Words of encouragement are important for beginners as well as for experts who are stretching their skill sets and trying new things. I am always going on about the lovely lady who gave me permission to be less than perfect with the words "finish it up and move on, dearie". (Google it in quotes, you'll find MANY versions of my story.) What I am interested in today is what words of encouragement meant the most to you? Who gave you that little push to keep making and creating? Share your story or just the best advice you were ever given in the comments for a chance to win this prize package.
Give Away Prizes
- 16 inches of an Alexander Henry print
- 7 x 7.5 inch embroidered bee and flower
- 3.5 inch WOF bee print plus a couple 3.5 inch squares
- 3.5 inch strip of matching yellow kona
- 12.5 inch square of chalkboard fabric
- Quilter's Newsletter DVD with 5 quilt patterns
- One CUSTOM EMBROIDERED QUILT Label or patch ***
The details. Leave your comment below. Entries will be open until 7 pm CST May 10. The winner will be chosen by random out of a selection of posts the spuds determine to be the most useful or entertaining advice. (I can't guarantee they will stick to useful in the elimination process so I had to add entertaining.) The winner will be drawn on May 11 and notified by email as soon as possible. If you are a no reply blogger, please be sure to leave a way to contact you in your comment. If I don't have a way to communicate with you, you will be excluded from the drawing.
This giveaway is part of the Sew Mama Sew GiveAway week. You should be sure to head over there if you haven't already and check out the thirty bajillion other giveaways going on around the world this week.
I love bees! That is such cute fabric. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSarah
sshuttrbugg at aol dot com
These bees are adorable!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a generous giveaway! I have been quite blessed to have been raised by crafters who were very encouraging! I think one of the stand out moments for me would be when I told my mother I wanted to learn how to knit and she helped seek out someone to teach me (pre-internet and knitting boom). I really felt like I had found my medium in knitting and my mother was always so encouraging even though quilting was her craft of choice.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started quilting I joined a group of ladies who meet once a week. I have been with the group for 4 years now and they have all been there to encourage and challenge me. One lady in particular, has taken me under her wings and is always there to teach me techniques that I want to learn. When my Mother died 3 years ago she stepped in and became like a Mom to me. She is 85 years old and is my closest friend. I would not be where I am if it weren't for her. Thank you for the chance to win your giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting this giveaway! One of my favorite quotes for crafting (and life in general) is "Comparison is the thief of joy" -- always something good to remember!
ReplyDeletePractice! No one starts out being perfect. Stick with it...
ReplyDeleteLove the bees! Thanks for a great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThe bees design is cute! Tsnk you very much for the giveaway
ReplyDeleteSomeone once said to me "Don't let being perfect stand in the way of being good." Not everything you ever make has to be "perfect" - someone somewhere will probably think it's perfect anyway!
ReplyDeleteMy quilting buddy and I used to do a lot of silk painting together. We both tend to obsess and overthink, so our catch phrase - then and now - is "Step away from the silk!" A good reminder to walk away, so something else, then come back with fresh eyes.
ReplyDeleteThe bess fabric is so cute! Love it!
ReplyDeletedazzlingshorty(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thank you for the chance to win such a great prize.
ReplyDeleteMy seven year old is always excited over anything I create that it pushes me to do more. Her smile keeps me going.
ReplyDeleteMy husband encourages me a lot. And he is sincere and says if something is wonky or the colors don't match so I can keep on tracking for perfection.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this giveaway!
My husband is a great source of encouragement. My SIL is due in June and when we found out he suggested the quilting beginner (me) make her/him a quilt. This will be my second finished quilt. I haven't quilted for at least 10 years. His family, however, thinks talents like mine are really awesome and would really appreciate the quilt.
ReplyDelete"Remember the blind man on the galloping horse" (if he can't see the mistake, it's okay)is what my quilting friend told me when I would worry about a "mistake." Another friend would pick up my sewn piece, walk across the room with it, and then ask me if I could see the "mistake." If I couldn't see it that far away, I left it alone. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThese are so cute! I'm fairly new to quilting/sewing. When my daughter says, "OMG Mom, that's so good", it makes me want to keep learning :)
ReplyDeleteMy mother encourage me to sew a lot. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMy mother was the one who encouraged me to quilt. She was a modern quilter and she didnt even know it. all of her quilts had lots of negative space.
