What a week over here! It always amazes me that even in the midst of the busiest week I can sneak in some sewing time. Last weekend's move of the aunt got kicked up several notches, when the movers didn't show up on Friday to pack/move the last of the big items. She had to be out by Saturday...yikes! But a huge shout out to my family and friends for coming to the rescue. We got her moved all in one evening and we managed to break nothing. Hooray!!! But the busy week didn't end there, nope. Saturday I played runner/printer for my daughter's photo booth at our local Children's Festival. Her booth was a huge success and I think I sweated off an additional 10lbs from all that running back and forth. All I could think was thank goodness I'm down 25lbs!
Then we were facing homecoming week. A time for football and celebrating community. We had a small parade, a pep rally, the big game and of course a dance. Miss Jen decided to skip out on the dance. Like her momma, that isn't really her sort of thing.
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| I was continually running from the booth to the building in the back to print pictures. |
So what did I manage to sneak in? Not a quilt finish, but so close. I just need to decided on the binding and I can celebrate this finish with you next week.
My flying geese challenge project had the last long seam sewn as well. It is based on a free tutorial from Sizzix called This Way That Way Flying Geese. I say based on because I didn't use a dye cutter for my geese so my sizing is a bit different.
I also managed to sneak in finishing the third block for the Fireburst Mystery Quilt. They are safely buried in that stack of blocks so you can't see them. I hope to start piecing the finished tops together this weekend.
Next let's talk tackling UFOs and strategy.
If you are going to take over the quilting room, you have to have a plan. Just ask Caroline Kitty Cat, Princess of the Fuzzy Butts. She always has a clear plan for her goal and can manage to execute it within
I realize if I'm going to take over the UFO's in my sewing room, I need to have a plan as well. So I set down to analyze my list of quilts I'd like to finish before the end of the year. Nine of the quilts already have backings purchased. Of those, four are already basted and have the quilting started, leaving me with eight to still purchase backings for.
Next I moved all of the quilts on the list (with backings) to a more convenient place so that when their time comes to be quilted (and it will) I will have everything I need without having to waste time looking for it.
Hands down, the number one creator of UFO's is the "how do I quilt this question". I want to make sure I don't allow this road block to stump me further, so I've started planning my quilting now. I keep these print outs handy and work on them if I'm on the phone or trying to unwind for the night.
I haven't come up with full plans, just little jump starters to get my creative juices flowing. Not all of these quilts will receive custom quilting. I hope to take advantage of some edge to edge work as well. I will be talking about this process at an upcoming quilting event I will be attending in October. I've thrown out an invitation to other quilters attending to bring tops that have them stumped so we can come up with a plan together.
Do you have any great tips for tackling your UFOs or ways to come up with quilting plans? I'd love to hear about it.
Now let's take a look at last week's party. One of the things I wanted when I started this linky was a place for us to ask for help. For me confusion and indecision has allowed way to may UFOs to pile up. Chris from Chris Knits Sews put out a call for advice last week on picking fabrics for some up coming projects.
What better way to get that advice than to ask quilting friends?? If you haven't had a change to read her post make sure to check it out here and help her get these projects headed toward finished!
And celebrating a quilting finish last week we had Gail from Quilting Gail.
She shared with us her recent Flying Arrows baby quilt using an adorable Dr. Seuss layer cake! Make sure you visit Gail and help her celebrate her finish.
So now let's see what you've been up to this week. Link up below and tell us! I hope you were more productive than battling tweedle beetles in a bottle on a noodle eating poodle.
So..."Go forth and stitch
and stitch up a storm.
There are many quilts to make
to keep the good peoples warm."
--Tish (on quilting)
"And will you succeed?
Yes you will indeed!
98 and 3/4 percent
guaranteed!"
--Dr Seuss (on quilting he just didn't know it)
