Norma commented that she loved the comment "Abandoned" on my side bar. The name just seems to fit some of my UFO's. When I take a class I am usually focused on learning the "process". The fabrics I choose to take to class seem to always be the wrong fabrics when I get started - I'm sure many of you know that feeling! I want to leave a class having learned a new technique, a new way of looking at texture and color, or some other new "thing" to contribute to my quilting knowledge. The class project is simply a means to this end - at least for me.
Years ago I went to a wonderful retreat called "Quilting by the Sound" held in Port Townsend, Washington. It was a huge retreat with many nationally recognized teachers to choose from, and was held every year. All of us from my little Tangled Threads group went and had a marvelous time. My friend Kathi and I took a four day appliqué class from Mary Sorenson. We were to learn appliqué on dark backgrounds and something else I can't remember. We had a great time - which was the most important thing.
This appliqué project from that class has matured in my sewing room for over 10 years. I've now decided to abandon it. I've used very few fabrics here, and can recycle the black background into my scrap box. Little is lost this way. This isn't the type of appliqué I do any more, and I don't know what I'd do with it if I finished it. Make a pillow? Not the right colors for anyone I know. Use it for a round robin center? Nope - I don't want to work in these colors. So I've come to this decision.
How many UFO's do you have that really need to be abandoned and recycled? Each time I make a decision to do this I get a very freeing feeling. My quilting time is limited - I want to work only on things I enjoy and love. Something hardly started like this I abandon - something farther along gets donated to charity. What is lurking in your sewing room that needs to be abandoned, passed along, or given to charity? Try it - you'll love the feeling of freedom it gives you.
12 comments:
I did this last summer - went through some boxes of projects that I just knew I would not finish. It is good to move them on to someone else. And it makes so much more room for new UFO projects.
juliann
I have passed on a few & thrown out others!
I have trashed some projects along the way and felt very badly about it. Perhaps, in the future, if I say I abandonded them it won't feel so brutal *s*q
I have no problem abandoning UFOs. I've seriously busted some UFOs this past few months this way. And will probably take stock about twice a year from now on. There's just too little time to worry about projects that for some reason or another I no longer have any interest in.
Abandonded is a great category -- I think I used it a fair bit when I spent a year doing all my UFO's, I just fdidn't ahve a formal category name for it. :-)
First abandonded, then recycled! I love it. You are so right, our time to spend quilting is precious and limited--use it wisely. Thanks for this post--it has given me a lot to think about!
Patti, your applique work is so beautiful, you should do a "how to" on your blog for us beginners in applique. When I grow up, I want to be able to do it just like you, oh wait, I am grown up. Guess I need to hurry up and learn : )
I have a couple of items I would like to abandon all right. Maybe I will - I think they are just too small and insignificant to donate to anyone -- and very pink!!
You're absolutely right, Patti !
Here, we use to give our "abandonned" works to our guild. An old lady friend, loves to sort them out, she unpicks what can be to recuperate the fabrics, and she also cuts 2.5 and 4 inch squares out of them. Then she stores the whole in different widths "strings boxes", and "squares boxes", at disposal for the beginners, or any other quilter in the bee. Fabrics are sooo expensive, here : between 20 and 25$ per yard !!! (sometimes even more !) so, this can be discouraging in the beginning, when you're learning...
Hugs and smiles,
NADINE.
I think you have just the right attitude about the class samples!!
You are absotively right- I have finally made the decision to abandon a couple of mine and have decided where they are going.
I usually 'abandon' my unwanted tops to ladies who do charity quilting. Nothing wrong with not wanting projects or tops any more. I go through my projects and tops regularly and toss out from time to time - it does feel good to do that :-)
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