Sunday, August 21, 2011

Excuses., Excuses...

You all know the sorry saga of how I left quilting the Flying Dutchman quilt until the last minute. I made a big song and dance publicly about having to do it all in a mere six  days. 6 days is a pretty tall order even for me, especially since I've cornered the market on avoidance lately. I'm seriously considering changing my blog name to Procrastinating in My Pyjamas. 


Straight up I'm going to confess I didn't touch it Wednesday or Thursday.

I ended up working all day Friday so I was shattered by the time I got home. Not so shattered that I couldn't make this though instead of doing what I was supposed to be doing. 4 days till deadline. Tick, Tock, Tick , Tock.


Saturday I planned to work on that quilt all day. Really. Miss P phoned at  10.15 am begging for help to move to her new house as  all  her friends had piked on helping her and she needed us to come with a trailer to pick up a "few" things. A few things turned out to be 3/4 of her house most of which was not yet packed. Three trips later with a cage trailer (and a lot of frenzied packing) and we finally got home at 6.15 last night. I was shattered. Not so shattered that I couldn't finish this though instead of what I was supposed to be doing. 3 days till deadline. Tick. Tick. Tick.


Today I woke to the certain knowledge that I had 41 hours to complete this quilt before D day. I was shattered. Not so shattered that I couldn't sit at the computer commenting on 30 blog posts and responding to about 20 emails this morning though. 

Finally at 9 am  I knew I could procrastinate no more....Nothing like a little bit of pressure to get your motivation going. And at 4.52pm I'm pretty sure I heard victory trumpets and angels singing to herald the finish of the quilting. I'm not showing it yet because it's the lint-iest quilt ever and I haven't brushed it down yet.


Now I just have to do the binding ...sigh...I hope your Sunday was full of crafty times. 




34 comments:

Kirsten said...

Some people need mor pressure than others...and I am very good at procrastinating..haven´t done anything but fix a tear in the quilt I just sold..

Anonymous said...

I can relate to everything you say here... Nothing like some last minute pressure! Good job for getting it done, and before it no less! (i would have probably been starting it then!) Xx
Ps do you have a dryer? Mine is pretty good at delinting. Although that's probably not the done thing with quilts- sorry if that suggestion gives anyone the horrors! Xx

Jennifer said...

Didn't have a crafty Sunday, but enjoyed it anyway......love the quilt, are you using Aurifil thread for the quilting?

Kritta22 said...

Oh yeah on getting it done!!!

Sara said...

Alas, no craft for me either. Woke up in a field, 3 hour drive home, shower and bed to catch up on some sleep. Slept through dinner and now I'm starving. But I have high hopes of doing a fair bit of quilting tomorrow, especially since I'm under no obligation to. That makes it so much easier.

thea said...

Well you finished it. that's what matters and look at all you got done while procrastinating on the fd. have a great week.

Pokey said...

Well, with the trumpets and angels, did a happy smile of completion creep onto that face of yours? I sure hope so. We would still turn out to read the "procrastination" blog, too. It's you, Shay, what's not to love??!?
:-}pokey

Larri said...

Oh dear. Nothing like a look at the clock and the stark realization that time actually keeps moving to get your rear in gear. Glad the quilting is finished. Remember when I emailed and said I was going to work on Flurry today? Well, it's almost noon and I've yet to get into the sewing room.

Good luck with the binding! Happy Sunday night! ☺

Kate said...

You had quite a crafty weekend. Congratulations on getting the Flying Dutchman quilted. You weren't procrastinating, you were mentally steeling yourself to deal with all the noise from the victory trumpets and angel singing (They can be quilte loud in those situations).

Love the hexies and the stitchery. Now what are you going to work on since FD is done?

Shevvy said...

See that is why I don't work to deadlines for my craft stuff - I would procrastinate right past them and stress out totally. Glad it is all over though.

Char said...

Hey, I have faith in you. I'm sure you'll skid right in on your bottom with 1 minute to spare. Just like I usually do!
I'm not getting much done lately either, daughter leaves for college on Friday.

AnnieO said...

Shattered is obviously a relative word at Chez Pajamas, lol! Glad you finally buckled down and got the dreaded quilting done--looks like it went fairly smoothly :)

Now get that binding finished before you get detention!

Anonymous said...

Well done! I'm like you, very good a procrastination and avoidance (why do we do it to ourselves?) I would be narked at having to de-lint it though - not a fun chore at all. I haven't done any crafting this Sunday and it feels rather wonderful - I've actually been shopping for clothes and came back with a bag full, cooked Sunday lunch and a Victoria sponge, picked my own spuds, weeded my onion bed (I know, thrilling stuff) and now I'm commenting on my favourite blogs :0) come on get that binding done and you can move onto the next deadline lol. ps shattered is a brilliant word, it's how I describe myself every night when 'tired' just doesn't so justice. A good old - I'm ab-so-lately shhhhatttered let's every one know just how hard I've been working ;0)

Marg said...

