How a little bit of FOCUS can WIN in quilting

Like all the quilters out there, MOST of us struggle with focus. We spot a new class, a new pattern, some shiny new gadget, and we are off in another direction before we even know what happened. After many years of following my eyes and ignoring the ever-growing mound of UFOs, a few UFOs are hanging around. 

I also had no issues buying fabric, like it was candy! It was because of that mound of fabric that several years ago (around 10, I believe), I stopped randomly buying fabric just because I liked it. I still buy fabric, but only when I need it, and it is a good idea to be careful with prices these days. 

But those UFOs are still there! The brand new kits are still there, and all the patterns I knew I had time to make are still there! 

I started keeping a list of UFOs in 2017. The intention of the list was to pick 12 bigger projects and work on them during the year. I keep adding to that list every year and will do so again, but sadly, it's been a challenge to tackle every UFO on it, as some are HUGE. The 2017 list is complete and resulted in 22 quilts, not 12. Why make one of the same thing when you can make two? Everything for 2018 is also done. There are two left for 2019, and I plan to work on those this year. 

I've also completed some of the others in the years 2020 - 2025, and I think it's a good idea to have a list! Here's the thing—when I start a project, it's because I really want to make it. I use good fabric, and after evaluating the projects, I still want to work on them. 

I also started the UFO club back in 2020, and that has been an enormous success. I haven't kept track of everything that I've accomplished, but it's been a lot. Not as much as I would like, but more than if the club had not started. 

Now here's the thing --- I got swamped with work during the pandemic years and even after, and so there were times when my focus wasn't on finishing those UFOs. And I would pick a large project and work on small bits each month. I have made progress, but it was hard to see. The piles of UFOs haven't changed much, and let's not forget that "current" projects table, which is still buried!

I'm switching tactics! I've decided to work on the almost-completed projects instead of the big ones. Last month at the UFO Club, I put SIX things on the list of things I wanted to accomplish. None of them would take very long to complete -- perhaps a day each at the most. 

Because I was away earlier this month, I left the UFO stuff to this week. I wasn't feeling up to snuff for a day earlier this week, so I'm down to the wire - yet again! However, I made good progress yesterday. I won't share it with you yet because I want the UFO Club to see it first. 

But there are a few things I can share with you. I have to say that the six things I chose have been sitting around on the current projects table for a very long time. I put them into the blue bucket that sits on the cutting table, and if needed, it was easy to set the bucket on the floor to access the entire cutting table. That system has been brilliant and is working like a charm. One of the tricks to completing things is to find a way that works for YOU!!! 

Some of the projects were at the finicky stage - I needed to find some supplies (which I had), or I needed to do a bit of stitching, or whatever, but all were finicky! 

One of them involved this Halloween fabric. 

Halloween fabric that I had to dig out of a tub in the storage room

The second project involved all this fabric. I took what I needed, and then what to do with the rest? It's a nice collection, and there is quite a bit of fabric left. The solids were placed in the solid fabrics bucket. 

The leftovers from another project

The scraps and the remaining fat quarter bits were put into a plastic bag and shelved. I don't really have a spot for collections, but maybe I should make one. There is loads of fabric there to make another quilt and still have leftovers. 

The leftover fabrics from making a quilt

Someone had asked me the other day about what to do with leftovers from a collection. If I really like the collection, I want to keep it together rather than put the fabrics into my stash. At some point, it might get pulled apart. I'm not sure. 

That project also involved removing all the stabilizer from the machine embroidery. 

All the stabilizer has been removed

And I chose a backing, but the more I looked at it, the less I liked the cream backing with the clean white background. 

Not a fan of this cream colored fabric on the right

I went back to the stash of backing fabrics and found this instead. This had been purchased as backing for a specific quilt. Well, the quilt isn't even on the radar, and there was just enough. It got used for this quilt! 

The new backing fabric

Once those two projects were marked "complete," it was time to evaluate the remaining four. Again -- these were all in bits and pieces, and I had to take some time to organize myself and see what needed to be done, what materials still needed to be found, etc. 

A few half-square triangles were made while working on those remaining four projects. 

More half-square triangles

I mostly worked on one project and got all the stitching done yesterday, and finished up the machine embroidery this morning. And then I spent the rest of my early morning work session focusing on the interlinings, stabilizers, and batting needed for the projects. Everything is pretty much cut, fused, and ready to assemble. 

The four remaining UFO projects - ready for assembly

I also went back to the current projects tables to see what I could work on for UFO Club for January. Again, I picked several small projects that won't take long to do, but have been hanging around for a long, long time. While you can't really see an improvement in the current project's tables, some of the areas are now down to ONE layer of stuff, not many! And those projects are on my 2026 goal list. 

