The UFO Saga

Many of you post about your accomplishments done during 2025, which I love to see and read about. I applaud you all. My year didn't go so well. 

Since my list of finishes is quite short, and the unfinished is much longer, I thought of starting with those. They are listed here in an attempt to kick-start my finish-it mojo. Haha.

For me, a new year is always filled with good intentions, new projects and plenty of new energy. The year 2025 started just like all the others.  

 
What got started this year
Too many things were started, like . . .  

Flying Home as a RSC block 

April Fool as a second RSC block. I'm undecided about the layout of this one. 

On point, all the same direction ~ option 1 

Circles and Squares ~ option 2

On point, rotating direction ~ option 3

Shallow Pond (aka County Clare) 

It is in the pile of baby quilts for donation so it not exactly a UFO. 

Bonus Points 

Not meant as a RSC block but somehow it came to be 

SHIBs (Squirrel Hiding in Bags) from all those gifted scrap bags. (Received 34 bags of scrap and 5 boxes. Not counting these two bags of filling stuff pictured here.)

Gold and black table runner. 

Blue Shoo. 

Four blocks in pink. 

Petit Point. 

None of which are done. There was probably other items but I forgot which ones. 

Plaidish 

Started at the retreat in February, never to be touched after.  

18 Bricks 

Puss in the Corner 

Hollow 9 

And . . . whatever this is. 

Now the biggest started project of them all: cutting and bagging baby quilt kits for others to sew. Twenty-five tops are done so far and counting. Carole and I are making backing for these. Only 9 are still waiting for a backing. Other ladies are cutting some of my fabric to make the bindings. The batting is to be cut on January 17th. More on that later. 

I tried a few things to reorganize my sewing workplace. I've set days for cutting, sewing and family time. Do you remember my list? I didn't until I looked up my own blog. Haha. 

Monday, I will cut fabric (check the clothesline) AND clean the cutting table. 

Tuesday, I will take care of people, friends, (meetings are usually on this day). If it's a week with no meeting, organize things for the next meeting. 

Wednesday, I will sew or quilt (or pin for quilting) (need to fix the problem with the Janome) or organize backs or/and binding. 

Thursday, I will hand quilt (because I seem to never find the time to do this anymore). 

Friday, I will blog and sew (RSC blocks first and whatever after. Do not start another one). 

The weekends are all about cutting and sewing, and shopping, and cooking, and cleaning, and all the boring stuff like that, lol. 

Even having the cutting instructions on a clothesline for ease of access to what needs to be cut when a specific fabric was out. 

Nothing worked because the problem is ME. 

I tried to do too many things, accepted too many scrap bags, the office work load got beyond my capacity with the Real estate department blooming this year (like it never had before, they said), and the construction for the expansion of the office. All I could do after a day at work was eat and sleep. I had to hit the brakes. 

What got finished this year

Back in January, I named 4 quilts to finish this year. Only one managed to cross the finish line. 

Ohio Star Shadow that I affectionately call "8 Miles of Moon Beam". Started 29 years ago, it is my greatest accomplishment of 2025. Hand-quilted and bind.

A little baby quilt was also finished. 

The Joyful Quilter's Table Scrap Challenge saw 3 entries from me this year. 

Warm Beverage : my favourite coffee 

Song Title: my favourite guy

Fresh Cut Grass: the pest in my yard

I also did a PINK scrap basket. I didn't see this one coming but it was done (like most things around here) as a SHIB when I received enough pink scrap to make one. 

My little bags of pink scrap all fit in the basket.

We (I) almost adopted another cat this year. Rascal is more and more at our back door. I call different places but all the shelters are at full capacity. So, we are kind-of-taking-care of a feral cat. Rascal is getting used to us and he understands the routine now. 

"He is an uninvited guest and he's overstaying" says Raven. 

Now, what 2026 looks like? 

I don't know about 2026, but I wish you all the best with plenty of good times, health, friends and fabric through out the new year. May your bobbins stay full and blade stays sharp. 

