Friday, October 07, 2011

finish it up Friday

I have so many WIP's it makes me frantic to think about them. I wish I were kidding and/or exaggerating. I am not.

My two newest are fun, but WIP's nonetheless.
This is my fabric pull for the Fuddy is Not Duddy Challenge. Have you seen/heard about it? It's a fun concept for a challenge...too fun that I just couldn't pass it up. The deadline is Monday, but it's just a mini quilt, so why not? So far I'm liking what I came up with....just the binding to go!
This is the very beginnings of my class sample for the quilt retreat that I'm teaching at next month. I'm quilting each individual square (there are prints on the back of each block) and they will be joined together at the end with a quilt-as-you-go method. I am at the "oh-boy-I-sure-do-hope-that-this-turns-out" phase with this quilt, but I do have high hopes. Each quilt is an adventure!

So, getting back to the overwhelmed thing. I think it's finally time to launch my new series that I've been thinking about for months. I love what Lee at Freshly Pieced does with her WIP Wednesdays. So, it's going to work something like that. (Thanks for the inspiration, Lee!) I'm calling it "finish it up Friday". I will host a little linky party each week here at my place. :) You can post about your finished project on your blog and link up here, and we can all encourage each other as we finish! The first link up will be next week. I might get all official and make a button, or I may not. We will see. My hope is that this series will motivate me (and you!) to finally turn some of those WIP's into finished objects. Anyone care to join me in? Or are yours all under control? (HA!)

54 comments:

A.J. Dub. (Amy) said...

Those blocks are very cool! That is going to be one awesome quilt. I want to learn that make a quilted block quilt as you go. I only know how to do the strip quilt as you go.

Kimberly Whispell said...

I need some motivation to finish my WIPs! Why is it so much more fun to start a project than to finish one?

Live a Colorful Life said...

I'm in! I have too many WIPs and UFOs, and I need to have more motivation to finish them up!

Cyndi Nelson said...

Finish it up Friday is a great idea! I know that WIP Wednesday has really helped to keep me on track!

A.J. Dub. (Amy) said...

I think that linky is a great idea, btw. I may jump in every now and again. I have plenty of things that need to be finished.

Mika said...

Under control WIP's??? You're a funny, funny girl! In other words, no, they're not! And I'd love to join in

bethanndodd said...

I'm totally in! I have at least a dozen WIP's...motivation always seems to get me movin'. Smiles~Beth

Lara said...

Finish it up Friday! What a great idea!

Tara said...

I Am LOVING the quilt for the retreat!!! I must formulate my plan. I love the quilting and can't wait to get started!!!

M-R Charbonneau said...

Hi Amanda Jean, I love your blog! Laura at Quokka Quilts and I were feeling the exact same thing so we decided to start TGIF Fridays, which launched just this week. Would you care to join us. More info is at http://www.tgiffriday.blogspot.com/. Cheers, M-R

Shawn said...

Oh my I have lots of wips, hope it motivates me.... I love quilting as I go it's not so bulky that way and I always square up and zig-zag before I sew together. Wish I could attend the retreat!!

charlotte said...

I have tons of WIPs and do you really know anybody who has theirs under control? If they do they either quilt 24/7 or they are a beginner who doesn't multi-task when it comes to quilting. lol.

Sonia B said...

I totally need this! What a great idea. Thanks for all the inspiration you send out to the quilty-bloggy world.

Margaret said...

I vote for 'make a button' !!

Rachel said...

Love the blocks! Can't wait to see the FINISH! OK, hmm, well, WIP under control. Can you define that? If your definition comes close to way too many of them, spread out all over the place, having to be moved to start another project (which will become a WIP)...well, then, why, yes, mine are completely under control. Another gal i know is starting something like this, I will benefit from both...LOL...I hope.

Connie said...

HA! indeed! I have 5 quilts in process and need to start 2 more before Christmas (and finish them!). So, I hope we get to meet up at your place next Friday.

Joanne said...

I sooooo need to do this. Thanks!

Edith said...

That is a great idea! I only have quilted for three years but am already up to over 10 WIP's (I love each one of them).

roxi said...

This might be exactly what I need! and I have Fridays off!!! Thanks for yet again, more inspiration Amanda Jean!

Elena said...

What a great idea. UFOs, MUFs, WIPs... what a nightmare! My husband can't understand why I start new projects with all that unfinished "things" spread all over.
So I'd like to join in!
My english is not very good, sorry about that :-(
Elena

BJ said...

I am in!

diplofam said...

Man, I don't read your blog for a couple of days and WOW! you have been busy--congrats on all of your successes my friend! I can't wait to get my hands on that book and I will FOR SURE link up to your Finish it up Friday. I move to Bermuda in a week and a half and then start homeschooling the kids so my sewing time will go down DRAMATICALLY but still.....
We have to start planning your trip to my new island home--I am thinking a quilt retreat-Bermuda style :)

Laura Beech said...

i love your FIUF idea-I need lots and lots and lots of encouragement!!!!

Carie @ Space for the Butterflies said...

The blocks are beautiful. I 'm up for a finish it up Friday - I've got things in all sorts of stages and some projects to make for Christmas.

CitricSugar said...

I would love to hear more about your QAYG method... If I ever manage to get my machine to free-motion, I am putting a QAYG piece on the list to do.

Karen said...

Thank you for doing this, Amandajean! I love the idea and certainly do have WIPs. The list keeps growing....new baby in the family, birthday gift, Christmas...etc. Well, you know what I'm talking about!

