Deadlines. Stress! More deadlines, more stress. Relief when a deadline is met.
I’ve had several deadlines lately and have been working frantically on them. My first deadline (self imposed) was getting a new rooster design finished and printed. RICKY is now on the market and on my web site.
Second deadline was to get the mother of all those Radical Roosters finished in time for Spring Market in Pittsburgh in May. She is ready for her close-up now and her name is HILDA. People have been asking for a hen and she will be it.
When I start working on a design, I make up samples on applique pressing sheets. If I don’t like them, I just peel them off and start another. It’s a lot of work, but that’s how I have to process it. After 2 failed attempts on Hilda, the 3rd looked good to me. I have completely finished a wall hanging of her and now the real work begins! She needs to be photographed, a cover designed for her, directions have to be written and a back cover devised and checked. Then everything needs to go to the printers. When all components are back, we start assembling the patterns, send samples off to distributors (keeping our fingers crossed) and work up a suitable ad for magazines, etc. It’s a lot of work with a lot of steps.
The 3rd deadline was when I was asked to make a project for a book Dilys Fronks is working on. I thought I had plenty of time, but was surprised when, on Friday evening, I was told they needed a photograph on Monday of the completed project. Everything else in my life was stopped and I was able to complete it enough to be photographed and sent via email to Wales on deadline day. The book won’t be out for at least 9 months.
I feel like I’m off to the races!
BTW, we were recently in Aiken, SC, and met lots of wonderful quilters there. If you ever get a chance, visit Aiken. We’d like to go back and explore.
Florine