Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Taking Stock

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I have cut back my work hours substantially, my husband is away all week long, and I can now sew until midnight if I wish to.  Full of eagerness to get into my sewing room and get something accomplished, I stopped short upon gazing at the UFO's I have stacked up.  Hmmm, I sure do have a lot of unfinished projects I need to complete.  Let's have a look.

Should I take up Allspice Tapestry and work on the star medallion quilt from a past Quilt Sampler magazine?  Gosh, that fabric is so great.  I made one star.  It involved flying geese units, and the pieces are all pre-cut, so I can't use my new Fit to be Geese ruler.  Bah.

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Or how about a more recent UFO?  Sweet Escape using those gorgeous Neptune fabrics that came out last spring?  I have only half my blocks made, and they are so easy.  I could zoom through these.  No.  Not in the mood.

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Or, hey, how about going back a couple of years to this wonderful project?  Love the block, love the fabrics, hate, Hate, HATE the half square triangle construction technique.  Sorry. Marsha, but your method takes forever.  Accurate?  Sure.  Fiddly and time consuming?  Sigh.  Yes.

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Oh, now here we go.  What if I just put those UFO's out of my mind, and start a wonderful new project I have been dreaming of doing?  Birdseye, with all sorts of yummy rust, green and brown Civil War prints.  Oh yes, this is going to be good.  But it's 4:00 in the afternoon.  This isn't a good time to start an entire new project.  Besides, I need to see if I can find more of this great border fabric before it disappears from the face of the earth.  Maybe I should forget sewing for the day and log on to my computer and go shopping?  No, stop that, Nicole.  You need to accomplish something.

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Well, here is an old friend I keep working on and then putting away for months on end.  She is going to give up on me if I don't follow through.  This is a terrific quilt project.  Flowers for Clara, a kit I ordered from Bonnie Blue eons ago.  I really want to get this one done and on a bed.  I am totally in the mood for Civil War prints.  Let's go.

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By now it is 5:45.  I have completed two blocks. 

What is the matter with me?  I need to focus.  But, it's Wine O'Clock.

60 responses to “Taking Stock”

  1. You have some beautiful project there. And I know the feeling, and probably just about every quilter out there does. I have oodles of unfinished projects myself. I have spent a good sum of money on those plastic project boxes myself!

  2. You have some beautiful project there. And I know the feeling, and probably just about every quilter out there does. I have oodles of unfinished projects myself. I have spent a good sum of money on those plastic project boxes myself!

  5. Oh I just love Birdseye…I keep saying I need to get going on that one…and Flowers for Clara is just gorgeous. Enjoy your wine!

  6. Oh I just love Birdseye…I keep saying I need to get going on that one…and Flowers for Clara is just gorgeous. Enjoy your wine!

  13. Hope you enjoyed the wine. I like all the projects but the first is my favourite. Its lovely to have the time to ponder what to work on but sometimes we accomplish more with less time (so says a recent retiree).

  14. Hope you enjoyed the wine. I like all the projects but the first is my favourite. Its lovely to have the time to ponder what to work on but sometimes we accomplish more with less time (so says a recent retiree).

  17. My goal in January was to finish all my UFOs before I started a new project. Around May, couldn’t take it anymore but felt so guilty everytime I drooled over new fabrics/patterns, couldn’t get the UFOs to stop whining in my head. So, now I force myself to complete 1 UFO and the next one something new. Makes it easier to get thru the UFO knowing a new one is within reach. Too bad some of the new ones have also turned into UFOs…..sigh

  18. My goal in January was to finish all my UFOs before I started a new project. Around May, couldn’t take it anymore but felt so guilty everytime I drooled over new fabrics/patterns, couldn’t get the UFOs to stop whining in my head. So, now I force myself to complete 1 UFO and the next one something new. Makes it easier to get thru the UFO knowing a new one is within reach. Too bad some of the new ones have also turned into UFOs…..sigh

  19. Ohh, go back to the neptune fabrics. I can’t wait to see how that quilt turns out! My goal this year has been one old thing, one new thing…that makes me feel like I have made a little progress on my ufo’s, but doesn’t stop me from doing new things too! Hope you enjoyed your wine and you enjoy the week!

