Here Is My List Of UFO Groups

This is the beginning

To truly begin you must know where you are starting from,

So I have hauled out all of those UFO's and

SORTED!!

The sorting process is truly an eye opening experience.  In the past I have made what I called a UFO list, but now I see that it was in no way all inclusive of the projects that I had in waiting.  I love the idea Pat Sloan had of sorting them into the groups.  It has felt good to finally get rid of some projects that I had started and had for years given me grief and guilt for not finishing.  It is alright to have changed what you like and move on in your quilting life.  So are you joining me in this sorting......purging process?

Drum roll please............and here is my list.

Group A:  Almost Done

• Brown/Yellow braid quilt (it is in the longarm now)
• Blue & Yellow Star Quilt (top is pieced, needs quilting, shown on far right in picture)
• My First Round Robin (Top is complete, Just needs quilting.  Shown on left in picture)
• Fishing Theme Quilt (Top is finished, just needs quilting.  I am going to finish this as a gift for our son & daughter-in-law in Washington state.  Will be a great Christmas gift for this year.  to the right of round robin in picture)
• Cathedral Window (This top is close to the size I want, think you can pick this one out....hehe)
• Black & Brights wonky star (A secret sister quilt from Debbie Miller 2005, all 24 blocks are pieced, forgot to put into the picture above, see below.

Group B:  Almost Done.......but I don't really want to finish it????

This was a very hard group and as you see there are not a lot of projects in this pile.......yet.  But there will be some suprised quilters who start digging through the bag of scraps at the meeting Monday night.

• Halloween Mantle Cover.  (I designed this in 1995 and started hand appliqueing the pieces, but have never finished the project.  I truly think this is going in the toss pile, loved the idea I had but have outgrown the project)  Wow that was hard to do and say.
• Burgundy and Blue Block of the month blocks- these were started in 1996 and are going into the bag of scraps for the guild meeting.
• Red and Black Card Trick blocks (Started in 1997 and I have 7 completed and pieces cut for others) another group going into the bag for scraps.
• Red and Blue Mountain Majesty blocks- (these were left overs from making the border for my "I Want You To Quilt" patriotic quilt you see on my blog.  I have 14 blocks left and have hung onto them waiting for another project to use them on...........but think I am done with them now.  I'll add them to the bag of scraps and orphan blocks I'm taking to the guild Monday night to give away to any quilter who wants extra scraps or blocks).

Group C: Partially Done--I love and want to finish.

Kaleidoscope Quilt in browns (20 blocks completed and lots of parts for other blocks.)

Crown Royal Star Blocks (Started 5/22/2002 and I have 14 blocks completed and bags to make more)

Purple and Green Paper Pieced Star Blocks (There are 20 finished blocks in this pile and they are pretty, I got these at a quilting yard sale at guild and I want to piece the top, add some borders and get it done.)

Eqyptian Themed Turning Twenty Quilt- (all the blocks are pieced, I just have to piece them into the top, add border and quilt.  I want to get this done as one of those throws to have around for cuttling under)

Roll, Roll Cotton Boll- (2010 Mystery from Bonnie Hunter.  Mom and I both did this quilt, I've gotten all of my blocks pieced, just need to decide if I want to do the given border or something different.  I have all of the border pieces cut)

Jar Quilt- This is from an online exchange I did in 2008.  (I have 21 blocks of all different sizes which are so cute, I definately want to make this into a wall hanging or lap throw)

• Patriotic Scrappy Bargello Quilt- (This quilt I started a few months ago to give to my uncle who was sick, unfortunately I did not make it in time for him to receive, but I have decided to complete the quilt and give it to his son Jason, I think Jason will appreciate the rememberence.  So now it will be a quilt in memory of his dad)

• Cheveron Quilt- I have 4 large cheveron borders that I pieced to go with a block of the month quilt I did way back in 1993 or 1994.  I pieced the quilt top all but adding these border pieces and a year or so ago I decided that I didn't like the quilt or the colors that I had made the blocks out of so I donated it to our philanthropy group for a Habitat for Humanity Quilt.  But I still had the borders.  I think I can make a bar design quilt and use something inbetween these pieces to make a throw......or that is currently the plan.....but the sorting weekend has not ended yet.)

• Halloween Scrap Pinwheel Blocks--(I have 35 of these pieced using scrap blacks and halloween fabrics in my stash.  I think I started this in 2006)

• Friendship Star Blocks- ( I have 12 blocks left from piecing my Starts Across Carolina quilt.  Enough to add some sashing or just borders and make a throw......I could do that for a Habitat donation quilt!

From making these lists I have come to the conclusion that I DO NOT NEED TO START ANYTHING HALLOWEEN, I believe I have enough of those type of projects in the pile!

