2011 UFO Challenge Report

Here's my 2011 UFO Challenge list:  I didn't do very well.  There were some months that I didn't touch the project.  I'm not hanging my head in shame though.  I'm thrilled that I got some quilts finished and made progress on others.

1. 2009 BOM-blocks are finished, setting decided   Blocks have been turned in to a quilt top and is now ready for quilting.  The back and binding are even made.


2. Scrappy Twin Sister with back and binding  Nothing happened here.


3. Depression blocks top  Nothing happened with this one either.  


4. Hearts and Flowers-set of 12 blocks  Blocks were quilted using the quilt as you go method and sashing is almost all on.  I need to decide on borders and finish.  Maybe I should pick a day and do this. 


5. 9 Patches and Posies top  Nothing.......I don't think I even took it out of the bin.


6. Double Delight Quiltville Mystery with back and binding   DONE


7. Corn and Beans with back and binding   Nothing


8. Lime green butterflies top   Nothing


9. flannel Baby Yellow Brick Road with back and binding   Nothing


10. Carol Doak BOM with back and binding  DONE


11. Tumbling Blocks top  Done-Blog post photo.  


12. Bright Trip Around the World top  Nothing

7 projects where nothing happened, 3 finishes and 2 about finished.    I'll try to do better in 2012 but I'm not promising anything.

Yeah Me!

After years as a UFO, weeks on the quilting frame, Butterfly Garden is complete. I no longer feel like such a slacker! I think I like the Challenge Plan.

I kept my nose to it all day long. Even with Ernie coming and going most of the day, I kept at it.

After the quilting was finished, I cut the binding fabric. I was thrilled that I knew right where it was at! Then I decided to sew it together and press it. By now Ernie was headed to the dentist so why not put the binding on!

With leftover stew for a quick dinner, I machine stitched the binding down, marked it off the UFO list! and now it it ready to be fluffified!

Yeah me!

Quilting Challenge Plan

Inspired by Quilter Kathy, I have created my very own Quilting Challenge Plan.

My November 2011

Quilting Challenge Plan

1-Make a plan. Pick a project, write down the plan for the project.

2-Work up the courage by practicing and by saying kind words to myself.

3-Be brave and just start.

4-Have faith that it will go well and if it doesn’t,

have hope that I can figure it out with another plan.

5-Relax and have fun!

Here is the first part of my project. It is one of the projects on my 2011 UFO Challenge list. This is the project from April! For heaven's sake!! April. It has been on the quilting frame since September. I am so frustrated with myself sometimes. I am so close to being finished with it but just don't do it. To say I haven't been in the mood is an understatement. Granted I have had a few other things happening but my life is fairly calm now and it's time to focus.

I need to focus on that project so I can quilt Corbin's quilt. The top is finished, binding and backing are ready. The frame is not ready. I am working on that today.

So here is my plan of action.

1. Finish the quilting on the Butterfly Garden quilt.
2. Load Corbin's quilt.
3. Quilt Corbin's quilt using a large meander.
4. Bind Corbin's quilt.
5. Bind Butterfly Garden.

Such easy things that just need to be started.

I am done beating myself up over this stuff. Quilting is supposed to be fun. I am going to have fun!

Design Wall Monday

I spent all weekend finishing the top from the class and kind of got sidetracked away from my April UFO project. That happens pretty often with me. But I'm now back to work.

I needed 4 more sashing sections, made one, thought I'd made the second until I put it up on the board. What did I do?? Why won't this fit??? I used the extra strips instead of the ones for this quilt, so that kind of stopped me right in my tracks. And the fact that someone asked if I was going to stay hid out in my room all day. Umm, that kind of was my plan~~~~

Also on my wall it a little table topper that needs finished. I used a block out of the Quilt Mavens book. Recently Deb Karasik was a guest speaker at the quilt guild. (I am regretting not being a member of the guild because I missed seeing her. Boo Me!) Anyhow, I remembered this little UFO. I got it out, printed a few border sections to make it bigger and now I'm thinking about it more. And I have a plan...........

