What is good enough?

I have mentioned how hard my creative life was in 2025. There was one reason for that…..

I had looked back at 2024, seeing three quilts in major shows and then a BOS ribbon early in 2025, and I had decided that whatever I did HAD TO BE show quality. Something special and technically accurate.

I planned quilts, thinking that I had to make them show-worthy. Not because the quilt needed that level of precision, but because I told myself it was required.

Somewhere along the way, the pressure to make it “good enough” turned into pressure to make it perfect. And putting that kind of pressure on myself took all the fun out of creating!

But, making a simple scrap quilt in December helped me realize what I was doing to myself….

….and how I was missing out on creative fun!!

I have slowly learned that choosing a simpler standard doesn’t mean lowering my skills. It simply means using them wisely.

Do you have preconceived notions about your quilts, and should you let some of those notions go away?

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“Let’s Get Scrappy is about how to decide, not about what to make.”

Let’s Get Scrappy is an on-demand online course that helps quilters overcome decision fatigue and finally make sense of their overflowing scrap bins. With four hours of step-by-step video instruction, you’ll learn simple systems for organizing, piecing, and pressing your scraps—so you can stop overthinking and start sewing beautiful, coordinated quilts with confidence and joy.

The worth of a toothpick…

Did you know that a wooden toothpick is a great tool for hand applique?

You know that time when you just CAN’T get a bit of fabric to fold under properly?

Next time, grab a wooden toothpick, moisten it slightly in your mouth, and use it to push the fabric into place.

When the toothpick is wet, the wood fibers become rough, allowing it to grab hold of the fabric.

Good to know…

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Creativity is the Word of the Day

My friend, Deb Messina, has a wonderful quilting website and shop called “Quiltblox”……

Click on this logo to visit her website….

This year, she has presented the “Quiltblox Twelve Days of Christmas”, and Day 3 was all about CREATIVITY!!

She provides a beautiful description of creativity and gives suggestions for getting out of your creative funk! (I REALLY need this)

Check it out here…..

CLICK HERE TO READ THE POST

I appreciate this paragraph in particular……

The word “creativity” is born in wonder. It begins the moment we see color and texture and imagine what could be. It’s rooted in play — that joyful part of ourselves that never stopped loving crayons, patterns, and possibility.

Thank you Deb for sharing your sweet thoughts with the world!

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On Tuesdays, I provide a tip, technique, or product review. Please subscribe to the blog to ensure that you don’t miss ANY of them!!

Focus Frances….Focus

You know how you are having fun creating your binding, and then something like this happens…..

Then you work a little bit longer and IT HAPPENS AGAIN!!

Oy vey…..

Maybe I need to concentrate a BIT harder!!

At least I had the great idea to wind the binding onto a pool noodle to wait for the quilt to be finished.

I am finding that this is a great way to store those LONG strips…..

The only problem will be if I can remember where I put it when the time comes!

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On Tuesdays, I provide a tip, technique, or product review. Please subscribe to the blog to ensure that you don’t miss ANY of them!!