By the numbers....

I can happily say "there are a lot less UFOs in Blogland! Back in October, 28 stitchers decided to challenge themselves to finishing up some "old business", aka UFOs. 
28 of us stitched and stuffed and cut and ripped, working against the clock and the calendar. By January 1, 2011, there were 81 less UFOs in our closets, drawers and bins. And 46 additional projects got finished up as well! That gives the NYE UFO Countdown Challenge stitchers a grand total of 127 finished projects!! That makes Finn very happy! Every finish is a victory, and is such a good feeling when you can cross it OFF your "to do" list. I'm marching(or limping) forward into 2011 with Myra and her challenge to complete more projects half finished. I hope those of you who still have "miles to go before you sleep" find the mojo, or whatever it is, to keep 'keepin' on' with old projects. Hugs and thanks for the memories of another successful NYE UFO Challenge!

A Finn-ish....

 And another UFO bites the dust! Or adds to the thread litter in my house *VBS*
 The Pinks string top is from about(??) 3 years ago. I remember starting it, and remember putting the blocks together the size needed for Wrap Them In Love. I didn't like the results of my string piecing, and tucked it into a box of finished tops. But I pulled it out, used it to practice "how to quilt a string quilt" and now it's finished. And it is UFO#4 towards meeting my challenge goal! And THAT brings me to a topic I may have forgotten to RE-discuss with 2010 NYE UFO Countdown Challenge. I stated it loud and clear in the 2008 challenge, and I think I repeated it in 2009. And maybe over looked repeating it this year. The challenge is about FINISHING ANYTHING that you consider a UFO. It doesn't even have to be quilting. Other forms of handwork(knitting, embroidery, cross stitch, tole painting, crocheting)are just fine... it matters NOT. It doesn't have to be BIG, it can small. It doesn't have to be an ELDERLY UFO. Once you begin anything, it's a UFO with the first few seconds *VBS* The challengee gets to choose, is free to change her mind and jump to a different UFO, or have all her chosen ones be started and finished during the weeks of the challenge. MY challenge(and I know it differs from others) is as OPEN ENDED as it can be and still have a middle! I suppose what I'm saying is that it is as personal as it gets. You really aren't trying to please or answer to anyone but YOURSELF. There is NO failure in this challenge...any finish, every finish is a victory! OK putting the soap box away again!
 
And just so you don't think I only WORK on quilts, todays play time. I'm using the bonus triangles from Pineapple Blossom blocks(and a few from Boxy Squares(another UFO) to make these little Shoo Fly blocks. I've sized the HSTs to 2" and pulled scraps from the 2" bin. I have NO plan in mind for the blocks I'm making. As usual, I figure it out as I go, and that's the fun part! Happy Sunday Stitching!! Go Badgers!

Victory Celebrations are in order...

 this morning, and a HUGE bouquet of Queen Anne's Lace for Michele,With Heart and Hands. She has completed her 10 chosen UFOs and a whole bunch more! Michele has been playing in our New Years Eve UFO Countdown Challenge. Her chosen number of UFOs to finish was 10...which really shocked some of us. Quite the storm of additinal challenges rose up out of that number 10! At last count, I believe, 13 additional quilts will be made to benefit organizations of the makers choosing!! Clare couldn't resist Michele's goal, and jumped in with 9 projects promised, but on a different timeline...LOL. I'm so very proud of all your hard work Michele, and I know most of it is for donation...awesome!!
 And we need additional bouquets of flowers for Julie, Barn Quilter, and Roz, of Counterpane. Julie has met her goal of 3 UFO's and finished an additional 8 small quilts for gifts. If I'm not mistaken, I don't think she's done yet...LOL. Roz met her goal of 1 UFO finish this week, and probably will continue to finish up more! Way to go gals! Everyone's a winner!!!
 As for me, my play time this morning needs a change, so I pulled out the container with 6.5" log cabin blocks. I got 14 more sewed up and trimmed. Now I will put them neatly back in their container and put them away til next time. I am happy to find this many weeks into my "return mojo high", that I feel the same drive and desire to have this old stuff done. I've hung in there pretty well in the "no new starts" department and with some success behind me, maybe I can ride it out. I was sorely tempted to take on Bonnie's new Mystery, and even pull fabric for it, but talked myself out of starting, and quietly put the fabric away again. I think there's hope for me yet...LOL

Tuesday's treasure....

 
and this lovely bouquet of flowers is for our pal Sara, of Sara's Scraps. Sara has earned my admiration and deep respect. She was one of the gals who plugged away and accomplished her goal last year in the UFO Challenge. She got so much done, she vowed to carry on through the new year.I, of course, said I would too...but I fell flat on my face, and slunk away in shame to mumble about those UFOs instead of attacking them. Well, Sara carried on and on and on, and now she has finished the 5 UFO projects chosen for this year challenge. AND...we are still a couple of days short of it being just ONE month of challenge! You gals are firecrackers this year....wooo hooo!! Today the congratulations are all for Sara, who has earned some play time! Way to go Sara!! I'm so proud of you!! Hugs for all!

Monday's Mishmash....

 Being grandchild #15 doesn't seem to bother AJ, he's right at home on the Sunny Side Up quilt from Grandma. That boy always seems to have a smile *VBS*
 And speaking of Sunshine...the old Finnster is giving a HUGE bouquet of SUNflowers to our sunny stitcher Carol! We are 3 dsys short of ONE month into the NYE UFO Countdown Challenge, and Carol has finished ALL of her 10(yes TEN) chosen projects!!! I think that deserves a huge round of applause and a big bouquet of sunflowers...way to go Carol!
 Aren't pictures great? And aren't digital cameras and photo sharing just the best? These are mine...my riches, my blessings. I can count my blessing with every hair on their heads, every freckle on their noses and every hug and kiss I get from them. This is last Thanksgiving Day. It was truly a blessing to have all 5 of my children together with their spouses and most of the grandkids. We were missing a few of course, but 3 granddaughters were there. It's the closest I've come to having them ALL together in one room....well, sort of in one room...LOL. It's hard to keep the little ones from dashing away. This year the group will be much smaller, 2 offspring, their partners and no grandchildren. Much smaller indeed.
 
