When Life Gives You Scraps...: 2019 UFO Challenge

I made pretty good progress on my list last year. I finished 7 of the 11 quilts that were on that list. Yeah! Yahoo! Ureeka!

Well, let's face it. Many of the ones on my list have been lurking on a UFO list for MANY years. In fact, I believe I have a top in progress that dates back to the last century. I did an internet block exchange back in 1997 that is still in progress.

The official list below does not include the following items, which also need to find a way out of my basement.

Leftover blocks from previous projects, I have so many, that they are an entire orphanage. I would really prefer to call these something else... Orphans sound so hopeless and sad. I recently unearthed 15 blocks from one completed project that each needed just one seam. Really? why didn't I stitch them then?
Blocks that are given to me, already stitched.... were they someone else's leftovers? or from projects started but never finished? They need to become quilts... that is all I know.
UFO's that needed some design thought, and then got put away when creative juices were flowing on something else...
Projects that are from block exchanges and block lottos.... I must have won a lot! 'cuz I have 2 project totes full of them! (I have decided to not participate in any block swaps or lottos until I get these 2 totes whittled down.) I don't really need to do any fabric swaps right now either!
Projects that decided to go wayward of what I had in mind.... and got set aside.

Here are my top 12 quilts to finish in 2019 They are on my challenge list for Judy Laquidera's UFO challenge.

# 1 - Jamestown Landing - Mission Complete! Finished! Feb. 8, 2019

I started this Bonnie K. Hunter quilt as a leaders and enders (L&E) project in 2017. It needed 840 half square triangle units. I fed those units through my machine a few at a time, while piecing other projects over the last couple of years.

The string piecing parts were done during a retreat or two. After retirement, I decided it needed to move along a little more quickly, and started feeding those triangles through the machine 10 at a time. Once the triangle units were complete, it moved from L&E status to the front line.

Due to really small pieces and LOTS of seams, I chose to use an edge-to-edge design using a stencil and pounce chalk in the center. "Cinnamon Spin" by FullLineStencil.com. It was a fun one to do, and I've used the stencil twice now... so it's paid for itself. Then I did loopy "E" and "L"s in the middle border, and some "Double Loopy Meandering" in the outer string border.

This one is going into our Quilt show in March, so I had moved it to February to make sure it was ready! Yahoo! I've got it done!

# 2 - Phire's Radiance - Mission Complete! Finished! August 22, 2019

A Q&N mystery quilt... from 2011 (guess I need to hold off on them for awhile, but they are addicting to me... I just can't resist a good mystery quilt! ) This will be a 60 x 60 wall hanging. All it needs is a final border and then to be quilted.

I finished quilting this in August and I'm so happy with the way it turned out!

# 3 - Roll Roll Cotton Boll -

Oops.... another internet mystery! This one was hosted by Bonnie Hunter over at Quiltville.com

Originally, Bonnie had planned for this to be queen size... but I had to cut it down to a size I gift or use.... A twin size throw.... the extra pieces were put to use in a bonus quilt that I finished in 2012.

This is ready to quilt and bind.... I think it is so beautiful just the way it is... it doesn't need a border.

# 4 - A Quilt for All Seasons - Summer

Oh No! another mystery quilt from the internet that needs to be finished! This one is from 2012 or 2013....

Ready for quilting

# 5 - Favorite Red Blocks quilt -

These blocks were won from my friends at Block Central back in about 2010! Each participant made their favorite block in the color chosen, and one participant won the entire group. This month's color was red. I finally pieced them into a top while at our spring retreat in 2014. Now it needs to be quilted. I used EQ software to do the setting. It is ready for quilting.

# 6 - Good Fortune Mystery Mission Complete! Finished! December 20, 2019

This is the latest of Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilts. Started November 2018. I kept up with the clues each week. I switched my colors from the ones Bonnie used in her quilt. I am really happy with my color choices.

This is going to our Granddaughter, Kaleigh. She just finished Nursing School and is working at a clinic in Billings, MT that specializes in Mental Health Care. Hoping this brings her snuggles and hugs after tough days at work.

This was a few of the block components on my design wall, after the reveal.

# 7 - Lanterns of Hope - a Quilt of Valor --- January Mission Complete!

Note- I took a third place ribbon for Domestic Machine Quilting on this at our local quilt show in March! Yahoo!

