UFO Show and Tell

 Here's a quick update on the internet situation at my house. It's NOT good. I've called I don't know how many times this past week to complain. Finally, yesterday we got escalated. Why? Was it because I threatened to move my service to another provider? Not that that would have been a guaranteed solution - I could get just as bad of service from the other provider as well. 

I was very polite but very clear on my position. 

Here's something to contemplate. If you're wary of how much information is out there on the internet, did you know that once you have a connection to your service provider that they have 100% control of those devices within your house? Yep - I've not rebooted the modem once, but it's been done MANY times by the service people. They've run tests on the equipment, they can see what's connected, they can control the services - all from wherever they are sitting and I don't think they are sitting in Canada! 

So my call got escalated and then for the SECOND time during this whole fiasco, they can't hear me. I haven't touched my phone but why can't they hear me? Anyway, back to a new call and get escalated right away and this time, they can hear me. 

We're getting a new modem today. The person I spoke to said they could see some issues with it and so a new modem is supposed to arrive this morning between 9 and 9:30. I have the instructions on what to do and we'll see if that makes a difference. 

Let's say that with the pandemic and working from home, that we NEED that thing to be working properly. Why did the modem start to act up once we upgraded the service? I've no idea and let's just pray a LOT that this is going to fix it. I know it went down many times yesterday that I know of and I wasn't happy. It was suggested that I watch my language in the event that the link didn't go completely down! Good point!!!

Someone else is going to host Monday sewing today! 

I want to share the show and tell from our UFO class yesterday. It's amazing how much is getting done, but I have noticed one thing. Some people are using it to get CURRENT projects done! Well, I guess that's OK if it motivates them to do that. But I also noticed that a few people are not paying attention to what they say they'll get done! I even send them a confirmation note. I let a couple of things slide yesterday, but since I had to pay money, that's it - no more Ms. Nice Girl. 

Katheleen finished her Snow Days (Crabapple Hill) quilt! It looks GORGEOUS!! It's a bit hard to see in the picture, but the cream border surrounding the center part is filled with hand embroidery. Her goal for this month was to finish a section, but she was on a roll and went ahead and finished the top. I love it. 

Katheleen's Snow Days

A few blocks didn't make the cut for the front and so they got pieced into the backing. Yep - the backing and the binding are also DONE!!! 

The backing and binding for Katheleen's Snow Days

Her next project is Quilter's Patch (Laundry Basket Quilts). As you can see there are a few blocks missing. So she'll be working on this for the next couple of months. 

Katheleen's Garden Patch quilt

 I hate to confess that I taught both of those quilts as ongoing classes at The Hobby Horse. The year? Well, it was several years ago. I don't have my list handy, but somewhere around 2015 or 2016. That's the intent of the UFO club. It's to get motivated to finish up those big projects that have been hanging around for a long time. The ones that someone else will not know what to do with when they arrive at your house when you're no longer there!!

Totally missed the date on that one. It was 2013!!!!!   You can check out the show and tell from that class at this link. 

But for those with no UFOs, I guess you can work on a new project, but there's not much satisfaction in that since you'd likely be doing that anyway. The UFO Club is above and beyond what you would normally do. Stretch goals!!! 

Shelly is working on a UFO! She hand embroidered these two blocks this past month. Wow - that's a lot of hand embroidery and it's perfect. I've seen her work in person and it's amazing! These blocks are from Winter Wonderland (Crabapple Hill). 

Embroidered block from Winter Wonderland

Embroidered block from Winter Wonderland

She committed to embroidering part of another block for next month. I see from a text last night that she already has the block traced. I think we should make her do the entire block! It's huge. 

Susan is working on a Halloween table runner. She got the two rows of the center section completed. Next month is to get the top done. I think it should be finished since Halloween will occur shortly after our next meeting!

Halloween table runner

Dede ripped out the quilting in the border of this flannel quilt and then requilted it. It's now bound and ready to be used. I see that Quark, her hairless cat, is inspecting it to see if it's worthy of him.  

Dede's cat, Quark, is inspecting her UFO homework

The goal for next month is to finish this small project. That's the beauty of the club. Some people can handle a large project each month, others cannot. A lot of the members of the UFO club still have full-time jobs and still have to juggle their time between work, family, and hobbies. 

