PHD in 2018

/ quiltinggail

No finishes this Friday … I’m not sewing very much and am trying to catch up on Bonnie Hunter’s Mystery “On Ringo Lake.”

PHD in 2018

That’s right!  I’m going to be working on my PHD in 2018.  I’m hoping I can accomplish this!  Do you want to work on yours?  You can join me if you want!

When I was working, I would often be asked when I was going to start working on my PhD … I would answer with something vague … I had no intent on doing that much academic work for what? Maybe prestige? I was already at the top of the pay scale – so it wouldn’t pay for itself!   BUT  now that I’m retired, I figure I’ll work on my PHD.

In the quilty world, PHD is affectionately called “Projects Half Done.”   I have looked at my UFO list for 2018 and it’s not a pretty sight.  56 UFO’s!!!!  (I did start 29 projects this year and only finished 8 of them, PLUS, when I cleaned up my sewing room and sorted through my fabric, I found a zillion more UFO’s … they are included in the “29” projects from this year. I also have 4 mystery quilts on the go – none can be finished until 2018.

Sew … I figured I would work on my PHD this year.  To accomplish my PHD in 2018: I have made my rules:

  1. to finish Half of my UFOs.  This includes quilting, labels and binding.
  2. to finish EVERY quilt or project I start in 2018 (except for 1 – the Bonnie Hunter mystery that starts in Nov. and runs into the next year).
  3. I will post a picture of each UFO in progress and completely finished.

These are lofty goals …

It means that I will need to finish 28 UFO’s and not start any new projects!!!  Ha!  Not start any new projects?  That’s a dream … but maybe ….   (My one exception will be the 2018  Bonnie Hunter Mystery that will carry into 2019.)  Can I do it?  We will see.

 

 

There are 8 projects in the boxes on top of my filing cabinet and at least 6 project bins on the top shelf of the closet … that’s 14 to start with …   I’m not too excited to work on any of the projects on the top of my filing cabinet … so I will work through those first!

Now – if you want to join me in completing your PHD in 2018:  Put your name in the comments and a link to either your blog, Instagram or a Pinterest board that you have set up for this purpose.  I will create a page at the top of the blog and will enter your name and your link.   Periodically, throughout 2018, we will examine how we are progressing on our PHDs.     Now – you must follow my rules to get a Quilting Gail PHD certificate!

  1. You must finish half of your UFOs.  This includes, quilting, labeling and binding.  If you want to quilt by cheque, you can, that’s your choice.  But the UFOs must be totally FINISHED.  (Exception – if you have more that 60 UFO’s – you can make the number that you finish to 28 (you don’t have to complete more than me!). Edit: you must have a minimum of 12 UFO’s to complete.
  2. Every project started in 2018 must be finished.  The only exceptions would be any projects (like BOMs or Bonnie Hunter’s mystery) that carries on into 2019.
  3. You must post 2 pictures of each UFO: One of unfinished project / in progress and one of the finished project. (Either on your blog, Instagram or in Pinterest).
  4. You must add your link to the comments on this post.

Screen Shot 2017-12-14 at 11.23.08 AM

The certificate is already prepared … it might get some tweaking prior to presenting them, but it’s in the works.

SEW – the big question is : Will YOU work on your PHD in 2018?

Link-ups

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

 

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75 thoughts on “PHD in 2018”

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  4. I just discovered your PHD challenge and want to join if it is still open. I previously listed all of my UFOs on my blog and have enough to qualify. You can see that list here: https://dreamworthyquilts.blogspot.com/2017/12/deanas-2018-ufo-list.html
    There are links to the actual quilts from that list. I also have a better visual list here:
    https://dreamworthyquilts.blogspot.com/2017/12/numbered-monthly-ufo-list-for-2018.html
    That list is associated with other challenges but I like that you expecct us to finish every new start this year. My only exception is if I end up starting a New York Beauty this year with a friend of mine. It won’t happen until the end of the year if I do. It is a crazy challenging quilt that will take several months to even piece.

    Do you have a linky party?

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    • Hi Deana … yes, I’ve added you to the list. I believe you had commented at an earlier date – and sorry, but I had forgotten. Your exceptions are acceptable – they will be carrying on into 2019 … so no problem. At the moment, I don’t have a linky party … still need to figure that out. As I’ll be away for the next few weeks, nothing will happen until Feb. or March … sorry! i know it would be an ideal way for everyone to share their finishes and easier for me to keep track! Thanks for joining! Happy Quilting!