  20. Ohh, go back to the neptune fabrics. I can’t wait to see how that quilt turns out! My goal this year has been one old thing, one new thing…that makes me feel like I have made a little progress on my ufo’s, but doesn’t stop me from doing new things too! Hope you enjoyed your wine and you enjoy the week!

  21. I love the star medallion in the first photo.
    I love Allspice Tapestry as well. I have one kit and one FQ bundle of their fabrics waiting for me to play with them. And then there’s Dandilion Girls, and my 1974 fabrics and so on and so on. I sit there with my wheels spinning all the time too pondering over which project to start next. I’m a starter/non-finisher as well. 🙂

  22. I love the star medallion in the first photo.
    I love Allspice Tapestry as well. I have one kit and one FQ bundle of their fabrics waiting for me to play with them. And then there’s Dandilion Girls, and my 1974 fabrics and so on and so on. I sit there with my wheels spinning all the time too pondering over which project to start next. I’m a starter/non-finisher as well. 🙂

  23. There must be a trend here. I have been trying to finish one UF project a month and one new one a month…seems though life often gets in the way…All the while I am am loving all the new fabrics, I am feeling guilty about the UFO’s that are piling up! and, I agree, a glass of wine is helpful when looking over plans for a new project or deciding what UFO to finish.

  24. There must be a trend here. I have been trying to finish one UF project a month and one new one a month…seems though life often gets in the way…All the while I am am loving all the new fabrics, I am feeling guilty about the UFO’s that are piling up! and, I agree, a glass of wine is helpful when looking over plans for a new project or deciding what UFO to finish.

  25. I certainly enjoyed reading your post today. It is so easy to wile the day away and accomplish not much of anything. I am retired and could sew 24 hours a day. Seldom get to the sewing machine before afternoon.

  26. I certainly enjoyed reading your post today. It is so easy to wile the day away and accomplish not much of anything. I am retired and could sew 24 hours a day. Seldom get to the sewing machine before afternoon.

  27. You have a good system in keeping things organized. They all look like good projects….but the thrill of something new! How we all know that feeling! It will be nice to see this one when it’s finished. Good luck.

  28. You have a good system in keeping things organized. They all look like good projects….but the thrill of something new! How we all know that feeling! It will be nice to see this one when it’s finished. Good luck.

  29. UFOs… I unearthed one the other day that is made with Robyn Pandolph’s Summer Cottage fabric! How old is that? I love it, the quilt will be wonderful and I will finish it… eventually. Maybe not in this lifetime, but certainly in the next one. 🙂
    Don’t you find that it’s a mood-thing? I love it and I want to finish it, but I’m in the mood to work on something else. If I’ve been doing lots of dark reproductions, I want something lighter, prettier. And vice versa.
    Wine o’clock. The best time of day… and time well-spent. I hope yours was most excellent.

  30. UFOs… I unearthed one the other day that is made with Robyn Pandolph’s Summer Cottage fabric! How old is that? I love it, the quilt will be wonderful and I will finish it… eventually. Maybe not in this lifetime, but certainly in the next one. 🙂
    Don’t you find that it’s a mood-thing? I love it and I want to finish it, but I’m in the mood to work on something else. If I’ve been doing lots of dark reproductions, I want something lighter, prettier. And vice versa.
    Wine o’clock. The best time of day… and time well-spent. I hope yours was most excellent.

  31. Boy, do I know that feeling. Love the projects, but sometimes just can’t get back to them. Does this happen to you? You’re so excited about a new project and new fabric. But once you get a couple of blocks done – you see what it’s going to look like – you love it, but have trouble finishing because you want to do the same to the next project. Oh well, mine eventually get done or sometimes move on to someone who wants to finish it!

