I have a confession....

This comment was left a couple days ago:

My first thought was that these are too beautiful to use as placemats...then I thought...'what a great way to use up scraps'...and 'what a great idea to make beautiful things to use and enjoy'!

I have to admit that the things I made were always too precious to use.  They were pieces of art, show pieces, not to ever leave their pristine state of newness.  Then when my good friend visited overnight she asked me "where is the quilt for my bed?" and I had a hard time deciding that any of them could actually be used.  After all you wouldn't use a painting to eat on or as a tray to carry the teapot.  How could anyone sit on my piece of art on the bed?

I got over that finally and now I do use my quilts, placemats, etc.  Finally I have enough time to make more quilts, more wallhangings, more placemats, and even though I still consider them my artwork, I want to use them and enjoy them. 

It took me awhile to figure out where the change came.  I finally decided that it was when I stopped giving trunk shows on a regular schedule that I could finally use the pieces.  I still have at least 50 pieces that are in new condition to use for an occasional trunk show, but I have 8 quilts for my bed and 4 for the guest bed now.  I gave away over 50 quilts in the last 2 years and 2 so far this year.  I want to gift them while I'm still here instead of leaving the burden to some one else.  I want other people to use them too.
End of confession.