The process of little things

     In sewing small projects, the process is the same as for large ones except the time is multiplied and resulting time to me seems longer for the results. For example, I continually make pocket quilts as leader ender type of projects. I start with 4 patches and make a bunch, then sew strips on the words, then sew the sandwich, after turning it inside out and stuffing it with a cross, quilt two lines around. When I do this process a little at a time, as a leader ender, it does not seem to take any time and I have plenty to give away.

Four patches for leader ender pocket quilts

Batting squares- running low so added scraps together 

New package of crosses to stuff 

Scrap strips sewn around the prayer,
also leader ender done for my usual pocket quilts

Words printed by Spoonflower,
cut up from the yardage (more time)

    My neighbor, who wrote the children's book I illustrated (still need a publisher; the one we had backed out), asked me to make 50 pocket quilts for a conference for her company and bought me some fabric she wanted them to be. This made it a project, not a leader ender. So, the process of cutting and making 4 patches, cutting 50 battings, sewing strips on all 50 words, turning 50 inside out, stuffing, quilting, became a time consuming, and to me, onerous process. It became piecework. 

Almost all 50, sewn on the incomparable and lovely Singer 301

     Funny how the process can steal the joy if it is not managed well. Pocket quilts delivered and back to the quilts and leader enders! My happy place.