Yay you finished quilting it. I'm a procrastinator too, but unfortunately I always work better under pressure. It's not as much fun but it works.
A good wash and dry should get rid of the lint. Not at 1000 deg like you suggested though. It might end up a cot quilt and all one colour. Can't wait to see it bound and finished.
You go girl.
By the way how do you still manage to produce hexIes and stitcheries when you are shattered? Ooh and I almost forgot, woo hoo you made a hexagon flower, it looks awesome.

Canadian Abroad said...

Not a crafty moment in my Sunday but a great day - and far more relaxed then yours. So pleased that I am not the only person who procrastinates like a professional. You make me feel like I am not alone!

Rachaeldaisy said...

Way to go Shay!! You did it!! Woohoo!!

seabreezequilts said...

Serious avoidance there, you know I call last minute a week before it's due lol. That is very linty can see it on the black in the photo, what batting did you use? Love the hexigon's and the stitchery. I was going to have 4 blocks done of my next project this weekend but didn't get there, just finished cutting out all the applique and glueing down one so no stitching finished and not much to show... not that I have blogged this week.

Michelle Ridgway said...

Everytime 'have to' comes into the equasion 'can't' seems to follow rapidly for me. I hate having a deadline and I am always doing my pattern instructions at the last minute and then can't find the measurements and threads colours I so carefully put away when I did the projects....so yes when 'have to' appears I can be seen flying by the seat of my pants at the last minute.
Well done on you're 'getting down to business'

Susan Entwistle said...

Ah....as reigning Queen of Procrastination, I crown you the new Princess of Last Minute...welcome to the Kingdom! Looking forward to seeing the finished project.

Mindy said...

Here I am, your kindred spirit. I tend to wait to the very last moment, that's what it takes to motivate me!

Mistea said...

Fabulous excuses - lovely diversions. I didn't see anything here about the dog eating something it should not have.
Hope work is a little less hectic this week so that you can get that binding all done in time.

Elizabeth said...

Love that Hush-a-bye hexie and your 'tis the season block. And that peek of the Flying Dutchman is pretty awesome. Hope everything went well getting it finished and there was no need for swears. You are a seriously awesome aunt and I hope that NOP (nephew of pyjamas, right?) likes his quilt.

xo -E

P.S. Where did you get the variegated B&W thread?

Baa-Me Kniits said...

Nope no crafting here either. MIL fell over and hurt her hip. So lucky it didn't break but she has been in hospital for a few days to rest and stay off it. The boys have a school show this friday so it was practice and dress rehearsals all weekend. I did manage to dye another hank of wool. I was hoping to have some spun up for the markets this weekend but I am playing taxi for SIL this week to Cairns, don't think the spinning will get done unless I stay up really late.....I will have to see how shattered I am :-) Love that work! Good on you for getting things done, you are on the home straight now :-)

Kristie said...

I just KNEW my cheering would do the trick ;)

Razzle Dazzle Quilter said...

Oh my goodness, a bit of a process!I have to admit I too am a bit of a "high octane last minute" quilter. Nothing like a bit of self inflicted pressure to get the creative juices flowing! I'm sure I can feel the love flowing into this quilt.
Cheers
Linda

Leanne said...

I think we must be related LOL a little buy of pressure is always good.

Jindi's Cottage said...

Replace Flying Dutchman quilt with TAFE assignment and I can so relate...glad you meet your deadline, gives me hope I can meet mine!...if only the sewing room didn't keep holding me hostage and forcing me to play with fabric and thread, ha ha ha...

Keep Stitchin' said...

You always make me smile! Sometimes I do best when I put it off to the last minute, I have no idea why!

Brenda said...

Procrastinating in my Pyjamas - haahahahahahaha - you're the best!

Helsie said...

Oh Shay, you didn't fool me. I knew you'd make it. You have more energy that about 12 people I think !!
Anyhow well done ... AGAIN ! Tell me... do you wash all your quilts when you've finished them? The only ones I've made I haven't washed and they are not really cuddly.
Cheers
Helen

Paulette said...

Oh, you are goooooood! So glad you got it quilted--and look at your bonus projects besides!

Unknown said...

Oh lordy! I totally know what you mean about coffee. Not for me, but my friend Mary has, like you an addiction to coffee. Tim Horton's here in Canada is the country's addiction I kid you not. I drink one cup a day..but Mary would drink any kind, hot or cold...
I've been away and haven't even read blogs, so am catching up and find out that you procrastinate! Who doesn't eh? It puts me off! Really!
I'd rather read than do!
I also get up early in the morning. It's from having four kids in five years, that early time was mine...

Kirsten's Cooking said...

another weekend in which you weren't able to relax! I know you enjoy quilting, but I hope you weren't too stressed trying to get your quilt finished. I am a huge procrastinator. I wish I weren't, especially because I now have to tell my 13 yr old not to procrastinate!

Glad you got Miss P moved in - you're good parents, to come to her rescue!!!

Lisa said...

Why oh why do we do that to ourselves? So glad you got it finished, can't wait for pictures! Good job helping out your daughter, seems like those kind of things always come up when you're in a time crunch. I'm sure she's excited to be moved!