How Do You Make a Masterpiece? One Block At A Time

In 1994, I saw a photo of a quilt made of NHL logos in a magazine and, as an ardent hockey fan, thought it would be a fun project. As a novice quilter, I had no idea what I was getting into. I began it with great enthusiasm and little technical knowledge, starting with simple logos with one or two colours.

Once the designs became more challenging, this quilt was set aside more and more often as I worked on other projects. Fast forward to 2017, when I resolved to finish all my half-done quilts, including this one. At a quilt retreat in April 2018, I finished the Vancouver Canucks block and sewed all 24 pieces together, backed with hockey fabric my mother had bought years earlier.

By then, some of the teams had folded, moved or adopted new logos. However, the blocks reflect the moment in time when I dove into this design. It felt amazing to get it done. My husband created an extended hockey stick as a rod for me to hang it in a prominent spot in our home.

This exercise reminds me of the journeys I have heard from countless people as they stopped in 2020 and 2021 as they looked around their proverbial sewing rooms. What do you have that is half done? Is it that novel you started before you had kids? That business you swore you would start one day, whenever you were ready to let go of that regular paycheque… Most of us have something like that.

If you are stuck, take one piece at a time.

One chapter of that book. Then the next one.

One conversation with a prospective client. Then another one.

One meeting with your accountant about setting up a side business. Then a supplier.

Once you get rolling, the energy is infectious. You build your confidence and become unstoppable.

If you are stuck, seek out a person who has made the leap or can guide you on the journey. So many of us have been there and can help you network as you work your way through the steps.

You can do it. Start with that first step.