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October 01, 2009

Comments

dee

Geez Nicole, I thought you were writing about me this morning when I read this. I'm embarassed to show how many UFOs there are in my Closet of Shame. The cabinets full of cleaning products looks familiar as well. I really have the best of intentions....really. I think if I were tested now they would find I have adult ADD. As soon as something pretty comes into my field of vision, I just have to start.....OOOOooooo prettyshinythingsooooooo
I will finish one thing this weekend....really!

Erin D.

I *love*, adore starting. It's so full of potential, rife with as-of-yet unexplored possibilities. I miss that new-whatever-smell after awhile, lose interest and off I go to the next thing that's completely enraptured me for the time being.

I am 100% new to quilting, and I already have three unfinished quilts. I don't have enough blocks to make *anything* yet. The only stuff I've managed to finish are bags. Lots of bags.

Let's not go into the I Am Turning Over a New Diet Leaf thing, as I sit here in jeans that may in fact burst at some point during the day if I am not careful.

Ok - I will support you, I'll join this "finish something" movement. My weekend starts tomorrow, and by Saturday night, I will have a working quilt top! It will probably be small, and it will probably suck, but it'll be my first.

Go team!

Dianne

I too {heart} starting! Probably the reason that my husband hates when I walk into a quilt store!!!

Here's to both of us finishing something that we've already started!

Sandi

Oh, yeah, I'm a BIG TIME starter. I often don't even make it past the design stage before I'm distracted by something else. Fortunately, I live with my mom (who's a finisher). If I do manage to get the thing mostly made, she volunteers to step in and add that border, or put on that binding. I'm very lucky, I know. She even sews entire quilts that I've designed. We often collaborate, with me writing up the instructions and cutting the fabric, then handing them off to her to sew. She's retired, so she has a lot more free time! I do manage to get some sewing in myself, but I need to commit to sewing for a little bit every day when I get home from work. I have no excuses, just a tendency toward laziness. I find myself semi-comatose in front of the television instead of sewing. So... I'll think about your challenge. Hey, it's a step!

Nancy

Question for you Nicole...how many BOM projects have you started? How many have you finished? I am slowly eliminating my BOM clubs. I am so tempted to start the next ones coming up but I have some wonderful kits, quilts completely selected and sorted into project boxes (including a civil war era that my teeth ache to start) but I can't get to them because of my BOM's. I was 4 months behind on my Thimbleberries BOM, I haven't even touched my Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery Quilt BOM yet (except to lay out and fondle the beautiful fabrics every now and then. You know I've never worked with reds...can you believe it and this BOM has some beautiful reds in it...oh dear, better leave that alone just now). We just finished one BOM class in August and all the lovely blocks have just been sitting there waiting to become a quilt, and then there is my second Saturday BOM. I was getting ready to join 2 more and I suddenly realized that if I keep this up, I'll never, NEVER get to my own projects, including a Desert Sunset kit done in breathtaking bright and deep rich southwestern batiks, that I bought in a lovely shop in Sedona Arizona last July. I finally got a grip on myself. I spent the last few days catching up on the Thimbleberries and second Saturday. All caught up. The one that finished up in August is on my table as we speak getting sashings and borders added to finish, I came to grips with the fact that the Designer Mystery BOM from FQS would have to just wait until everything was here for it then it will be kit I can work on when I'm ready. But if I'm succesful in my 'FINISH IT' schedule and don't join anymore BOM's, I will totally be finished with the really time consuming ones in December. That is the last Thimbleberries class. The quilt will be ready to assemble and I will be able to start any project I choose, GUILT FREE...LOL. I will continue the second saturday clubs as they are set on beginner level and I just pick up the block each month (free if the prior month is done) come home and have it done in just 30 minutes or so and it is a beautiful fabric collection from Maywood Studios, AND...I do each months block in 3 different colorways, choosing from my stash for the other two so that when they are finished I will have some really nice gift quilts. THEN I can work on anything I choose including the Civil War or Desert Sunset (which my hubby is voting for). But I have to make sure I FINISH IT!!! December seems a long way off right now but we did get 15" of snow in the mountains yesterday and my furnace kicked on this morning after the house dropped to 65 degrees...so I guess December isn't really that far. 30 degrees outside right now, brrrrrr! I'm not even going to address the issues of my house cleaning and trying to cut down on the cola's I drink...Nope, not goin' there today. Your post will surely touch everyone who reads it on some level. FINISH IT should be my new mantra.

Tricia L.

Wow! I think you've described ME perfectly! I am a (relatively)new quilter and have 4 unfinished quilts. Some are further along than others, but the excitement is now gone. I think I just really enjoy the picking out fabrics!

I will join you in your adventure and post something similiar on my blog. My project will be finishing my parent's quilt which is their Christmas gift. It's sandwiched and ready for quilting. Thank you for the inspiration! Hopefully we can all keep each other motivated in blogland.

Carolyn

I wish I was a starter! The actually starting of the project is where I get stalled. Once it's started, I'm usually pretty good (at least until I get to the borders, which is my next stopping point!), but I'm always hesitant to take that first step. Maybe I should send my projects to you to start them, then I'll pick it up from there? :o)

Kris Bair

I love this idea. And I have the perfect quilt to do this with......it's only been a year and a half since I started it - what better time to finish it?
Kris

BJ

Carolyn, swing by my house for more!

Honestly, I think we have the same mother. My hubby just sighs when we're traveling and I spot yet another quilt shop! At home, all my gatherings/projects are put in individual huge plastic bags for future completion, pattern included. That's so they are out of the way of the many I have OUT of the bag and partially completed. Or is that "started"? No, I like "partially completed"!

