My fun little exercise of going back four years on my blog to see what I was working on then, and where it is now provided a huge eyeopening shock to me. In the photo above, you see hanging various unquilted tops (called flimsies by some). These hanging tops were mostly made in 2015 and just not sent out to be quilted as of yet. Bad, but not too terrible.
But wait.
This is an overflowing bin of unquilted tops I had my husband get down off the top shelf of the closet. There must be over a dozen quilt tops in there.
But wait, there's more-
A second, even larger bin of unquilted tops. Easily more than two dozen quilts in there.
I didn't count them because it made me sick to my stomach. Ok, I did go back and count them. 47 quilt tops. Forty seven.
There are some older projects in there that are kind of meh. But the majority of them, certainly more than half, are beautiful quilt tops. A huge investment of time and money. Sitting in plastic bins. Providing no warmth, no comfort, no joy.
This truly made me ill. How did this get so out of control? I am telling you here and now, everyone I know is receiving a quilt at the next gift giving occasion. I am sending these tops out, one or two a month until they are a satisfying stack of beautiful, ready to be enjoyed (by someone) proper quilts.
87 responses to “Shocking Revelation”
How did this happen? Life happened. You worked, saw to the care of your father-in-law, moved, and helped raise a granddaughter. You’ve not been sitting idly by eating chocolates. You have a great plan, enjoy the quilts when they come back home quilted, give them away and move on. Give yourself some credit for even piecing these tops given your schedule! It could me worse, it could be 47 unfinished quilts!
How did this happen? Life happened. You worked, saw to the care of your father-in-law, moved, and helped raise a granddaughter. You’ve not been sitting idly by eating chocolates. You have a great plan, enjoy the quilts when they come back home quilted, give them away and move on. Give yourself some credit for even piecing these tops given your schedule! It could me worse, it could be 47 unfinished quilts!
How did this happen? Life happened. You worked, saw to the care of your father-in-law, moved, and helped raise a granddaughter. You’ve not been sitting idly by eating chocolates. You have a great plan, enjoy the quilts when they come back home quilted, give them away and move on. Give yourself some credit for even piecing these tops given your schedule! It could me worse, it could be 47 unfinished quilts!
I say…HERE, HERE! I have loved all of your quilts shown. You do a great job and good fabric choices.
I say…HERE, HERE! I have loved all of your quilts shown. You do a great job and good fabric choices.
I say…HERE, HERE! I have loved all of your quilts shown. You do a great job and good fabric choices.
Yep…we get busy in life and all of a sudden we realize we are overloaded. Think of it as some very lucky persons are going to get special tops this year and all the love you are spreading around too! ;))
Yep…we get busy in life and all of a sudden we realize we are overloaded. Think of it as some very lucky persons are going to get special tops this year and all the love you are spreading around too! ;))
Yep…we get busy in life and all of a sudden we realize we are overloaded. Think of it as some very lucky persons are going to get special tops this year and all the love you are spreading around too! ;))
Un Quilted Quilts! I would love to be one of those persons you know that get a special quilt even an unquilted special quilt. I would have it quilted myself. They look fabulous! lol Love your blog!
Mary – [email protected]
Un Quilted Quilts! I would love to be one of those persons you know that get a special quilt even an unquilted special quilt. I would have it quilted myself. They look fabulous! lol Love your blog!
Mary – [email protected]
Un Quilted Quilts! I would love to be one of those persons you know that get a special quilt even an unquilted special quilt. I would have it quilted myself. They look fabulous! lol Love your blog!
Mary – [email protected]
I love piecing. Quilting, not so much…….you have my sympathies. I don’t have 47 flimsies but I do have a lot. The only thing that keeps my numbers down is that I DO quilt most of my minis.
I love piecing. Quilting, not so much…….you have my sympathies. I don’t have 47 flimsies but I do have a lot. The only thing that keeps my numbers down is that I DO quilt most of my minis.
I love piecing. Quilting, not so much…….you have my sympathies. I don’t have 47 flimsies but I do have a lot. The only thing that keeps my numbers down is that I DO quilt most of my minis.
Wow! Your speed piecing skills got the better of you with amazing quilt tops being made at lightening swiftness. Those lovely tops will be beautiful quilts in no time. Take heart!
My birthday is coming up at the end of next month, not that I’m hinting or anything! 🙂
I don’t have nearly the number of unquilted but finished tops that you do. I seem to stop when it’s time for borders so most of my UFOs are borderless.
