September Take it Further Challenge
Monday, September 1, 2008 at 7:44AM | Sharon B | 86 Comments | in Challenges, Take it Further challenge This month the topic is lists.
I am a great fan of lists. If I have a trivial thing to remember if I put it on a list that I can attend to it at a suitable time it is out of my head for the moment. If I don't do that I have an internal demon reminding me constantly not to forget such and such. Constantly remembering it clutters my head. By putting it on a to do list it gets it out of my head and enables me to think of other things. I can forget about it and get on with day thinking about things without constant personal reminders. I do have to remember the list however! Usually I try to attend to things on my list in the morning (I have a 5 things per day limit) which means I can get on with other things in the afternoon.
It seams lists are popular. In the last couple of years the publishing industry has gone mad on listing things like places to see before you die, or books to read, wines to try, paintings to see, etc. I am not a great fan of things to do before you die books because I feel it might jinx something. As if to confirm my suspicions about such lists on the weekend I read that Dave Freeman, the co-author of travel guide "100 Things to Do Before You Die" recently died. He was aged 47 and did not complete his list.
Bloggers too present lists of things. Lists of tips, resources etc are being published online with great frequency. This fad for lists has highlighted my own fascination with lists. There is a something in a list that makes us feel secure. They almost substitute for a plan as the present a direction to work in and we feel we know where we are going with something.
Lists can also expose us to new things. For instance lists of books to read can mean you are exposed to a book you might not have read before. The same positive aspect can apply to lists of stitches. A list of stitches can mean you try out a stitch in a way that you normally would not do.
Annie of Annie's Crazy World suggested this topic as a theme for this months TIF challenege and as I thought about it I realised what good topic is was. So thanks Annie!
The Colour Challenge
The colours this month were taken from one of my journal page spreads. It is a collage and since I never get a chance to post these I thought I would do it this month. [Click on the image to be taken to a larger version]
When I used this image as inspiration in ColourLovers this is the colour scheme that was generated.
Remember that the colours can only ever be a suggestion as computer screens display colours differently. The aim is to be as close as possible to the colours on your screen. From ColourLovers you can download swatches to use is Photoshop, Illustrator, or in a CSS file.
As usual when you have worked the idea swing back to this page and leave a comment with blog or flickr address so that people can take a look at what you have been working on or done. There is a flickr group for the Take it Further Design Challenge and Debra Spincic has another TIF blog. Please remember if you use Debra’s TIF blog to swing by here too!
There is a even a Take it Further group over on the stitching fingers community. The community has grown considerably to well over a 1000 members and all sorts of challenges, swaps go on. There is also a stitch along. So do make a little time to visit it poke around and you are welcome to join in on the fun.
Reader Comments (86)
I am always writing lists, just before I decided to come online to check out if your challenge was posted I was thinking about all my different UFO's and was thinking "I Must Make A List" so I could prioritse what I need to finish by certain dates and work from that for a while - spooky feeling to see the first line of the challenge whilst that was still in my mind ;)
Top of my List - to finish July and August TIF's, and now have to add September.
Love the journal pages.
Well, beautiful sunny morning - I'm off to work on my Lists of more kinds than one now ;)
Ronelle
I had to chuckle when I read the challenge as I had just finished writing a couple of lists. I'm starting the month off right and have already begun working on the challenge!
Thanks Sharon for this new challenge. I also make lists to clear my head. It is very useful !
very few things compare to the pleasure of crossing out an item from my to do lists.
except perhaps chocolate :)
great topic.
neki desu
Hard to believe it is time for a challenge again already. Interesting topic. What is also interesting is how such a vibrant piece inspired the colors in this months challenge. I tend to be a bright colors kind of gal, so have pretty much ignored the color schemes this year, but when I look at the inspiration piece, I see bright greens, and reds, and golds, and much more vivid blues, than the grayed out colors of this months scheme. Interesting...
On another note: Sharon, I didn't see a way to email you privately, but I wanted to know if there is a way to see the supply class for your studio journals class before signing up for it. My biggest beef with most online classes is that they don't send you out the list immediately, leaving no time to shop or budget for supplies, when you take a class at a seminar or a quilt shop, you can see the list in advance and decide if you can afford both the cost of the class and supplies.
