IN THE KNOW
Sometimes the most progress is made from the comfort of a cosy nest of quilts… Suzy Williams is armed with ways to make the most of your time without moving a muscle
Sometimes the most progress is made from the comfort of a cosy nest of quilts… Suzy Williams is armed with ways to make the most of your time without moving a muscle
Where I live, this time of year the days are short, my walks with Scrappy are extremely cold and overall productivity is at an all-time low. This season is my time to fill up on all of the cosy foods and warm myself underneath the stacks of quilts I spent last year sewing especially for this moment.
But, when you’re cuddled up wearing two pairs of stretch leggings and fur-lined slippers, it can be a challenge to sew. Honestly, it can be a challenge to just get out of bed, so sewing really gets kicked down the priority list. I have a trick though, my fellow quilters. It’s even a trick you can mostly do from bed (you’re already sold, I can tell).
Quilt plan. This is the time of year to hatch plans for all of the wonderful things you’re going to make in the future and you don’t even have to sit at a sewing machine to do it! You can force your husband/child/friend/ neighbour to build you a fire and concoct your grandiose quilt plans while curled up a fat quarter's distance from the hearth… Plans = Lists = Success = Rewards.
Phase 1: Make the plans
According to my quilt equation, plans end up equaling rewards. I’m a believer in rewarding oneself as often and as lavishly as possible. So know that whatever “work” you do in this phase, you’ll be rewarded nicely for it. But first, we must plan.
If there was a hard part to my “being productive while snuggling in bed” trick, it would be Phase 1, the actual planning. In this phase I’m going to take you on a journey. A visualisation journey. Lean back against those soft pillows, place a pad of paper and pen next to you, relax your legs, arms and jaw (I don’t know why you should relax your jaw, but my yoga teachers always tell me to do that. Maybe I’m a jaw clencher. Don’t be a jaw clencher).
Think about all of the people in your life that you love. Granny B for giving the best hugs, Aunt Judy for always liking your Instagram posts, your next door neighbour, Jen, for keeping it quiet and lending you eggs in a baking emergency.
Is your heart full of love and gratitude? Perfect. As you come up with names, start writing them down on your pad of paper. Don’t worry about keeping things in order. You can actually just scribble names down in all directions at this point.
Once you have a handful of names, close your eyes again. No peeking. Oh, and relax that jaw. I want you to think about three things: 1. A quilty project you have made before that was a lot of fun. 2. A quilt pattern
This is the time of year to hatch plans for all the wonderful things you're going to make in the future, and you don't even have to sit at a sewing machine!
you have recently seen and want to try. 3. A technique you don’t know how to do. That’s it. Now you’re ready for Phase 2...
Phase 2: Turn those plans into lists
Phase 2 is simply organising your scribbles from Phase 1. The key here is to keep all of that fuzzy love and gratitude in your heart and NOT let any sense of timeline, deadlines or anxiety creep into your head. If at any point you look at your list of people and think, “Oh dear, I better scramble out of bed and get busy!” You’re missing a key element of this trick. I’m helping you to be productive while snuggling in bed. Keep those covers pulled up and stay relaxed. You can get up in Phase 4.
With each person on your list in mind, think about their home, personality and, ahum, how much you love them. Do you full-size-throw-quilt love them? Or small-tote-bag love them? Maybe Granny B has been complaining about a cold teapot for the past year. Looks like the new technique you’re going to learn is how to make a quilted teapot cosy!
Phase 3: Success!
Congrats! You did it! You successfully did months of planning while nestled snugly in the comfort of a pile of quilts. By Phase 3, not only have you spread loving, positive thoughts out into the world, you have also created a concrete list of people who will be getting quilts and an idea of what those quilts will be.
Phase 4: Give yourself a reward
Treat yourself! Although you may not feel like you worked hard, you got a lot accomplished. It’s time to give yourself a reward. Maybe a nap? Or a show on Netflix? If you ask me I’d grab a cookie, then watch some Netflix, then take a nap. Technically three rewards, but we earned it.
Keep tha fuzzy love and gratitude in your heart and don't let any sense of deadlines and anxiety creep into your head SUZY QUILTS