Hugs!
Wow! Your speed piecing skills got the better of you with amazing quilt tops being made at lightening swiftness. Those lovely tops will be beautiful quilts in no time. Take heart!
My birthday is coming up at the end of next month, not that I’m hinting or anything! 🙂
I don’t have nearly the number of unquilted but finished tops that you do. I seem to stop when it’s time for borders so most of my UFOs are borderless.
Hugs!
Wow! Your speed piecing skills got the better of you with amazing quilt tops being made at lightening swiftness. Those lovely tops will be beautiful quilts in no time. Take heart!
My birthday is coming up at the end of next month, not that I’m hinting or anything! 🙂
I don’t have nearly the number of unquilted but finished tops that you do. I seem to stop when it’s time for borders so most of my UFOs are borderless.
Hugs!
Sometimes the joy is in the making, not the having. Or, in this case, the joy was in the designing and piecing but not necessarily in immediately having a finished quilt. Just think, if your hobby was golf you could spend big bucks playing round after round and have nothing to show for it at the end.
Sometimes the joy is in the making, not the having. Or, in this case, the joy was in the designing and piecing but not necessarily in immediately having a finished quilt. Just think, if your hobby was golf you could spend big bucks playing round after round and have nothing to show for it at the end.
Sometimes the joy is in the making, not the having. Or, in this case, the joy was in the designing and piecing but not necessarily in immediately having a finished quilt. Just think, if your hobby was golf you could spend big bucks playing round after round and have nothing to show for it at the end.
Some of us prefer to piece, some of us prefer to quilt. Just like some of us prefer to appliqué while some of us don’t. That’s the beauty of quilting … there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Don’t fight your joys … embrace them.
Some of us prefer to piece, some of us prefer to quilt. Just like some of us prefer to appliqué while some of us don’t. That’s the beauty of quilting … there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Don’t fight your joys … embrace them.
Some of us prefer to piece, some of us prefer to quilt. Just like some of us prefer to appliqué while some of us don’t. That’s the beauty of quilting … there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Don’t fight your joys … embrace them.
I agree with Thelma. Taking care of an elderly family member plus a child alone is tough. How you ever found the time to sew a seam is amazing.
I agree with Thelma. Taking care of an elderly family member plus a child alone is tough. How you ever found the time to sew a seam is amazing.
I agree with Thelma. Taking care of an elderly family member plus a child alone is tough. How you ever found the time to sew a seam is amazing.
I just sent off 3 finished tops to be quilted yesterday. I have one more on the shelf where it has been sitting waiting for a border. I really do not enjoy borders. Maybe next month?
I just sent off 3 finished tops to be quilted yesterday. I have one more on the shelf where it has been sitting waiting for a border. I really do not enjoy borders. Maybe next month?
I just sent off 3 finished tops to be quilted yesterday. I have one more on the shelf where it has been sitting waiting for a border. I really do not enjoy borders. Maybe next month?
I love that the comments you have received have put this all in perspective. As my dearly departed sister said, “Fabric fondling is in our genes.” and we must do it. It is the balm that soothes the soul and now you can share that with those you love.
I love that the comments you have received have put this all in perspective. As my dearly departed sister said, “Fabric fondling is in our genes.” and we must do it. It is the balm that soothes the soul and now you can share that with those you love.
I love that the comments you have received have put this all in perspective. As my dearly departed sister said, “Fabric fondling is in our genes.” and we must do it. It is the balm that soothes the soul and now you can share that with those you love.
You have a plan! Good for you. Once it gets in place and moving, you will feel a whole lot better. We are blessed getting to do what we love to do. Lots of lucky surprised people coming your way. They will be thrilled!
Mary
You have a plan! Good for you. Once it gets in place and moving, you will feel a whole lot better. We are blessed getting to do what we love to do. Lots of lucky surprised people coming your way. They will be thrilled!
Mary
You have a plan! Good for you. Once it gets in place and moving, you will feel a whole lot better. We are blessed getting to do what we love to do. Lots of lucky surprised people coming your way. They will be thrilled!