I am big on using lists too. I can't imagine limiting any list to 5 items but maybe I never feel I am getting anything done because my lists are too long. I was going to leave the TIF challenge but when I read about this topic, I was immediately inspired.
Don't menopause and lists go hand in hand? I'd be lost without a list (or three).
On another topic, would it be possible for another month of pastel-y colours Sharon? When I lay my squares out the one we've done already (May) feels rather lonely amongst all the darker, more jewel-tones. Just a thought!
Cheers
Mary Anne
Lists? Not only for organization, but to maintain the illusion that this rapidly-having-to-admit-that-I'm-a-senior type hasn't lost it yet. Just because I'm the oldest teacher at my school doesn't mean I have to give in to my senior moments. :-) I consider myself the "queen of the sticky notes."
I'm late posting my Aug. piece because of my concern for my familt in the path of Gustav. It seems we are always juggling priorities in order to achieve balance.
http://miamithreads.blogspot.com
Top of my list has always been 'Write a list' and I rarely get beyond that!! I hope to have a go at this challenge - it will be my first!!
It never would have occurred to me to use lists themselves as a topic for a challenge! This is another challenge that is going to require a great deal of thought...
How does anyone live without lists? I am about to go on holiday and have a list of all thephone numbers I might need and all the challenges I have to keep up with while I'm away. lol I make shopping lists and either leave them at home or lose them in the store and I have "todo" lists to help me prioritise and get thro the day/week. I shall have to think how to incorporate this into a textile piece.
Although lists work for me, I can only go with them fo short periods of time before I feel dominated by them, So I thought that I'd look at other meanings of the word and was thinking about list as in leaning over, then I came across this definition - 1. A narrow strip, A border or selvage of cloth, A stripe or band of color. I love bright colour, I love strips - my challenge is nearly done!
Yes, I was thinking of other meanings of Lists. Could be leaning over or list to starboard. Must have a think about that one. I am always making lists and then losing them - another thought. This is certainly making my brain work even before I put pen to paper. Grace
Lists? Too funny. I had started making a list of things for my chidren to do with my computer in case I die in my sleep. LOL My blog, my web page, notify my internet friends,(a whole separate list within the list) give refunds for things not delivered - I can see it now. "Mama was NUTS" Lists are good - but this is carrying it too far.
I love lists! Its the only way I can ensure I can get through my day. They tame my tangled mind. My favourite list is the one I create while working on the computer. Anything that comes up in my mind and demands I go and do something elsewhere is written down on the list. Then I get to it later. That way at least I can finish this post!!
Cheers , Susan
I've just posted my first thoughts for September, getting in early before the month gets too hectic. I've just read Judy's post above, too funny, but an excellent idea actually. I could leave a list of my sites and password somewhere couldn't I, so the family could "tidy up" in case the worse happened? VBG.
Hooroo,
Christine
http://missmuffettwo.blogspot.com
First thoughts on ...
http://fibrefan.blogspot.com/
I've posted my supplies for this month's challenge on my blog http://focus-on-fiber.blogspot.com
Apart from shopping, the only lists I do are mental ones - does that mean I can get away with an invisible virtual piece this month???! I'm really quite an organised person but I was put off lists by a impossibly efficient and officious consultant on a time management course who insisted on them and I've been rebelling ever since.
Margaret
September colors are perfect for my November "Crazy for Birthdays" piece!! (confusing?) The topaz was the clue.
http://www.fairy-crafts.blogspot.com
The September colors are absolutely perfect for the November "Crazy for Birthdays" I'm doing. Topaz was the clue! This chose my colors for me.
are you going to run the personal stitch library course again too? I'll definitely see you in the others.
Cheers
Vicki
I've posted my August TIF on my blog.
http://barbs-spiritsong.blogspot.com
I've been abit sick the last few days so I'm a little bit late posting this.
I have not been able to make any contributions to this challenge but have been wondering through the blogs looking at all the wonderful creations with envy, hopefully I will be back in the swing of things after this weekend.....:-(
My "list" challenge item is ready and on my blog now.
