Resolution #1 and choices....

Okay, I'm ready to jump right in here.... This will be the UFO I decide to finish first. I don't think I've named this one yet. It was an experiment with a 9-patch, if I remember it correctly. I'll have to ask my Aunt Norma. She explained this block to me over the phone, which she learned in her guild mtg. the lighting on the camera didn't do it justice. It's beautiful jewel colors and the softest of greens. I love the swirls in the border fabric... Maybe "Jewels in the Sandbox".


As you can see, it's already pinned so what its the 'stall' factor, you ask? Well, I guess it was soo close to getting finished that I figured it would be nothing to leave it as it is, and slowly to the ties (I am rethinking the tie mode--- might quilt it by hand. Wait! If I do it by hand, will I think it's more involved and not get to starting that mode??? Probably.... Okay, I'll have to decide by this weekend.)
You see there is a methd to my madness.... If I post it, it will get done.  Maybe I should have added that to my resolutions? ... post it, it will get done...
And really, there is no one home tonight but hubby and I. (I really should be sanding that bathroom wall....). Hmm....

I also have a quilt our church group finished last mtg and I'm wondering if I should use this one for a gentleman at church who is very sick. He has a growth near his spine and may have to see a neurosurgeon. They have already had many numerous difficulties, financially, so maybe this is what I need to bring to church on Sunday. We only have two quilts in the donation pile that could qualify as 'male' quilts. This one is either way. Maybe I'll notify his wife and see if she thinks he'd like this one. the ties are etra long since we make them long enough to tie a prayer into them. They can be taken to doctor visits/hospital procedures where the doctors/ nurses/ visitors can tie a prayer into the knot in the tie. Then the person can get some comfort by the amounts of knots/prayers in each tie. They are called patchwork prayer quilts, but this is really a tied heartstring quilt to me. This was made by Anna R. of our church's quilt group

Another UFO bites (the dust!)

Here's a photo of this 'monster' quilt!! (Hey, for me it's a monster- I only make couch/lap quilts the biggest!) I, finally, finished my DH t-shirt quilt. It was started some time after 2002, and was a bear to handle. Back in Jan 2008 I wrote that I was working on this thing, but the truth be told, I tried to work on everything, BUT this quilt! I'm sure I avoided the disappointed look in his eyes as I worked on quilt after quilt after quilt for other occasions/charity projects, etc. I had good reasons... Here they are:

1. T-shirt material (I basted each t-shirt front onto a muslin foundation on 10 of them, before I realized I could have reduced the 'stretch' of the jersey material by using fusible interfacing--DUH!... never did one before, so I didn't even think about it)

2. I figured if the blocks were 20" square, I'd only have to make a few (DH couldn't let less than 16 make it into the quilt).

3. I was gonna hand-quilt it to a Ralph Lauren sheet (bright red)-- too dense to push a needle thru, and bled after washing numerous times. Figured this out after hand-quilting three blocks-- ripped them out, then burned the sheet. Ended up piecing the back, thanks to fabric from my Aunt Norma.

4. Didn't want to burden a LAQ with my 'stretchy/bubbly' blocks (only on a few), so I had to suck it up and tie it.

5. Didn't realize how much embroidery thread it takes to do ties every 4"-6" sections. Had to keep running to the fabric store.

6. Didn't realize how heavy this 'monster' was.....

The joke was that it was gonna be great to have it finished to lay over his coffin, or maybe I could put the UFO IN his coffin and be done with it!

I recently took it on our PA vacation in hopes that my mom and I would work on it (we did, one night in a B&B's living room). We made such great progress that it made me want to come home and continue what we'd almost gotten finished. (I kiddingly said to my DH that he might even get it by Father's Day (you should have seen his eyes roll!! LOL) It took me a week after we were home, but I persisted and as of 1:30AM this morning, IT"S DONE!!

Happy Father's Day, Lee ... But it's done and he loves it.... and isn't that why I did it? 5.

Working on a UFO

This is the hardest UFO I make myself work on.... It's the biggest one I've ever done (have learned not to EVER do one this big), and the heaviest, but it's for my favorite guy... and I'll stick with it. (I think he figures I'll get it done in time to put in his casket!). Truth be known, if he dies and I have it finished before he's in the ground, I'll need it to keep me warm at night. (Sorry, honey.... you don't get to 'take it with you'). And I do love you...