Five on Friday - the undecided crafter edition


I am in a more positive frame of mind this week. Thanks for your kind thoughts and personal emails. Life is really not that bad, sometimes it just feels like it. It seems to be rushing past me at break neck speed.

On to Five on Friday, hosted by Amy.

Do you sometimes feel paralysed when faced with too much choice? I do. Sometimes I am frozen at my desk at work, staring at a long long list of things to do, unable to decide where to start. Sometimes it is the laundry basket five Ikea bags full of clothes that beckon me to dive in and start folding, competing with the need to clean windows, wash the floors and catch the dust bunnies. You can all guess what happens. Just now I can't make up my mind about my next craft project. I am so undecided that I have made nothing crafty at all since Sunday. This is a long stretch for someone with an unstoppable urge to make stuff. Here are the things I want to make, maybe you can help me decide.

One. A new quilt, using the fabric above, and some more. The pile on the left is of unknown origin, the pile on the right is Anna Maria Horners True Colours 2016 collection. All 20 fabrics, I am so exited. I love this fabric designer but here in the UK, a full collection is hard to come by and unaffordable but I found this stack on Etsy, shipped from the US. I ordered it for my birthday and it arrived just today.


find pattern here
Two. A new Zsalya top. I made one last year and I like it a lot although I think it might be more feminine with a drapey fabric (I used quilting cotton). I have several fabric options in my stash. The pattern is forgiving and I didn't make any adjustments for the first version.










find the pattern here
Three. A knitted Polaris jumper, designed by Hiroku Fukatso. I have a mustard yellow alpaca yarn in my stash that cries out to be a Polaris. I can hear it, slightly muffled by the plastic box it is stored in.








find the pattern here
Four. A Mojave kaftan. I fancy something a bit longer and this kaftan is just perfect. I imagine wearing it poolside when we go to Switzerland in July. If I get it done that is. I have a feeling it might have to make a bust adjustment and I should probably make a toile to find out. This means a trip to Ikea because they sell the cheapest calico in town, £2 per metre.









Five. Lemon meringue pie soap. I finally have all the ingredients, it only took one month. I had ordered a lemon scent and two other scents back in April on Ebay. These never arrived. I have contacted the seller, who was not particularly helpful and I have tried to get my money back through the Ebay money back guarantee but unfortunately the tracking information claims it has been delivered. Not to my house it hasn't, nor to my neighbours or any of the usual 'safe' places. I am now £18 poorer. This isn't much on the grand scheme of things but I am cross with the world and all. I have gone back to my favourite soap supplier, The Soap Kitchen but paid more for less. At least the order arrived.

My creative hands are not completely idle. I have been practising different types of bust adjustments, which no doubt will come in handy one day. But this doesn't feel creative and is more of a displacement activity than a real joy. It is also homework for my fitting class. Lets be honest, full bust adjustments are tedious, even in a barbie sized format for my fitting class folder.

So, what should I start with? Lucky dip with projects written on a piece of paper? In alphabetical order? Any help would be appreciated. Have a lovely weekend! xx


Comments

  1. Penny20 May 2016 at 07:16

    I would hands down choose to quilt, but then I don't have ypur dressmaking skills! That Anna Maria Horner fabric is beautiful. I recognise that slight paraysis when faced with too much choice, or too many tasks. Usually I start with the thing that is bothering me the most. Unless it is ironing, which bothers me the most, but which I loathe doing. X

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  2. Jo20 May 2016 at 07:56

    Oh no my friend, you can enjoy looking at those lovely fabrics a while longer while they are in piles, quilting is a winter job and knitting too. You need to be making a zsalya top first because you are comfy with that one that it fits and you can whizz it up. Then you need to go for the Kaftan (I use an old duvet cover for making a toile, it moves more like dress fabric) As you can tell my crafting is seasonal. I do stuff in 'weather order!'- make the things you will need when that lovely sunny day comes along. I have fell foul to making a sundress on a sunny day and then it was ages before I could wear it because I had wasted the day inside! Jo

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  3. mamasmercantile20 May 2016 at 08:16

    I am pleased to hear you are feeling a little better and in a better frame of mind. The fabrics are amazing for the quilt, I am not sure I would have the will power to leave that alone. Soap would be my first port of call, disappointing about EBay, puts you off doesn't it. I struggle with ordering online and tend to either get one of my daughters to do it when they are home or go out for it. Good luck with whatever you decide.

