14th Annual Final Countdown Wrap-Up
Posted on January 9, 2023 by prairiemoonquilts in The Final CountdownWhere DOES the time go? January 9th already! And if it seems like I’ve been ignoring all of you, I haven’t — it’s just that my email has been broken for a week. Terrible how we get so dependent on that stuff. I’m trying not to be upset over it — I used to work in IT, so I feel their pain at losing a server. They’re still working on it, so I’m exercising some patience and granting them some grace. Maybe I’ll get extra work done if I can’t be on email!
I’ve been sorting, and listing, and trying to quick finish things since The Final Countdown started, and let me just say — whew! How can it still be this bad, if I spend so much time throughout the year organizing? Evidently, I continue to make more messes than I clean up!
I did get the binding on the baby quilt for Task One. It will now get put in the box to be donated along with several other baby quilts I’m gathering up and finishing up.
Instead of tackling a closet for Task Two, I decided that reader Joan put it best when she said she was gonna tackle “storage areas that shouldn’t be storage areas”. I realized that would probably make a bigger difference in my space than cleaning out a closet, so this is what I began work on. And even tho it doesn’t appear super bad at first glance, it has turned out to be a much bigger undertaking than I first imagined, and I have not yet made much progress.
The first and main thing it forced me to do was reorganize all my to-be-quilted quilts. Two HUGE tubs and a box. Last year, I had right around 70 quilts on my to-be-quilted list, and by year’s end, that number was down to 58.
But . . . and this is big . . . the list did NOT include all the vintage tops that I’ve collected over the years that I also want to get quilted up. So after being completely realistic, acknowledging those exist, and adding them in, and also listing several I ran across that for some reason were not on the list, I now have . . . drum roll, please . . . 108 quilts in the to-be-quilted pile. Shocking! I’m sure you can see what my immediate goal should be. I quilted one of them Saturday. I quilted another one yesterday. Now it’s back to customer quilts — (this is always what happens).
I pulled everything out of the bins that is small and should be quick to finish, and every chance I get, I plan to finish one up and keep whittling away at the list. I also had myself lulled into believing that almost every quilt in the bin had the backing and binding already prepared for it, but I was horribly wrong about that. Nearly 1/4 of the non-vintage quilts don’t have backings ready, and I don’t think any of the vintage ones have backings ready. That’s a lot!
So I’m hopeful I can use up a lot of yardage from my stash to create backings for most of these quilts, which will also help with getting the stash reorganized. The amount of work involved in all that sounds sort of overwhelming, but making the list really helped. I’m just gonna eat the elephant one bite at a time!
I also reorganized my yarn stash, which thankfully isn’t as large as my fabric stash, so it didn’t take long. I recently finished three knitting projects, so I pulled yarn to start another quick one.
And for right now, we’re not even gonna talk about the rest of my UFOs — haha!
I loved reading about how each of you tackled the tasks and what you got done. It always helps me think of more things I need to do, and presents lots of options for how to do them — storage ideas, etc. Thanks so much to all of you for playing along!
Now, for the winners:
The prize for Task One goes to: Rose Marie
The prize for Task Two goes to: Suzette H.
The prize for Task Three goes to: Christi B.
I hope we’re all off to a fresh start on the new year — it’s already rolling right along! Stay tuned for our regularly scheduled Studio Organizing Challenges every month, and keep on quilting!
I have continued binding quilts and have done 2 queen and 1 twin. I certainly am more in order than I have been since moving in last June. Hubby helped me turn the cutting area of my quilting room around again. So it off to getting piecing done, quilting some small table pieces and other sewing.
Have a great year quilting to all
You are always so motivated. I love the finished baby quilt. There just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to finish these projects. I have been working on getting my scraps under control.
Such a cute baby quilt! I thought I was making progress on everything until I took stock at the end of the year. The only thing I managed to whittle down was the pile of charity quilts to quilt and bind for 1 individual. Everything else has exploded at the rate of rabbit reproduction multiplied by the rate of scraps multiplying squared. I need to stay home more and dedicate more time to sewing. 108…. at least my number is a fraction of that! You realize that in a perfect world that would be just 56 weekends if you’re able to have each weekend go like this past one did? Good luck!
I love the comment, “Just eat the elephant one bite at a time!” That will be my mantra this year!
Randy
gggr. it did it again… I am sure it is me! Happy January , stay warm.
I’m not even home to work on the challenges, but I’m having fun in Hawaii.
I will b filling out my lists and setting goals in the middle of the month.
I feel behind, but I finished one tiny UFO I brought with me and am working on two other things.
I finished one task. Looked at my big project and figured out what needs to be done. Listing small steps to be able to finish. Goal is to finish top in March and back in May, then send to quilter. Looking for the baby quilt I need to finish. I have five quilts that needs to be sandwiched and finished. Started new scrap quilt to clean up scraps. Thought I was having company, so I had to put sewing machine away, since it is in my guest room.
WOW, that’s a lot of quilting to do. I have probably half that many (yet to be quantified for this year), but I do believe you are right about making the list. It defines what needs to be done and enables a plan. I can only imagine how difficult it is to get to your own projects when you do it for a business. I’m trying to do one quilt a week and it seems every week I procrastinate and am surprised when the week is over. Not one loaded yet this year🙁.
I have one Bonnie Hunter Christmas quilt I will quilt first because I don’t want another Christmas to pass without getting it on my bed. Was all set for this year but messed up and had to wait to get the LA serviced. Lost my mojo. After that tho I’m going for the “low hanging fruit” as my friend says…all the ones that are small and have backings and battings ready. Should help to get some momentum.
Cute baby quilt!
Bravo you’ll get there!
I see why it’s important to keep a record of all the WIP’s and what one discovers along the way. Still working on it…
I have to tell you that at one point I used one pieced quilt top on the front and another on the back…
Love the fabric in your baby quilt.
Got to say that last year I was overwhelmed by the fact that I had 8 quilt tops to sandwich and quilt. Can’t imagine having over a hundred. Way better for me that it is you!
I am actually all caught up on my quilting and am taming my scraps and making small scrappy 9 patches and setting them aside. As soon as that is done I’ll be ready to make another quilt. I think this year I may do just a couple of sew alongs. I had fun last year doing 8 or nine but need to be focused on using more of my prepped scraps.
Good luck with you elephant lunches!
You win the price for tops unfinished! I thought my 40 last year was high. So I am now down to 7 to be quilted by me, 12 were sent out, 10 should be hand quilted, and I have finished the remainder. When I finish my 7 remaining, then I MAY allow myself to make another quilt, BUT the difference will be that once made into a flimsy it will get quilted, squared, binding made, sewn to top, and then hand bound. I may be caught up by Christmas 2023! Good luck on your stash it is like an elephant in the room.
Thank you for the prompts!!
I am not bother so much by the number of in progress quilts not going down but take heart in that the projects themselves have changed. I keep my last year list and line thru the completed projects…that helps me feel like I am making progress.
Best of luck trying to get your tops quilted. I enjoy the piecing but have not had great success with free motion quilting so I have at least 8 tops and I can’t send them all out . I think I will tackle the smaller ones and send the larger ones out.