Dede's UFO for next month

Lynne is busy with embroidering her Dream Big panel. It's looking gorgeous!! If you have the right technology, it's a snap to position those machine embroidery designs on each of the petals. If not, it can take a fair amount of time to make that work. We encouraged her to use the technology that she has available to her. I got a text last night. She tried it and it worked!!! Way to go Lynne!!!! You'll be done that entire project by next month! 

Lynne's Dream Big panel

We also have a bit of other show and tell, not just our UFO project and that's what it's all about. Sharing of ideas, projects, and just life! 

Lynne got the binding on this project. 

Lynne's Wolf Abstractions by Violet Craft

But look at what else she does with her finished projects. She makes a bag/cushion cover for EVERY quilt. See how she uses her embroidery machine to embellish the cover. It's a great way to use up the leftover fabrics from the project. And I love how Smoke is surveying the cover. Perhaps, he's thinking of pouncing on the wolf? It's also her label as she put her information on the pillow cover. It's a brilliant idea. 

Lynne's cover for the Wolf Abstractions quilt

Jane was working on a quilt top and the intention was to finish the complete top. That didn't happen because of a fabric shortage. I gave her partial points for completion. I LOVE The colors of the quilt. Guess what Jane will be working on this coming month?

Jane's partially completed quilt top

Linda worked on a Scandinavian style Christmas wall hanging. She bought it as a kit some time ago. The top is done and ready to be quilted!

Linda's Scandinavian Christmas wall hanging

Well, that's only half of the show and tell from yesterday! It's so exciting to see people make progress on their projects and some of these projects are HUGE and have been hanging around for quite some time. I love how motivated we are to get some of those old projects done!

Just as we were saying goodbye, my internet dropped. GRRRR. Then we had a family Zoom and I got to see Little Bear! He got a face trim! He's so cute. Well, M is cute too! But of course, the internet dropped on that call as well. Breathe Breathe Breathe!

I spent the rest of the day puttering in the studio - and well, you'll just have to wait to see the result of all that puttering. 

I'll finish off the Show and Tell for the UFO club tomorrow. 

So if anyone is interested in getting some motivation for completing projects, I'll be opening up the sign-up for the club in a bit. I already have some new sign-ups for 2021. We're going to start the new club in January. Those that currently in the club will most likely just get re-enrolled. That's what happened last year. If there are too many for one hour, then I'll split the group. 

The classes will be via ZOOM so ANYONE, ANYWHERE can join! How's that for crazy! Should we be able to get back together again, I'll still run a Zoom session. Yep - the Zoom thing saves a lot of time. I don't have to tidy up, I don't have to find chairs for everyone and no travel time! Remember, the cost is $125 for the year. You get $10 back for each month you complete your homework! If you know someone who would be interested, pass the information along to them. You can e-mail me (elainetheriault@gmail.com) to sign up. Put UFO in the subject so I won't miss it. 

We have a great time and we're getting these old projects done!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

UFO Club

I want to thank everyone who has stopped by to pick up stuff that I no longer need or want. I had a quick visit with France yesterday as she stopped by to pick up some stuff. There'll be more, in bits and pieces as I unearth the unwanted things. And knowing that I can make quilts tops for Quilts of Valour or Project Linus from the fabrics that I don't need or want is so freeing. The more that goes in those piles, the more I want to get rid of - OK - within reason! HUGE thanks to Diane, who is my quilt top piecing machine. I'm prepping FIVE more kits for her to pick up later today. That's good news. The bad news? There's still lots more where that came from.

It's all about using up, finding a new home, or getting it done! Today it's all about the UFO club. We had our monthly meet-up via Zoom, which is great since one of the ladies is at her cottage every weekend, and she still gets to participate. I think more and more people are getting used to this format!

And I get to sew longer to get my projects finished since we don't need to travel, no worries about the weather. It's a great thing!

Today we have Monday sewing and no need to pack up the sewing machine!

Let's get started on the show and tell because there's a lot. Even though it was summer and no money on the table, everyone was busy.

Dede got the two outer borders on this quilt. It was one of our $10 quilts from years ago. I think it was called The Patchwork Sampler. I love that black and white combination! Thankfully the recipient still is into black and white. One border left to go!