Mary
lol, you beat me. i have 10 quilt tops waiting for me to quilt. none of these are going out to be quilted so it is worse than your situation. why? yours will cost money. mine? just me getting off my lazy butt and doing it. ;p
i console myself by saying 2 things: 1)making them gave me great please and 2)when i’m dead someone will come into my home and find a gold mine of beautiful quilts that just need to be quilted….
lol, you beat me. i have 10 quilt tops waiting for me to quilt. none of these are going out to be quilted so it is worse than your situation. why? yours will cost money. mine? just me getting off my lazy butt and doing it. ;p
i console myself by saying 2 things: 1)making them gave me great please and 2)when i’m dead someone will come into my home and find a gold mine of beautiful quilts that just need to be quilted….
lol, you beat me. i have 10 quilt tops waiting for me to quilt. none of these are going out to be quilted so it is worse than your situation. why? yours will cost money. mine? just me getting off my lazy butt and doing it. ;p
i console myself by saying 2 things: 1)making them gave me great please and 2)when i’m dead someone will come into my home and find a gold mine of beautiful quilts that just need to be quilted….
Good for you! I have a whole bunch of tops and most of them are beautiful. I do my own quilting on my Bernina but like you, I have had some family demands (like looking after my baby grandson full-time for months and a few other things). Although quilting is very very important to me, my family almost always comes first and whenever I look at all my gorgeous unfinished, I remind myself that my grandson needs us and I will never begrudge the time and energy required to give him what he needs.
Give yourself a break and a pat on the back for getting all that you do accomplish done.
Good for you! I have a whole bunch of tops and most of them are beautiful. I do my own quilting on my Bernina but like you, I have had some family demands (like looking after my baby grandson full-time for months and a few other things). Although quilting is very very important to me, my family almost always comes first and whenever I look at all my gorgeous unfinished, I remind myself that my grandson needs us and I will never begrudge the time and energy required to give him what he needs.
Give yourself a break and a pat on the back for getting all that you do accomplish done.
Good for you! I have a whole bunch of tops and most of them are beautiful. I do my own quilting on my Bernina but like you, I have had some family demands (like looking after my baby grandson full-time for months and a few other things). Although quilting is very very important to me, my family almost always comes first and whenever I look at all my gorgeous unfinished, I remind myself that my grandson needs us and I will never begrudge the time and energy required to give him what he needs.
Give yourself a break and a pat on the back for getting all that you do accomplish done.
Nicole, Oh, I do know how you feel. I taught quilting for about 18 years and of course I had to make samples and test out blocks. I was way over my head in fabric and one day I counted and tagged all the unfinished tops, mini quilts, etc and I had over 70 of them. I sent a bunch of them to a friend in Ashville and she finished them up and they were sold at their booth, I gave a bunch away to a darling shop in Sebastopol that raises money for senior activities and I think I am down to about 30 unfinished tops of stuff I made and love. I have moved to a MUCH smaller place and have limited myself to table runners and small quilts. I am about to start a couple of old fashioned blocks just for fun. Thanks for the great post.
Lisa
Nicole, Oh, I do know how you feel. I taught quilting for about 18 years and of course I had to make samples and test out blocks. I was way over my head in fabric and one day I counted and tagged all the unfinished tops, mini quilts, etc and I had over 70 of them. I sent a bunch of them to a friend in Ashville and she finished them up and they were sold at their booth, I gave a bunch away to a darling shop in Sebastopol that raises money for senior activities and I think I am down to about 30 unfinished tops of stuff I made and love. I have moved to a MUCH smaller place and have limited myself to table runners and small quilts. I am about to start a couple of old fashioned blocks just for fun. Thanks for the great post.
Lisa
Nicole, Oh, I do know how you feel. I taught quilting for about 18 years and of course I had to make samples and test out blocks. I was way over my head in fabric and one day I counted and tagged all the unfinished tops, mini quilts, etc and I had over 70 of them. I sent a bunch of them to a friend in Ashville and she finished them up and they were sold at their booth, I gave a bunch away to a darling shop in Sebastopol that raises money for senior activities and I think I am down to about 30 unfinished tops of stuff I made and love. I have moved to a MUCH smaller place and have limited myself to table runners and small quilts. I am about to start a couple of old fashioned blocks just for fun. Thanks for the great post.
Lisa
I hear you. I’ve finally got one of my own quilted this week, it’s a long overdue gift from summer of 2014. I’d love to help you get some quilted, that’s my full time job!
I hear you. I’ve finally got one of my own quilted this week, it’s a long overdue gift from summer of 2014. I’d love to help you get some quilted, that’s my full time job!
I hear you. I’ve finally got one of my own quilted this week, it’s a long overdue gift from summer of 2014. I’d love to help you get some quilted, that’s my full time job!