Grab a cup of something and visit Judy L to see what everyone other walls look like today. I love Monday in Blogland.

Design Wall Monday

I added a few more crumby flying geese to the crumb blocks bin. These blocks will finish at 6" but here there look like they are about 24". It was really hard on Friday to stop with just one block. But I did it~and then Saturday I made 3 more and put them up on the wall. Every time I looked at them I wanted to sit down and make more~~but I didn't!

I worked on this instead, April's UFO Challenge project. I am doing the quilt as you go method that I learned watching Betty Cotton on Sewing With Nancy several years ago. After doing one quilt this way and saying I would never do another, I decided to give it another go. And you know what, I'm having a blast doing it this time!


All blocks are quilted, the short sashing is made and 2 blocks are connected. The border fabric is just hanging out there to see if it will live with this quilt........I'll decided after I put on the inner border. I can't wait until I can get in there today to do more! There are no beans to can, zucchinis to take care of or tomatoes to peel. It looks to be a sewing room kind of day!

Go over to Judy L's and see her colorful design wall and then visit other great quilters to see what they are up to.

Design Wall Monday

My design wall is empty! But on my never ending quest to cross every single project off my UFO list, these are what I am working on right now.

This is project #4 on my list for Judy L's 2011 UFO Challenge. That number was drawn in April! April, for heaven's sake. The only progress I made on these blocks was to take them out of the bag, put them up on the wall and arrange them into rows. I didn't pull any sashing fabric or border fabric or even backing. I just pinned the rows together and put them neatly back into the bag.

While I was quilting, I needed to take a break so I sat down at my sewing machine and didn't have anything to work on! What! There was nothing right there that I could sew. Not even a leader/ender that could be sewn together-I need to cut more scraps for bow ties. I looked up and saw this bag of blocks and right then decided I was going to do them as quilt as you go. Backing is all cut, batting scraps are going to be used and a few are cut to size. I test drove the decorative stitch I thought I wanted to put around the block but decided to do it in the sashing instead. The quilting on the blocks will give me a chance to play with my sewing machine.

In Saturday's post, I thought this quilt top was completed sometime in 2010. Last night I was browsing back through my blog and I found this post. That is over 2 years ago. 2 Years!!! I've been thinking about quilting this quilt for 2 stinkin' years. Well the thinking is over and it's loaded and advanced a few times.

So 2 quilting projects are what's happening for me this week. Wish me luck. I can't wait to see what others are working on this week. Visit Judy L here to find out.

What Do I Do When It's 90+ Outside?

I Quilt!

Turbo Tested, Turbo Approved

This baby quilt was pieced last September! Almost a whole year ago. I got it out a couple days ago, loaded it onto the frame super fast using my new Red Snappers (I swear these are changing my quilting life!) that Gari talked about in a couple February 2011 posts. I thought a long time about getting them and one day I decided I needed them. I really glad I bought them. Sometimes a quilter needs a new tool! In no time at all, I was unsnapping the quilt and adding binding. Now this little gem will be washed and put away until a sweet little baby girl needs a quilt.

I woke up this morning at 3:00 and couldn't go back to sleep so at 4:15 I got up and started sewing. I added the final 3 border pieces to the Split Decision baby quilt that hasn't been touched since March. Then I made and pressed the binding and pieced the back. It is ready for quilting. Instead of loading this one, I picked my 2nd oldest UFO and loaded it.

This quilt was started in 2002 as a Row Robin and finally put together into a top sometime in 2010 and then promptly put on the to be quilted mountain and forgot about. It is now listed as quilting in progress...........that's a good thing.

I have big plans to catch up on the 2011 UFO Challenge list. One quilt is waiting to be next and a set of blocks is waiting for sashing.......Plans, Big Plans!