I most likely will always have WIPs, but it will be nice to get them under control!

Karen

quirky granola girl said...

ha! i finished something today! but i had to post by my lonesome. i guess that finish was a week early for your link up but a week late for the bee i'm in. whoops. luckily the block is good enough that i don't think i'll get kicked out of the bee ;)
xo, my friend.

elizabeth said...

I love your idea for Finish It Up Friday : ) I have a few of those WIP laying around....LOL.

I am also launching a new party next Monday....I am calling it Little Quilt Monday and you can read more about it on my blog if you would like...

http://piecefullife-elizabeth.blogspot.com/2011/10/mini-quilts.html

Maybe I will be showing my unfinished mini quilts on Monday and get them finished and show them here on Friday!

Esch House Quilts said...

WIPs under control? Uhh...hhmmm....guess I'll have to go with no. I'm usually pretty good about this, but not lately! FIUF sounds like a great idea.

Carmen said...

Fun! One question... if we are quilting individual blocks, how will we be joining them together to make the finished quilt? This part is confusing me. :)

mascanlon said...

Hmm...would it be cheating to make a bunch of bindings this weekend? I have 5 quilts that only need to be trimmed up and bound. But I also have many, many piles of blocks and even a few rows done that only need a bit of time to finish up the top.

hllyrn said...

I love your blog and would enjoy joining the finish it Friday. Maybe this will motivate me to get some work done.

Rene' said...

Even though my WIPS are under control (HA...that's a joke), I'll join in! I guess I better get busy. Like your class sample...very cool how each block has a different quilt design.

Kris said...

Great idea. Definitely need finishing up here!

Deborah said...

Under control? Me?!!
I would love to join you! I've been trying to catch up this summer, but I have quite a ways to go. This might just what I need. A button would be fun, if you have the time. I have no idea how to make or I would do it for us.
Enjoy your weekend!
Hugs, Deborah

Tina Craig said...

I love this idea! Of course, I do not have my WIPs under control. I've been having fun listing them on Wednesdays, but it will be nice to have a day set aside for finishing something. Anything!

Sarah Eliza said...

I can't remember the last time my UFOs were under control!! I'm in!

Montseta - Montsecosecose said...

Totally in, actually I was already thinking of making it by myself on fridays. Regarding the QAYG method I'm going to use it for the Swoon wuilt pattern but I also have that feeling too (the "let's cross our fingers and hope everything works out")

Amanda said...

Encouragement is always a good thing. I have about 8 stalled projects right now, I'd love some motivation to get going on them again.

Kim said...

How many hours a day do you think you sew?
Looks like you are making progress on UFO's and WIP's.....I love coming by to see what you are up to :0).

Happy sewing

Jennifer said...

I just might need to bring my blog back from the dead so I can participate in finish it up Friday. I'm new to sewing/quilting so that could be a fun way for me to document my progress.
I'm still trying to convince my husband that I need to attend your retreat, but so far he's not on board. Something about the cost of the retreat plus needing a new machine just aren't coming together for him. :) Maybe next time. Please tell me there will be a next time...

unfinishedquilts said...

This is a really great idea! I may have to dig to get th my boxes of 'so close I can taste it' projects.lol Maybe, just maybe I will get something done and have to switch from 'unfinished' to 'finished'.lol
Thanks, will be watching next week :)

The Little Shop of Stitches said...

I would love to read (and see pics) of the quilt as you go method. :)

Kim said...

I may have to rejoin the blogging world just to be part of this motivational idea, because I sure need the kick in the seat of the pants.

Nicky said...

I have a problem - I am what my friend Liz calls an unrepentant starter - I need to make a button with that - so I do need motivation to finish up - but also check out the flickr group UFO Domination run by Staci

http://www.flickr.com/groups/ufodomination2011/

For your older unfinished projects!

Anonymous said...

I love this idea! Just this week I've made a realization about myself. I don't like having WIPs. I am fairly new to the online world of quilting but I will get it figured out.

Dedra C said...

Hoping you'll post a tutorial on how to quilt as you go...I did a search for them but only found strip quilting as you go.

Thank you for your blog. It's my most favorite on the internet.

Dara said...

This will be good as I am working on the quilt along from this summer still!! I had to change things around as I am determined to use as many scraps from the brown bin as possible. This will give me 5 more days to complete it- here I go!

Denice said...

Got it all under control over here :) bwahahahahahaha! Not sure I'll link up cause I must like it that way cause I keep creating it.

Jessica Christensen said...

Yeah, I reported to you once I think. Clearly that didn't work. Glad you made it official. :) When I see it on your blog, it'll remind me.

Donna said...

I love the concept of Finsh it By Friday and will give it a try. I do not have my own blog but love being a Follower. Thanks for the inspiration.

Kim said...

I just got an idea. And it might work even better since it looks like there are 51 of us plus "crazy mom" who are "members" of this linky party (so far). What if we each take a week in turn and offer an inexpensive little prize (ie. something we made, or a fat quarter or a charm pack) and give that prize to a randomly selected participant? That way, each of us would only have to provide a prize once a year or so, but could have a fun incentive to particpate.
Am I way out in left-field, or might this work?

Lee said...

Yay, I'm so glad you're doing this! Now I'll be sure to have something to link up. : ) Thanks for the WIP Wednesday plug!

Suzanne said...

I'm in! I need all the high fives I can get to turn my WIPs into FOs.