Quilting UFOs

As I look back on when I started quilting, there are many things that I wish someone had told me. But there is one thing in particular I wish someone had drilled into me. I wish they had embarrassed me, harassed me, or taken whatever means to instill this message into my being. What is it? 

NEVER, and I mean NEVER, take on more than you can do! I'm talking about UFOs. 

Here's a piece of advice for any of you out there (not Elle, of course, as she's on top of it! and I'm darn jealous!) 

Whenever you think you want to start a new project, don't. Look at what you already have for UFOs, as well as those projects that you thought were stunning and bought the pattern, kit, or fabric for. That alone should be the deterrent. Never ask me if you should start a new project, because I'll just tell you you're an idiot - OK, I might say it a bit more politely than that. I think it's one of the reasons I don't follow any influencers on social media or belong to any guilds. Why? Because they are always trying to get you involved in THEIR current project. Fellow quilters? I have so many projects, it would make your head spin. I do NOT need another one. 

I know you are all like the teenagers we once were, and our children were, and you will NOT listen to me. That's OK, but please don't have your husband call me when you can no longer sew. I'm so done with being the person to clean up someone else's mess. I'm DONE and DONE. So, that advice once again — because this is important — do not start a new project. There will always be another cute pattern, project, or kit. They get more adorable by the year. Do NOT get sucked in! Be strong! 

Having said all that, I finished the second day of sorting and organizing my UFOS, and I've barely started. That's why I'm talking about this. You do NOT want to be me. Never!!! I'd much rather be sewing than sorting UFOs. 

I took so many pictures yesterday, and it's such a mess, I don't even know where to start! Yes -- it's that bad, and I'm sad and very disappointed that I didn't have a friend to shake me up many years ago and make me realize what I was doing to myself. I am SHAKING you all -- don't do it! It's not worth it! 

OK - let's try to make sense of what happened. 

I found this project for a Mariner's Compass, and I think it was a class taken at Quilt Canada in 2000. Good grief - only this much was done, and what an awkward way to do a Mariner's Compass. The fabric is back on the shelf. I'm not touching this one with a ten-foot pole. In case you are wondering, I'm ripping that center apart and keeping some of the pieces. 

A dead UFO

Oh, God — I found another tool. A ruler for foundation piecing. Thankfully, it is one of the old-style rulers, but still. 

Another lost tool

I found some bookmarks for two guild shows in a paper pieced project, both dated from 2015. Yikes!!!

Quilt show advertising

This is one of the blocks from the project. It was a class I taught in 2015 (most likely), and I remember Linda W taking that class. I have no idea why I remember that! Linda? Is your Christmas Pickle complete?

Christmas Pickle block

A considerable amount of fabric has been set aside for that project. And it doesn't fit nicely into my "one-project-one-box" theme. I've left it out to see if I can figure out how to reduce the fabric stash. I may even take it to the quilt retreat next week. Shhhhh -- yes, another quilt retreat. 

Fabric for the Christmas Pickle quilt

Let's say that with all the fabric I've put back on the shelves, it's as if I just went fabric shopping and bought hoards of fabric. What a silly, silly girl I've been! I believe that the space I'm sorting through now is one of the last places to sort, and it's a mess. However, I still need to review all the UFOs in the other areas. But I might wait until the fall, so I can at least do some sewing. This is time-consuming and exhausting, both mentally and physically. 

I found bins of fabric that had been sorted by type. NO --- this is wrong. That fabric is now organized by color in the fabric baskets. 

A collection of polka dot fabric

You know what they say when you are decluttering: the mess is only going to get worse! And it did. I started the day off with this pile of empty containers. I hadn't had time the day before to deal with them. 

Empty containers

And the ironing board was also covered with empty containers. Empty containers are good! 

More empty containers

Now let's see what we can do with some of those containers. I bought this suitcase-style container years ago, and it has sat on top of one of those shelves for years - EMPTY. It's time to use it. So I ditched the round cookie tin and paper bag that my scraps of binding were in, and they now reside in the suitcase! It looks much more fun. But there isn't a lot of room in here, so I'd better make a scrappy binding or two soon. 

My suitcase is filled with binding scraps

This next picture is embarrassing. It's downright indicative that I had some mental health issues at one point. It's about totally irresponsible behavior with no regard for money. This is ONE of many areas in my house that houses my UFOs. 

Pizza boxes filled with UFOs

However, they are neat, tidy, and labeled. And if you're counting, there are 75 boxes on that shelf, and some boxes contain two projects each. Even if I could manage one a week, that would take over ONE year to clear that shelf unit. Just that one shelf unit. 

WAIT --- in case you think I'm beating myself up, I'm not. I'm verbalizing it here because I want you to see the severity of the situation. I'm OK (sort of) with this mess - I knew it was there, but now I want to deal with it! I'm ready to tackle it and make progress on completing some of it. The first step was to clear my schedule for the future, which I've done and must continue to be diligent about what I take on. 

