Summer Skill-building: Learning How to Fail Efficiently

A bag for baby, a photo by kate @ swim, bike, quilt! on Flickr.

On Saturday night, I watched a fascinating special on CNN about American Innovation while I ran on the treadmill at the gym. I gained two interesting insights. The first is that great innovators usually possess two qualities, energy and honesty, especially the ability to be honest with themselves. The second, and the one most relevant to my weekend sewing is that great innovators learn how to fail efficiently.

This was supposed to be a bag for me, to hold all of my stuff for church: piano books, coloring books and treats for the kids, the occasional Buzz Lightyear for the baby... things to keep everyone on the quiet side during the worship service. Did I mention that I sewed it up LATE at night? I cut the bag out, and then thought, "this will be perfect!" Well, at least the fabric is perfect: Jessica Jones home dec (c.2007) and Denyse Schmidt's new Picnic and Fairgrounds for the lining. Did I mention that the strap is twisted and I sewed in a magnetic closure wrong? Oh, it made me laugh. I brought it to church yesterday anyway, just because.  I guess blogging about it doesn't add to the "fail efficiently part" but at least I learned what NOT to do. (note: someone on flickr suggested that it was just a trial run. I like that!)

Linked to Sew Modern Monday 
and Quiltstory