Monday, January 28, 2013

Why did I do that?

Why on earth did I ever make a list of my UFO's!?!  That was the dumbest thing EVER!!!!  Or rather, I should never have mentioned it to my hubby......because the very first time I mentioned starting another quilt, he said "NO!  You HAVE to finish one of these others first!!!!"

WHAT!?!

I was totally crushed!

He, of course, was joking.......but deep down inside, I knew he was right!  DANG!

So, I worked diligently on one of the warm-hug quilts, and finished it the other day.  BUT.....to my utter shock (and thanks, Pat, for pointing it out......) THAT quilt wasn't even on the list!!!!!!

WHAT!?!

SHEESH!

How did I not pay attention to that!?!

Oh well.....I'm counting it as done, a completed UFO, a giant check mark on the list (cuz I added it to the bottom!), and NOW........I get to start a new one!!!

YIPPEE!!!


It's a lap sized quilt for a lady, as the prints are all florals.

It's also the first FINISH of 2013......AND......the first finish on my Grace quilt frame!  I've had the Grace frame for over 5 years now, and the first quilt I put on it stopped me dead in my tracks!  For some stupid reason, it was the first time in my life that I 'let' the machine wind the bobbin without me guiding and checking the thread.  I've always done that since junior high home-ec class.  BUT.....this one time, I went crazy, and didn't pay attention to it.  And I was doing a stippling across it, back and forth, several rows, and when I rolled the rollers up for the next section, I saw that the bobbin thread was all screwy, and loopy, and a giant mess on the back!!!!  CRAP!

And I walked away disgusted!

For years I kept saying I was going to get to it, but it became a make-do table top for pulling fabrics, laying out pieces for measuring, etc.  I almost forgot sometimes that there was a quilt on it.  Well, a few months back, when I was showing someone the room, I realized (like a lightbulb moment!) that it was a hand-pieced quilt on that frame!  So......of course I needed to get it finished!  Sheesh!

I took the quilt off the frame and rollers, and picked away at it.  Some of the stitching was SO tight that I ended up cutting into the back a couple of times, but that's ok, cuz I can piece the back now.  And it's a Christmas quilt......so now I have the rest of the year to actually finish it!  (Yep....that's another ufo to add to the dang list!)  lol

Well......since the Grace didn't have a quilt on it, hubby was so nice and he dismantled it, and brought it down to the 1st floor parlor room so I could start quilting on it where there is heat!  (Our third floor, where it used to be, isn't heated!  It's always been the rule that I'm able to quilt up there in spring and fall, but not in winter or the stifling heat of summer.)

And.....the Grace frame is designed to be used with a Juki machine.....which is what I have now!  Perfect!

So I'm happy to say that the Grace is getting used now......and maybe those ufo's won't be far behind this one on it!

BUT.......because I finished SOMETHING.......I got to start something new!!!!  Woohoo!  :o)

I've been in love with all the churn dash quilts I've been seeing on the blogs lately, so I had to start one of my own!  It's made entirely from thrift store shirts!  The blocks will finish at 5", so I'll need about 130 of them for my quilt.  I have made 19 in the last two days!!!  Yippee!  And I just love em!  I'm making some with matched fabrics, and some totally scrappy.  I love that look!


The quilts I've been seeing have a solid one-color alternate block, but I just threw a bunch of shirt squares to fill in the alternates......and I really like that look, so that's what I'll do.

I love that I'm using up some shirt plaids......I have 3 extra large shopping bags full of shirts that have just been deboned, but not cut down at all.  I have so much of them......and I need to stop hoarding, and start using them.  :o)

And, to totally change the subject......hubby and I just got new phones!  Smart phones!  Holy cow!!!  I know, I know.....most everyone in the world is leaps and bounds ahead of me on this!  In fact, while we were in the phone store, I sent my very FIRST EVER text message!!!!.....to my son, who promptly replied "Glad you are now living in the 21st century, Mom!"  lol

We figured with all the traveling we do, it just made sense.  And I was worried that if we didn't do something soon, we'd be so far behind, we'd never catch up!  I'll be playing with it for weeks until I have a clue what it does......but it looks like fun!  :o)

Hope you're having a wonderful day!  I'm going back to the sewing room to those churndashes.....they're so addicting!

regan






19 comments:

  1. Love your CD blocks, they're great! Congrats on y our finish and on your phones. You made me laugh out loud about your quilt frame. And you're not the last one on earth to get a smart phone, no siree; I still have my old flip phone and haven't ever sent a text. I'll have my grandchildren to show me how... someday! ;)

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  2. I, too, still have a flip phone, but I have sent a few texts--just very slow at it.
    Loved the Grace frame story. Doesn't it feel good to get past the hurdles that have become insurmountable in our own minds?
    LOVE the shirting made churn dash blocks--that shouldn't come as any surprise! : )

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  3. I still have a flip phone, too, and doubt that I will change anytime soon.

