Skip to main content

"Homey" - re-homed UFO! This one's going in a whole new direction!

So, I've joined in on #UFOvember 2020, organized by Bobbie Gentili at The Geeky Bobbin and this week I want to share a little UFO re-homing.  First off, my own UFO confession.  

About 10 years ago, I spent a good week completely re-working, re-organizing, purging and cleaning my sewing room/studio.  After nearly 45 years of quilting, you could say I have some stash, mind you, not as much as some I've seen! 

It all started because I couldn't find a quilt top I wanted to finish and gift to someone.  Long story short, it had fallen behind a box on the top shelf (5th shelf up) and was finally located after the total reorg.  I keep all my projects (yes, officially UFO's) in apple boxes on 3 big Costco shelf units.  Yes, that is 45 boxes!  But this includes projects, fabric groupings, garments, fabric for garments, linings, backings, jami fabric...ok you get the idea.  Point is, not all are UFO quilts.

But, I wanted to be able to find anything within 5 minutes.  My mind knows what I have, but not always where it is.  So in the process, I grouped all "like" items, put all projects into gallon and 2 gallon Zip Lock bags.  I photographed each one and gave them each a number tag - here it is - 1 thru 223!  There I said it!

I got the photos processed and put them into three photo albums with the numbers visible in the picture and in order.  I also listed them on paper with a written description.  Them I packed them into my apple boxes and labeled the outside with the numbers.




As you can see by the blank pages in the books, I have completed a large number of projects over the years and this has been immensely helpful.  When I need a gift or project, I can thumb thru my photos, find it right away and finish it off.  No more looking thru every box or losing things.  I still take classes, start new projects, tuck them away for future inspiration with no guilt.  Its not for everyone, but for us organizational freaks, it works!




Getting back to the UFO re-homing...My long time quilting friend Cathy sometimes loses her quilting mojo on a given project, as we all do (that's why they turn into UFO"s!)  This time, I said, "Box that project up and send it to me, I will do something with it."  I had no idea what it was but I am adventurous and I was game.  What arrived was a box of Tula Pink fabric!!! with a bunch a tiny hexies made up and no particular plan.



I looked over the project, got some design ideas, (thanks to Althea Gyde at Blue Heron Quilting for her fantastic Diamond pattern, soon to be released).  I took the three large units that were partially hand pieced and appliqued them onto a 16 inch,  luscious royal blue Peppered Cotton square.  I then set them into the diamond pattern and finished off the rectangle with more royal blue.  Yummy.  



Now I have three of these units and will proceed to finish this small lap quilt/wallhanging with some appropriate pieced borders.  I rather like it.  Cathy will get this little surprise back and I will make another one for myself.  This rectangle is 44" by 24" finished, sizeable.

So, dive in, the water is fine!  Take a friend's UFO and do your own thing with it.  The owner has to let go completely and let you have your way.  Or, vice versa, send your UFO off to a friend and be surprised!

Either way, it's a grand adventure!  Jill Therriault  Stitching in Heels


Name, Brand, Blog URL

Bobbie Gentili, Geeky Bobbin, http://geekybobbin.com
Becca Fenstermaker, Pretty Piney Quilts, https://prettypiney.com/blog
Joanne Kerton, Canuck Quilter Designs, https://canuckquilter.com
Sue Griffiths, Duck Creek Mountain Quilting, https://www.duckcreekmountainquilting.com
Ashli Montgomery, Story Telling Tees, http://www.meandcoach.com
Anne Boundy, Said With Love, https://saidwithlove.com.au
Sarah Ruiz, Sarah Ruiz Quilts, http://sarahruiz.com
Teresa Weaver, Your Sewing Friend, https://yoursewingfriend.com/blogs/sewing-friend-news
Karen Brown, Just Get It Done Quilts, https://www.justgetitdonequilts.com/blog
Bobbi Bridgeman, Snowy Days Quilting, https://snowydaysquilting.com
Raylee Bielenberg, Sun Flower Stitcheries, http://www.sunflowerstitcheries.com
Althea Gyde, Blue Heron Quilting, https://www.blueheronquilting.shop/blog
Kenzy Hogan, Sewing Corals, http://sewingcorals.blogspot.com
Leanne Parsons, Devoted Quilter, https://www.devotedquilter.com
Jessica Caldwell, Desert Bloom Quilting, https://www.desertbloomquilting.com
Laureen Smith, Tourmaline Thyme Quilts, http://www.tourmalinethymequilts.com
Karen Kehl, Better Done Quilts, https://betterdonequilts.com/blog
Stacey H, Two Terriers Studio, http://twoterriersstudio.net
Cinzia White, Cinzia White, https://cinziawhite.com
Laura Piland, Slice of Pi Quilts, https://www.sliceofpiquilts.com
Rachel M, The Barefoot Crafter, http://thebarefootcrafter.com
Kathryn LeBlanc, Dragonflys Quilt Shop, http://www.dragonflysquiltshop.com
Judit Hajdu, Quiltfox-Design, http://www.quiltfox-design.com
Lyra McCabe, Quilting McCabe.wordpress, https://quiltingmccabe.wordpress.com
Jill Therriault, Stitching in Heels, https://stitchinginheels.blogspot.com
Cristina De Miranda, Ships and Violins, http://shipsandviolins.com
Kate Starcher, Katie Mae Quilts, http://katiemaequilts.com/blog
Valerie Prideaux, Cozy Funky Cool, https://www.cozyfunkycool.com
Kim Mastromartino, School of Line Design, https://www.schooloflinedesign.com
Natalia Knowlton, Nerdy Quilters Blog, http://NerdyQuiltersBlog.blogspot.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Let's Get Modern

I am continuing my journey as a pattern maker. I have 3 completed patterns, with the original quilts pieced and quilted and on the covers.   Each pattern features a different piecing technique:   #101 - Paper Foundation Piecing #102 - Hexagonal Pineapple with "Y" seams piecing #103 - Conventional piecing a 9-patch center, in a 9-patch block With those done for the traditional quilter who loves the historical quilts, now I am working on the modern/contemporary version of each one. #101, Spring's Glorious Pathway  will be subtle, soft colors with a lot of  negative space for textured quilting. #102, Grateful Comfort   will feature a lot  of Tula Pink fabric with chartreuse centers  and a wild old large print shower curtain fabric!   I am so excited about this one.  To accent all that brightness,  I have some browns to grays.  Can't wait. #103, Starlit Crossroads   will be cr...
Post a Comment
Read more

So many opportunities, so little time

Keeping it short and sweet!  If you are like me you don't want to read a lot of words, just give me the pictures.  So, that is what I will do most of the time. It is all about the QUILTING journey.   What are we doing? What are we working on? What is the process? What are our thoughts on the ideas? What are we buying? What are we eating?  (Oops, that's a different blog, I will try to say on task here... FOCUS!) So, I am creating quilt patterns with a friend and partner, Jim Tharpe, who has a collection of family quilts dating back to the slave era.  I will make the first quilt as a replica of the original and the second quilt will be a modern/contemporary version.  Stay tuned for that blog coming soon. These patterns will be available soon on Etsy! The Original Quilt... This is the original quilt owned by Jim Tharpe.  It is bright and vibrant even all these years later.  It is hand quilted in straight lines. My Replica.....
Post a Comment
Read more