A Finish, A Finish, Finally A Finish!!

Can you hear me singing? If so, I'm sorry. I can't help myself. I have finally finished this UFO. I have not been very successful with the 2011 UFO Challenge. I posted about my February project here and here and again here.

Today I will post that it is finished! My new goal for August is to get a couple more of these UFOs marked off my list. I am motivated now more than ever before to reduce that pile of quilt tops. I would love it if I could have a year when all of my planned projects are complete. Realistic? Maybe not but I'm sure going to try. So 2 finishes with 7 left to be caught up. Can I do it? Let's see. I may need a push now and then, but please be gentle.

Now I must do something to get ready for company tomorrow....

Hanging My Head In Shame

I was so excited when Judy L started the 2011 UFO Challenge. I couldn't wait to get started. I made my list, posted my intentions and completed January's project.


Then I moved on to February's project. I did nothing about it in February and waited to load the top until March 19th. I am embarrassed to say it has been on the frame for weeks. I knocked the timing out and I am still tweaking and it is not going well. It would go better if I went in there and worked on it until I had it perfect but I don't. I'll fiddle with it for a while, get discouraged and sit down and sew instead. So February's project is staring at me all the time. It makes me feel bad about myself. :>(


When March's project was chosen, I was so excited to put those blocks together into a finished top. I am not saying this UFO is done until it is quilted and bound.

These are the blocks for April. I took them out of the bag to take this picture last month. I put them back in the bag. My Mojo was missing so these were not even thought of. Again, looking at them makes me feel bad.


This little beauty is May's UFO. I think I have a few more blocks stashed away to add to this, maybe not...I don't know. With a new grandbaby due in October, I am excited to work on this one.

With the return of the Mojo, I have been busy, but I haven't been working on my UFOs. I plan to change that but not today. Today is a super nice sunshiny day and I am going outside to enjoy it. Ernie is on the tractor and I have a couple projects for him. It is supposed to rain again tomorrow......I'll sew then.

April's UFO Challenge Project

Judy L has picked #4 for this month's 2011 UFO Challenge project. The blocks on the right side of the photo are hearts and flower blocks made for me by a group of fabulous quilting friends and had been laid out and pinned into rows. I need to find some sashing, border and backing fabric for this quilt.

The hearts and flowers blocks were sent to make into donation quilts. I use them as heart healing blocks. Sometimes I spiral into depression over the reason for these blocks (not going to go into that story) and I need to work my way out of it. This is a good month to remember our sweetheart with joy and make this quilt to heal someone else's heart.

The blocks on the left were won by my friend and given to me to do something with and for some reason I put them in the bag so I guess I should do something with them. I never say no to a stack of blocks. I'll need to think on this one for a while.

Goodbye March...

...I don't think I'll miss you much.

Judy L's 2011 UFO Challenge number for March was 1.
This is how my #1 looked at the beginning of March.

This is how my #1 looks at the end of March.
The top is finished, the binding is made and pressed,
the backing is 2 pieces of fabric waiting to be cut and sewn to the correct size.
Heck, even the batting is cut, the thread is chosen and in the project bag!
I even know how I am going to quilt it.
But....

Sometime back in February, my Mojo got lost.
It has now made a few return visits and I believe it may be here to stay.

After my frustrations of yesterday are resolved,
I will finish February's UFO project,
and then load this gem on the frame.

Saturday Fun

Happy National Quilting Day

That's right, it's National Quilting Day and I am going to celebrate! Really I am going to quilt! I think I'll put something delicious in the crock pot so I won't have to think about dinner until it's dinner time! Ernie is off wood cutting today so that will make my day very easy.

I finally started quilting my February UFO from Judy L's challenge. I lost my Mojo sometime in February and now that it's back I'm hoping it stays around for a while. I'm a little nervous though with spring right here close and so much needing to be done outside......but in reality, spring might be here on the calendar but it isn't here yet with the weather. So I still have quilting time!

