Love that Jan!!

My goal again this year is finish UFO's before starting new ones. It worked for a while last year but the retreats got in the way and I had to start new projects at the retreats. I plan to pick one that is the oldest or has the least amount left to do and then get busy and get at least the top done. I have found that unless I have a plan for the quilt tops are easier to store than the whole quilt. Good luck to all in the new year in getting your UFO's done.

When I'm feeling overwhelmed with my UFOs I pick one and work on it. I just recently finished several quilt projects, plus 12 Bow Tucks bags for a craft fair, so when I finished the orders I had taken, I picked up an easy UFO for a change of pace and I'm slowly finishing them. If I get frustrated with a project, quilt, whatever, I have to put it away and do something else or the problem will get worse (in my mind anyway). Sometimes it's best to just step away from a project when it's not going well - I will come back refreshed and ready to finish.

I have a lot of UFO's. Each one lives in it's own plastic box. I like to choose a month and only work on UFO projects. Sometimes I work on one until I'm tired of it, then I rebox it and switch to another project. The variety keeps me working on them. Last years UFO month resulted in 6 or 7 finished projects and many more that are closer to completion. I'm a substitute teacher, so I usually choose a summer month for my UFO month.

I have several collections together to do, but try not to work on more than two at a time. Mainly to prevent boredom. smile. Have a flannel one in progress for my DS and have just picked out the fabric for a rail fence for a DGD. That shold keep me busy for a while.

I'm always trying to use up scraps; mine or someone else's. Now our club has scheduled two class quilts and a mystery quilt, so that just adds to my pile. I try to get quilts done one at a time, and having a deadline works well for me.

I not only have my UFO,s but I purchased from an estate. What was I thinking? I started cleaning the studio and found so many that I had to make a bookcase just for them. As I find them I put it in the bookcase. I had a small amount that I want to finish.
In March I attend a quilt retreat that has a room the ladies call TRASH TO TREASURES. You bring something you don't want to finish or have 2 of . And during the retreat they tell you to go in and get something. Well I went in and got a marker. I left and the woman said get back in there and take some stuff. I didn't want to be greedy. Well after 3 trips 5 boxes where packed up for this year.

I can so relate to you and how you feel. Even this Christmas time got away with me and I didn't get things finished; started yes, finished no. The first thing that I'm going to do is finish the things that take the smallest amount of time to do. This way the stack will get smaller, faster and I'll not feel so overwhelmed. Then I'm going to finish the Christmas stuff so that I can pack it away with the other Christmas decorations or give it to the person intended and again my stack will be shorter. I'm not buying any more embroidery designs or starting any more projects until I'm caught up. This being said, my embroidery club starts back up this month so I'll do that so that I'm learning as I go and most of the projects can be done in one night. Its' when I changed the project around that I get into trouble. Like a tablerunner from one class got linked to placemat from another and I decided that I should make enough for a matching set. See how I make it grow, instead of just finishing the one mat I make more. Most of my projects that will get done first are embroidery so I'll be able to clean and organize my sewing room as I'm changing threads. I'm also not buying any more fabric until I get pretty much caught up. I have a few quilts that need batting and backs and quilting done so that'll come after I get my embroidery done. If I tackle the large projects first then I'll get overwhelmed again because it just looks like so much to do. Small steps and small projects will make for small stacks. That I can handle.

I personally like having several projects going at one time. It gives me variety in what I might be quilting on any given day. Some days I just like fabric therapy- those are the days I play with crumb blocks. Sometimes I like to work on a "pattern" quilt--or follow a pattern, and sometimes I just like to play and see what happens! Always like to have something to work on that is handsewing too, be it binding or needlework that I can take with me. I have been known to have 8-9 quilts in different stages at one time. My secret is having them in storage containers in the trunk of my car! (I don't quilt at home-I prefer to quilt with my friends so I am always ready, just add the sewing machine and off I go!) My joke- have machine.........will travel.

Tackled my first UFO today and boy, did it feel good. I'm making placemats out of seashell fabric, set of four. Started them in April of last year. Decided I wanted to work on something for us right now, rather than a gift. I have two new projects in mind...but will try to have the self control to plug away at finishing, right now. Starting is so easy, all the possibilities...:)
Also have decided to give myself one day a month to sew, at a minimum.
Thanks again for all of your replies, they've been fun to read.