ReplyDeleteMy pa is a beekeeper, he would get a coronary seeing your bee... bees are brown and yellowish-grey, he doesn't accept any other option. :-)
ReplyDeleteYellow-black bees, like the Little Bee Maya, are far cuter, I love your embroidery.
Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDelete(my email is antifa2000 @ gmail.com)
This comes from practicing yoga. "It's just you and your mat." I transfer that to my crafting, where I resist the urge to compare (and downgrade) what I made to what others make.
ReplyDeleteAnd "everyone starts where they start". My "beginner" is different than someone else's. We all have our strengths and weaknesses.
Thanks for the giveaway :) I love the bees!
ReplyDeleteSo cute! My current mantra is Finished Imperfectly is better than Perfectly Unfinished because no one notices small flaws excpet ME!
ReplyDeleteI was told to have fun and enjoy what your making. It's not ment to be work you know. Even if it is your income stream.
ReplyDeleteMy friend Carolyn inspired me to become a quilter! About a month ago she sent me a large envelope filled with fabric scraps to encourage me to keep going! It was a great surprise!!
ReplyDeleteThe best advice was similar to yours, and from the fine folks at the LQS, which is we strive for perfection, but we rarely attain it and THAT'S OK! :)
ReplyDeleteI was always encouraged by my mom and dad to make things, but I can't remember anything in particular that they said...they always made sure I had whatever supplies I might need, and they taught me the things that they knew. And they used and displayed whatever I made for them, even if it was homely. I guess you really can't ask for more inspiration than that!
ReplyDeleteI was really struggling during my last year of university. I wasn't sure if being a lawyer was something that I really wanted to do anymore. Anyway, my mom said to me "you were always good at writing and sewing. You just need a creative outlet. Sometimes your job isn't all that creative (my mom was an accountant by day), but you can always come home and dream a little with your fabrics and pens." Good advice.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite advice: "Enjoy what you're doing"
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance.
Thank you for the giveaway! This fabric is so cute! atabanana29(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeletemy husband is so encouraging: appreciating what I make, understanding the need for a stash, telling me to give myself permission to quit on a project that quit being fun, etc... We also keep bees so I love your giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMy sons do, they built me a studio last yr for Mothers day
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMy mother always praised everything I ever made and I think that helped me to look past the little imperfections that only I would notice.
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a high school cross country and track coach. He cheers for everyone, regardless of where they finish. He yells encouragement, tells them their place and time and even how close they are to a PR (personal best). He loves those who are setting records and winning the race but he is just as enthusiastic about those who are in the middle and back of the pack. He finds something good about every runner and every race. I've learned that every one can improve, but we all have different standards, abilities and look at things differently. What I call mistakes, someone else will never see them, and if they do, I choose to or not to be affected by their judgements. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMy family are bee keepers! love love love it!!!!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is my biggest fan. He is always so genuinely in awe of everything that I make. It's such a wonderful feeling. Glad I married the fella.
ReplyDeletelove that henry alexander fabric
ReplyDeleteI always feel that if you make something that has some imperfections it is unique and original - that is important!! Thanks for your lovely giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteMy boyfriend thinks its amazing that I can make things, and is astoundingly encouraging.
ReplyDeleteSuch pretty fabric. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the give away. The bee fabric is so cute. I have a bit of green fabric with bee hives that would be great together.
ReplyDeleteI don't even remember which blog I read it on but it was "it's not supposed to be perfect, it's homemade." i got my sister quilting this year and it's become our martra when we quilt together.
ReplyDeleteI love the bees!
ReplyDeleteMy sisters have always been my biggest fans!
ReplyDeleteImagine that it is impossible to fail! (That statement is from a writing book called Wake Up and Live by Dorothea Brande a long time ago.)
ReplyDeleteThe best encouragement I have received is from ladies at my quilt guild. They have been wonderful in helping me improve my free motion quilting. Thanks for the giveaway chance!
ReplyDeleteWhen people like what I´m sewing and let me know, it encourage me to continue!
