I'm listing my house for sale tomorrow and one of the home-selling-suggestions I've read is to reduce the amount of clutter in your house, with the reason being you want people to imagine themselves and their stuff there, instead of thinking "omg, look at all the sh... stuff this person has". And what I'm doing now is going through the house and figuring out what stuff I can live without for 1-2 months while the new house is being remodeled.

So anyway, yesterday's project was packing up the quilting closet. I have a closet with shelves, that is filled (literally, floor to ceiling) with fabric/quilt tops/notions/etc. I filled 2 2ftx2ftx2ft boxes... filled! And I didn't even get to the bookshelf of fat quarters.

And it got me thinking... it's a little ridiculous. I love buying fabrics and having a stash and all that, but to fill up those huge boxes with stuff I know I won't touch in the next 2 months, that seems crazy! I spent good $ on this stuff, to ... sit in my closet for all of eternity? Lots of fabric, lots of UFOs (I've started on them but not finished a quilt top), lots of finished quilt tops, so much that is "in progress"

So I'm thinking the theme for 2010 will be FINISH IT! :lol:

Good on ya!!!!! You go girl!!!! Keep posting pix as you finish each one. ;)

It's for 2010! It's 2009, I don't have to start working on stuff NOW... silly :lol: :lol: I pulled out all the small UFOs - placemats, table runners, and am going to work on them now. Since I have to keep the house clean and can't have a halfway done quilt sitting on the floor anymore, so I figure the smaller projects will be better

Great goal. I've made the same goal for the past couple of years. Still haven't accomplished it. Please do better than me - show us all your UFOs that are completely finished and inspire us to finish ours.

Keep us posted on your progress :thumbup:

I keep making that new years resolution too. I have plenty of UFO's to keep my busy. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

My 'resolution' for 2010 is to make my sewing room just that - my sewing room - where I can go in and close the door and sew... UFO's all in one place so I can finish them one at a time. I will NOT resolve to not start another before all others are done - that's just not practical - what if something comes along that I HAVE to try ;) But, seriously, I will make it my goal to finish all UFO's

Good for you!!! 8) 8) 8) I like that you are starting out with the smaller projects!!! :wink: Maybe make a list and start ticking them off...that way you can visually see your progress :D :D :D

I tried the list a few years ago. I made 2 columns: quilt tops to finish, and finished tops that needed quilting. That list stressed me out since I felt like I had so much to do... couldn't even look at the thing!

I do the same thing..I am trying it is just that some of them are sew time consuming? I would rather start something new...I am making it my resolution not to let the quilts stack up before I actually quilt them.....and I have a few embroidery projects that need to be sewed.....those take time..and I rescued a cutter peice from a yard sale..that is kind of ugly....but I couldn't let it be thrown away...( because I am a quilter and i know someone hand sewed that and and and ..whatever other reason I had at the time.).so I need to figure out what I am going to do with it?? :D

Heh, don't know if you meant "sew" as a pun, but that's a pretty dang good pun

I agree Finsih it sounds great, but can I do it. I do get somethings finished and others are cut out and in plastic container waiting until the erge hits me. My brother tells me there's something wrong with people like me, but I don't think so.
I read on a site yesterday there are ladies actually have agreed from Nov 1,2009-Nov 1, 2010 not to buy any fabric and use what they have. Can't do that either, maybe there is something wrong with me

Regina

Sounds like you've got that new strain of Quilter's Pox:
"SABLE" -- "Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy"

I'm with you....2010 FINISH IT! I'm REALLY going to try to get some of my UFO's completed. I'm sure my DH is looking down the hall to my sewing room and wondering why all that fabric is going in, but not much is coming out! :shock: :?: Well, I guess if I'm going to keep him from complaining about my addiction, I'd better start producing something useable (I say as I'm looking at a quilting magazine and pulling from my stash for another project).

How about a "quilting party" with all your friends -- fun and food and quilting together. What fun!!

Hoorah for you! I'll be rooting for you in the stands :D

Be sure to post some pics as you finish your ufos -

and good luck selling the house. What's the market like in your area?

Are there any you started coz it sounded like a good idea but now you really don't want to finish? I ran across some items like that recently and sent them off to one of the charity groups on the board. Instead of beating myself up over yet another project not completed, I know the bits went to a good home.

Are any of them in grocery sacks? It may be self-denial but UFOs in bags become PIGS. Just don't count them twice.

Only once did I let UFO's over-run my sewing area. I freaked out and decided to finish one each month until all 6 were finished. It worked out well for me as I had a time limit that did not seem unreasonable.

Good luck.

Do the most dreaded one first and the others will seem like a piece of cake.

I am working on 3 projects now, backpacks for a shelter, a quilt for a veteran and another quilt as you go for myself.

Love this site, learn something almost every day!
Hope you all have a good weekend.

oh, my dear, how totally i relate to your dilemna and your feelings.

i made the same resolution for this year.

don't ask how well i'm doing.

just don't ask. :roll: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Good motto for the year. Finish it is a worthy goal. I have taken it one step backwards, and my motto for the past year has been "use up those scraps". It makes for quilttops unfinished into completed projects, but they are better than scraps.