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  5. I made my list but I forgot the “you must finish any project you start in 2018” rule. I’m not sure this aspect will work for me. I do a lot of quilts for Project Linus that are scrap quilts or from donated fabric and I tend to keep that list separate, as they don’t really have a timeline (but I do set a goal of donating 12 per year). I also get a lot of time off in December and spend the time making a lot of tops for Project Linus that I finish throughout the year, so I will be starting a new batch in December 2018. Can I still participate?

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    • Of course you can still participate. I made up the rules for me. Besides, I don’t have any way of making sure that you finish anything (other than before & after pics). If you want to keep your donation projects separate – that’s totally fine! The reason I made that “rule” was because I had started over 30 projects and only finished 9 of them. Thus, if I start one this year – I need to finish it. Sew … I suggest that the “rules” be amended to say, for you, that any project, other than donation quilts must be finished in 2018. Does that sound OK? 🙂

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  8. Awesome idea! I love the certificate you have created. Even though I want to participate, I know I will not be able to finish half of my UFO’s, so I’m going to watch and cheer from the sidelines! I can not wait to see all of the finishes for 2018! You are going to conquer your goal, and do it with easy.

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  9. If it’s not too late, I’d like to join in. I am determined to finish my UFOs this year. At last count, I have 19 UFOs. It may be an unrealistic goal to finish 12 quilts without a machine to quilt the larger ones, but I think I have 12 smaller ones as well. I also want to start finishing all the machine made quilts I start from now on. Are you going to have a regular link up or how will this be monitored?

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    • Hi Marti, So far, I haven’t had success with setting up Linky Parties – but that may change! At any rate, once a month, participants can let me know about their finishes and I’ll update the info on my blog and on the Participant page. Glad to hear you’re going to join us! 🙂

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  12. My Goal for 2018 is finish 10 quilts from my UFO/WIP list. I’ve got 22 quilts on the list, so what’s adding one more to the finishing goals. So I’m in. I keep a running list of my current projects on the blog, I’ll update them in the next week or so to show where each project is at this point. Here’s the blog address:
    https://kate-life-in-pieces.blogspot.com/

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  16. I have enough UFOs to keep me busy. I have been working on some for years and this is just a way to complete some more. This week I’m going to complete my list and post on my blog. I’ll be joining in.

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  17. I don’t have a blog. I do Instagram & Pinterest but not sure how that would work. Open a board on Pinterest, take pics of my UFO’s now, label them and go from there?

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    • Yes, Annmarie, that would work (either Instagram or Pinterest). Then once a month, you will be expected to update the UFOs you have completed. At the end of the year, if you qualify – you’ll receive your 2018 PHD! 🙂 Just send me the links to Insta or Pinterest. 🙂

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  18. I love this challenge and have no issue with 12 projects, but not to start something new???!!! Say it isn’t so!! I’m already signed up for a new bom beginning, you guessed it, January 1st😈😈😈
    Have fun ladies, I’ll be working on mine a long with new projects.

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  19. Pingback: Getting ready to start my PHD 2018 | Quilting Gail

    • Yeah Terry! You found 12! Not bad for only your 2nd year of quilting! Hopefully, by working towards our PHDs we can decrease the number of UFOs in our quilting areas! I will be adding you to the list! 🙂

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  21. I plan to finish some things, but I don’t know if I could commit to half! Each year, I’ve been doing some of mine and some I inherited from my best friend in 2013. A few get done, but I’m mostly finishing things I start, at least. I had six quilts quilted this year, and I think they were all UFOs!

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  23. A minimum of 12? Well…that means I won’t qualify for a PHD but I do plan to participate anyway. As I’m only in my 2nd year quilting, and I prefer to only work on two at a time I don’t have many PHDs. For me, having ANY PHDs bugs me.
    It also seems to be harder for me to find time to get on my laptop to add to my blog that anything else, but I will get to it.
    In the meantime..pray tell..is there a difference between UFOs and PHDs?

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    • Hi Terry … I’m impressed that you don’t have any UFOs! And the difference between UFOs and PHDs is the words … but PHD has an academic ring to it! Lots of blogs are doing UFO lists etc & I just thought I’d do something a little different! Glad you’re going to participate, cuz!!!