  32. Boy, do I know that feeling. Love the projects, but sometimes just can’t get back to them. Does this happen to you? You’re so excited about a new project and new fabric. But once you get a couple of blocks done – you see what it’s going to look like – you love it, but have trouble finishing because you want to do the same to the next project. Oh well, mine eventually get done or sometimes move on to someone who wants to finish it!

  33. As I got to the end of your post this morning, I read the last line …
    “What is the matter with me? I need to focus. But, it’s Wine O’Clock.”
    And then I see under that the posting time of 5:43 AM! I just had to laugh. No wonder you can’t focus.
    (I just know these are the events from yesterday)

  34. As I got to the end of your post this morning, I read the last line …
    “What is the matter with me? I need to focus. But, it’s Wine O’Clock.”
    And then I see under that the posting time of 5:43 AM! I just had to laugh. No wonder you can’t focus.
    (I just know these are the events from yesterday)

  37. I absolutely LOVE that “Flowers for Clara” pattern. Also adore Civil War prints…get focused so we can see the finished product! 😉

  38. I absolutely LOVE that “Flowers for Clara” pattern. Also adore Civil War prints…get focused so we can see the finished product! 😉

  39. I know this isn’t a vote but I would start “Birdseye” if I were you. That’s on my list too. I have the same problem and it really stresses me out! Nancy in WI

  40. I know this isn’t a vote but I would start “Birdseye” if I were you. That’s on my list too. I have the same problem and it really stresses me out! Nancy in WI

  41. Wine O’Clock….oh yes I think it’s that time here too. What a coincidence 😉
    I, too, have many UFOs that just don’t want to be finished. Something about oh well not going to get quilted anytime soon anyhow.

  42. Wine O’Clock….oh yes I think it’s that time here too. What a coincidence 😉
    I, too, have many UFOs that just don’t want to be finished. Something about oh well not going to get quilted anytime soon anyhow.

  45. Now that’s the kind of problem to have, which beautiful project to work on….I don’t think you can make a poor choice, but I really like the blue star one, but the civil war one is a close second.

  46. Now that’s the kind of problem to have, which beautiful project to work on….I don’t think you can make a poor choice, but I really like the blue star one, but the civil war one is a close second.

  47. Ohhh I love the Birdseye pattern! That border fabric is gorgeous!!!
    I really like to work on 2 or 3 different projects at the same time. Must be the Gemini in me! ha

  48. Ohhh I love the Birdseye pattern! That border fabric is gorgeous!!!
    I really like to work on 2 or 3 different projects at the same time. Must be the Gemini in me! ha

  49. Congratulations at least on having the projects together all in one place! That’s a lot of loveliness to choose from; I’d have trouble focusing too 🙂

  50. Congratulations at least on having the projects together all in one place! That’s a lot of loveliness to choose from; I’d have trouble focusing too 🙂

  51. You sound like me. I have too many projects going at one time. BOM’s and other projects started. You are very well organized. So many pretty projects to choose from – that’s a good thing!

  52. You sound like me. I have too many projects going at one time. BOM’s and other projects started. You are very well organized. So many pretty projects to choose from – that’s a good thing!

  53. So many decisions! You sound like me. I have so many projects started – BOM’s and other quilts. At least you are very well organized! Pretty choices to choose from! That’s a good thing!

  54. So many decisions! You sound like me. I have so many projects started – BOM’s and other quilts. At least you are very well organized! Pretty choices to choose from! That’s a good thing!

  55. I just come across your blog and girl you are hilarious!!! It is soooo nice to come across someone who loves craft but has a sense of humour!!I find some people can be so stiff. Keep it going:)
    Cheers Janelle (Australia)

  56. I just come across your blog and girl you are hilarious!!! It is soooo nice to come across someone who loves craft but has a sense of humour!!I find some people can be so stiff. Keep it going:)
    Cheers Janelle (Australia)

  59. That’s my plan for tonight and tomorrow…take stock…make lists figure out what I’m going to finish next–hopefully finish!

  60. That’s my plan for tonight and tomorrow…take stock…make lists figure out what I’m going to finish next–hopefully finish!