This quilt was a summer Quilt along on the Sting and Story.com facebook group summer 2018. Pattern is designed by HollyAnne Knight.

Ready for quilting!

# 8 - On Ringo Lake - another Quilt of Valor

Mission Accomplished! March 13, 2019

This quilt was another Bonnie Hunter Mystery. Her colors were corals, turquoise, brown. I chose to do mine in red, whites and blues and to gift it as a Quilt of Valor for someone special.

Ready for quilting... hoping to learn how to do it on a longarm machine owned by a fellow guild member.

# 9 - Shabby Chic Roses - 2012 NWQ BOM

I was those block of the month chair for our guild for several years. This is the result of the blocks from 2012. Our theme that year was Variations on the Variable stars. I chose to do my blocks in old roses and soft color combinations. It is ready for quilting.

# 10 - A Year in the Garden - 2009 NWQ BOM February

In 2009 - 2010, I was the Block of the month Chair for my guild. I chose a garden theme, thinking about how our gardens change through the year. Each month had a bordered block, and a nine-patch block that had some type of plant you would see in your garden at that time of year. This is my quilt that I made using my block samples. It needs to be quilted and bound. I do have the backing fabric.

Update: February 26, 2019 - The month is nearly over, and I have not gotten to this UFO. I will keep it in the que, and will hopefully circle back around and pick it up later this year.

# 11 - Pretty in Pink (Pink and Lime Greens)

These blocks were from an internet exchange we did. I thought the pink with green dots was perfect for setting them together. I used EQ software for the setting idea. Ready for quilting. this is approx 58 x 68 The blocks are a mix from two different exchanges

# 12 - SunnyLanes - my Birthday quilt

In 2016, an internet group i belong to did a birthday block swap. We each picked a block and a colorway, and each member sent the birthday girl a block for their birthday. I chose the block, "Sunny Lanes" in red and scrappy. I need some more blocks, which I will need to make to get it to the size I want.

This is the setting I have designed in EQ. Still undecided if it will be 74 x 74, or if it will be 74 x 96.

2019 American Patchwork and Quilting UFO challenge lists (Most of the projects on this list were started as Internet Exchanges or Challenges. I've put myself on a DO NOT JOIN status until I catch up.)

1. Marble Madness Lap Quilt

Mission Complete! Finished! July 21, 2019

This lap quilt is made with pieces and parts left over from an earlier project that went to Kid's Club for previous foster kids who now mentor younger foster kids. Ready for quilting and binding

I finished quilting this at Summer Retreat! It was passed on to our Comforting Quilts in August and will go to one of the many groups that we supply lap quilts for. I hope it brightens some one's life.

2. Green, Black Gold Donation Quilt

Pattern is "One Block Wonder" and is made from brick shaped pieces. This will be a donation quilt when done. I started this project before 2009. Needs the final border stitched on then quilting and binding.

3. 70,273 Project Quilt #2 January
Mission Complete!

The second of two quilts to commemorate lives taken during WWII. The blocks are made, but need assembly and quilting.

Block details

4. Paper Pieced Table Runner

Mission Accomplished! March 13, 2019

Paper pieced table runner started in a class with Judy Neimeyer in 2010. Now ready for quilting and binding

Before Quilting -

5. Milicia's Celtic Challenge Quilt - Now Named "Irish Hula Dance" - Mission Complete ! finished July 17, 2019

An internet challenge. My friend Milicia in England and I challenged each other to make a quilt that included something Celtic (my choice) and an applique Hawaiian style center. I have the center applique finished, and need to finish the celtic border design.

This is my first try at the border....

This was so much fun when I finally got going on it again. I barely had enough of two of the fabrics! I machine quilted it on my domestic machine and had fun planning it out. There are lots of pebbles in that outer border, which I needed to take up some of the slack to help it lie flat.