Cheers!

;^)

Join me at these ladies' place for more inspirations

Angela at So Scrappy

Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts

Cynthia for Oh Scrap!

The End of 2024

What have I done in 2024 beside finding a job?

Well, it all started with 2 cups of good intentions. Add to this 7 baskets of Colourful Fabrics and 4.5 bags of Neutral Fabrics. Follow these with 2 new Rotary Blades. You can add Thread by feet or meter, it's up to you but add enough to make the job enjoyable. Once all is neatly attached together, add a good dollop of sewing/quilting machine shenanigans. 

That sums up my year 😄 and it's not even over yet! 

For a few years now, I chose some quilts and tag each one to a colour. When Angela calls a certain colour that's the quilt I'm to work on but ... 

These were the quilts for 2024: 

Hole in the Barn Door - green

Spinner - yellow 

Framed 9 Patch - orange - Flimsy

Dreaming in Dutch - pink 

Shoreline - red - more blocks done

Broken Dish Swap - purple 

Westering Woman - blue 

Star Bloom - aqua 

Crumb Quilt in flannel - dark blue 

HST something for whatever colour I didn't already mention 

I totally fell off that wagon. 😞 Only two quilts got some attention this year. 

Table Scrap Challenge: Snowflake. Thanks, Joy! This was fun!

I also did the Heart and the Bird Challenges. It is my intention to participate again in 2025, but good intentions without a plan will go nowhere. So, follow The Joyful Quilter for the new plans. 

Hole in the Barn Door got a white border and part of the pieced border. Still a UFO. Sigh! 

At the end of each month, I enjoyed comparing the scrap bags pictures. Sometimes the difference was easy to see; other times, not so much. 

 

I sold the "I Spy Stars" quilt to a lawyer. First sale. WhooHoo! Very slowly working on another "I Spy" quilt. 

Double Halo was a RSC2024 project. Started in January and it turned into a flimsy the same year. Wow! That's a rare occurrence around here. A large piece of flannelette was set aside for its backing. Only need to find the time to quilt it. 

Framed 9-Patch started back in October 2016 is now a flimsy too. Yay! How many years will it take me to quilt it? Haha!

I learned how to do Pergamano or Parchment Paper Craft. It's not the same as the baking parchment. This one is thicker than poster board. 

Did a lot of mending, as always. This is Raven's blanket. It was in desperate need of some repairs. I was just PURR-crastinating.

Two baby quilts in flannelette started at the October retreat and finished in December. Francine is organizing another retreat in February or March. My name is on the list as I love sewing with this group of ladies. 

My second RSC2024 project: Stained Glass. It will continue in 2025 as more blocks are needed. Lately, I've been sewing up scrappy white/neutral triangles to finish off the blocks. 

Friends' Favourite got neglected for a while. I have sketched a layout and it will now be easier to move it forward. 

Also done: 

9 Patch blocks: 139 blocks were added to the collection. The grand total is now 470 blocks!

Knitted 5 dishcloths 

Started : Shallow Pond (Bonnie's County Clare) 10 blocks 

Added 46 more blocks to Shoreline. 

(Eight more on December 24th along with ... 

a good six inches of fresh snow. I shoveled some in the morning and during the day the sun melted the little bit that was left behind by the shovel.)

For now, I am cutting, cutting away some scraps, in a futile attempt to turn the mess into order. 

 

This picture showing the mess that was supposed to be "tamed" by year end. Well, it has changed but not exactly the way I had planned. 

The year started well enough with lots of decluttering thanks to The Joyful Quilter. She was my inspiration and my reminder. I kind of fell off the wagon since then. 

On the other hand, I received more scrap bags then ever before. I tried hard to dwindle the scraps every month in their respective colour, but my friends brought me more scrap bags to "fluff" up the lessened bags. It felt like shoveling during a snow storm. I will continue to search for a system that works for me. 

