The New Sidebar

Observant readers will notice that I have added a new sidebar to my blog: a UFO Countdown. In 2009, I made a commitment to work assiduously on sewing finishes and managed to sew the final finish on 55 cross-stitched and needle-pointed pieces. I still have 22 pieces in my sewing basket but I hope to have them completed by the end of February. But even though I haven't yet caught up with my sewing finishes, I shall try to devote 5 hours a month to my UFOs as well. I am happy to say that I don't have too many UFOs, only fourteen including two non-cross-stitch, actually. I rarely buy and start to stitch a project unless I am highly motivated to finish it. But every once in a while I bite off more than I can chew. This mostly happens with class pieces. I take classes when I want to learn a new technique or explore a new stitching style. Consequently, most of my class projects tend to be complex and ambitious ... at least, from my perspective. In the sidebar you will see evidence of that: Victoria Sampler's hardanger, Lori Birmingham's dimensional and wired embroidery, Catherine Jordan's picot edging, Karen Bovard's filet lace, Phyllis Maurer's Kogin embroidery. Another category in my UFO list: pieces on which I have made exasperating mistakes that I haven't the patience to deal with at the time... this would include Papillion Creations Peacock Square, TW's logo dragon chart, the Midnight Moogies and the Jacobean coverlet. On others, I have simply run out of steam: my own adaptation of a SNN design that is now out of print and a piece stitched on gingham with native American motifs. And finally, one item on my UFO list, the Mill Hill bead kit, simply fell to the bottom of a stitching bag and was forgotten. I have also added two non-cross-stitch pieces to the list: a peyote stitch bracelet and a quilt top completed in time for my youngest sister's 16th birthday but never assembled ... if I get it done by June, it'll be the very most impressive gag gift at her 50th birthday celebration. Gives a whole new meaning to the concept of a belated birthday gift, doesn't it??!!??

I believe I will resurrect the Mill Hill kit first since it promises to be a quick and easy finish and will make a nice addition to my summertime ornament collection.

In future months, I will choose a project from the list and add it to my rotation of WIPs until I have finished it. Perhaps, by the end of 2010 I will have made as substantial a dent in my UFOs as I did in my sewing finishes in 2009.