2016--What Didn't Get Finished!

It was my year to finish a pile of mini quilt flimsies. I began 2016 with 30 small-to-mini quilt tops, and it was driving me crazy to have that many unfinished little quilts, with more in the works. I wish I had a photo of the 30 waiting to be quilted, but I didn't think that far ahead.
I am happy to say that the photo below shows the current pile of 2016's minis waiting for quilting.



And the two on the right are the only ones that were in the original pile of 30. They are some of the smallest minis, and yes--I am afraid to quilt them. I have purchased fine silk thread for the task, but still I drag my feet. Whatever I do, the quilting is going to be more obvious on these little things and I don't want to mess it up.
The HSTs in the top one finish at 1/4" and the Mariner's Compass in the bottom one is 3" across. These are small!!
I hope to gather my courage this year and actually get these quilted. But for right now, I am still a wimp!

So there are only 2 left from my pile of 30, but if you followed along last year you may recall that I finished 46 little quilts (well, ALMOST finished--the binding on the two below is still in the works, but I am counting them anyway). If you do the math, that means there were 18 new little quilts added in along the way. That should come as no surprise. There are always little quilts taking form here.

"Give Thanks" from Buttermilk Basin & the 10th Anniversary SAL from Primitive Gatherings

Finishes at 7 1/2 x 9 1/2

Like this one that I assembled yesterday after a long dry spell of no stitching.  Just scraps and pieces in a package from a friend that were crying out to be made into a little patriotic quilt (the 9-patches finish at 1 1/2"). Since Christmas is over, it is time to think about patriotic quilts again, isn't it? : )


I had thought that maybe I should tell myself I couldn't start any new little quilts this year until I had finished some large ones, but the truth of the matter is I could make little quilts for months to come without "starting something new". I'll show you what I mean.


I have a large collection of design boards and I often use them to hold parts for little quilts. They may be scraps from friends, or I might have some of my own scraps and leftovers that I decide could be made into another little quilt (scraps beget scraps, you know) and I lay them out to see what will come of them.There are a couple more I can't show here because they are surprises for people that read my blog.
 



It wouldn't be so bad if it ended there, but it doesn't.  This CD tower in my sewing room, that I have outfitted with extra shelves and wire baskets, holds scraps and parts that are also going to become small quilts one day (okay, 3 of the shelves hold parts for large quilts in early stages, but the other 7 are small quilts). They just haven't reached the "lay out on a design board" stage.









And then there is the ever present, "never finished in my lifetime" hexie project, Stars in the Garden. I actually have another flower almost finished.


 I really hope to get some large quilts finished this year--you know, make something that will actually keep people warm, and not just sit on a table or hang on a wall. I think it is time to awaken "the beast". It has been monopolizing my large design wall for most of the year. Sashing and cornerstones are both cut. It just needs to be stitched together. What am I waiting for?!?


My deepest thanks to all who have sent condolences, and for the little surprises in the mail that have brightened my day, like this cutie from sweet Julie.


 Until next time,
Janet O.

p.s. It was a winter wonderland around here until this week when the rains came. Now the snow has been greatly reduce, but it used to look like this.