Saturday, June 9, 2018

Need to Focus.....

Does anyone else have the issue with getting close to a finish ... and you just can't make yourself sit down and finish it? (Insert hand stitching binding on graduation quilt and hand quilting dark blue dresden) Hmmmmm might be why I have so many UFO's hanging around? I really do need to get binding done so that will be this weekends goal - to finish the grad quilt.


Another question - how do you select which UFO to work on? I have been working diligently this year on hand quilting the dresdens.... and am nearly done (if I will just pick it up at night and quilt it that is!).

I did get my churn dash quilt top quilted and sent off... in the nick of time to Hands 2 Help - Little Lambs.

I'm starting to see a pattern..... if I have a deadline I wait until the last minute and get it done in the nick of time. I think I need to get back to starting my monthly goals again to work on a UFO to make progress. But then again... that comes back to the 'which one to work on'? Sigh....

Knowing I need to prep some things to take with me on my trip (the heart and nines quilt will get basted for hand quilting... shoot, not sure I want to pack my quilting hoop for the plane..... will have to rethink that one...and see if the hoop fits in the checked bag and hope it doesn't break?).

In the spirit of moving something forward.... I caught up a little bit for the pink RSC Challenge of May. I needed some bow ties and 16 patch blocks. Since it is June it was time to take stock and see what is missing on these....

Added 2 pink

Added 12 pink bow ties.
 I managed to get both done Thursday after getting the heart quilt to a top. I started both of these last year and some months got completely ignored by life I think. I'm trying to fill in this year.
I think I am good on teal except for a few friendship stars that could get done this weekend. I have 12 in purple and red and about 8 in light blue.

I need to make the pink and teal Challenge blocks as well. 

Linking up to RSC On Saturday and Kathy's Quilts and the Slow Sunday Stitching on Sunday. Also linking to Oh Scrap on Sunday.

It was a busy last half of the week. Gymnastics Wednesday with Emily - I got almost half a dish cloth knitted in pink and started the decrease at the library in Beverly Hills on Thursday where I met up with Grandma for a program that Emily wanted to go to. It was a day at the ranch theme. A couple of books read then a whole bunch of activities after including roping some orange cones, rounding up the cattle (balloon cows) with a fly swatter and pool noodles for a horse! Lots of other craft activities that the kids collected and did that afternoon with Grandma.

They had a bunch of horse books.... so she took out 4 and Emily read 2 that day! Found out how to get her to read finally. Grandma took the kids home with her and I got an afternoon to sew.... and a night out with the girls at Painting with a twist. This was my take home - it came  out pretty good and is hanging in my office!

Friday she had a riding lesson in the morning, I went back to work for a few hours then Aidan had an hour guitar lesson which I had to drag him to... but once there he enjoys and it was all guitar and songs for him the rest of the night.

Emily and Belle - a half arabian retired show horse who is so small because of being premature and heath issues as a baby. Perfect size for kids learning to ride though - she is Emily's favorite!

Emily wanted a movie night with popcorn..which she can now eat that the braces are off. We watched Frozen. All in all, another busy week at my house.

16 comments:

The Joyful Quilter said...

Only a few CoM blocks to catch up on and the grad quilt is almost done. Nice work! LOVE your painting, too. What a FUN evening you must have had!

Quilter Kathy said...

It's hard to decide sometimes, but we can never make a wrong decision... all stitching progress is great! Usually I have some bossier/louder quilts that demand attention. The quieter ones seem to take longer. However, I do gravitate to hand binding at all times and would have that done jiffy quick!

Ivani said...

Yeah something happens here and there is always an issue when it is almost finished...
Sit down, relax and bind it. It will worthwhile each stitch. Happy stitching

Cathy said...

I machine sew my bindings these days after years and years of hand sewing them. I had one bad thread experience about 3 years ago with a name brand thread failing after washing the quilt, and it spooked me. Excuse? Maybe, but still...
You have so many great quilts waiting to come together in all those those lovely blocks!!

Katie said...

Lots of great quilty stuff! I joined a UFO Challenge at Patchwork Times and every month you're "assigned" a UFO - works great for me, as it directs my efforts and gives me a sense of accomplishment! Good luck getting it all done, as it seems you have a LOT going on!

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

I love your 16 patch blocks - they're so scrappy and fun! I often have trouble getting myself to finish things even when I'm very close to being done. Eventually they do get done, though - maybe right at the last minute, lol!

Ray and Jeanne said...

I work on whatever I feel like unless there is a deadline. Sometimes I work on many projects in one day then again I might work on the same project for many days. I enjoy having choices. You get lots done so I wouldn't worry about it. I love your bowties and the 16 patch blocks. ~Jeanne

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

for me it is hard to decide since I hand quilt... have several tops in regards to RSC that I could just finish up and quilt next but until I finish the current one I am in limbo

I often think...just focus on 2 or 3 things but then I get bored / it is a no win situation

Kathy S. said...

You just work better under pressure.

Sandy said...

Grandma stuff can take lots of time. I hear that so often from friends. I'm not a granny, so not sure what my excuse is. I do know I have start-itis and that leads to far too many UFO. And then I tuck things away and yes nodding finishing...I think it's anti-climatic somehow; but I've done better with it this past year. Better....not good, and still a long way to go.
Sandy's Space Enjoying my first week of Slow Sunday Stitch. Love finding new interesting blogs. Will check out your other linky.

Jayne said...

Thankfully I don't have many UFO's! I love your quilts! The bow ties are looking great and those friendship stars...so pretty!

Created by Kathi said...

I don't keep many UFO's hanging out either but the ones I do have ... well... I work on now and again until they are done usually ... I have a couple tops that I need to get to though now that I think of it and that wholecloth needs to be finished... only 1/3 done or so ...
As for a hoop for traveling check out your local Joann's and see if they have a 11" square or 11 x 17" sized q-snap style frame by dritz... it breaks down to almost nothing for travel... my bestie uses the 11" square.. I know they have them at amazon but not sure when you are leaving to order something.. or maybe have it sent there??? Just an idea though... you may prefer a round hoop.. in that case maybe carry it on. Love the pic of your daughter with her horse... and hope you can figure out your quandary with ufo completion this year :D I love your Painting with a Twist... I have one waiting for a place to hang in our new home... it is 2 seabirds looking at the ocean.. I like your heart entwined trees even more though !!! Kathi

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

I occasionally have to focus on finishing UFOs too. Try giving them all a number and drawing a number each month. It wasn't always successful for me - when I don't want to work on a project, nothing can make me :)

Thanks for linking up with Oh Scrap!

CathieJ said...

I usually slow down when I get to the end of a project too. After a while there usually is a UFO that I just don't want to see anymore and I get to finishing it. Just pick one and go for it. You will be glad that you did.

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

I am through with the goal thing. I usually do not have UFOs, but this year I have UFOs. I worked on the easy to finish UFOs, then listed all the ones that had a lot of hand work. Handwork at night, piecing during the day! I also had to downsize on Blogs - as I found that I was spending too much time on the computer. Your projects are very nice! Hang in there take one at a time and it will go faster!

Karla (ThreadBndr) said...

I'm the last one to ask about UFOs. I have a couple dozen hanging around. All due to something new and 'shiny' interrupting me. I am making and effort with Slow Sunday Stitching to work on at least the knitting, needlework and hand piecing ones. But my machine work is falling by the wayside.

I have put away everything except the three projects: One needlework, one knitting, one quilting. I set myself daily goals (very small ones). So far, it's working well and I'm seeing progress on all three of them.