If you are a quilter, enjoy our day! If you aren't, why not???

Design Wall Monday

I started the weekend with this on the design wall.

I ended the weekend with this on the design wall.

I made great progress on my UFO #1.

I am a happy camper.

See other happy campers here.

March UFO Challenge

This month Judy L pulled UFO #1 for the challenge. This is my #1, blocks from a small internet group BOM that started in August 2009.


The blocks are 9" finished and I did pretty good keeping up with making the blocks, then I stalled. After playing in EQ7, I came up with an on point design and needed to make one more block. I chose the heart block in the center. That is the block we use when we make a comfort quilt for a group member and I thought it belonged there. Then the printed quilt picture and the blocks went into the bag and into the UFO bin until I pulled them out for this challenge.

I used only fabrics that were in my scrap basket and 2 fabrics for the backgrounds. I stuck with that plan for the whole year. I decided this weekend would be a good time to finally get the top put together.

Last night I left the sewing room with this ready to put on the final border today. While playing in EQ7, I ended up with 4 different border designs. I decided to not go with a pieced border so this quilt does not stay a UFO.

And now for my confession~~February's UFO, still not finished! Yes, I know, sad face here too!

February's UFO Challenge Project

Judy L has posted the next number for the UFO Challenge. My #1o is a BOM from Carol Doak's Yahoo group. I went in the sewing room and found the project bag and started looking back through my blog for history of this quilt. This BOM started September 2007, here is a post showing my first block. Then another post from June 2009 showing more progress including some unsewing.

I didn't see any other posts about this quilt. Kind of odd because I really like this top. My bad habit continues. Finish the top, put it on Mt. ToBeQuilted and forget about it. At least the backing and binding were in the bag with it. I think this top calls for some special quilting. Since I will be keeping it for myself, I won't stress about it too much.

Finish #2

I'm calling this one finished! In reality it's almost finished.......but will be done, done, done by this evening! I'm headed in to sew the binding on and then I am going to finish it by machine. Add a label and do the happy dance.

I chose this project as UFO#6 for Judy L's UFO Challenge. This is Quiltville's 2008 New Year's Eve mystery called Double Delight. From looking back in my blog, I see I made good progress during January and then who knows why but it got put away. Then looking at more photos, I see the borders were added and the top was finished in November 2009 and folded up and put on Mt. ToBeQuilted.


I used a twin sheet for the backing and of course it isn't wide enough. I made these orphan blocks from parts of several quilts including Double Delight and thought this was a good place to use up these blocks.

Thanks Judy L for the 2011 UFO Challenge and for choosing UFO #6.

2011 UFO Challenge

Each year on January 1, I make a list of my UFOs. I don't do it to torture myself and promise to get them all finished up because I know I won't do it. I do it purely to see what I have finished and what I had started and not finished.

2011 is not going to start that way. I am not going to make a list of all my UFOs. I am joining in on Judy L's 2011 UFO Challenge so I am only going to list 12. Click the link and see what I'm talking about if you don't already know.

I made my list, I checked it twice, I've been naughty and I've been nice---sorry, I get carried away! 2 are sets of blocks, 5 are competed tops and 5 are completed tops with the backings and bindings made. I have lots of others in case I get crazy and want to do more. Really my goal for 2011 is to quilt lots of quilts.

Here's my list:

1. 2009 BOM-blocks are finished, setting decided
2. Scrappy Twin Sister with back and binding
3. Depression blocks top
4. Hearts & Flowers-set of 12 blocks
5. 9 Patches & Posies top
6. Double Delight Quiltville Mystery with back and binding
7. Corn & Beans with back and binding
8. Lime green butterflies top
9. flannel Baby Yellow Brick Road with back and binding
10. Carol Doak BOM with back and binding
11. Tumbling Blocks top
12. Bright Trip Around the World top