About 6 months ago I really opened my eyes and looked at my sewing room. OMG :roll: :roll: It is next to the kitchen so whenever someone didn't know where to go with something, guess what :!: Well, I started cleaning and tossing. It took me longer than I like to admit, but finally got done. I rearanged and got totes for everything and labeled them. My DH took off the closet doors and made shelves for me. So I had even more space. Then I went to work on UFO's. I would only allow myself to start one new project and then would finish one old one. I am now down to 2 quilts that need to be finished :!: :wink: :!: :wink: I am so happy and I feel great about it :D :D When I get all caught up, I will let myself work on only 2 projects at a time. My sewing room is staying clean (I had to make a few threats :oops: :oops:) and I can't believe how much I am accomplishing :!: I am so proud to be organized at last. Life is good :!:

Last year I counted my UFO's, and there were 24. TWENTY-FOUR!!! Well now there are about 18, so I am making some progress. Yay!! I am really trying not to start to much new stuff before finishing some older ones.

I did use that SEW as a pun..earlier in thsi post..hehe! But I have to say..I went adn dug out all of my WIP's or UFO's and It was not as bad as a thought apparently my OCD is good for something? I have the one I rescued form the yard sale....will finish that this week...and I have a few different embroidery quilts that need to be embroidered....and then my scrap quilts that I am working on now....oh and a few quilts that are peiced just need ot be quilted. So basically what I am saying is that it is not something to overwhelming...now what I want to know is .....

What about all of the kits, stash and future projects??HMMMMM I have three trunks full of those...those things you buy on a whim because they are so cute..or they are on sale or because they were *NEW* :shock:
Well I don't think I could get those caught up in the next year for sure....unless I quit school and quit life and stayed in my PJ's sewing all day???? :shock:

So I would like tos ay that I will quit buying things...but how hard it is when you work with it every week?? :oops:

I know this is not the point of this post - but reading all this makes me excited! As a beginner quilter - only 1 completed (and not all that great might I add!) I can't wait to get to the point that I take a look at my stacks of fabric, and unfinished projects!!

I have I think 1 jelly roll my aunt gave me - thats about it right now other than old fabric from other things in the house.

My husband says he will turn the extra room into a sewing room, but I have to make sure this sitcks first. Can't blame him.

Anyway - my 2010 motto will be "start it!" :D

Good for you!! That sounds like a great goal for me too!

My problem is for every old project I work on I start something new to take it's place. Then I end up with a new UFO.

Wow Honey!! Congratulations! I used to be organized :roll:

So Patrice....how well are you doing? lmao

I don't think I dare make any promises for at least the first part of the new year. I booked my hand surgery for Jan. 6. Guess my goal will be to see how many books I can read!!!! LOL I already have several quilts planned, so I dont' think I want to load my plate with any more planning 'til I am able to get back to sewing again. And then I get to start all over with other hand!!! :(

Sounds like a good plan--start with the small stuff and work your way up. I always get bogged down when I get to the part where the stuff has to actually be quilted. Doing it by hand takes forever, and I just don't have the money to send everything out. My machine quilting skills are pretty limited, so they just sit there until I get motivated to do something about them (that's about one a year!)

Looking forward to having UFO's I LOVE it!! You can borrow a dozen or so of mine, if you promise to finish them....

None of my friends quilt, unfortunately :( I'm 24, so most of my friends are at the tail end of the go out and great drunk every night college stage :roll: :roll: . I missed that stage all together, thankfully, and jumped to the make quilts for my grandkids phase (which is an issue since I'm not even married yet (and with no kids)), but people in my life have kids, so it all works. I am trying to get the boyfriend interested in quilting. He likes using the rotary cutter, so I'll often be gracious and let *cough* him cut up stuff for me :lol:

Thankfully it is very good. I'm in cookie cutter housing (ya know, the new ones, that all look the same) and it's a great area, very quick sale turnover. I had 3 houses up the street from me for sale last month, all sold. We priced reasonably, house has a lot of upgrades, so it will go well (power of positive thinking :D).

Same issue. The way I solved it was to machine quilt 4 quilts in a short period of time. You definitely see improvement. And just remember, any "mistakes" you made, you meant to do it that way, you like the look, etc :D

There is actually one UFO that is a cake and presents table runner........

Make a quilt for your DH or MIL and that will buy you years of credit. :twisted: It may be sneaky and underhanded, but we do what we must do to hide our fabric addiction. 8)

I'm with you. I just had my shoulder done 2 weeks ago, my right, and I'm right handed. I am now having an infection show up :cry: :cry: :cry: I want so bad to be able to finish up some of my projects!!!!

Jim's Gem..... I have had both shoulders done too...one of them twice!!! (I slipped on a patch of ice, 10 days post 1st surgery and undid what was fixed, as well as made it worse. :( ) Give yourself time, and you will never know they were done!!! (The simplest therapy I found to help with getting my range of motion back, was a set of pulleys that went over a door. Do you have some of those?)
Hope your recovery time goes well.

Patti

That might make for an interesting quilting party. Just don't give them the rotary cutter. lol (Gosh, I remember those days. Glad they are mostly over)

Heh heh heh heh.

I also decided to go through my stash this week and I have also made the resolution not to buy a single thing in 2010!!! I am to finish all the things I have purchased first... Hence I visited some online stores and I purchased 4 more yards of fabric to finsh one project and 3 more yards to finish another, and I decided to use that pattern I bought last month by purchasing the fabric for it... In my defense, the AU$ is good with the US$ and I am saving literally $100 by buying from the states LOL