Hi, just picked up this months subject whilst on tour in Germany, will certainly give me something to think about whilst sat on the back of the bike :-)
Guzzisue (blog, Travel, fibre and thread)
My initial thoughts on the September challenge are posted at http://paintedquilt.blog-city.com/take_it_further_challenge_september.htm
I love the concept of limiting things to 5 a day from the to do list. By the time I get through mine, and procrastinate over some things, there is no time to sew or have fun. And when i try to schedule fun time it gets taken over by to do's.
I've posted my 'lists' on the Flickr site and will blog about it soon. I manipulated a photo of a scored-out shopping list in Photoshop (palette knife filter) and printed it out on some used'colour-catcher' sheets 'dyed' in the washing machine.
Margaret
Septembers TIF finished - at http://paulahewitt.wordpress.com/2008/09/09/september-tif-whale-makes-list/
looking forward to Oct!
I have finished Sep TIF at http://paulahewitt.wordpress.com/2008/09/09/september-tif-whale-makes-list/
looking forward to Oct
Hi all,
Here is my take on "lists". They really do stitch my life together. Have a look at: http://susaneta.wordpress.com/2008/09/09/tif-lists/
Cheers, Susan
As I was writing my blog entry today, it triggered an idea for this months challenge. My thoughts can be found at the bottom of that blog entry, http://www.tyquilts.com/blog
I've posted a few initial thoughts on this months challenge on my blog: http://tangomusings.blogspot.com
One of the definitions of list is "a border or bordering strip" so I've been doing some doodles of borders using my favorite embroidery stitches. I've posted a a photo on flicker.
celeste
www.flickr.com/photos/celeste_embroidery/
the progress I have made on this months tif is on my blog http://www.tyquilts.com/blog
I've posted my August TIF challenge piece, Circles#8, in wool felt, on my blog:
http://debkolar.wordpress.com
Thanks,
Deb
I've completed my September piece. It's on my blog. http://ruthsfiberphotos.blogspot.com/
August "balance" is up and just finished my "lists" and will get it posted in a few minutes. www.comequiltwithme.blogspot.com
Cheated a bit - a practical response rather than a thought out artistic one, but needs must!http://faffingabout.blogspot.com/2008/09/to-do-list.html
Here is the link to Septembers finished piece..
www.takeitfurtherchallenge.blogspot.com/2008/09/september-check-list-jane-b.html
Leaves me only catching up on Augusts. I was behind and did not want to break my commitment to accomplishing the year but summer was tough to maintain... Whew, back to being more centered now and a great month to be working on Balance.
The TIF challenge has been a great exercise for me, Sharon
Jane
I am enjoying the mental gymnastics these challenges present :- ) It's sometimes hard to quit playing and start stitching!
I have just posted my end product for this month's challenge on my blog at http://sewingmagpie.blogspot.com
I am making progress on both august and September challenges. Pictures and thoughts are on my blog http://www.tyquilts.com/blog
Hi Sharon, my comment was discarded on the August post. I have posted my August piece on my blog, just a little late.
http://patchworkadosbandas.blogspot.com/2008/09/cuencos.html
Thanks,
Hard to believe - for me - but I've finished the September challenge already. That deep blue is one of my favorites, and I used a dark value of it for one of the beads in a bracelet I knit this weekend.
A picture is on my blog www.dianem.wordpress.com
Hugs,
My September piece is finished and on my blog should anyone want to see it!
Cheers
Mary Anne
http://magpiesmumblings.blogspot.com
Goodness what a lot of blogs etc I need to look at!
My interpretation of 'lists' is on my blog http://maggies-textiles.blogspot.com
I'm sorry but I don't make lists. I start them, but I loose them or forget them, or I am not convinced it's the right one, or I don't agree with what I've written last week....DH is brilliant with lists. I'm not. But I have made a list in fabric and angelinafibers. So I finished my TIF september! I think I'll turn it into a little organizer with plastic bags, so I'll be orgnanized after all ;-) Thanl you Sharon. Want to see my list, go to my blog please.
More progress on my blog, but it's slow cloth this month...
http://fibrefan.blogspot.com/