    The shirt squares between the CD blocks are perfect. They look great!

    You are tempting me to get busy and start another Quilt of Valor. My machine has been idle too long.

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  4. if you bought an iphone go take a free class at the apple store your going to be amazed at what you can do with that thing!
    love your new blocks and good for you adding that quilt to the list and a finish for 2013! yeah
    having your own set up to machine quilt and a juki sounds like the way to get the tops quilted!
    Kathie

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  5. Hi Regan, Love your quilts-as always! The purple in the top one reminds me of several purple quilts I've made. I've been so bad about quilting lately but the snow is coming and I'm going to pull my machine downstairs so I can sew in the family room. Hope you have a wonderful day!
    Hugs, Noreen

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  6. Hi Regan--I just really love that re-purposed shirt quilt--lovely idea! And I like the square blocks with shirtings, too. Super look! Where do you get your thrift shirts? I have a Goodwill store near me, but have never thought of using shirts myself. (Now I wish I had kept all those plaid shirts my DH wore when he taught before he retired!! Waah!) Enjoy your churn dashes....Julierose

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  7. I was needing a "happy break" and low and behold - there was a post from regan!! Okay, by paragraph two I was smiling big and by the next won I was chuckling!!! WTG girl!!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, those churn dashes!!! I caved too, going to start a SAL that is called The Rancher's Daughter - well... I'm a rancher's daughter/granddaughter/ & wife and...I found a GREAT deal on some fabric - so... one new project in the works!!

    You made my day!!

    Be Joyful!

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  8. I love both of those quilts! It is good to knuckle down and do somthing not-so-fun to earn a reward! I do that to myself all the time. Just today, I made myself shorten some curtain panels that have been waiting since, um, how long have I been in this house now? Six months?

    Did you know that today is the 200th anniversary of the publication of Pride and Prejudice? I think that deserves a watch of the A&E producation.

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  9. Like you, I have quite a few (cough, cough) UFOs. But now that I've been blog-hopping and seeing all those cute scrappy trip blocks, I'm itching to dig into my 2-1/2" strip bin and have at it. Oh, the troubles we quilters face. LOL!

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  10. You crack me up Regan you're so funny!!. I know I could never make a list otherwise I'd scare myself! I love your shirt churn dashes, they're wonderful in every way!!! I bought a great shirt from the thrift store a few weeks ago but Phil saw it and it fit him so he'll wear it for a while before I get to cut it up. Have fun with your smart phone!!

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  11. Oh I hate when that happens on the back!!! It is the worst ever.
    I decided not to make a list year because i'd never stick to it, I'm too spontaneous.
    I adore your plaid churn dashes!!

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  12. It is just a list...not the Constitution!

    Love your churn dashes! I have a photo of one done in double pinks hanging on the idea board in my sewing room...

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  13. haha... great post, great quilts...
    Hugz

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  14. The repurposed shirt quilt is great!

    Our son told us the same thing when we bought our "pay as you go" cell phones. They are still the only cell phones we have - which we use for emergencies only. ;)

    Judy

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  15. Lists are only guidelines!
    Congrats on a finish! Lots of movement in that quilt - glad you were able to salvage it. Most frustrating.
    Love your chunky plaid churn dashes!
    Enjoy your new phones.

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  16. I still have a flip phone too -- I look at the smart phones and then quickly realize how much time they'd probably take away from stitching!
    You are brave, making that list of UFOs? I don't think I'd dare do that.

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  17. Your post was so fun to read today. I'm always adding things to my lists, just so I can cross them off. Your churn dash is really charming. I love the repurposing!

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  18. You're too funny girl!

    Yippee on a finish and Yippee getting to start something new!!!

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  19. I get overwhelmed with big/long lists. I NEED them tho. So, what I do is make the long list and keep it "sorta" hidden. I will take 2-3 things off the list and put just these things in PLAIN sight. As the smaller list gets wittled down, I take one or two off the big list.

    I'm soo glad that preservered with the long-arm stuff! yay!! =)

    Love the Churn dash block...they ARE addicting!

    hugZ,
    annie

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