I have just noticed that this is my 600th post. Wow! I had no idea I would go this far. I who is usually shy talking about me, my quirky self, and I. I want to thank all of you for making the journey enjoyable with your comments, suggestions, feedbacks, solutions, and most of all, your friendship. 💖💙💚💛💖

Have you noticed that the new year starts with WTF? 

Let's not forget that it is followed by a "S"!! 🤨

No matter what the new year pretends to be saying, I wish 2025 exceeds your expectations. All the best to you and yours. May your cutting table stays clean and your rotary cutter stays sharp! 

Enjoy!

;^)

xox

Planning on joining these talented ladies this week;

Angela at So Scrappy

Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts

Cynthia for Oh Scrap

Alycia for Finished or NOT Finished Friday

Nina Marie at Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever

The Last of 2023

It was partly a good year. My boys really did well this year and I'm grateful and happy for that. I, on the other hand, was not as successful but I'll bounce back. (Never thought it would take so long to bounce back, but I will. I still have some springs in those old legs of mine, haha.)

So many unfinished projects, and so many more planned for the new year. 

2023 

It started so beautifully, full of pretty blocks, new adventures, and a mindset to accomplish it all. 

Twinkling Star (Galaxy), Paper Chain, Idaho Square Dance, Friend's Favourite and Irish Star were to be the projects for 2023; along with Buckey Beauty, Chaser, Star Blooms and Scrap Jar Star which were started the previous year. 

Twinkling Star (Galaxy) - because of a cutting mistake, the points are lost and I just abandoned that one ... for now. 

Paper Chain - it is now a top. It is a donation to the Quilts for Survivors. (50" X 67")

Idaho Square Dance - sadly was abandoned. Turned into a UFO. 

Friends' Favourite - added on a whim, from a friend in Australia. (Thanks, Fiona, for the inspiration) Will continue in 2024. (It was more fun playing with this one than Idaho Square Dance, hehe)

Irish Chain Star - it is now a top. 

Baby Quilt - started in September on a whim. Donation. Waiting quilting. (36" square)

I managed to sew 50 9-patch blocks from Jan to Sept which is not much compared to last year's 97. 

I've also worked on roll-over projects from 2022 like : 

Jericho Wall was assembled at the beginning of the year. 

Scrap Jar Star - worked on the remaining blocks and assembled that one too. 

Made from Scratch - (a.k.a. Crumb block quilt) (a.k.a. Chaser) - worked on the remaining blocks and assembled that one too. 

Jacob's Summer - (a.k.a. Jacob's Ladder) was quilted and finished. 

Star Bloom - worked on a few more blocks but was then neglected.

Buckey Beauty - worked on a few more blocks - need more blocks 

 

Twice, I've participated in the Joyful Quilter challenge "Table Scrap Challenge". Hopefully, I'll be able to participate more often next year. Thanks, Joy, for doing this again. She is changing the challenge yet again this new year because she can, lol. Come see what all the fun is about right here. 

Challenge A & G - Araignée géante (Giant Spider)(16"square)  
The only kind of spider I can tolerate is one made of fabric! 

Challenge O & X (16"square)

And last but not least, Parsonsfield. A little sew-along hosted by Lori that I just couldn't skip. Thanks, Lori for organizing this fun SAL. 

A brown scrap basket was made during this year also. I haven't reached the end of that rainbow yet. 

In October, I started hand-quilting Ohio Star Shadow. I was hoping to have half of it quilted by the end of the year, but sickness stole many days away from me. 

46 more blocks to go 

And I believe that's all. Phew! That was long. I think I'll keep the 2024 projects for another post because I now need to hop back into bed for a little refresher nap. 

Thank you, everyone, for your good wishes regarding this flu I caught. 

Let me finish by wishing you all, the best for 2024. Take care, my friends. 

;^)

Joining these talented ladies:

 

Angela at So Scrappy

Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts 

Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching

Cynthia for Oh Scrap! 

Alycia for Finished or NOT Finished Friday

Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Wendy for Peacock Party