I have officially been a quilter for 23 years and sadly I have still not finished my first quilt and likely never will! I spent some time yesterday assessing my UFO projects--I was looking at the six tops I had stored in my hope chest and my hubby kindly reminded me there was also a tub of UFOs out in the garage too...Into the garage, I ventured. Sure enough, the tub contained my first quilt, another scrappy quilt, and this batik beauty.
This UFO is ancient---likely 15+ years old. I know I made it when I lived in California and I still have the pattern which was from 2000. It is called Bouillabaisse and can still be purchased here:
I went through a batik phase. Batiks are striking and gorgeous looking, but they are not soft which is why I stopped using them. In its current state, this quilt is roughly 57 inches square. I could add a border, but I am not sure. I located several yards of an aqua batik that could be a backing--again I am not sold. Well, I ironed it and its potential backing and hung it in the closet to ponder. I may use it as a charity quilt for Happy Chemo as the Hands 2 Help 2018 will be coming very soon. At least it has been unearthed and won't continue to languish and unlike my first quilt I like the colors although it is far from perfect.
I dropped two queen-sized quilts off to my friend Rachel yesterday--I hand bound them for her. We are planning on trading my hand binding for her longarm quilting. She is currently in the market to purchase a longarm and had been trying out several types around town. Unfortunately, she broke her arm and had to have surgery which may delay her longarm adventures a little, but I am in no hurry when so many of my tops have been waiting years. I went ahead and took these lap sized quilts to bind for her. I can cuddle up under them and stitch while I watch the Olympics in the evenings. I will work on the batik one for Slow Sunday Stitching:
I finished this little mug rug the other night--it was a UFO from last spring.
My Row Along Quilt is all done, but I had a little problem with some bleeding in one area, so it is having a long spa day in my bathtub with some Dawn dish soap right now. I can live with it, if it does not come out, because I am probably the only one that would notice the bleeding along some of the quilted lines by my label...Done is better than perfect!
#ufoslayer
Longarm and Broke Arm do not mix. I hope your friend has a speedy recovery. Your batik quilt-- that's pretty awesome! I vote that you quilt it up as is and find a home for it. Maybe there is a charity locally that could use it? Is it too big to hang on a wall? Repeat the mantra-- 'Done is good'. Your quilts don't need to be perfect to make someone perfectly happy. xoxo
ReplyDeleteYou were very brave to go on a UFO hunt!! Best of luck with the ones you choose to complete.
ReplyDeleteI don't need to hunt far to find UFO's in my house. I need to buckle down and finish or pass off my UFO's.
ReplyDeleteI bought that Bouillabaisse pattern when it first came out but never did anything with it. Your's is gorgeous! And like you my first quilt never has/never will be finished as the longarmer screwed up the quilting and instead of fixing it, gave me my money back. :-( I've gotten lots of binding done of late as well. You're accomplishing much!!
ReplyDeleteI think that is a beautiful quilt, but definitely a different style than we see from you now! If you can finish it, it would make a great donation quilt.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your LAQ's mishap! How clever to trade services! Your colors are are so bright and cheerful! Can you believe I actually remember your pineapple block? At least I think it was yours - love the quotation on it. I am trying to teach that concept to my granddaughter.
ReplyDeleteI have the same pineapple piece hanging by my patio door. I see it every night when we eat dinner. I actually was just looking at it tonight. Yours is adorable! Love the saying.
ReplyDeleteYou definitely have been a UFO slasher. What a great idea to take that batik quilt and move it along.
ReplyDeleteLove the batik quilt! I think I have been around 22 or 23 years of quilting too.
ReplyDeletePersonally, that gorgeous and colorful quilt doesn't need a border in my opinion. Your mug rug is so sweet.
ReplyDeleteThat is a stunning quilt to have hiding for so many years. Glad it is going to be finished.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the colour bleeding. Hope it come out.
Love, love, love that batik quilt! It can always come and live at my house. I have that pattern too... somewhere....
ReplyDeletePugs and kisses,
Nancy
Your batik quilt is gorgeous. And I loved the pineapple quote the first time I saw it. Glad you got it finished. I only have a few larger UFO's, but a lot of a smaller things. When I don't have a deadline I lose motivation and many of the unfinished pieces are more wall hanging size and I don't have a place to hang them. Not good planning, I know.
ReplyDeletePat
That batik quilt is just gorgeous! I’d like to see it with either a black border and/or black binding. I know what you mean about batiks being stiff. For your quilt bleeding, have you tried using a Color Catcher? I know a lot of people swear by them.
ReplyDeleteThe UFO batiks quilt is beautiful. I love batiks. You're right, they aren't soft but the colors! Do you happen to remember if the pattern using fabric or pre-cuts? I clicked on the link but there isn't much information. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWow, surprised that batik beauty stayed under wraps for so long! As soon as I saw it, I could see a small border in a bold blue/green Kaffe print around it to match its energy. I just realized I've only made wall quilts with batiks, do they soften with washing?
ReplyDeleteI want to be a pineapple! It's my favorite fruit :) Your batik quilt is beautiful, I love all those bright colors. It would definitely be a very fun charity quilt sure to brighten someone's day. I'm currently quilting a quilt made from batiks, and it's surprisingly softer than I remember them being. I do believe you are the UFO Slayer!
ReplyDeleteI love your old UFO! It's very pretty! I am finishing a lot of my old UFO's for assorted giving projects. I have more quilts than one person needs already!
ReplyDeleteInteresting observation about batiks. I have seen some gorgeous quilrs, but you are correct in that they are not soft to the touch. Love the pineapple mug rug. I have not heard that saying.
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty quilt!
ReplyDeleteI love the saying on the pineapple quilt! And your batik quilt top is gorgeous. Get it done.... :)
ReplyDeletewow, wow, wow!!
ReplyDeletethanks so much for linking up!
brooke@sillymamaquilts.com
Now, I am curious! Can I see a picture of your first quilt? This batik one is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThe batik quilt is gorgeous, love all that color! Those first ever quilts can be hard to finish. I finally finished my first one, but only when the SIT kept dragging it out and telling me to just get it done. Enjoy your slow stitching during the Olympics.
ReplyDeleteI had a batik stage too! Now batiks are much more modern, which I like! If I had my first quilt as a WIP...I don't think I would ever finish it! It's a fun to think back on it though!
ReplyDeleteThat's definitely a batik beauty worthy of being finished. Good luck. I have too many UFO's to count. If only I had a friend to trade binding for quilting I'd be set and maybe they'd get done. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteANYONE would enjoy getting that beautiful batik quilt! Do you wash your fabrics before using or storing? I find the batiks usually need some more of the wax removed from the fabric. Some will never be super soft but they often can get softer. I think you need to pull out that original quilt and finish it. It would be a great donation quilt. Just saying!
ReplyDeleteLove that batik quilt! I decided to order the pattern (thanks for the link) but they are currently having some website problems. So I did it the old fashioned way and called them. Just finished placing my order. So long, zillions of 2 1/2" batik strips hiding in my stash. Mine will also likely wind up in a chemo center.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt! You know how much I love batiks, I think it is an awesome quilt!
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