I was "talking" to Terri over at QuiltNCards via email a couple of weeks ago about free motion quilting and my almost pathological aversion to it. She confessed she suffers from a similar malady , and I chucked out the idea that we should provide each other with moral support by doing FM together. The logistics of this are intrinsically difficult since she lives in the Northern Hemisphere and I live at the bottom of the Southern Hemisphere but I'm all about solutions and solving problems. There is a way around just about everything if you think hard enough.
A bit of background for you all: I tried FM once on a practice piece ably mentored by Kris who probably wanted to put her hands around my throat several times during the process and squeeze really hard. To her credit she was really patient considering how badly I sucked at it, and I kept telling myself I sucked at it, and in moments when I wasn't kicking my own arse (why do I do that?) I vowed to practice, practice, and practice in the hope that one day I would be good enough to attempt a whole quilt. Since then, which was about three years ago, I've practiced once more and then gave it away as something I was probably never going to be able to do. There was probably swearing involved and possibly some tears. And over time I totally convinced myself I was a dumbarse at free motion quilting (and zips and the being a functional human being thing and a whole range of other things we don't need to speak about here) and just accepted that I was forever doomed to only quilt in straight lines or get other talented people to make my quilts pretty.
A bit more email discussion ensued between Terri and myself and we decided to pick a day and give it a crack. That day is tomorrow! Im going to fortify myself with chocolate and courage (and probably vodka ) and do it on an actual quilt.
This quilt ....because if I'm going to do this Im not going to muck around any longer. I'm going straight for gold. Because I'm actually not a dumbarse and I can do anything I set my mind to.
To mark this auspicious occasion Terri and I are going to do a giveaway each. Leave a comment on either of our FM posts (this one, Terri's and the ones we're each planning to write after our joint sewing day with our hilarious results , assuming we are still alive)and you can go into the draw to win fabulous prizes. I still haven't worked out exactly what my prize is yet (but it will be fabulous) and I'm thinking it will include some lovely bright assorted fabrics so you can make your own orange peel quilt, or postage stamp quilt or whatever else you might fancy, and I'll chuck in some notions and other bits and pieces to round it out. There may also be chocolate involved. And we'll announce our winners on Sunday.
I'm seriously contemplating taking video of my effort so I can educate you all with some new swear words. Wish me luck !
PS. In your comment feel free to leave your suggestions for swear words I may not have heard yet , cocktails, FM quilting tips or commiserations.