Dede's homework for August

Her homework for next month is to remove some quilting from the outer border of this next quilt and redo it. Don't you love how motivated we all are? That's a lot of work, but hey - if you're going to do something, you might as well be happy with the end result.

Dede's quilt for next month

Jane -- oh, Jane. She's like me - loads of little things to do each month. BUT instead of working on what she was supposed to, she made some placemats.

Jane's placemats

She made masks.

Jane's masks

And she worked out the calculations for a new quilt. This was actually part of her homework for the current month. Oh -- this is why I love EQ8 so much. I never have to worry about these kinds of calculations. But we all have our methods, and this works for Jane.

Quilt calculations

She even got started on some half-square triangles for the quilt.

Half-square triangles for her new quilt

Getting the binding on this quilt WAS on her list for this month.

Jane's quilt with the binding firmly attached

And it's firmly attached by machine. I love how more and more people are going that route!  It really depends on the eventual home for the quilt. A family heirloom? I'd hand-stitch the binding. But a giveaway quilt? By machine!!!

The binding is stitched in place by sewing machine

And she finished this quilt. I think the binding just needed to be put on. Now that's a lot to get done in one month. Go, Jane, GO!!!!

Another finished quilt

Linda got some blocks for the Vintage Christmas quilt done. She was a wee bit behind and is almost caught up now. The person who is behind is ME. I haven't got the homework for Friday out yet. That's a job for today or tomorrow.

Linda's Vintage Christmas blocks

Her project for next month is this quilt. It's gorgeous and definitely a Scandinavian feel for Christmas.

Scandi Christmas

I also got a lot accomplished. I'm only showing you the UFOs that were on my list. I won't bore you with all the other stuff that got done.

First up was my red/white log cabin quilt. The quilt top is together in one piece. No borders.

Red/white log cabin

The binding and backing are also made. Yeah!!!!

The binding, the backing, and the quilt top

Then I managed to get the final border on Easy Street - the mystery quilt by Bonnie Hunter.

The final border on Easy Street

The binding, backing, and quilt top for Easy Street

And then there is the disappearing nine-patch. It's ALMOST together. All that's left to sew is ONE seam through the center of the quilt (the diagonal center that is) and add the four corner triangles.

The disappearing nine-patch

I'm going to add a border of some kind. I have some fat quarters, so I'll need to figure something out. But it's on my list for next month to have the top completely done.

Then there's the binding on the inside of the yoga bag. That was to be done this month - it didn't happen. I carried it over for next month.

The yoga bag that needs to be finished inside

There's also the snail's trail blocks. The blocks are all made, but it was supposed to be a quilt top by now. That's on the list for next month as well.

Snail's trail blocks

And I had to bring in a new UFO. This is PRISM squared. My goal is to get all the wedges cut for next month. The fabric strips are sewn together - the wedges just need to be cut.

My PRISM squared

Four projects - how hard can it be to get one done each week until our next UFO meeting?


Sharon got several projects completed as well. The border is on her shop hop quilt, and it's off to the quilter. I LOVE that pop of green with grey, white, and black. It's gorgeous.

Sharon's shop hop quilt

And she got some placemats finished. It honestly doesn't matter the size of the UFO - it's all about finishing.

Sharon's placemats

She'll be back working on her 2000 Piecemaker Calendar for next month. She's so close to getting that quilt done!!! I can't wait to see it done!

Last year, Ronda bought an embroidery machine and seems to be embroidering everything!! This is what she was working on this month. Onesies! The embroidery file is a new one from Kimberbell. But how cute is this, and how simple and fast to make compared to making a quilt for a new baby????

Onsie embroidered by Ronda

Lynne is also doing some machine embroidery. She got more sections of her Dream Big panel done. So hard to see in the photo, but I'm sure that it looks gorgeous. This is a fun panel to quilt or embroider. She'll be working on that this coming month as well.

Lynne's Dream Big panel

I think Laura abandoned her PRISM squared quilt for the summer. Instead, she got this quilt made. It's from flannel, and I LOVE IT!!!!

Laura's quilt

I think it's called Over and Under by Bonnie Sullivan.

Elaine is diligently working on her Stitcher's Garden. Two borders of five are now on the quilt.

Two borders on Elaine S quilt

Here are the other three borders being auditioned. We gave them the green light, and that's her goal for the coming month - get those last three borders on.