6. Daffodil Round Robin February Mission Complete! Quilt was Bound Feb. 24, 2019

This project was a round robin with a group of internet friends in 2011. I've left it sitting and waiting for all this time for reasons I can't really pinpoint. When I took it out of the bag to photograph it this morning, I remembered how sweet it really is. I think it needs one more border, and possibly some applique embellishment of some sort. currently 53" square

Feb 24, 2019 update: I have completed this quilt. It is now called: "Spring is in the Air". I added a final border to bring the un-quilted top to 60" square. Then added the applique pansies I had planned for it. I placed them in the yellow/orange border, so I would have enough room to do a feather border in the white and soft yellow areas. There is approximately 25 - 30 hours of quilting time on this one. I also used a daffodil clip art, to trace the design used for the on point corners. I am so pleased with the way this turned out.

Center Medallion

Quilting Details

Border quilting details

Meandering Feather Border

Outer Borders Quilting details

Border Details

Flying Geese quilting detail and the daffodil outlines

Lilly of the Valley print on the back - I love the texture!

Completed quilt Feb 24, 2019 (54 x 54 after washing)

January 2019

7. 30's Round Robin
Another internet round robin. This one from 2014. I chose 30's reproduction fabrics as my theme. I sent the blue kona solid along with some of the 30's collection I had so participants could stick to my theme if they didn't have access to 30's fabrics. I would really like this to be a rectangular shape rather than square.... so it needs a couple more borders... then quilting and binding

8. Country Plaids Quilt Progress made!

No doubt, my oldest UFO. I started this project in 1997 as an internet block exchange, when the internet was just an infant. (OMG, that was last century!) I ran into a snag, and cut my sashing strips 2 1/2" too short. It got put away to work on other projects and hasn't really seen the light of day until I pulled it out of the drawer to take a picture today. I had forgotten how rich the colors were. All the blocks are there, the sashing fabrics are there. It's half pieced on point. It will be a queen size I believe.

I did make progress on this one... I finished the top at Spring Retreat! It's now ready for Quilting....

9. Christmas Happy Blocks

An internet forum, Block Central, did a monthly exchange of these fun little blocks. Each month was a different theme. I won the Christmas blocks in 2009. I have 20 blocks total, with just one of them being blue.

10. Outdoor Happy Blocks

An internet forum, Block Central, did a monthly exchange of these fun little blocks. Each month was a different theme. These are the Outdoor themed blocks I won one month. There are 40 of them

11. Christmas Stocking Exchange Blocks
I exchanged these Christmas stocking blocks with my internet friends in approx 2005. The still need some sashing (possibly pieced), and then quilting and binding.

12. Amish Row by Row Quilt
Another internet project. The rows are 40" wide. This will be a small quilt, possibly for a wall. It needs another row, and possible a border, but I'll think about it some.... Guess I need to see how much Kona Black I should buy. I know I don't have much.

List # 3 - Extra projects for when I'm done with everything else.

1. Disappearing Pinwheel QOV
Two blocks ready to stitch together. This is a QOV project that I started after watching Jenny Doan at Missouri Star Quilts do a tutorial. I have 4 of each fabrics shown cut into the 10" squares.

2. Maple leaf Block Exchange
An internet swap project. These 12" batik blocks were exchanged between members of a swap group. I have 10 blocks.

3. 70,273 Project Challenge Midling

January - I did work on this some. Waiting until I have final challenge guidelines to finish design.

4. Scrappy Baskets Swap Blocks

An internet swap project. These scrappy 16" blocks were exchanged between members of a swap group. I have 7 blocks... One is much creamier than others, so any additional blocks I make will be creamier backgrounds to help this one feel at home. Started in 2011?

5. Winter Embroidery Project - Mission Complete! Finished Oct.12, 2019

A Crab-Apple Hill Pattern. I have finished the embroidery. The wonky crumb block border units are stitched and ready to attach. Then it needs to be quilted and bound

I hand quilted this one... and it's now a finish! Can't wait to hang it on my laundry room door this next winter!

6. Amish Sampler Project
I remember starting this project. Internet group project and we each kept our own blocks rather than swapping and mailing. It was supposed to be a different block chosen each month. I can only find 7 of my blocks... wonder what happened to the other 7. I have a design started in EQ, but need to evaluate whether I want to come up with the extra blocks on my own. I may find a way to add these blocks to my Amish Row by Row project... possibly on the back. Win, Win!

7. Weathervane Swap Blocks
I have 6 of the 9 blocks needed. These were swap blocks from the internet. We had several folks drop out for a variety of reasons... So this is not the only set of blocks that I will need to add to. I do love this block though. The pale yellow background along with the blue is a nice combination

8. Spring Embroidery Project Progress Made!

Another Crab-Apple Hill pattern. This is as far as I've gotten. I have the pattern.

