wonky.

This is a square of the Get Well Quilt that Maria and I designed the day she stayed home from school with a cold. We had charm packs that we threw on the ground and then we just played at making patterns and matching colors, considered prints sizes, and generally explored all of our options. It was fun. And it took some patience and cooperation on both our parts. We did not settle on the final pattern until both of us creative, opinionated designers reached consensus.

Then we began machine piecing. Maria helps with pins, and counting, and snipping threads. And I was trying for perfect, by measuring, measuring, measuring, and making my straightest seams.

A WIP is a Work in Progress, and I have loads of them. My life is a WIP. My mind and heart are WIPs. I have three quilt WIPS... they really deserve to be finished. So, the other day when the sewing bug bit, I went straight for this latest WIP with the earnest intention to make big progress on it. And I was really pleased with my diligent, dedicated, perfection seeking advancements.


Half way done with piecing?
Not.

This is the point at which I was really feeling grand. Think of how thoughtfully we had planned our random patchwork layout, think of how careful I was to measure twice-cut once, think of squaring squares, and lining up seams...

Hold on!
What the?!
That's impossible!
(Think of Luke, gobsmacked, upon hearing from his dear ol'dad:
* Darth Vader: No. I am your father.
* Luke Skywalker: No... that's not true! That's impossible!
* Darth Vader: Search your feelings. You know it to be true.
* Luke Skywalker: NOOOOOOOOO! NOOOOOOOO!"
)


Only it was more like this:
*Quilt: Yes. I am your wonky quilt.
*Me: No... that's not true! That's impossible (blubbering, and grimace faced)
*Quilt: Search your feelings. You know this to be true.
*Me: Noooooooo! Nooooooooo!



It is true. This is my Wonky quilt WIP. I have already hauled out my seam ripper, a tool I am extremely adept with. I have some hope of getting the seams to line up a little better the second, maybe third, time around. I will keep trying.

My quilt and I will eventually reconcile, because really is there such a thing as perfect? I was still grimacing and blubbering about my so called failure, when I found this blog post. And if you have ever hoped for perfection, or admired perfection, believed in perfection, or suffered lack of perfection, like me, you might find this blog post helpful, reassuring, and heartbreaking too.

And now I am going to wash some dishes, because the kitchen is a huge mess. I am glad it is messy, not because I like it messy, but because it reminds me that we were busy playing with friends, and having a wonderful time eating a delicious dinner, carving pumpkins, and making fantastic plans. It feels good to Be Real. I am a Wonky WIP.

7 comments:

judy in ky said...

You have given me a definition for my life... it's a WIP! I also have an enduring relationship with my seam ripper.

judy in ky said...

After my comment, I went back and read the "perfection" blog post. It was wonderful! I have given up trying to be perfect years ago, but it had a lot of good reminders in it. I think I will print it out so I can read it from time to time. I'm glad you pointed us to it.

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Judy you are a dear and precious WIP, like a work of art.

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

I am glad you read it... I found it super compelling, so true. It breaks my heart to read or hear about someone suffering for things that are not really so bad, or that any of us might sympathize about. I know I beat myself often and rigorously, and it never helps... so, yikes! I really need to be reminded!

Rois said...

I want a bumper sticker that reads "I am a Wonky WIP" Oh good god am I!
Natalie I know you read my ten things post one of the things I left out is I have these "Perfection Storms" that I have to keep myself from let happen because all perfection dose is make one madly insane in the end.
And really in the end dose it matter the dishes need washing and the floor needs mopping? No,not really.Why? Because I am a Wonky WIP.

tara said...

Great title. And a great quilt.
I feel like a wonkly WI. Shoot, my letter is still not working. Wonky keyboard

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Rois... Perfection Storms blow in here, and it ain't pretty.

Tara... lol, those P's!