29 January, 2014

Spurred To Action!

I have declared this year as the one where I will take control of my UFOs (if I don't do it, who will?); spurred to action by a recent blog post by Lori Kennedy I have come up with my own plan of identifying what is necessary to see a long list of UnFinished Objects through to completion. I don't need to cull them at this point, a few years ago I did just that, those remaining (there are twelve, NOT counting my queue of quilt tops waiting to be quilted!) have been deemed worthy enough to merit their own storage boxes. My plan is this: using the form pictured below I will document each unfinished project and take a close look at what's in the box and what else I need, supply-wise.
I'm not concerned with when I began the project, why I abandoned it or what inspired me to begin it in the first place. My goal here is a simple one; to finish them up and move them out.  The beauty of this plan, for me, is placing the forms into a loose-leaf notebook; this way, I can prioritize the projects and switch up the order if I choose.  Also, I can remove one page and carry that to my LQS for supplies, I can easily insert fabric swatches inside the page protector for matching purposes. It's not coincidental that I am developing this notebook before I attend Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival next month and visit the HUGE merchant's mall there!  I have vowed to not be tempted by any new projects there this year; rather, I will shop for needed supplies to finish what I've begun and return home inspired and energized, not toting bags full of future UFOs! Lori's linked post (above) asks the question: "what do our UFOs say about us?"; I hope to answer that question through my action of developing a plan and taking charge. You know me, I love a good challenge! It all boils down to is who's in control; I'd like to think that it's me and not my unfinished quilt tops.
Wish me luck. 
Life is Good!

10 comments:

cityquilter grace said...

great idea...great plan...

KaHolly said...

What a great idea!! Leave it to you! I brought a few UFO's to TX with me, but haven't touched them yet!

Unknown said...

Good luck!

Gari in AL said...

I like your idea of the UFO book: I use a lot of binders for organizational. I don't have many UFOs but the list seems to be growing so I am going to adopt your page and see if I can stop this trend. ;-)

Janet O. said...

Impressive plan. Good luck at the vendor mall! I hope it all works out for you--maybe that will inspire and encourage me. : )

LizA. said...

well, aren't you the organized one, Thank you for sharing Lori's blog post. i love her idea about the notebook and the list of ufo's. I need to do this but I also know that I don't want to face the number of ufo's that are languishing in my studio.....sigh. I'm sure that as I keep reading about your accomplishments tackling your ufo's I will be spurred into action on my own.

Carol said...

What a wonderful plan! Good luck at the show...it actually worked for me last week at Road to California and our shop hop through southern California...I had organized my UFO's and my list before I left home and pretty much stuck to the plan. Going to finish up some very "old" lingering projects...and looking at them with fresh eyes is really fun!

Quiltdivajulie said...

What a great post -- and thanks for sharing the link.

I suspect your plan for the vendor mall will serve you very well - both in terms of having less weight/bulk to carry AND a special lightness of spirit!

Hugs --

Gail said...

Great idea to use the sheet protectors & ring binder. I do like that better than my system. For the last few years, I've been using an 8.5" x 11" sketch book. In the back I have a list of my UFO's and I check them off as I complete them. In the front, I devote a page or two to the completed project, with pictures, swatches and written details.

Being an impulse buyer of the worst sort, I've sworn off any new projects for the new year--hope I can stick to it, lol.

Gail :)

StitchinByTheLake said...

What a great idea! I think it's time I go through some of my older stuff and decide which ones I still want to do and which ones I need to pass on to someone else. I'm not good at letting things go but sometimes you just need to know when to let go! blessings, marlene