Group D:  Barely Started

• Nutcracker Quilt- (I have all of the patterns for the quilt)
• Halloween Applique Quilt- (I have all of the patterns and materials for the blocks, borders, backing and binding.  This was a block of the month that I purchased and put into the pile, but I love this quilt and want to get it made)
• Halloween Swap Blocks- (These blocks are from an online swap that I did in 2009, there are 23 blocks )
• Rooster Table Runner- (I have the pattern and fabrics to make this)
• Paper Pieced Shirt/Tie Quilt- (I have shirts and ties from my grandfather and dad to make this quilt.  A project for the heart.  I have already made all of the paper templates for piecing.  Just need to take the ties and shirts apart to use)
• Birthday Quilt- This is blocks that were signed at my 50th birthday party, my bee friend Susan sent the blocks for people to sign, so special as some of those people are no longer with us.  I WANT THIS DONE as a beautiful reminded of how special each person in my life is.
• Patriotic Banner Quilt- (I have the pattern and fabric for this quilt, which I think was purchased in 2002 while in Canada)
• Bright and Gray blocks from Secret Sister 2009-Darlene Morse
• In this pile I am also putting--10 crumb blocks that I pieced in a Bonnie Hunter class and 6 scrap blocks that I pieced and still like.  I can make mug rugs or a small wall hanging out of these.  (I put into the give away scrap bag tons of orphan blocks......and I do mean tons......those that are not scrafed up by quilters Monday night will find a spot in the trashcan......but not coming back home.

 I have enjoyed this process and now am ready to get to the first tip on how to get these done.  I feel just sorting and getting rid of some has made a huge difference.  I'll post the first tip tomorrow and how I am doing with it.  Now off to another doctor appointment and getting ready for my bee tonight.

Happy Quilting,

Shelia

How To Slim Down Your Pile Of Unfinished Objects (UFO's)

While reading Pat Sloans blog about her classes and stuff she had a series of posts about ways and tips for getting those UFO's out of your To Do List.  Some of these were really intersting so I've decided to go through them to see if it will help with my pile of things to do.  If you want to see all of the things she listed you can visit her blog at http://blog.patsloan.com/12-ufo-buster-tips/

Today I am going to start sorting all of my projects into these groups.  I'll post my lists and or pictures of each of my groups this weekend.

Group A-Almost Done
Start sorting all of the projects that are almost done and put them in order of importance.

Group B- Almost Done......but.....
From the list above I know there are ones that I have started but truly don't want to finish....right?????  I agree with Pat "you don't need to finish everything you have started".
If you no long love it:

• give it away
• sell it
• but under no circumstances keep it.  trash it if you have to.....hopefully there will be another alternative, but anyway do not keep it.

Group C- Partially done and I Love the project and I want to finish it.

Now list your partially done projects.....just tops at this time and put them into order of importance.
So here is my list:  (If I can do this......you can do this)

Group D- Barely Started projects
This is the last group for you to sort.  The ones you have barely started.

• Just what is in this group
• Are they newly barely started projects
• Old barely started projects
• You must have done something to put into this pile.......sure you have.
• Collections of fabric and pattern do not count right here (great!)
• Take a Good.....Hard.....Ruthless.....Look at this pile.  Keep only the projects that you truly want to continue and finish.

NOW WHAT?  After all this sorting I'll start by evaluating each of these piles using Pat's 12 tips for working on and completing these projects.  Hopefully this will inspire me and help me sort through the past 20 years of quilting projects.  Help me make some sense of some things and move on from others.  Using this system I should have all of the pending projects sorted into 4 piles by this weekend.

Sounds like a great plan to me...........until the next tip.

Bee girls are coming over tonight so I need to have some sorting done but out of the way so we can have some fun........I am so ready for some fun.

Happy quilting,
Shelia

Nerves Are Shot!

I like to think that I am a pretty together woman and can handle most situations so today I was scheduled for the MRI of my cervical spine to see if we can pinpoint the reason for my headaches.  So I had to be there at 6:45 a.m. this morning, no problem, I'm a morning person anyway.  No worries, I know the techs since I work with them on a regular basis when we send ER patient's for MRI's. So why are my nerves shot????????  Oh My God!!!  I hadn't prepared myself for being totally encased in that MRI tube with a metal cage around my head and face, being pushed into the tube like a roll of sausage.....now mind you I am not the biggest girl in the world so I don't know how they get some of the people we send over there into that tube. 

Can't have headphones and music because I'm having the c-spine MRI.  So here I am in a tube with no music, my arms, hips etc. all touching the sides of the machine, my hands clenched together on my abdomen and I have 25 minutes to hold still.  Then the air-raid starts.  I sure think they could have found a way to make this thing a little less loud.........but after a while I could make a rhythm out of the bomb shells falling.