ReplyDeleteGun, Sweden
gunlapp.se
I love bees and especially honey!! My mom knitted and my dad does woodwork so I have people in the family who appreciate homemade goodness.
ReplyDeleteMy mother told me that the Lord only gives that which you can handle. And when things get tough, do something you love -- that is quilting for me.
ReplyDeleteReally great giveaway. Love those bees (nice on fabric but not in real life!)
ReplyDeleteThe bees are super cutes. Thanks for chance to win.
ReplyDeleteThe best advice I ever received was to live each day for today and worry about tomorrow when tomorrow arrives. Less stress equals a happier more productive life. Thank you for the chance to enter your lovely giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThe bees are too cute. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeletedetroitgirl77 AT gmail DOT com
This is a great prize! I tend to be a perfectionist when I make stuff and got discouraged when things weren't perfect. (and they never are.) I was told to lighten up and just enjoy what I was doing. I have worked on that and do enjoy the entire process more without worrying about everything being perfect.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cute prize pack - I love the bees :) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYour etsy shop rocks! What a great find you are!
ReplyDeleteWords of encouragement - my grandfather always told me 'never let anyone tell you what you can't do'. He was right too.
These are cute bees. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteHow great!
ReplyDelete"You're going to have fun." That's what my Godfather said to me when I told him I was driving cross country with a friend when I was 20.
ReplyDeletemy husband is my best encourager! hadas_a1@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteOne of the managers at work constantly says "Finished is better than perfect" - not so sure about that when it comes to computer coding, but it does help in my quilting projects when I'm stressing out about my points not being perfect or when I get wrinkles in my binding!
ReplyDeleteMy mom always says, yes stills says it, b/c I haven't mastered anything yet....If you can read you can do anything....maybe not the 1st time, but you will. Keep at it. Thank you for this chance. kerihag at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeletethanks for the chance! My best advice was an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty self-deprecating most of the time about my creations, but my sister has pushed me to value my work and expand. She encourages me all the time. Thanks for the giveaway! wonderlandbyalyce at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteHm - my best advice would be enjoy the process. That's what it's all about! :)
ReplyDeleteMy husband always encourages me by telling me how pretty or nice something is while I am working on it. It makes it easier to finish something when I have made mistakes and think it is no good.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway and making it possible for anyone to enter.
senstrings @ yahoo dot com
Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteemmevon(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeletei love everything alexander henry!
"nobody's perfect" or sometimes "Close enough is good enough"
ReplyDeleteMy sisters and I encourage each other, since we each craft in a different way the competition is low and the encouragement is high! thank you
ReplyDeleteThe best advise was from my mom which was to have fun and all mistakes can be corrected! I am still having fun at 55 with my sewing! thanks to mom! I love the bee fabric! thank you and have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteAs a beekeeper, I love this fabric!
ReplyDeletemcintoshsusan@hotmail dot com
you know who encourages me is Madame Samm over at Sew We Quilt, she is really the nicest person. grecomara at gmail dot com
ReplyDeletethe bees are adorable!
ReplyDeleteOh I have an sil who loves bees, this would be great!
ReplyDeleteI love these colors! Thanks for the sweet bee giveaway!
ReplyDeleteWOAH! I LOVE that guadalupe! Love Love Love
ReplyDeleteNot sewing related, but mother gave me the best advice when learning to knit and crochet - that I needed to stay loose! It's so easy for beginners to try and make the stitches too tight and then it's even more frustrating (and sometimes painful on the fingers)
ReplyDeleteSuper cute giveaway. I think I've had to learn for myself what you said in the quote. Better to get it done, learn from it, and move on. There is always so many more projects to make, so getting bogged down on one thing is just wasting time.
ReplyDeleteBee autiful...... oK so I am sick and no energy to think at this time..
ReplyDeleteI would have to say it was my cousin when I was growing up. She was always winning awards for her creativity and I was jealous :)
ReplyDeleteSince most quilters love gardening, too, I think my favorite encouraging gardening quote is...Always, Always, Always I MUST have flowers. And it encourages me because for quilting I switch it to... Always, Always, Always I MUST have fabric! :)
ReplyDelete