One Thing Different

For years, I've lived with this "What if it isn't perfect?" approach to things in life. As I've posted before, "Perfection is the enemy of the good" particularly when perfection stops you from exploring aspects of something you'd like to do. And so it is with applique. 


I've made one quilt with four hand-appliqued blocks. It was a nice top, nothing terrifically special, but I soldiered through and finished it. I presented it to a friend for Christmas who was over-the-moon about it. Funny how we see things through such different lenses. 


I've spent considerable time in the last week scouring the Web for art work to build my own applique design. My dear friend, Lori, suggested that I use these little Renoir reproductions (printed on fabric) to make an art gallery scene. Love the idea, but this is APPLIQUE! "Run away, run away!" that little voice in my head screams. 


Deciding that the "one thing different" principle has a nice resting place with this situation, I took the first step: I made the pattern! Won't go into details of exactly how I did this (does tracing from royalty-free artwork sound familiar?). The pattern looks silly right now, but I have sworn to myself I will try this, even if it takes me a year to finish it.


This morning over coffee and staring at my pattern, I decided - on my own, BTW - that I would need to use the cutaway method for the larger pieces. How did I know to do that? Read it somewhere in the past and it stuck, I guess. Funny how the brain stores this information for the future and then delivers it in your lap when you need it. I like that, Ms. Brain. Thanks much!


I laughed at my crude attempt, but this is the creative process in action. I know the lettering on the awning is way too large, but that's a minor point. What matters is that I did "one thing different" and didn't let perfection stand in the way of creativity. That's huge!

Now for clogging news. I've been invited - or recruited - to join a clogging team. Check out www.traveling-shoes.com to see these women in action. I'm so excited about joining them. I had to miss my first practice :( with them as I needed an "emergency" root canal, which is now 50% complete. Still more to go in two weeks. I was very disappointed to miss dancing with them. They are wonderful cloggers. I will have to step up my garage practice to learn new steps. 


I'm off to clogging today! Yay! 

As for skating, my new Klingbeil boots (yes, this is a second pair, after my SP-Teri's didn't work out for me) are heavenly. Best pair I have had as long as I've been skating. Wore them two hours the first day I put them on. That's amazing! 


Focusing on my Free Dance 6 program with Coach Chris. Yesterday, we were doing back three's - with my leg wrapped around one of his - in waltz position. First time, I told him, "No way can I do this!" One of the things I love about Coach C is he doesn't let me off the hook. By the third try, I was getting the hang of it. This is a very tango like element, which it needs to be as the program is to tango music. The program is definitely forcing me to get out of my skating comfort zone. It is difficult and well beyond where I have been skating. I figure it's a year in the making, but as my dearest skating buddy/friend, Janet, says "There's no rush." Only Father Time tapping me on the shoulder, leering and noting, "Hello, Missy. Coming up on another birthday next month!" I have set a goal to have this program tested by December 2011. That's reasonable. 


Clog, skate and quilt on!