I hope you’re not being too hard on yourself. Your plate has been overflowing with family priorities the past few years. Sending the tops out a couple at a time is a good start toward finishing up some quilts. I find a great deal of satisfaction donating a quilt to an auction or raffle to help raise money for a cause I support. As for the 47 unfinished tops…you enjoyed piecing them & there’s nothing wrong with that at all!
I hope you’re not being too hard on yourself. Your plate has been overflowing with family priorities the past few years. Sending the tops out a couple at a time is a good start toward finishing up some quilts. I find a great deal of satisfaction donating a quilt to an auction or raffle to help raise money for a cause I support. As for the 47 unfinished tops…you enjoyed piecing them & there’s nothing wrong with that at all!
I hope you’re not being too hard on yourself. Your plate has been overflowing with family priorities the past few years. Sending the tops out a couple at a time is a good start toward finishing up some quilts. I find a great deal of satisfaction donating a quilt to an auction or raffle to help raise money for a cause I support. As for the 47 unfinished tops…you enjoyed piecing them & there’s nothing wrong with that at all!
Great solution to a nagging issue! Think of the joy the recipients will have and the joy the gift giver will have!
Great solution to a nagging issue! Think of the joy the recipients will have and the joy the gift giver will have!
Great solution to a nagging issue! Think of the joy the recipients will have and the joy the gift giver will have!
No need to get ill over a bounty of quilt tops! You enjoyed making them and soon you (and Extremely Lucky others!) will be able to use them. Revel in your creativity and newly-discovered treasures!
No need to get ill over a bounty of quilt tops! You enjoyed making them and soon you (and Extremely Lucky others!) will be able to use them. Revel in your creativity and newly-discovered treasures!
No need to get ill over a bounty of quilt tops! You enjoyed making them and soon you (and Extremely Lucky others!) will be able to use them. Revel in your creativity and newly-discovered treasures!
You have given me the courage to count my flimsies. I”m sure I don’t have 47, but I have quite a few. I’m hoping the number is under 15. This is a lot for me since I hand-quilt. Maybe I’ll choose a few to send out for machine quilting and get caught up this year. Wouldn’t that be great????
You have given me the courage to count my flimsies. I”m sure I don’t have 47, but I have quite a few. I’m hoping the number is under 15. This is a lot for me since I hand-quilt. Maybe I’ll choose a few to send out for machine quilting and get caught up this year. Wouldn’t that be great????
You have given me the courage to count my flimsies. I”m sure I don’t have 47, but I have quite a few. I’m hoping the number is under 15. This is a lot for me since I hand-quilt. Maybe I’ll choose a few to send out for machine quilting and get caught up this year. Wouldn’t that be great????
I don’t know if you are involved with a local guild but often there are folks there willing to quilt tops to go for various charities they are involved in. Nothing more special than knowing quilts are hugging foster kids, sick folks or vets. Just an idea for some of them maybe.
I don’t know if you are involved with a local guild but often there are folks there willing to quilt tops to go for various charities they are involved in. Nothing more special than knowing quilts are hugging foster kids, sick folks or vets. Just an idea for some of them maybe.
I don’t know if you are involved with a local guild but often there are folks there willing to quilt tops to go for various charities they are involved in. Nothing more special than knowing quilts are hugging foster kids, sick folks or vets. Just an idea for some of them maybe.
another idea is the local APQS store will let you use their floor machines for free when you are working on charity work. Great way to learn.
another idea is the local APQS store will let you use their floor machines for free when you are working on charity work. Great way to learn.
another idea is the local APQS store will let you use their floor machines for free when you are working on charity work. Great way to learn.
All those happy hours of piecing will turn into quilty treasure–good plan! Your prolific sewing room production outshines me by far, though I do have tops that have been waiting for years to get quilted. Someday I may even have a handmade quilt on my own bed!
All those happy hours of piecing will turn into quilty treasure–good plan! Your prolific sewing room production outshines me by far, though I do have tops that have been waiting for years to get quilted. Someday I may even have a handmade quilt on my own bed!
All those happy hours of piecing will turn into quilty treasure–good plan! Your prolific sewing room production outshines me by far, though I do have tops that have been waiting for years to get quilted. Someday I may even have a handmade quilt on my own bed!
