Working with a deadline in fibre art
It is Monday and I do not know what to write. And its not because of lack of topics, no it is the overwhelming mass of projects :-DDD Last Monday I told you about the scholarship I got granted for an art project and since then I am frenetically running between my yarn boxes, my (paper) notebook, the sewing machine and my computer.
Let me explain myself: I am a perfectionist, over thinker and super-worrier. No idea how I developed these not too helpful traits, but they are here, and I must cope with them. Mostly I do this by planning things out and working hard to fulfil the plan.
Did you have a good laugh?
I myself am snorting while reading my own words, because although I really am an perfectionist and worrier I am also a bit lazy and tend to alternate between work frenzies and periods of relaxation where I actively repress all task which have to be done, only to get more stressed out in the next moments. I am one of these persons, who always finishes exactly at the deadline and not a minute before.
Nothing different this time, only that I never had to make a fibre artwork to a deadline.
AHHHHHHHHHHH
I have a good estimation how long I need to complete a painting from idea to varnish, I have an idea how long I need for shooting a short film, I even have a plan how to plan out a year long period of rehearsals for an dance or theatre performance, but apart from the occasional birthday or Christmas present, I never had to make textile projects to a deadline. This got me thinking… How can I plan out how long I will need for the “fibre web of memories” or a knitted banner I want to make or or or...?
Two days ago I was so panicked that I forced my husband to stop my knitting speed (just that you know, with “slow” bamboo 5 mm needles in stockinette I could knit 47 stitches in one minute, which is not fast). I then tried to calculate how long I would need to knit a piece with 20 x 60 cm in lace yarn and I felt the sweat pouring down my forehead.
Perhaps I should exchange knitting by crochet… I am faster in crochet I think… Wait…. @giavellottista are you here? Could you please time my crochet? I fear he is hiding… 😂😂😂
But my inability to calculate how long I will need for the textile parts of my installation is not all, no I am also missing a lot of materials and because of the covid pandemic this is a bigger problem than I anticipated. For example, I wanted to order some wooden knitting needles because my beloved metal addi needles were too slippery. After I nearly killed the fabric several times because it slipped at a whole from these needles, I thought I should try out wood. But fun fun fun: one order got through, but the order for the needle sizes I needed most was cancelled. I originally planned to integrate the needles into the artwork, so it was not irrelevant which color they have and not only did the nearest yarn shop closed forever (not sure if it is because of covid), but the others only sell very colourful or light coloured needles. The same goes for a dress form I will need… all out of stock.
Oh and don't let me beginn with the construction market, we really need a lot of things...
But do not fear, I panic already enough for twenty people, but because of other projects I did in the past, I am nevertheless sure, I somehow will manage to be finished in time.
Hopefully …😂
But on the other side, I am absolutely grateful that I already got some amazing messages from fellow needleworkers. And my brain is in overload, spinning all these wonderful inputs around.
I am so curious what you will write or make. Please know, that you can send me everything you like regarded the pandemic time. If you write, you could send a poem, one word, an informal comment or a long text. Do what feels right for you. You can send photos of finished projects or photos of things you started or inspiration what you want to do. Feel free to whine or laugh, to invent or to describe. (If you need a reminder what I am talking about, hop to last Monday’s post).
I hope to hear from you 💕
Thank you @crosheille for initiating and @muscara and @marblely for hosting the #needleworkmonday. If you want to see more beautiful projects with yarn, fabric and most of all needles, follow @needleworkmonday. Or even better grab your needles and keyboard and join the #needleworkmonday community.
Ohhh, if you don't have a hive account and want to comment then visit my Wordpressblog Bliss and Blisters and write me there.
I know this "close your eyes and sing la-la-la" - I've been knitting on a sock for more than one month. And that's practically all the fibre related stuff I did. And the pair has to be finished by November 11th, because in a way they are a gift for last year's birthday of a person... And let's not talk about all the second socks of Sock Madness that are still to be knit (only a bit more than four months till the next Sock Madness...)
But I believe in you and the Heinzelmännchen. They will surely help you!
You can combine non matching socks. It’s artistic 😁 I start wearing the first one with other once I finish it. I cannot wait ...
I fear I to often sing lalalalaalllllaaaaa... and after stopping I mostly decide its time for a glass of chocolate spread (I am addicted to Samba and our organic shop had as a special offer and you know... because its not near us, we are seldom there and I may have bought a lot of glasses... and I have no clue how they vanished so fast🤪)
And I am sending you gift-sock-finishing vibes! I am sure you can do it (some nice film/serial to finish them with? Star Trek discovery?)
But I had to laugh at the single sock madness, I feel you, and I thought perhaps you could do the second socks during the next sock madness by using matching colors. So that every pair consist of a sock from 2020 and 2021...
Oh you are so lovely energetic woman, but you don't seem like a lazy woman. I think you have to much projects to do and sometimes that scared us.
Thank you so much for this lovely compliment and your faith in me. I really hope I will get it done and that the delivery problems don’t get to bad (the later some materials come, the later I can start to work)
Hi...I love reading you, I identify with your post, I feel your project delivery adrenaline, I'm a project manager, and what happens to you happens to me every day. What I do when I panic, I eat chocolate, corn pop and ice cream, then I prioritize with a cold mind...and I get things out. I know you will, that you will get it done.
Wow you have a really cool job, I am not sure if I could handle this constant stress (in which field are you working?). I only have it periodically... but then massive 😂 I mostly panick as long as the preparations go, but normally I know I will get it done. This time I am only a bit afraid, that I wont get all the materials on time because of Covid delivery problems.
And I had to smile as I read bout your stress reaction... I yesterday killed a glass of chocolate spread (ohhhh shame on me)
I'm glad you killed a glass of chocolate cream. I am sure you will finish on time, you have creativity and ingenuity.
Answering your question, I work as a Project Manager in a technology company, I make sure that all the Web and Mobile applications are delivered with quality to the clients, I've been doing it for 10 years, it's fun, and the wonderful thing is that you never stop learning.
I keep an eye on you and your progress...
The yarn look so soft and softttttt... aaaaahhhh. I think I am like you too. Perfectionist, over-thinker and super worrier. Most of the reason why I can't complete some projects or can't start projects :D And some days, I am just so tired that I just close my eyes and ignore my thoughts. Okay, I still owe you my piece :) I hope to do it soon. When is the dateline?
The yarn is really soft like cotton wool but completely without drape. It looks good but its more use for art or decor than for garments :-D (you know my preference)
And I feel you with the perfectionism... It also stops me int parts, but mostly I am an “Afterwards” worrier, meaning I do what I think is ok (in art or work etc) and when its finished and I cannot change anything any more, then I start it beat myself up about all the thing I have done working (in my mind) and believe me I find a lot of things, so even after receiving an scholarship I can convince myself that I did not earn it/it was per chance/it does not mean anything....
Sometimes I feel like this perfectionism trait is often found in women especially the variety who puts aus down.
So, let me tell you that I only see such a small part of things you do through your writing and I admire the way you tackle all your needlwork task. Your result is always wonderful. And I love to read your texts <3
Hopefully your destructive thoughts learn to be more nice to us :-DDD
The final deadline for my project is end of December as we start in January to work directly at the exhibition rooms... but end of November would be more relaxing for us :-D