If I were smart, I would just continue working on the new batch of UFO stuff once I complete my writing assignment! Or at least do one a day until they are done! 

I have had enough of this mess, and I want it out of my house or at least as a finished object, or as something ready to be quilted. That's a whole other story that we won't go to at this moment. 

Earlier in the week, I was feeling a little down looking at all the stuff that had to be done, but after yesterday, I'm fired up and very confident I can finish those four projects today. Most should take about an hour. OK -- If I have goofed on the time and each takes two hours, I still have time to complete them before Sunday morning. 

Here's the other thing. I've been waffling on a mystery sew-along that I saw online. It looks interesting, it's not very big, but I've been waffling. This morning, I made a decision. I will NOT do the project. I do NOT need to add to my to-do list. I already have significant tasks assigned for the months ahead, and why go off track when the year hasn't even started? Usually, at this time of year, I'm gearing up to begin teaching a new class. Not this year, and I am thrilled to have the extra time on my hands! 

It makes me a bit sad, but let's get real here! Am I serious about the UFO mess, or am I just blowing off steam? I AM SERIOUS!!! Plus I have two challenges facing me in the early part of the year and I had better get started on those! 

I walked past Indigo yesterday and had to stop in to see if there was anything I "needed." I found nothing, but I noticed they are still doing the jigsaw puzzles, and this one was complete!

The completed jigsaw puzzle at Indigo

When I left the house yesterday at 4:45 AM to be at the gym by 5, it was crazy foggy outside. This is the view from my car in the parking lot. You couldn't see anything. Thankfully, the roads were pretty empty at the time. 

You could barely see the building for the fog

But it kind of freaked me out when I turned onto the main street and immediately saw flashing police lights behind me. WHAT? I didn't do anything - I'm barely on the street. It turns out he was using the flashing lights to go through all the red lights. Hmmm --- in a hurry for a bathroom or coffee break, or was there a place he needed to be? I noticed that one of his headlights was out, so I was going to use that as ammunition if he stopped me!

What is with the weather? I went to the gym in shorts yesterday! Yep—the weather here is crazy warm.

Shorts at 5 AM on December 18 OUTSIDE

For any of us who thought we might have a white Christmas, think again. All the snow is gone except for the piles I shoveled at the end of the driveway. It started to rain in the afternoon, and I think it rained all night. It's still raining. My backyard is bare, and while the pond is not entirely free of ice, it's definitely not stable. 

And I've learned that I sew and function BETTER when I'm alone. I need access to all my machines when I need them. I need the space. So when KU returns, I will have Studio U set up for her. It's a complete sewing room, equipped with rulers, cutting mats, etc. I'll put my old sewing machine up there for her, and she can sew to her heart's content. 

If she wants advice, she has to come down or text me! I can work in a group setting, but I have to be prepped for that, like at a retreat. But to work in a group setting in my place? It doesn't work for me. Unless there is a specific event, like the play date scheduled for Saturday with one other person. But we are working on a particular project, and each of us has an embroidery machine. That I can cope with! This date has been pushed back for almost a year! Today, well, tomorrow is the day!

Oh my --- I had a dream last night. Actually, I've had many dreams over the last couple of nights. One night, I dreamt that I was pregnant. Oh, my— what does that signify? I was afraid to look, but it's actually a good dream. It means new beginnings, personal growth, creativity, or significant life changes. Yes --- as I'm ramping up for 2026, there are a lot of changes! 

Last night, my dream was about being on a cruise ship! Oh my god --- I have vowed that I am years away from taking a cruise for vacation. I don't have anything against cruises; it's just not the type of vacation I want at this time in my life. 

Anyway, that dream can also be impacted by new changes (destinations), but I think it mostly came about because I finished reading 438 Days by Jonathan Franklin. OH MY --- it's a true story about a man who was swept out to sea and drifted for 438 days. He left Mexico and ended up on the Marshall Islands, 7000 km away. If you look at those teeny tiny islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, you have to say he was incredibly lucky, or there was divine intervention to have him drift to that tiny string of islands. 

What I liked about the book was that there were two men in the boat, but only one made it. The difference? One had hope and fought to live, the other gave up hope and died. That's it in a nutshell. I'd like to think I would be the one who lived. But I can't imagine being on a 23-foot boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for 438 days. Yikes!!!! Just the thought of being on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean is too much at this point! 

It's a good read if you like true stories. 

As predicted, my arms are sore this morning from my workout, but nothing is going to stop me from working. 

I'm home alone all day, except for the girls, I have my projects mostly prepped and ready to assemble, the weather is crappy, so no need to be outside. I'll put on some good music, and I'll be sitting at the sewing machine for most of the day!!

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!