2011 was a very "NEW" year!

As I sit trying to figure out what to work on first in 2012 (such freedom!), I realized that I had forgotten to sum up the year.  So here goes (and it's more for me than for you--to help me remember the projects I should be working on), so feel free to stop reading now.

As noted in the previous post, I was able to complete all 12 months of UFO Challenge's (except for one which I shelved to design a new back for).  Six of these UFO's were entirely completed projects (as opposed to just a block), so that feels pretty good.  And four of them were long term UFO's--so nice to have them finally finished!

Entirely Finished in 2011!

In 2010, I had started 5 new projects, and completed only 2 of them (Bordered Diamonds and Yellow Potpourri).  In 2011, I finished 2 more of the 2010 projects (Capriccio and New Wave), leaving only the Roseville unfinished from 2010.  Not too bad...especially considering how much time the Roseville takes.

But in 2011, I started ELEVEN NEW PROJECTS!  Good heavens--what was I thinking!?!!  So much for the UFO Challenge helping me to finish things! 

While I did finish the goals I'd set, I found the limited sew time I had after meeting my goals seemed to "encourage" me to start something new rather than drag out another UFO, and I obviously did just that! 

So here is my collage to help me remember the 2011 and 2010 UFO's I need to continue to work on!  (I'm not making any promises though)

Here's a listing of the photos above (left to right)

 1.  Courthouse Steps - blocks made
 2.  Maple Leaf Rag - pieces cut--barely started
 3.  Capriccio Too - barely started, just some leftover scraps used
 4.  Single Girl - strips cut, colors picked out
 5.  Strippling Vine - top completed, backing purchased, needs quilting
 6.  Portraits in My Garden - completed top, needs quilting
 7.  French General Reine des Abeilles - completed top, needs quilting
 8.  Flower Garden - 9/24 flower blocks completed, 0/4 borders
 9.  King George III - 2/13 blocks completed, 2 cut out
10.  Coming Up Roses - squares cut out and piecing started
11.  Hugs and Kisses - have begun sewing blocks together
12.  Roseville Album (2010) - 10/13 blocks, 1/4 panels, 0/4 borders done

Yikes that's a bunch!  Add to that at least 50 (? maybe more) other UFO's from the thirty odd years I've quilted off and on, and I'm not sure I'll live long enough. 

Then there's the problem of all the tempting projects being shown daily in Blogland.  I know there are several I won't resist this year.  There are way too many groups making BOM's I'd like to participate in.  One project that's sounding really tempting to me (at least today) is the Building Houses From Scraps project here. 

And then there is the stack of new patterns just waiting to be made.  Guess I better get to work--wish me luck!

Happy Stitching!

Farewell to 2011 & Happy 2012!!

2011 was a pretty good year—UFO wise at least.  I was able to finish 12 UFO’s on time, which has got to be a first for me!  (I rarely finish what I start, which is why I have at least a million more UFO’s still to go.) 

MANY thanks to Judy who ran the 2011 UFO Challenge for keeping me motivated!  (Go here to see all the UFO’s everyone else accomplished this month.)

Here’s the UFO completed for December:

And here’s the pieced back….I used up fabric on hand for this--some of it had aged for at least 20 years to get it ready for this magic moment.

I really like how the quilt turned out and the quilting Yvette did on it is wonderful. 

There are things I would change if I did it again, but it is done, and done is good!

Next year—well I confess—I do not plan to participate in the UFO Challenge.  While it definitely made me more productive as far as finishing, I find that sometimes I am just not in the mood to do a particular project when the number is drawn and sometimes (often) I want to have more free time to start something new.  And since I will also have several time constraints coming up this next year, I've decided to skip 2012. 

I’m hoping to take the stick-to-it-ness I learned in 2011 and apply it to projects in 2012.  (Guess we’ll soon find out how that goes!)  There are so many tempting new projects and BOM's springing up all over blogland...

Happy New Year to all of you and Happy Stitching!!