Post from Lorri Flint, Fiber Artist
I have a number of unfinished projects lurking around my house. I know I'm not alone, right??? When my fiber art group, Uncommon Cloth, met for our annual retreat in Frasier, Colorado, we identified "completing unfinished projects" as one of our goals for the coming year.
Before we get too crazy with this it's important to realize that some projects are not worth completing. You might have learned what you're going to learn from it, the fabrics might be ugly, or the design uninspired. It might not be worth the time and effort to complete the project and it's OK to throw it away - just close your eyes and do it quickly!
A few months ago, Lori came over and spent a day with me de-cluttering and clearing out my studio. (A day was NOT enough, but it was a great kick start.) I have continued on my own and have uncovered my box of unfinished projects plus items I have kept over the years because I can see their potential...I just haven't gotten around to doing something with them.
In the year ahead, as I complete one of these projects, I will post my progress. My hope is to inspire you to do the same. Let us know what projects you finish so we can keep the inspiration flowing.
My first project is a 1940's flour sack. My husband's grandmother worked at the now defunct Golden West Flour Mill in Longmont, Colorado in the 1930's and 40's and she saved flour sacks to make "tea towels". As my Father-in-Law, Van, say's "We weren't so flush in those days and we used what we had." Good advice for today too.
My In-Laws hung on to those flour sacks and now they belong to me. I can see the potential, so I dyed several during my last fabric (and art camp apron) dyeing session. I then trimmed up the edges and hemmed my new dish towel. It's a beautiful hand-dyed mottled gold and no one else in the world has one like it! The joy of completing it and seeing it hang in my kitchen is inspiring me to keep chipping away on these unfinished projects.
Yours in inspiration,
Lorri Flint