Patty

Ok, ok, so what if my nephew has just turned 3 and his baby quilt is still sitting on my quilting machine table waiting to be quilted. Started the quilt before he was born, finished the top when he was 1 and well, you already know the rest. I'm with you Nicole. Lets "get er done"

Thelma

Your post made me laugh, and if you read my post for today you will too. We're a pair, you trying to complete one project and me trying to start multiples. But really we're both alike, trying to do something out of our comfort zones, something that does not come easy to us, and knowing all we need is to stick to a plan.

Good luck to you as you work on staying focused, and good luck to me while I try not to get my freak on for being overly focused.

Hopefully we'll be toasting both of our successes!

Sandy (Strlady)

I'm not much of a finisher either but my stalling point is when the quilt top is done. Quilting and binding the top is not my favorite part of the process but it's what makes the quilt beautiful. I'm working really hard to overcome this flaw in my creative process. In October I have 3 tops I want to quilt and bind. Wish me luck.

Susan Ramey Cleveland

Nicole, I once got one of those fancy exercise bikes with the bells and whistles--looked more like a NASA space vehicle than exercise equipment. It sat in the basement for several years, and I never lost a pound--in fact, I gained a few. Got rid of that thing.

Lizzie Swinney

Nicole,

It's the journey not the destination. Enjoy life. Lizzie

CarlaH

Oh Nicole, when did you come to my place and photographed my bookshelves and cleaning cupboard? I don't know what's the matter with those books they just aren't doing the job they are supposed to. What I'm supposed to make an effort and follow the instructions? As for cleaning there is always something more important to do until the day before company is expected then it is a wild rush - feels good when it is done though.
As far as quilting projects are concerned, there are only two on the go, but don't talk about the other started projects - knitting, cross stitch, crocheting, photography, Photoshop, Italian and calligraphy lessons and I could go on and on.
I don't have a blog but I will join you in going for a finish - today cleaning the pantry and finishing a knitted scarf (its getting cold here in Quebec).
I look forward to an update of your progress.
P.S. the diet starts today (again)!!!

Tricia T

It's so good to take little steps and make big progress. I think you're absolutely right to just choose one project to finish. I have a Miss Rosie quilt that my dh commissioned me to make for him this spring that I'm still in the process of cutting out. My stumbling block is that it's all scrappy - so I'm afraid I won't "do it right" - you know, that I'll cut the wrong fat quarter and it won't look right. Isn't that silly? It's a scrap quilt, for pity sake!!!! :-) I just need to keep at it. I may only be able to fit in 15 minutes a day right now, but I think I'll take that as my "to be completed" project. :-)

Paulette Doyle

NO, no you described me. I LOVE starting a project. It's like a bike ride - you hop on and sail off until you come to a hill. What? this isn't fun- it's work. But if we keep going we sail up the hill( OK walk the bike up the hill!!) and keep on riding. We finish the ride all sweaty and happy...with the quilt finished...OK not a very good analogy but it works for me! I guess the secret is to keep pedaling....and don't let any fancy bikes or different paths distract us...
I need a rest now...whew!
Take care!
Paulette

Sally

Nicole, now I know why I love to read your blog. We are so much alike! My favorite part of quilting is picking out the new fabric and the new project. I come home so excited to get started. And I do start. The only trouble is there's always a new project and new fabric. I will see something on yours on someone elses blog that I think I just have to make. I can't(I won't) even guess how many unfinished projects I have. I will have to live to be 100 to ever finish them. And I won't even go into the dieting. I love watching Biggest Looser while I eat my Cheetos.LOL
I don't have a blog but I will try to stick with a project and finish it. I just need to push my way through the sewing room and find the perfect project to work on.

Nancy, Near Philadelphia

My mother used to say, "Nancy, the trouble with you is that you never finish anything."

Mother, you just didn't live long enough.

MichelleB

I am totally a starter too. Sometimes I just get far enough to buy the fabric! There's a set of posts about this on Unclutterer. If you want the link, let me know!

Pam

I find it motivates me to finish an old project if I dangle the hot, new project in front of myself like a carrot. I don't start the new one until the old one is finished. I can really zip through the old one (which was once the hot, new one) if I'm itching to start the new one. Anyhow, works for me.

LizA.

Wow! I thought you were writing about me here. I too seem to like to start things but then get too easily sidetracked or run into a wall and just as easily put it down and move on. From all the comments I see I am not alone. Is this a good thing? At least I'm in good company. So, here goes "Finish it! Finish it! Finish it!" Are you going to keep us motivated?

Kathleen

It looks like there are a lot of us out here just like you....I could have written that post.
Okay...I'll see if I can pick a project and get it finished. Challenge accepted!

jeorg

it is a double-edged sword. i am completely the opposite of this. i am goal oriented. in fact, i start a project, i finish it. the problem is, that i get very focused and driven and obsessed with it that i don't stop til it's done.

i personally think it is better to be a bit of both. you get enthusiastic about new things and you are having fun. why don't you try to do a ufo month every three or four months instead. this month is a ufo month. work a little on each and every one... then do new things since you like it so much...

Christine Thomas

I totally understand this concept...I'm there, too. But I also realized a few years ago that some people just do things differently. Maybe you can be a starter and let someone be the finisher. It works in the carpentry trades. A builder doesn't always do the whole house. Someone frames, someone does the interior finishing. Interior finishers usually do not like the outside work. Others find the finishing too tedious and not "big" enough. So maybe starting is okay...just find a partner who will finish. You start hers, she finishes yours. Keep us posted.

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