Are you a piecer or a quilter?

See the date on this picture ... 2005!! and it is still not finished .. it sits in the cabinet waiting to be finished. I often wonder if I have turned into a piecer and I am not a true quilter. When I first started quilting I started and finished a project before even thinking of doing another one. Now I think I have Quilter's ADHD. I have gotten into the habit of starting a project ... piecing the blocks and maybe getting them into a top, if it is that lucky, then it sits and sits while I start another and yet another project. I have a wonderful friend Tirane who is a long arm quilter and does my quilting for me now that I turned into the piecer that I am. Yet I haven't been able to get myself into gear and get those UFOs/BOBs turned into real quilts. I am ashamed at the number of UFOs/BOBs I have in my sewing area. They are over running the place and yet I want to start new projects instead of finishing these. What is wrong with this picture? Am I just a piecer that is destined to have a ton of UFOs/BOBs forever haunting me? Is this a trait of a true quilter to have a large number of UFOs/BOBs sitting in their sewing rooms?
I have my 2010 goals listed and show only SIX little UFOs to finish of my upteen UFOs that I have in there. January is almost over and I have one UFO at Tirane's being quilted but haven't touched another one. I caved in and joined a couple swaps instead. I created a new UFO and added blocks to a couple old UFOs in the progress. Is it just me or do you feel guilty for not finishing your UFOs/BOBs and wanting to start a new project instead?
I was talking to a quilty friend last night and she does QOV quilts and will accept any tops I want to send her. I think this might be the answer to my prayers. Finishing tops and getting rid of UFOs/BOBs to free me from the guilt of starting new projects. This might be the way for me to get things thinned down in there. Part of the problem is that over time my taste in quilts has changed, my taste in fabrics has changed, my quilting skills have improved and my need to use what I have has taken over.
I hope someone else out there is in the same boat as me and can cheer me on and I them to make 2010 the year to finish those UFOs/BOBs and use up that stash too. Helping me to remove the guilt from my shoulders for wanting to start that cute paper piecing wall hanging instead of finishing my crumb top.
until next time ... happy quilting!!

Week 4 - Stash Report

I think all quilters at some point look at their stashes and think ... oh my goodness, where did all that fabric come from and what in the world am I going to do with it all. Well ... I got to that point last year and joined Judy's Stash Busting Challenge and I am participating in Judy's Stash Busting Challenge for this year too. I have so many UFOs on my shelves and enough fabric to make lots and lots of finished project. This year is going to be another good year to complete UFOs and bust some stash. If you are in the same mindset - come join in and see how well you do this year. CHECK-OUT how the rest of the stash busters are doing.
This was another good week, any amount busted is a good week right? I sold/swapped out some fabric and also made some swap blocks like these .... and working on some others (will post photos later maybe)


Fabric usage report ....
Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 4 yards
Fabric Used this Week: 1 yards
Fabric gifted/sold this week: 10 yards
Fabric Out Year to Date: 29.5 yards (woohoo ... we are rolling now!)

Thread usage report --I have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year. I know I will have to add white and beige here and there to do certain blocks but plan on using those oddies for piecing backing and my string and crumb blocks.
Spools added this week: 0 spools
Spools used this week: 1 spool
Total Spools used to Date: 2 spools
Total Spools bought to Date: 2 spools

until next time ... happy quilting

Stash Report Week 3

I'm am focusing this year on simplifing things and reducing the amount of 'things' around my house and that means in my sewing room too. I am choosing to do Judy's Stash Busting Challenge for 2010 .. come join in and see how well you do this year. HERE is a link to see how the rest of those in the challenge are doing.

This week, I think I did pretty good all things considered. I made a few blocks and sold some fabric.

Fabric usage report ....
Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 4 yards
Fabric Used this Week: .5 yards
Fabric gifted/sold this week: 8 yards
Fabric Out Year to Date: 18.5 yards (not a bad start)

Thread usage report --I have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year. So I'm keeping track to see if I can. Bought beige and white this week.
Spools added this week: 2 spools
Spools used this week: 1 spool
Total Spools used to Date: 1 spools
Total Spools bought to Date: 2 spools

until next time ... happy quilting

Pieces of my heart blocks

... after the emotional week I've had this week. Piecing these blocks seemed fitting.
I won't go into details but I lost a good friend of almost 25 years. It's hard to imagine him not here anymore. Please take some time to reconnect with friends who mean alot to you ... call if you can, write an email if you can't or send a text. Sometimes just a note can mean so much - who knows it might make their day a bit better and brighter.
Sorry it's been really rough ... loosing my friend and another friend's sister all at once is just alot on a person. Makes one have a heavy heart.
until next time ...

Stashbusting ... Week 2

Judy's Stash Busting Challenge for 2010 .. come join in and see how well you do this year.
LOOK and see what the others are doing.
I did pretty good this week. I made some blocks, sold some fabric and bought some fabric (I know that ain't good but ... it worked out) The fabric I bought is going right into a UFO so it will be busted soon. Nothing is coming in unless I have a plan for it.
Fabric usage report ....
Fabric Added this Week: 4 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 4 yards
Fabric Used this Week: 2yards
Fabric gifted/sold this week: 6.5 yards
Fabric Out Year to Date: 10 yards

Thread usage report --I have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year. So I'm keeping track to see if I can.
Spools added this week: 0 spools
Spools used this week: 1 spool
Total Spools used to Date: 1 spools
Total Spools bought to Date: 0 spools
until next time ... happy quilting

Snow and Sewing

This week I've been up early each morning so I got a chance to work on some blocks for swaps that I am a part of ...