I made it though the test, but when David said he was bringing me out I could not wait to get out of that tube, room, building.  I almost think I ran to the outside.  I passed lots of people I knew in the hospital but I just kept moving.  By the time I got to Roger my hand were just a shaking.  Now I know exactly why patient's are always saying they will never have another one of those things.  Sure hope his pictures turned out good cause I don't think I can redo that!!  David said that I did great during the procedure.... good thing he wasn't in that tube with me he would have felt how hard my heart was pounding.  Haven't said the psalms and proverbs that many times in a row in a LONG time.  Thank you Lord for your words of comfort.

Whew........Now I just need to unwind and get myself back together.  Maybe some fabric to fondle will help.  Got to find something to take my mind off that tube. 

Happy Quilting,
Shelia

Pat Sloan Is Coming......Pat Sloan Is Coming!

Pat Sloan is coming to our quilt guild in March and I am soooooo excited.  Mom and I are going to be taking both of the classes she is doing and having her for a lecture also.  What more can you ask for!  Our Vice President Susan has been doing an awesome job of getting speakers and teachers to our quild.  We have so many talented women and men in quilting today that our learning opportunities are endless.

On the Saturday March 10th Pat will be teaching her 6 hour workshop

"Wild and Free" - create quilts with personality  

Below is the quilt we will be making and I am so excited.

Her description of the class:

Learn Pat's tricks to "punch up" your applique quilt backgrounds. No more neutral tan or beige backings.  Bring on the Color and the pattern to make your quilts sing! Pat's classic and popular "Mama's Garden" is the project quilt.  Then we will spend the day making the most spectacular background for your applique.

For the Sunday afternoon March 11th  Pat will be teaching "The Magic of EASY Machine Appliqué" - draw, cut, machine stitch, so easy anyone can do it!

Her description of this class:

Fast, Fun and you learn ALL of Pat's tips for making soft fusible appliqué! In class you will create a sample to test  your stitching. She walks you through each step of the appliqué process, from cutting to getting a great size blanket stitch on your machine.  For your project select "Little Blue Bird" or your "Wild and Free" project (if your group is having both workshops).

Then on Monday March 12th at our guild meeting she will be doing a lecture and trunk show.  That will be an awesome weekend in March......what a great birthday month that will be.

Tomorrow morning at 6:45 a.m. I am having my MRI done.  Hopefully we will have some answers with the results of this test.  I've spent part of today sorting through stuff in my quilting studio and organizing some of my scraps. 

Hope you were able to do some quilting today....if not, maybe tomorrow.  I am now off for the next five days and I do plan on getting some quilting done. 

Happy quilting,

Shelia

Electric Quilt 7

I have started playing with my electric quilt program.  Finally getting to do some designing.  It really is a great program.  Now I just need to get down all that it will do.  I plan on using it to help me design the block of the month blocks for our guild meetings each month.

I've been up since 1:50 this morning due to another crazy headache.  I see the doctor again tomorrow to schedule the MRI and see what else I can do (except amputate) that can help with these headaches.  I am taking off 5 days in a row to just relax and hopefully play some in my quilting studio.  Wonder how much I can get accomplished in that time frame???????   I know the idea is to rest, but gosh I haven't had that much time in my room in ?????? I don't remember when.  So  you know I HAVE to do some sewing and quilting.  But I do need to take a quick cat nap sometime so I can work this evening.  I'm covering for Amy at Greer so she could go to the Orange Bowl game in Miami. 

Now back to my design board, Happy quilting today.
Shelia

Happy New Year 2012

Can you believe that 2012 is already here?  Where does time go.  I remember when I was a young girl I was always impatient for the next season to get here and my grandmother would always tell me "don't wish your life away....time goes so much faster as you get older....enjoy everyday"
Well she was certainly right.  I can't believe how fast the years are passing.  Seems like just yesterday that we were welcoming in 2011. 

Hope that you were able to get some quilting in this weekend.  I am planning on doing some quilting and sewing later this week since as a nurse I am working the holidays!!

So what are my resolutions for 2012?
1-Stick to our plan for paying off our mortgage in 38 more payments.
2-Spend time everyweek quilting.
3-Finish or give away UFO's.  (this is one that I have got to do.  I have so many UFO's right now that it is just ridiculious.  I am going to draw out the name out of my basket.....you remember the basket from last year with all of my UFO's that I said I would pull one out each time I finished another project and either give away, throw away or finish?????  Well I am going to do JUST THAT this year......either finish, give away or throw away.
I think that three resolutions are enough.  I am always a goal oriented person so I just have to Get It Done!!  Make a plan, stick to the plan and reach the goal.

Many blessings to each of you in this coming year.
Shelia