I know that I said that I was not going to fret over UFOs, etc. this year, but that doesn't seem to be a possibility for me. Particularly since I heard some fellow craft people speaking of a lady who recently passed away and leaving a large stash as a HOARDER!!!! OMG, is that what I am? So, now I am sort of obsessing over this. Not majorly, but sort of........
Early this month much time and effort was spent prepping various projects I planned to work on. I tried this approach to see if it would facilitate me being more efficient in completing the projects, as well as to try to encourage me to stay on task with the projects at hand. I do think it helped and I will give it another try when I have completed what I prepared.
Another approach that I am trying is one that was suggested to me many years ago by some women on a Yahoo group who were trying to finish their UFOs. There were several different approaches, but here is my modified version. I have listed the Block of the Months that I am actively working on.......they are not new starts, but ongoing projects.....and I don't plan to add anymore until at least one of them is finished. Hopefully I can step away from joining new ones entirely and just work on some of the ones I have amassed. The next thing that I am trying is to chose a project from each area of interest and try to see that project through before starting another in that particular area.........for example: Knitting, Quilting, Rughooking, etc. Now this one will be really hard to stick with, and there may be times when I am working on a big project and just need to interject something smaller that I can finish. I know that there will be things that come up that will sidetrack me from time to time, but I am giving this approach a try. I have mounted a little dry erase board in my sewing room to help keep me on track (in addition to my constant list making :-D).
I am also choosing a few things that I know that I can finish quickly in those groups so that I can feel the sweetness of success. Not each thing is a UFO, but some of them are.....and some of them are projects I already have on hand. I am trying not to add to the stash too much. To say not at all would be unrealistic, but controlled would be good. Enough!!
Here is one of the UFOs that I finished this week. The needlepunch was already done. I distressed it and made the little pillow. The design is from Country Stitches and I probably punched it three years ago or more........what was I waiting on??? Sweet success!
Past my bedtime now. Good night.
GRATITUDES:
Southern cornbread.
Quiet afternoons.
Clothes warm from the dryer.
Take care,
Jennie
Oh, my! Your list looks pretty short. I started a list in a notebook near my cutting board in an effort to keep track of my projects. I was thinking along the same lines as you as to what people would think going through my sewing things if something were to happen to me. I don't have anyone in my family that would want to finish my projects so I have decided that it isn't important what they would think or if my projects got finished what is important is the feeling I get creating things. I have always been a crafter from an early age and I learned it from my Grandmother. I sure wish I could have gone through her stash of fabrics, but I wasn't around for that. So I guess I am saying enjoy the process and if it takes 3 years for that perfect idea to fall into place to finish a piece then that is just as it needed to be. Do it for you and don't worry about what others might think! I can see that you do enjoy creating and you do great things! thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYour needle punch piece looks good on the wool you chose. Nice finish. Your list making sounds like you have a plan and I hope it works for you. I have many things that need finishing but I keep starting new ones and adding to the mess.
ReplyDeleteI am working on my third Sally Post block for this month's batch. I have lost one of the little applique pieces and am off to the sewing room to make a new one.
I've tried many techniques to stay on track... and I think what would help the most is if I stopped surfing the net and finding so many lovely projects to sign on to! lol! I think we all realize that these projects take quite a bit of time... and we have every intention to make time to stitch... and then designers release more good stuff! :-) Prepping a number of projects for stitching when time allows sounds like a great idea to me! It just might help us to accomplish more!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement. I wouldn't dare count all of my UFOs and PIGs......too scary!!, but I can put a few on the board at a time and work those down.
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