How Did It Get to Be 2013 So Fast?

Since it's been 5 months since I last posted, I'm not sure there is still anyone checking my blog.  Thank you to anyone who has stopped by.  After my last post in August, I wasn't sure I wanted to continue blogging.  My projects were not unique and I didn't have any tutorials or quilting tips to share.  Unfortunately, this lack of motivation carried over to my quilting and I found that without the accountability of a blog, I wasn't finishing my UFOs or starting many new projects.  When I finally  decided that I wanted to blog again, Hurricane Sandy hit.

Unlike coastal communities in New York and New Jersey, our area of northern Westchester was mostly menaced by downed trees and was without electricity for 8 days. Even though our electric power was restored, we experienced problems with our internet and landline telephone service caused by software problems that Verizon was not able to remedy for about 7 weeks.

It took me quite a while to catch up with my favorite blogs.  Seeing all of the UFO challenge posts starting off for 2013 has really inspired me to open up the sewing room and allow my UFOs to see the light of day.

As you can see by the buttons on the right of the blog, I'll try and use the inspiration from a few blogs including:  A Lovely Year of Finishes at  Sew Bittersweet Designs, 2013 the Year of the Finished Project at Never Too Hot to Stitch, 2013 Finish Along with Leanne at She Can Quilt, Judy at Patchwork Times' Getting it Done Challenge,  and Nothing But UFOs in 2013 at A Passion for Applique.  I don't plan on limiting myself to UFOs.  I think I would get discouraged if I couldn't start anything new so I'll also be participating in Barbara's 2013 NewUFO Challenge at Cat Patches.

Some of the UFOs I'll be tackling were on my list last year and never managed to surface to the top. A number of them are tops that need to have backings put together and quilting.

1.   Disappearing 9 patch.

2.  This bright quilt was made during Marcia's scrappy challenge last winter.

3.  The tutorial for this quilt is available on Sharon's blog at Vroomans Quilts.  I'm sorry I couldn't find the link to the tutorial.  I will try to provide in a future post.

4.  These paper pieced blocks were the reason I started to blog.  They were part of the "Too Good to Cut" challenge.  The pattern is Jambalaya.

5.  This top was also part of Marcia's Scrappy Challenge last winter.

6.  I made the "Little Twister" center for this quilt as part of a charity round robin.  The borders created by the other 3 quilters are gorgeous.

7.  These blocks were made in response to a Veteran's Quilt challenge on Debra's blog.

8.  These blocks were made from an Eleanor Burns pattern in a class at a LQS.  They are for a table runner.

9.  Strips of 2.5 inch charms and the central block ready to be made into "Fading Charms"  a tutorial available at Wedding Dress Blue.  

10.  The Tetris quilt along last summer used 5 inch squares for each of the 6 blocks.  I decided to use 2.5 inch squares and make 4 blocks each week.  The blocks for weeks 5 and 6 are still undone.  Melissa still has the tutorial  available at her blog Happy Quilting.

11. These blocks will be cut and reassembled as Twister blocks.  The pattern is from a video tutorial from the Missouri Star Quilt Shop.

12.  This Little Twister table topper wanna be was made for the Cyber Quilters' Bucket List Challenge.

13.  This star quilt featuring 3.5 inch square novelty blocks was part of a The Made in Cherry quilt along at Pins and Bobbins.  I experienced some problems with the white setting squares.  Hopefully, I can find a way to resolve the problem.

I have 6 more projects in various stages of abandonment.  It's exhausting just thinking about all of these UFOS so they will have to wait for another time.  My goal is to finish quilts, 2, 5, 11, and 12 in January and 1, 4, and 10 finished by March.  Hopefully, the UFO challenges will keep me focused on the finish line,