I reworked this one for the Star BOM we are doing this year .. the points are now going the right directions.

These are Depression Blocks for a fellow swapper for the Friendship Swap. These were made using some of my precut 4Inch squares.

These are Pineapple Blossom blocks for another swappers in the Friendship Swap. These were made using precut 3.5 inch squares and 2" strips.

We got some snow on Thursday ... not alot but enough to call it snow. It is still on the ground. The kiddos had two days off school due to the icy backroads around the area. They had fun while they were off. The little puppy just showed up at our house and now he won't leave. He is so full of energy and little man loves playing with him.

Early Thursday Morning ... the snow is just starting. It almost looks fake in the pictures.
time to get busy with some cleaning and maybe more sewing this afternoon.
until next time ... happy quilting!

Stashbusting Report Week 1

and we're off ... this is going to be a year to reckon with. We'll be busting stash and workin on those UFOs (wait that isn't for this post) I'm joining Judy's Stash Busting Challenge for 2010 .. come join in and see how well you do this year.

This week I made Sadie Girl a doggie bed and was able to make some blocks. This week is kinda a smallish report. Next week will be better I know it ;o)

Fabric usage report ....
Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 0 yards

Fabric Used this Week: 1.5yard

Fabric gifted/sold this week: 0 yards

Fabric Used Year to Date: 1.5 yards

Thread usage report --I have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year. So I'm keeping track to see if I can.

Spools added this week: 0 spools

Spools used this week: 0 spool

Total Spools used to Date: 0 spools

Total Spools bought to Date: 0 spools

until next time ... happy quilting

Sewing and Organizing

I have been busy today, I even got the tree un-decorated.
While out town this morning I stopped at the store and I bought two of those great three drawer unit and sorted and got this cabinet neater. Still need to go through each basket to see what is really in them and put all the blocks inot the drawer units. It's a start though.

On one of the quilting site's I belong two we are doing a Christmas Quilt Along. We were to make two of the 6.5 inch Ribbon Star blocks to get us started for January. If you know me you know my quilt will be scrappy so here are my blocks ... made from my scrap basket.

and we are doing a Star BOM too ... for January we are doing this block but I got it wrong can you tell?? so I had to take it apart and redo it. It is corrected now, the points don't all go in the same direction now ... lol. If you'd like to play along with us I'll be posting my pictures monthly ... you can choose your fabrics and make them to suit you. I chose purples and creams to go with some other blocks I have made already.

until next time ... happy quilting

Today's UFO progress

Today I have been bee bopping here there and everywhere on projects and tasks I wanted to do.
I did some organizing in my sewing area. Sorted a basket of scraps.
Made a couple Pineapple blocks and a couple more Crumb blocks. The 9inch Crumb block will be turned into a hotpad. All this was made from the above scrap basket and it is still kind a full but everything has been sorted and pressed, nice and neat again. Tomorrow I will make some more pineapple blocks and might throw in some crumb blocks too.

Cut backing and batting for this table runner I found while sorting the other day. I have it pinned and ready to quilt it tomorrow. This will be a new runner to use on the old Singer Cabinet in my living room.

I have enjoyed this first day of 2010. I hope you had a good day too. I am happy with the progress that I made on my UFO projects and my chores around the house. I need to tackle taking the Christmas tree down tomorrow (bummer ... I love Christmas and when the tree comes down the magic will be gone)

until next time ... happy quilting

New Year ... New Goals and Plans List

I have plans and goals for the coming year. I have been thinking about these since Thanksgiving. Some are personal but for those who read my blog you know me and are here to encourage me through my struggles and I appreciate ya'll for this.

2010 Quilty Goals
1. Work on cleaning up my sewing area and getting it organized.
2. Work on and hopefully finish SIX UFOs/BOBs this year.
3. Make up precut kits while sorting and organizing this year.
4. Not buy fabric - use from my stash or swap for what I need.

2010 Personal Goals
1. Work on being a strong better me! I seem to always put myself last and it's time to change that a bit.
2. Play with the kids more - let the other stuff go when it's my weekends with them. They are growing up so fast and I feel myself missing out on so much we could be doing together. Life is busy but it's time to find time for the fun things in life.
3. Work on reducing the excess stuff around the house. Get things in order so it's easier to keep clean. My house may never be spotless but I want it clean enough for company to come without me freaking out. To get back to the basics of life ... what's really important will stay ... what's not is going in the next yard sale pile.
4. Work on my weight - lose 20 pounds or more, to get up and get active again.
5. Go on a real family vacation to .... not sure ... need to discuss this with the kiddos but it's in the plans for 2010. Hope to do this early Spring - Summer. Maybe to the mountains or go visit the beach.
6. Get my finances in better shape, keep cutting those coupons and finding ways to save and reuse and such. Learn to live within my means better.

Things to try or learn in 2010
1. To stipple ... top of the list
2. To try applique
3. To make homemade bread