Auditioning the last three borders

Shelly is into hand embroidery these days. Her goal was to finish the stitching on this block.

Shelly's hand embroidery

She's started another block and going to try and finish TWO blocks for next month.

Diane is also working on Stitcher's Garden. She got the last set of blocks done!!!

Diane's blocks for Stitcher's Garden

More blocks

The final set of blocks

Some of those blocks are machine embroidery, and some are appliqued. It sure feels nice to get those blocks done! I know - I was in that position earlier this year.

One of the things that I love about our Zoom UFO group is that we get to ask questions like Elaine's border or, in Diane's case - how to finish off this cording.

Cording that needs to be finished off

Katheleen is also stitching up a storm with hand embroidery. This is Snow Days, and she got all her homework done and MORE. The quilt is stunning.

Katheleen's Snow Days

We have others in the group, and some of them took the summer off, but they have homework for September. Susan is going to be working on a Halloween quilt, Liz will be back with her Amy Bradley garden quilt, Diane was doing some repairs, and hopefully, Laura will be getting that PRISM squared done!

It's all fun, and the best part - we are getting those UFOs done. Some are just working on current projects to get some motivation. It doesn't matter - the point of the club is to get things DONE!!!

And it's going to be another busy day. Longarm quilting, making two magazine quilts, and well - that's probably all that I'm going to work on today. And those darn books - I'm reading a book and listening to an audiobook, and both are good! I hope to finish both today!

Hey - it's fun to sew all day, but you gotta take some time to just relax!!!

Have a super day!!!!


Ciao!!!!

UFO Show n Tell

I thought I'd share the UFO show and tell with you today.

Last year, I started a UFO club. Each person paid a fee to join the club and then put some money in the kitty that they would get back once they finished their assignment for the month. Each person gets to choose how much or how little they do, depending on their schedule for that month. I think that at least half of the group members work full time - some at home and some at their actual place of work.  It's a small amount - $10 per month, but that's enough to get people fired up!

I don't think that it's just the money. I think many of us are sitting on a bunch of UFOs and well - we know that if we don't come home one night, who is going to clean up our studios? Many of those UFOs will get tossed as no one will be able to figure out what was supposed to happen - some parts might be missing or the pattern.

The purpose of the club is to get everyone on track. And that's what has happened. Everyone who signed up for the first year resigned up for year two, and we added a couple of people. We've been doing the show and tell on Zoom, so anyone can participate! Watch for the sign-up for next year. That'll be coming in the fall. I'll keep the groups small (in case we need another group), so we can get our show n tell covered in one hour.

Now we had not planned to work through the summer, and so there was no money in the kitty for July or August, but the group really wanted to have a deadline and to "meet." So I made that happen. Even with NO money on the table, the amount of work that got done was crazy. Let's have a look.

Katheleen is working on Snow Days - a pattern by Crabapple Hill. She now has Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 together with all the embroideries done. There are something like 14 sections in the quilt - I didn't remember that there were that many. The blocks for the center are done as well, and that's her goal for the upcoming month - sew the center together and join a few more sections. Oh yes - there's no stopping these guys! They wanted to meet in August as well!

Katheleen's Snow Days UFO

Thankfully, there wasn't money on the table this month because I didn't get my homework completed. I did, however, start to sew the red and white log cabin blocks together. It shouldn't take that long to finish this off as I now have 16 larger blocks and that one row to sew together.  That's ONE of my goals for August. This quilt top, the binding, and the batting need to be organized.

My red and white log cabin quilt

I was very ambitious and wanted to have the Snail's Trails blocks completed as well. As you can see, that didn't happen. However, the good news is that all the components for the remaining blocks are cut out. I was lamenting that I still had TWELVE blocks to sew together. Then when we were sewing for Monday yesterday, I realized that I only have SIX blocks to sew together.

My Snail's Trails blocks

I'm happy to report that I got four of the remaining six blocks sewn yesterday, so that leaves TWO blocks left to sew. Then each block needs to be trimmed and then to sew the quilt top together. That's on my list to finish in August as well.

Those two items are the LAST two items on my 2017 UFO list. I will get that list done by the end of August, even if it kills me!!!

This is my yoga bag, and it needs the end seam allowances to be finished. That's on the goal for this month as well. This project is on my 2020 UFO list. 