And as we come to the end of the day, November 22, 2010, I leave you with a heartfelt wish for peace in your particular valley, and a sunny tomorrow.

The situation is serious....

 
and growing moment by moment. I feel like a ring announcer.."and in this corner we have Michele...". Well by now you probably ALL know what is happening here...right? No? Me either!
BUT...here's the latest scoop on the "situation"...Michele pledged 10 completed UFOs by New Years Eve. Clare decided to up the ante by saying she would finish her pile of quilts for Q4L(9) IF and WHEN Michele meets her deadline. I tempted Clare with a Q4L (stateside) IF she makes her goal.
This morning I got this letter from UFO challengee Carol: "Okay I now found out what Q4L are. Just to make this even more fun, if Michele finishes her challenge, Claire finishes her quilts, Finn finishes her Q4L I'll make and donate a Q4L to be given in Canada"
So I let both Michele and Clare know of this new information. And now, a upped ante from Yankee Quilter, Sio. And here's what she's offering...LOL I will "sweeten the post" and pledge one more Q4L if and when Michele...through Finn finishes.
And that's how the "situation" stands right now. I haven't heard back yet from Michele, but trust me, I will...LOL

We got a situation......

 
I just don't know what else to call it! And it's a humdinger of a situation. It involves our NYE UFO Challenge. Many of you know I've hosted this challenge the past 3 years, but this is a first. Let me explain...Michele,a long time friend(and an over achiever!) has pledged 10 projects. That's not unusual for Michele. Friend Carol, met Michele's challenge last year and is repeating it again this year with 10 projects! And we all know the time is shorter this year, only 2 months and 13 days from from when we started.
Recently Friend Clare caught up with our challenge and commented on Michele's lofty goals in an email. She also remarked,"Right - okay - deal.If Michelle manages to finish all those UFO's within the time scale, I promise I finish the Q4L quilts I've got piling up. Howzat!"
Having to add fuel to the fire, I suggested that Clare join us. And if she could finish the "pile" she has, I would make another quilt for Q4L here in the States. I just got this response back from Clare..." I have 6 requests, but 7 quilts (twins - very sad) plus one for Bumblebeans
Basics = 8. One top already done, or it may be 2. Put me down for 9
to cover it and the challenge starts WHEN AND ONLY WHEN Michelle
finishes her 10!"
Having a senior moment, plus the excitement of such a "situation", I'm not totally clear(in my head) if Clare is pledging to finish by NYE, or start once Michele accomplishes her goal. I'm sure she will be letting me know...LOL
And remember gals, I'm NOT the one putting pressure on you to have FINISHES...that lovely task is up to each of us, for ourselves!! Happy stitching everyone! Hugs for all!!******Clarification: Clare will hit her pile of Q4L as she stated, IF AND WHEN Michele completes her 10 challege pledged projects. AND then, if Clare completes hers, I've pledged another Q4L, to be given here in the States.

Speaking of UFOs....

 
..and I do NOT mean MegaMind and his alien space craft, I'm adding a NEW element to our UFO challenge this year.
Chatting with some of you(via email)has confirmed that I'm not the only one who hopes to finish the pledged UFOs, but "extras". Over and above the "having way more than we can finish by NYE" extras. Remember I mentioned Julie had just accidently created two more UFOs while playing with bonus triangles? That's the sort of X-tras I'm adding to our challenge list. If you are doing additional projects, such as my 15-30 flannel pillowcases, but aren't counting them in your pledge, let me know! I'll be happy to list them under your name as "X-tras". *VBS* OK everybody, now get busy, 'cause you KNOW Michele will!!!!

The nitty-gritty about the UFO Challenge....

 
For anyone who wants to know, and to remind us veterns. The New Years Eve UFO Countdown is in it's 3rd year. We accomplished alot collectively by playing along with this challenge. The purpose is to try and clear the decks of some older(or newer)projects before we begin our next year of making hand crafts. I keep track and provide the updates and final tallies. What you chose, the number, the craft, it's all up to you. No one will check up on you..no quilt police. ALL hand crafts that need to be finished up are welcome. There are NO rewards or prizes other than the wonderful satisfaction of having it "done". As many say, "Done is better than perfect"! We are here to cheer each other on. It's a great chance to meet new quilters or greet new blogging friends. I'm merely the 'reporter' and stat keeper. You can post your choices and/or your finishes any way you choose.When you have a finish, either tell me in a comment or shoot me an email.
Given that we are starting later than the other years, give careful thought to how many projects you choose to pledge. You can always do MORE than your chosen number. Or it can be reduced down if you want or need that. The first year I chose 5 and finished 15. I didn't have BIG ones, and that makes a difference. This year I am choosing 5 again, and I'm a bit concerned, as I have one really BIG one. I also am planning on flannel pillowcases for each grandchild...read 15! And if time permits, one for each of my kids and their spouses. I'm not figuring those into my tally, but will give it my best shot at getting everything done! So, that's pretty much it. The logo is the the one from last year, and I'm feeling really "senior" since I can't remember who made it for us. Feel free to right click it and use it. You can link it back here if you'd like. It's not required. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to email me. Oh yes, anyone can join us, it's open to everyone and it doesn't have to be on this particular day or week.