I didn't make any auction projects this year.
It's shocking really, but I was Burnt Out. (Yes, with
the intentional cap's and everything.)
I didn't miss the auction. Apparently making 9 auction
projects over 6 years makes a soul wear thin. But,
it's not the work with the students, and it's not the
sewing. No, it's the selling. It's the not knowing who
will get this work of love. It's that bit of random that
will claim your classwork when it gets to the auction,
and that sense of elation or depression when you find
out how much money your project made, or didn't make.
I had been moving away from the live auction during
the past few year, doing more presales, or projects
that could be reproduced and sold to the entire class,
but this year, I just didn't want to sell anything.
There is a passion that powers your work when it is
for a specific person, and I have missed that during
all of the auction projects. So, this year I sat back,
and let another Mom do the auction project. I offered
help where I could, and let go.
Then, in April, I missed the work with the class. Sure
I taught classes in Parent Led Art, but there is such
joy in watching children comb through a bin of fabric.
So I approached Little e's teacher and asked,
"Would you like a quilt as a thank you gift at the end
of the year?"
She answered, "Yes!" And we worked out the details of
class time, and what kind of a quilt would serve her best.
I offered her a lap quilt that she could take home, but
she opted for a small-ish wall hanging for her classroom.
What a difference it makes in my attitude to make a
quilt meant for a person, a specific person, not an
unknown highest bidder. In keeping with the school
theme (the teacher's request), I put together a book
theme and gathered my fabrics.