Sunday, January 08, 2012

What was I thinking...



During the holidays I had to round up many sewing projects and corral them back into the sewing studio...unfortunately there are more project bags and boxes than square feet in the studio. Whoops...
Last Year's Mystery Quilt...RRCB....

So every day I empty at least one bag/box and makes decisions....mostly I am amazed at just how many projects were started last year. What was I thinking...not much obviously! There has been progress...
Inspiration for these blocks came from somewhere on the web...

I have filled one large bag with yarn from yet another attempt to lean to knit...happens every five years or so...my neighbor has started knitting so was happy to get the yarn.
This year's mystery quilt...

I have two large bags of scraps that I will not use...so they are coming to retreat next week and not coming back with me. There are several folks there who will be glad to give them good homes.

UFO's are going into clear boxes with labels. There are at present over 36 boxes...some have more than one project....


Made a dozen too many leaves so made 8 more...not quite sure where they are going yet...
I pulled tops out of the closet that I can use as practice tops for free motion quilting this year. At least now I can see the other tops better.


Strip technique from a guild workshop...have enough made to make a donation quilt...

How do these UFO's stack up you wonder? I can sort of group them into these causes: abandoned class or workshop projects...abandoned because I either didn't like the technique or I decided I wanted to use different fabrics and started over (so yes, some have multiple abandonments!)

The blue scraps in this little quilt are from the strings used in my current Bonnie Hunter Mystery
Then there are the "left-overs." These are the natural and sometimes just scraps from a quilt that I start working with long after the original project is bound and finished.
Blocks from the cover of a magazine...magazine currently lost in the fabric piles!

These little blocks are the "leftovers" of the cover blocks...

Perhaps my greatest UFO generator is the internet. Yes bloggers, shop hoppers, and all the other quilt content producers you have caused a traffic jam in my studio! It used to be easier to "control" my quilt ADD...magazines only came once a month or so. Now? I have less focus than my Scottish Terrier....

Well, back to sorting....



19 comments:

Janet O. said...

You have some amazing UFOs. Mine are all pretty boring, and I know I couldn't fill all the boxes you have. Doesn't it feel good to dig in and organize so you know what you have and where it is? Good luck taming the the studio.

Paula, the quilter said...

Yes the internet can just suck a quilter in, can't it? I have been steadily working down my UFOs and trying not to generate another. *sigh* Good luck to you.

Quilt to the max said...

I too have spent time recently trying to sort my UFO's, etc. I am amazed at what I've started with good intentions, but have abandoned. My problem seems to be that I start making blocks, etc, but lose interest along the way. I'm thinking of making a medallion style quilt, with all the leftovers. I am at the point of listing them, but also find I have to label everything these days!

All the best, Susan(UK)

Loris said...

You have some great starts there. Hope you can enjoy completing some this year. They look very promising :-)

AnnieO said...

Lots of terrific projects live in your 36 boxes! I think my boxes, drawers and storage areas have at least that many as well. Gulp! Had to laugh at your internet story, and totally agree (she says as she prepares to cut into fabric for a quiltalong!)

Rosa said...

Love your awesome UFOs.I want finish some this year.

Jan said...

There are some good UFOs there. It is fun to start projects, and try techniques, isn't it?! Happy to see that I am not alone!

Richard Healey said...

I use to wonder why my mother had boxes of material and half completed stuff. 5 or so years back she tossed it all out (which I now regret). I started quilting less then a month ago and yesterday had to go to the store to buy bins to start sorting and organizing. It is addicting.

Taryn said...

Your post made me laugh. At myself. Glad to know it isn't just me. I get a little frustrated when the stuff outgrows the current storage bins but eventually I got buy more shelves and more bins and get things organized. I am also bitten by the learn to knit bug every five years (why is that??). I impress myself with my skills as a "beginner" each time and then get to a hard part - it was knitting on multiple needles this last time - and I stuff it all in a bag until I forget why I ever wanted to knit in the firs place. Want some knitting supplies?? Ha!

Merilyn said...

I had to laugh, what a predicament, and one in which we all find ourselves LOL!!!!
Indeed the internet certainly has a lot to answer for, and blogs, well enough said......LOL!!!!
Have fun sorting.........

Betty Lou said...

You have some wonderful UFOs, I can definitly see a color trend. Lately I have taken things (UFOs I not longer love) and put them on our Free table at guild. At the end of the evening they are all gone. I need to take more, let the purging begin.

Marj said...

Looks like you are getting things organized. I think I need to make an attempt to get all of my almost done projects organized. You are setting a good example.

sewkalico said...

Wonderful to look through your projects! I hope you get some progress made on them and not too many more started! :)

Ann Marie @ 16 Muddy Feet said...

I have lots of blog buttons on the right side of my blog to help with your UFO problem. It is going to help me too I hope.

Browndirtcottage said...

You are too funny!! When you figure out 'what you were thinkin' let me know...I think we were thinkin' the same thing!!!

Randy D. said...

I LOVE your ufos. They are inspiring, even if unfinished!

Clare said...

Some of those blocks are amazing. You're a hoarder of treasures.

And, yes, one blog leads to another, which leads to a site which leads to a patten, which leads to the fabric shop, which leads to purchases then back to the computer to find the pattern and the whole cycle starts again!

Tonya Ricucci said...

hee hee hee re the knitting. your orphan blocks would be fabulous sewn together into multiple quilts!!!!! love the little schoolhouses - fabulous as is for a little quilt.

Sandra said...

I agree with Tonya that 4 block schoolhouse is fabulous. You could send it to my house, I'll give it a good home.

Hope you have fun at the retreat.
Take care.