Week 2- Roadtrip

As I said in my last post, I am getting ready for a roadtrip so...I was getting placemats ready to be bound.  I did get somewhat farther in that the binding is on all of them and 3 of them are finished.  I plan to take the last 3 on the road so that they will be finished by the time I get back.  I figure that several hours in the car should get them done.

I also loaded one of the quilt tops I want to finish onto my quilting machine.  I have also decided on the design for the quilt, but the actual quilting won't start until we are back from our trip.  Made a bit of progress on my project from Barb's class.   Getting it done by guild should be doable, but I make no promises....I will just do my best.   And that is what I want from anyone following my blog....just do what you can when you can. Any progress is progress!

So, until next time  keep moving towards the finish line.

Best,
Vicki

Week 1

Hi Friends,  just wanted to update you on my progress on finishing my UFO's.  Have to be honest and say that I didn't get as much done as I had hoped, but I did get something done.  The first thing I did was to decide on the top projects that I want to finish.  These include:  placemats and napkins, 2 quilt tops to get on the quilting machine so that they can be finished, a snowman wall hanging, and finish 2 quilt tops that are in varying stages of completion....(these are coming to Bethelwood with me next month).  What I did get done was to make the binding for the 6 placemats and get it stitched to two of the six.  I am getting these ready for an upcoming road-trip so that I can stitch them down then.

My strategy for the UFO's is to start with a smaller project that can be finished in farily short order.  I figure that this will give me extra incentive to work on the next project, etc.  I am hoping that this works and will keep you posted on that.

Also,  I am working to finish a table square from Barb's "working with striped fabric" class last week.  I want it to be a NewFO (Newly Finished Object) rather than an addition to my UFO pile.  My goal for this piece is the Feb. Guild meeting or sooner.

Guess that is it for this week....let me know if your UFO's are moving towards the NewFO category!

Getting Started

Thought I would start by sharing how this all started.   Last year I was asked if I would consider being Chairperson of the UFO's (Unfinished Objects)  for the York County Quilt Guild.  I agreed to take on this challenge because I probably have 10 or more UFO's in my closet, and would like to finish some of them this year. 

I considered several activities to encourage members to participate and couldn't decide on anything...then two things happened.  First, I finished 2 projects in December by my self-imposed deadline.  One of these was a sweater I started for my daughter in the spring, and the other was my daughter's wedding quilt (she has been married going on 3 years).  But what was more exciting about the quilt is that it was once a UFO!  I actually started it when my daughter was about 10.....it took 18 years, but it was finally finished!  I felt great!

Just after finishing I saw a piece by Gail Blanke who wrote a book "Throw out 50 Things."  The idea was that it is liberating to get rid of things that clutter our lives and keep us from moving forward.  Then it hit me....my UFO's were cluttering my creativity and keeping me from moving on to new things, new techniques and new quilts. 

So....this year I am introducing the Guild to the Finally Finished Challenge.  Anyone who wants to participate is welcome.  I have 5 projects that I am challenging myself to finishing by the Guild meeting in November. I hope to finish more,  but think that 5 is a realistic goal. 
I will use this Blog to keep you updated on my progress, provide encouragement, suggest strategies based on what has worked for me.  So now, let's get started....

1.  Decide on how many projects, and give yourself  goal date.

See you next time!
Vicki