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  4. Coastal Ripples20 May 2016 at 09:22

    Oh so many choices. I love the quilt fabrics but if it were me that pretty jumper definitely beckons. In fact I may have to have a quick peek at the pattern myself! Have a brilliant weekend :) B x

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  5. riitta k20 May 2016 at 09:45

    What a colorful choice of fabrics you have! I admire all persons who sew, crochet, knit etc. I'm not one of them :) Happy weekend!

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  6. The History Anorak20 May 2016 at 10:22

    Soap! But I'm a sucker for lemon meringue anything. :)

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  7. Lisa from @intotheglade20 May 2016 at 13:27

    I love the quilt and top but I would probably choose the Lemon Meringue soap because it sounds gorgeous. I know exactly how you feel about there being too many choices and time racing away. I hope you manage to have a rest this weekend, take care xx

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  8. eclectichomelife20 May 2016 at 13:46

    you should not have asked us as we are all suggested different things, how typical. I would go for the knitted jumper as you can hear the yarn from within the box, it's calling to be used. Glad you are feeling a tad better. I think we live in a world where there is too much choice on a day to day basis too.

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  9. Mac n' Janet20 May 2016 at 15:31

    I would sew and make soap, save quilting for this fall.

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  10. Rosie20 May 2016 at 18:51

    I know what you mean about wondering what to do first and feeling unable to do anything. I love the idea of the soap, that sounds wonderful:)

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  11. Amy at love made my home20 May 2016 at 19:06

    Your new fabrics are beautiful! Enjoy making your quilt. As for what to do next, I totally get it! Too many options sometimes!! I need to get the sewing machine out and do loads of things, but I keep getting sidetracked by my crochet hooks... Hope the soap making goes well, so annoying about that company, but I am glad your old favourite came through for you. Thank you for taking part in Five On Friday, I hope you have a good weekend!

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  12. Anonymous20 May 2016 at 21:25

    I am indecisive too, and end up making the same thing over and over. I think the kaftan should be first, ready for your holiday. All lovely projects though. Love the sound of the top too! Enjoy!

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  13. Meredith20 May 2016 at 21:39

    I vote for the top and dress first then the knitting which I feel is entirely a year round sport and think of all the wear you will get out of that sweater!
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  14. Crimson Kettle20 May 2016 at 22:47

    I'd probably go for the quilt as I wouldn't be able to resist all the colourful material. Good to have so many ideas though. :-)

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  15. Sharon21 May 2016 at 01:57

    I say a quilt as those fabrics are just wonderful! I find myself overwhelmed at times and sometimes I just have to break things down into lists for each day. If I see something written in front of me I'm more likely to do it rather than forgetting or getting distracted with something else.

    Have a great weekend!

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  16. doodles n daydreams21 May 2016 at 04:11

    I'd make the soap and fill the house with delicious smells. You certainly have a nice selection to pick from.

    Diana

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  17. Tammy@T's Daily Treasures21 May 2016 at 06:14

    We all go through ho hum stages. Sometimes it is better to just be and do a whole lot of nothing. I like to work on simple projects in between bigger ones to keep me going. Good luck choosing!

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  18. Sarah 21 May 2016 at 10:11

    Tell me about displacement activity Christina. My mind is all over the place at the moment. But on the really rainy day this week, when cycling was out of the question, I called in at my local yarn shop and bought three skeins of Mrs Moon Plump DK and am really hoping now the crisis(!) cross stitch and mini-hexie 'not gonna waste a scrap' quilt are finished that a knitting project will sort me out and calm my frazzled nerves. Have a lovely weekend and hope it's not too wet up in Glasgow.

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  19. Lorrie22 May 2016 at 06:12

    I laughed and I sighed - I can identify with your indecision. I look at my patterns and my fabric and plan all kinds of wonderful things, but the making of them seems to lag far, far behind. I would go with the project that takes the shortest time to complete. I find that completing something makes me feel amazing - like I'm WonderWoman, even if it's something as small as a crocheted dishcloth!

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  20. sweetbriardreams22 May 2016 at 07:06

    I get like this... a LOT!! I would write them all on different pieces of paper and then pick one, then the next one because I didn't like the first choice, and then the next one because the third choice would be the best :) xx

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  21. Chickpea22 May 2016 at 20:41

    Sorry can't help, I love them all and wouldn't be able to decide either :)

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  22. Gracie Saylor23 May 2016 at 17:59

    Well, I did not get to put in a timely vote, but am glad to know you are feeling a bit better about the concerns you had...life does fly by...even for "retired" me :) xx

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  23. Patty23 May 2016 at 21:45

    I know exactly what you mean about too many things to choose from. I'm looking forward to seeing what you choose!

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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