I’m so glad to see from the comments that so many quilters are like me. The ART is in the piecing and then arranging blocks in a pleasing manner. Like you, I usually have a few projects going at the same title. My quilting skills are limited. I just can’t bring myself to pay $100 to have someone else do the quilting. I don’t have 47 projects to quilt yet but I’m on my way there. I have delusions of hand quilting these when I retire.
I’m so glad to see from the comments that so many quilters are like me. The ART is in the piecing and then arranging blocks in a pleasing manner. Like you, I usually have a few projects going at the same title. My quilting skills are limited. I just can’t bring myself to pay $100 to have someone else do the quilting. I don’t have 47 projects to quilt yet but I’m on my way there. I have delusions of hand quilting these when I retire.
I’m so glad to see from the comments that so many quilters are like me. The ART is in the piecing and then arranging blocks in a pleasing manner. Like you, I usually have a few projects going at the same title. My quilting skills are limited. I just can’t bring myself to pay $100 to have someone else do the quilting. I don’t have 47 projects to quilt yet but I’m on my way there. I have delusions of hand quilting these when I retire.
I would interpret this phenomenon as you enjoy the process of designing and piecing most of all. Plus it is very expensive to have someone else quilt it. And so…lots of unquilted tops.
I would interpret this phenomenon as you enjoy the process of designing and piecing most of all. Plus it is very expensive to have someone else quilt it. And so…lots of unquilted tops.
I would interpret this phenomenon as you enjoy the process of designing and piecing most of all. Plus it is very expensive to have someone else quilt it. And so…lots of unquilted tops.
Yippee, 47 flimseys are going to become wonderful quilts!!! And didn’t you have fun making all of them!
Yippee, 47 flimseys are going to become wonderful quilts!!! And didn’t you have fun making all of them!
Yippee, 47 flimseys are going to become wonderful quilts!!! And didn’t you have fun making all of them!
Look at this revelation as an opportunity to master machine quilting! Grab a “meh” flimsy, layer it and quilt it! Then start another. Practice, practice, practice. Before long you won’t be sending out the tops to be quilted- you will be doing it yourself. (Saving money you can then spend on more fabric…)
Look at this revelation as an opportunity to master machine quilting! Grab a “meh” flimsy, layer it and quilt it! Then start another. Practice, practice, practice. Before long you won’t be sending out the tops to be quilted- you will be doing it yourself. (Saving money you can then spend on more fabric…)
Look at this revelation as an opportunity to master machine quilting! Grab a “meh” flimsy, layer it and quilt it! Then start another. Practice, practice, practice. Before long you won’t be sending out the tops to be quilted- you will be doing it yourself. (Saving money you can then spend on more fabric…)
I know you only through your blog, but what it’s shown me is that you have endless kindness and compassion for others. You’re even demonstrating that when one of your worries is that these tops haven’t been enjoyed by others :). Please be sure to be kind to yourself too!
I know you only through your blog, but what it’s shown me is that you have endless kindness and compassion for others. You’re even demonstrating that when one of your worries is that these tops haven’t been enjoyed by others :). Please be sure to be kind to yourself too!
I know you only through your blog, but what it’s shown me is that you have endless kindness and compassion for others. You’re even demonstrating that when one of your worries is that these tops haven’t been enjoyed by others :). Please be sure to be kind to yourself too!
Life happens for sure and sometimes piecing a quilt top is a stress reliever…for me anyway (given a chance) You have some gorgeous tops there my friend. It is always sad when I receive a quilt top that somebody has found in a garage sale or elsewhere. I always wonder why the piecer never had it quilted and gifted to a loved one. The loved ones who clear out the home of a deceased relative haven’t a clue about the value of the pieced top and usually don’t want it. So sad…
Life happens for sure and sometimes piecing a quilt top is a stress reliever…for me anyway (given a chance) You have some gorgeous tops there my friend. It is always sad when I receive a quilt top that somebody has found in a garage sale or elsewhere. I always wonder why the piecer never had it quilted and gifted to a loved one. The loved ones who clear out the home of a deceased relative haven’t a clue about the value of the pieced top and usually don’t want it. So sad…
Life happens for sure and sometimes piecing a quilt top is a stress reliever…for me anyway (given a chance) You have some gorgeous tops there my friend. It is always sad when I receive a quilt top that somebody has found in a garage sale or elsewhere. I always wonder why the piecer never had it quilted and gifted to a loved one. The loved ones who clear out the home of a deceased relative haven’t a clue about the value of the pieced top and usually don’t want it. So sad…