The embroidery is done! I did the majority of it while traveling in the back seat when we went to Reno with friends in November. Ready for border and embellishments.

9. Summer Embroidery Project - Mission Complete! Finished Oct. 1, 2019

A Crab-Apple Hill Pattern. I have finished the embroidery. I need to make some border style decisions. I want to use crumbs and scraps for this.

I had a blast playing with some gifted corner triangles from a friend. The colors were perfect for the border on this. Machine quilted because it was so seam heavy on the border.

10. Blue Star Exchange Blocks

Internet friends in a swap group I belonged to chose their favorite star block and then used blue fabrics to make it. I won the blue blocks the month that that was the theme. Probably in about 2009, 2010. I have 9 blocks

11. Wool Seasons Project

I started this project during a road trip to Montana in 2012. I have one more seasonal wool block to applique which is the one in the little pattern envelope. These are by Buttermilk Basin. I chose not to do 12 months, but rather picked 6 seasons that would be used for more than 1 month.

Each small square still needs to be backed and prepared to hook to the larger background square.

I love doing wool applique and embroidery in the car. It's very forgiving.

12. Stars on Black Backgrounds

As block of the month chair, I had a Color Wheel Tour in 2012. These blocks were the ones I won in the block lotto one month. I have 9 blocks to work with at this time.

List # 4 - Extra projects for when I'm done with everything else. They just seem to keep coming out of the woodwork, and shelves, and drawers and totes.

1. Two snow fabric Table Toppers ---
Mission Complete! Finished Feb 9, 2019

We could sure use some new winter table toppers in our family room. These are made with a couple of "winter sparkly stars" (I stole them from some swap blocks on this list). and extra border sections from my "Warm Winter Wishes" quilt I finished in Dec. 2018. now they just need to be quilted.

I chose to quilt each one of these as extra practice for my Quilting Rockstar Status class. Ribbon Candy, Meander, Loopy Meander, pebbles, Double Loopy Meander, and lots of Switchbacks in the blue star.

Practiced machine quilting on these while taking Free Motion Quilting Academy online from the String and Story.

2. Red, White and Black - One Block Wonder Quilt Kit

This kit was put together several years ago as a donation quilt project. It got put into a box, and although the group did finish several quilts for the project we were working on, this one got left behind. Time to make it and donate it to a forever home. This pattern is one I use often when a group is working on a quilt, because there are no points or seams that meet when assembled.

3. Red, Black, Green, & White Strawberry themed Yellow Brick Road Kit

Another kit that was put together prior to moving to the house we currently live in, and it was tucked away in a box. Time to finish it.

4. Kit with 4 doll quilts for Toy and Joy

These will be doll quilts for our guild's Toy and Joy program, and will be used to wrap baby dolls and stuffed animals for under privledged children next Christmas.

5. Thomas the Tank Quilt Kit

A couple of years ago, I made 3 Thomas the Tank quilts for donation. This is the last of the scraps from those projects. This will be another donation quilt.

6. Dog Theme One Block Wonder Quilt Kit

Several years ago, I made a quilt for an auction to benefit Guide Dogs for the Blind. I had fabric left over, of course. This will also be a One Block Wonder Quilt and is already cut into the bricks. The extra fabric will be used on the back and for borders.

7. Purple Stars Lap Quilt Kit

This kit is made up of pieces and parts left over from a quilt I made several years ago. The construction method left lots of triangle pieces. These will go together to make a lap quilt for donation through our guild.

8. Stars of Autumn Lap Quilt Kit

Another kit put together from leftover pieces from a previously made quilt. I mean, as long as I still have the extra yardage that is used, I may as well get a lap top out of it.

9. Snowbird Lodge Project

Many years ago, while on vacation, I saw this pattern made up in a quilt shop and fell in love! I purchased the pattern to use with my homespun fabric collection. The strips are cut, and one block is partially pieced, and it got put away for another day.... Hopefully that day will be coming up soon.

10. Pink and Red String Blocks

I won 63 of these cute little string blocks at guild. they will finish at 6" as is. I'm thinking of cutting them and making pinwheel blocks.. but we will see.