UFO Challenge 2017 Review

Last December I created a list of UFOs (unfinished objects - not the ones from space) that I wanted to complete or make progress on this year. 

The challenge was offered at allpeoplequilt.com and members were invited to join the American Patchwork and Quilting's UFO Challenge group on Facebook. 

How it worked:

• List 12 UFOs you wanted to complete in 2017.
• Each month a number between 1 & 12 was selected as the project of the month.

Click on any photo for a larger view.

1. Finish my Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) 2013 January block into a finished project.

July 2017 Project

Progress: 
Completed in July.

It was shared in this blog post.

2. Embellish the "E" block from my Crazy Quilting International Heart Round Robin and make a wall quilt with the blocks.

May 2017 Project

Progress: 
The "E" block was completed in June.

It was shared in this blog post.

3. Complete the "Hearts Askew" quilt from the book Hearts Aplenty by Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith.

October 2017 Project

Progress:
I found the fabric and finished the first border in October.

4. Complete my Pink OSU Messenger Bag. 

December 2017 Project.

Progress: 
A few seams were embellished.

5. Make a clutch purse with my CQJP 2014 May block. 

August 2017 Project

Progress:
Finished and donated in October.

It was shared in this blog post.

6. Make a bag with my CQJP 2014 November block. 

January 2017 Project

Progress:
Completed and donated in January.

It was shared in this blog post.

7. Embellish December CQJP 2014 block and make into a bag.

September 2017 Project

Progress:
None

8. Finish quilting this CQI Winter/Christmas Round Robin Wall Quilt with snowflakes, add a label, and bind it.

February 2017 Project.

Progress:
I added a few snowflakes along the far right side and beaded a few existing snowflakes.

9. Frame or fully finish Heaven and Earth Designs Santa and the Mouse Freebie Ornament based on artwork by Scott Gustafson. (The pattern is retired, but there was a similar one available at the time of this post found here. Both of these are from a larger piece of art found here.)

November 2017 Project

Progress:
Picked up from the framer at Michael's on December 20, 2017.

It was shared in this blog post.

10. Embellish and sew a CQ Stocking for my son.

June 2017 Project

Progress:
Finished December 23, 2017.

It was shared in this blog post.

11. Make a wall quilt with my CQI Under the Sea Round Robin #2 Blocks Set 1.

April 2017 Project

The "Sea Dreams" wall quilt was finished in May.

It was shared in this blog post.

12. Embellish block  from the CQI Under the Sea Round Robin #2 Blocks Set 2 and make a wall quilt. 

March 2017 Project

Progress:
"Ocean Frolics" was completed in March.

It was shared in this blog post.

UFOs completed that were not on the list:

This mug rug I started in 2015 was finished in January.

The blog post is here.

I made a wall quilt with my "February" block in January. This was the 2nd crazy quilt block I ever embellished, and it had been tucked safely away since June of 2012.

The blog post is here. (It includes a link to the magazine the photo was published in.)

The pumpkin I cross-stitched last year was finished into a crazy-quilted fabric postcard for a swap in October. 

The blog post is here.

In 2005, I made this quilt. It was adapted from the pattern "Sealed with a Kiss" in the book Hearts Aplenty by Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith. This December, I finally added a label and a hanging sleeve.

The blog post is here.

January 2017
UFO Project List

December 2017 
UFOs completed in 2017.

I am happy to say I fully completed 11 UFOs this year (12 if I include the "E" embellished for project #2) and made progress on 4 more. 

I am looking forward to the 2018 UFO Challenge! The printable list and details may be found here. The January project was announced early and it will be #12.

Thank you for stopping by.
Renee

Related Blog Posts:

UFO Challenge 2017 - My List - here

This is Day 27 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge hosted by www.muppin.com. More details and other participating blogs may be found here.

Crazy Quilted Christmas Stocking

Creating this stocking has been such a joy!

This was project #10 on my 2017 UFO Challenge through allpeoplequilt.com. It was the June project. Clearly, I took my time finishing it.

This is how it looked when I shared my 2017 UFO List last December. 

"Magical Ride" from the Stoney Creek Collection: Cool Friends Book 211 was cross-stitched in June. 

A woven zig zag chain stitch from TAST was added to embellish a seam of holly.

Oops! It looks like I shared the Christmas tree seam near the bottom on Instagram, but forgot to share it on the blog in October.

Chevron stitches were used to couch down a blue ribbon, straight stitches filled in the "trees", bugle beads became tree trunks, and yellow beads became stars.

Raised Herringbone Band from TAST was added in November. 

An angel seam, inspired by An Encyclopedia of Crazy Quilt Stitches and Motifs by Linda Causee, was added December 3rd.

A simple snowflake seam was next.

No stocking can have enough embroidered snow, so I added more snowflakes.

Every stocking needs a Christmas tree, right?! 

Inspired by the work of Nicki Lee Seavey's block featured on the Crazy Quilt Quarterly Magazine, a bit of JOY was added. 

More trees decorated a seam.

A wreath earring...

...and a button seam were next.

A poinsettia was inspired by the work of Michelle at Moosie Stitch.

A snowy night with a Christmas Star and a snowman were fun to embroider.

The crossed buttonhole stitched trees were inspired by TAST and the work of Anneliese at Stitching Lady. 

A few more snowflakes and a polymer clay snowman completed the stocking.

Thank you for joining me in my stitching journey!

If you celebrate Christmas, I wish you a very Merry Christmas. For those of you with differing beliefs, I wish you a wonderful holiday season!

Our Christmas is looking a little crazy (quilted!)

Warmest wishes,
Renee


The American Patchwork & Quilting 2018 UFO Challenge has been announced at allpeoplequilt.com. You may learn more about it here. The January project will be #12.

TAST stands for Take a Stitch Tuesday. It is a personal stitching challenge offered by Sharon B. of pintangle.com. The next round will begin in January 2018. You may read about it here. 

This is Day 24 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge hosted by www.muppin.com. You may learn more about it and find other participating bloggers here. 

Note: I will not be posting on Christmas Day.

Santa and the Mouse Ornament Framed!

My first Heaven and Earth Designs (HAED) cross-stitch 

finish was a "Freebie Santa and the Mouse Ornament". 

The chart has been retired, but if you love this piece, 

based on the artwork of Scott Gustafson, as much as I do, 

you might like to know it is a smaller part of 

"Santa and the Mouse", and there is a smaller chart still available called "QS Santa and Mouse-Gustafson". 

I finished stitching this piece on August 29, 2015 (as seen here.) 

And then I safely tucked it away. 

When I joined the 2017 UFO Challenge at allpeoplequilt.com last December, finishing this piece was listed ninth on my list.

#9 was selected as the project for November.

Earlier this month, I finally added my initials and the year to the piece, gave it a wash, and took it to Michael's to be framed.

This morning, I was absolutely delighted to bring the framed piece home and to hang it up to display it through the holidays.

6 of the 12 projects on my 2017 UFO List are now complete.

Information is now available for the 2018 UFO Challenge at allpeoplequilt.com and there is a link to the 2018 Challenge Chart.

If you decide to participate in 2018, please let me know!

Thank you so much for visiting.

-Renee

This is Day 20 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge hosted by www.muppin.com.

Find more details and other participating blogs here.