Sunday, October 23, 2016

CELEBRATING THE SEASON



Burning bush at the front door
My goal for 2016 was to finish – finish, finish, finish – the unfinished projects I have stored in plastic boxes since I began to wield needle and hook. I will NEVER re-visit that goal again. I WAS MISERABLE!!

Oh! Indeed I did finish things, and that was satisfying. I finished the “bridal” afghan for daughter Hallie, begun in 2009. I finished the doll quilt I started in 1955, a buffalo passed to me from my mother. And I finished a panel doll I ordered from The Chocolate Soup, a shop in New York City, in 1966. (To show you how deeply entrenched these things can become, I couldn’t bring myself to toss the envelope in which the panel was mailed to me those 50 years ago simply because it had become so familiar amongst my treasures.)

But – I lost a lot of inspiration, and that inspiration is so important to happiness. I wouldn’t let myself start projects that took my fancy for fear of inability to finish. I actually became afraid. And I also came face to face with the time crunch. -- you know the voice that asks, “How much longer do you think you have anyway?” And really, I don’t believe in living like that.
Nellie & Bess taking morning naps

Well, it was something I had to work through. I came to see that I’m only responsible to myself. I can afford to dabble if that’s what I want to do, and the finish really doesn’t matter -- at least, not all the time.

Daughter Hallie chided me a bit for saying I wouldn’t finish the Halloween afghan before Halloween. Well, I was late starting it, and I have a few other things I want to do. I can’t sit all day and crochet. I have to have a variety of activities. (And I have a husband who likes to go places and do things.)
My Halloween celebration

But then Hallie said something – or implied something – which made me realize that the act of making is in itself a celebration, not just the end product. That was a revelation to me. With my new mindset, I have thoroughly enjoyed celebrating the season by crocheting on my Halloween afghan. Its colors – black, orange, yellow, and white – add seasonal color to the house, even though it’s a work in progress. But – it does indeed grow slowly. KW


2 comments:

Hallie said...

The quilt is lovely! It reminds me of candy corn. I don't think you should punish yourself for not finishing things. At least, if the thing you started didn't satisfy you mid-way through, just move on. Life is too short.

Kathy said...

Hi Hallie!
Yes, I agree -- life is too short to waste time on what isn't satisfying. You may recall that I started a Christmas afghan that just wasn't coming together right, and you suggested I move on. I did -- but I still have the granny squares. I will dispose of them as soon as I decide the best method.

Your dad used to finish any book or movie he started. I talked him out of that with the same reasoning that life is too short.

This afghan is reminiscent of candy corn, and some afghans just use yellow, orange, and white, but I liked the look of it with the black row.