The yoga bag is almost done

AND - I have one border to add to finish this project. That's also on the list of goals for this month. None of those jobs should take more than an hour or two. This quilt is also on the 2019 UFO list. I'm determined to get as many of those projects off the lists as I can. There are four still on the 2018 list, so those will become a priority for the remainder of the year.

The Easy Street quilt needs one last border sewn on

I also pulled a project from the 2020 UFO list that has to be sewn together. It's a quilt, and all the blocks are done. So that will be a bonus. And there's no money on the table so if I don't get it all done, that's OK. But I WANT it done.

Technically, Shelly didn't put anything on her list for this month. But that doesn't mean that she was slacking. Her son got married, and he wanted her to refurbish this wagon that I believe had been made by her son's grandfather. It's adorable and so yes - she finished something!

Shelly refurbished the wagon

Her goal for next month is to work on the embroidery on two blocks for Winter Wonderland. This is another Crabapple Hill pattern.

Block one for Shelly to finish

Block two for Shelly to start

Dede's goal was to get 124 half square triangles completed, and here they are!!  Dede will now be working on adding a border to the Patchwork Sampler quilt, and then these half-square triangles make the next border.

Dede's half-square triangles - DONE

Diane had these three peacock embroideries done and didn't know what to do with them. So over the last couple of months, she's been turning them into cushions for her sofa. The last one was completed this month! They look awesome!!!

Diane's three peacock cushions

Lynne wanted to get ONE of the 52 designs on her Dream Big panel stitched out. That was a bit dicey since she got the thread days before we met. But she did get the stitching done. This is tricky because the placement of the design is critical. I think she did a great job!!  She's going to be working on this project for August and wants to get at least 4 more designs stitched out.

Lynne's first design stitched out on the Dream Big panel

This is the layout of the Dream Big pattern

Diane P. is working on Stitcher's Garden. This is the FOURTH of these quilts that we've worked on in the UFO club. The other three are done, and this one is close.

She had three blocks to finish off, and all three got done.

The first block

The second block (which is actually two blocks)

The third block (which is actually 6 blocks)

Her goal for next month is to finish the last section of the quilt, which equals seven blocks. I know she can do it!!!!


I swear that Jane was looking for a gold star this month. Her goal was to get two borders on a quilt. That got done, and I believe the quilt is at her long arm quilter to be quilted.

Two borders added to this quilt

She wanted to get the binding on this quilt - one that she was working on throughout the UFO sessions. 

Jane's starry purple quilt

The binding is half on. She was experimenting with thread colors and stitches, and so it's not quite finished, but it's very close.

Working on the binding

She got the batting and backing together for another one of the quilts that she worked on during our UFO sessions, and that one is also with the long arm quilter to get quilted.

Off to the long arm quilter

She finished quilting this Christmas quilt and got the binding on it as well. See - what I mean about that gold star???? 

Jane's Christmas quilt is done

WAIT - there's more. She was also working on this quilt during our UFO sessions. It went to the long arm quilter, and now the binding is on, and this one is ready to gift!!!! I LOVE the picture - it's a perfect setting for that photo. Way to go - Jane!!! And YES - you get a gold star.

Jane's sailboat quilt

Linda was also on a roll this month. She's been quilting her own quilts and went gangbusters. This is a panel that she added a border to. Then quilted it and got the binding on. This one will go to the local guild's community projects.

Linda's child's quilt -- DONE

Another panel that's quilted and bound.

Another panel quilt - DONE

This was a top belonging to the community projects at the local guild. It's now quilted and bound.

Community projects quilt - DONE

BUT this is what her real homework was. To get this Christmas quilt done, and it's done!!!  I love it when we get on a roll and get one thing done and then keep going. That's called motivation. I LOVE IT!!!

Linda's Christmas quilt - DONE

Isn't that exciting to see the progress made on some quilts and see so many finished quilts? There are others in the club, but they didn't have anything on their plate for the month, or I didn't get the homework pictures. A few of them set a goal for the summer, so their work isn't really due until September!!!

It's all about moving forward, however slowly.

Great job to everyone, and so today, I'm scheduling ONE DAY where I can work on those UFO projects and get them done for this month. I want to move on to something else.

Have a super day!

Ciao!!!