At one point in the day, as I was nearly done with finding a home on those two shelf units for the UFOs, I glanced up at the window and spotted this. 

A watcher? 

Wait - here's a closer look. 

MOM -- are you OK? I'm checking in!

Yes, that is Murphy spying on me. Just checking to see I haven't got killed by the deluge of crap in that space. 

But it also reminded me that along the top of that bookcase are more UFOs. I swear they are hiding everywhere in my spaces. It's somewhat overwhelming, to say the least. So I pulled them down and put them with the rest to see if I could find a home for them. 

Projects are still looking for a home

Wait -- this is the more recent picture with the stuff from the top of the shelf. My goal is to keep the top shelf in the stash room and the bookcase clear of items. 

More items that need a home

I left two things on top of the bookcase as I knew I wouldn't have room for them. But doesn't that look neater? 

So much neater!

I took some more pictures this morning, but didn't get them transferred to the computer. The two shelf units are now full! Everything is labeled, although when I went to look for a particular box this morning, I couldn't find it! FARCE!!!! 

It doesn't matter, and I've put the jacket-making boxes on those shelves as well. I hope to pull them out before the end of the month so I can work on them. As a result, a few things will need to go back on top of the bookshelf. It can't be helped, and I'm OK with that. I have a few things on the floor and the tables, and I may just load up the top of the bookcase just to get it out of my daily visual sight. 

I finished another customer quilt, which was good. 

Customer quilt - DONE

And of course, I had some assistance. Can you spot her? 

A spy among the sewing debris?

How about now? 

Mom - just a wellness check! 

She's very creepy because when you least expect it, she's watching me! I wonder what is going through her head? Something like, "I think my Mom needs help. She keeps muttering to herself in the dead silence of that sewing space. I'm just going to keep an eye on her to make sure she isn't sick." More likely, she is saying this instead, "MOM - let's play ball!"

Here are the two of them waiting in the hallway - likely because they thought they were going for a walk, which they were not! 

MOM - Are we going for a walk?

Although it's not super hot in the house, I set up a fan for Miss Lexi, and she was quite happy to sleep in front of it. But do NOT turn that up too high because she doesn't like the breeze! Go figure!!!

MOM- I'm OK!!

And when I was reading a quilting magazine on my iPad, I chuckled when they suggested putting a piece of flannel on the ironing surface to get a better grip on what you were pressing. HA --- I love my towel, even though I didn't get a chance to sew anything yesterday. 

I need to switch to my new phone this morning, so I downloaded all the 13,000+ photos to my computer and then deleted them from the old phone. The new phone and the old phone are now charged up. I can't make phone calls from the old phone, nor can I use TEXTING. So that has to be switched this morning. 

And I spent a long time on the phone yesterday with my service provider for other reasons. Well, if you remember, I saved $90 per month on my cell phone bill. I can potentially save over $100 on my internet, cable, and home phone bill as well, with a few changes that I must discuss with DH when he gets home later this week. 

It took forever to chat with the agent, but it was worth it. What will I do with all that extra money? Buy quilt projects? Not on your life! 

I am going to say it one more time. DO NOT - DO NOT buy a new quilt project. Just because your friend signed up for a class doesn't mean you have to. Just because a new pattern was released, doesn't mean you need to buy it! As I mentioned earlier, an equally cute one will be waiting for you when you're ready. 

I'm trying to envision the "FREEDOM of deciding to start a new project and actually having the time to complete that project! 

Now, don't get me wrong - I have no issues with starting a new project, but think about the reason: will you learn something, or is it a social thing? Starting a new project should NEVER be about FOMO (fear of missing out). That is the wrong reason to start something new. 

I have two classes in the fall, and in case you think I'm a hypocrite for offering them, I assure you that I'm not. As mentioned, if you can learn something, have a bit of social interaction (on Zoom), or the class will help you finish a project you already have, and you are committed to completing it, then I say sign up for the classes. But do you sign up just because? That's not good. I'm going to call it MINDFULLY choosing what you want to bring into your house! 

I also have a new strategy for my UFO club, which I should write to the group about, hopefully today. I will focus on those projects that can be cleaned up quickly. I found numerous panels with border fabric. I kept those because they are cute. Guess what? I could make two or three of those in a month and clean up several project boxes. Yes --- I'm going to try that and see if it clears some of the backlog. Those small projects will be donated to Project Linus. I do not need them! However, I also don't want to burden someone else with them, and I enjoy the process of making them. So, fast projects will be on my list of things to do for the fall! 

The hilarious thing is - I don't need to start a new project; I have so many, and many of them are still very new to me. I love all the ones I kept, and I will finish them or die trying! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!