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  26. I certainly have (more than) enough UFOs to participate in your PhD program, However, there is NO WAY that I will be able to bring 45 projects to completion in one year!! Best of luck with earning your advanced quilting degree.

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    • Oh wow! you know how to make someone feel good: since you have more UFOs than me! 🙂 However, you would only need to complete 28 of those projects to earn your PHD! That’s 2 a month for 8 months and 3 a month for 4 months … I’m planning on doing the 3 a month in the first 4 months … so then I’ll only have to do 2 a month for the rest of the year. Does that sound more doable than 45? 🙂

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  27. What a great challenge! I KNOW I have a mass of projects that qualify, I will take inventory before the end of the year. Since I moved into a senior community last spring, I have funneled quite a few PHD’s through the large and active quilting group to several charities we support, either finishing them myself or passing them along to a friend to complete. I have more than a few quilts just waiting for binding at one end of the range and also quite a stack of fabric pulls for projects not yet cut. @susansquiltstudio

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    • How generous of you to “funnel” some PHD’s to others! It’s always fun to work on projects other people have started! Great to hear that you’ll join us – working on your PHD! 🙂

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      • Ah, I have come up with 9 categories under which to list my projects, lol. This reminds me of way back, in the last century, when I was finishing up my masters – then PhD referred to ‘piled higher and deeper’, which is not actually too far from my current reality!
        good thing the 3 little quilts, presents for my youngest grands for Christmas and the mini tree skirt will be finished this week.

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  28. I have the same problem! And I also frequently get tempted to start new projects. I am still trying to map out exactly what my goals for my PHDs, as you call them, are but I do like your basic framework. Good luck, and I’ll be working on a similar path.

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  30. Wow, Gail, 28 is more than two per month! I did a quick inventory today and I have about a dozen “quick” finishes; that is, sandwiching/quilting, final borders, etc. But in my book a “finish” is a completed top. I do plan to complete at least one “quick” and one “involved” top per month but I won’t qualify for your certificate. Still, I’m going to play along and see how well I do.

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    • Hi Libby, yes, the reality of 28 hit me after I posted it! Some will be quick finishes, some will not be … but I do know that this past year I had one quilt that took me at least 3 months to do and I don’t think anything on my UFO list will take that long. You can still submit your list & attempt to accomplish your goals … if you make the PHD – great! If not, I will not come to TN and whip you with a fat quarter! promise!:-)

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  31. I won’t qualify to join your challenge as I just finished my last WIP and have maybe 6 projects in the “idea” stage. I do give away orphan projects where I have lost interest.

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  32. That is an amazing goal! There’s no way I could finish half of my UFOs but I definitely need to finish more of them! This year I did a wonderful job of starting lots of new projects, but I’m somewhat finish averse. Unless there’s a hard deadline or someone breathing down my back, I just can’t get to those last steps. I should also note I’m a full time mom of a 2 year old, 5 year old, and nearly 8 year old… so my sewing time is somewhat limited. I commend you on your goals for 2018 and wish you the best with them!

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  33. Good luck on your PhD! I have done a half dozen or more the past two years, and will continue on that path. There are many projects, and some have been put further back than others. It is fun seeing what is done, and there are of course the projects that are added and not even on the list. I think you will do marvelously!

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    • Thanks, Kathleen. Why don’t you join in the fun? I have edited the post to read that there must be a minimum of 12 UFOs completed for your PhD. We’ll see if I get half of mine done!

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  34. Wow! Totally admirable. I see myself as a UFO hoarder~ Maybe I will attempt a similar avenue to complete all my projects 🙂 Most are just adding labels, a short stack to be quilted.. I do love a finish!

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    • Ha! Ha! A UFO hoarder … so funny Anita! 🙂 I haven’t heard that one before! If you have at least 12 projects – you can join in the fun. Even adding labels is part of getting a project DONE!

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  35. Good luck with your goal.
    I am finishing small projects and have promised myself not to start anything new until 2018.
    My goal is to finish these projects and clean and reorganize my sewing room, by the end of December.

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    • GOOD for you! Not starting anything before Jan is a great goal … hopefully you can resist the temptation to start that one project that’s been a WHIMM (works hidden in my mind)! And clean and reorganize your sewing room? WOW! Want to come visit me?

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  36. Good Morning Gail,
    That is a lofty goal for 2018 and one that makes a real PhD sound easier. Not really. I lived through my bestie getting hers, and just the thought of typing the references in the correct format makes my hands start to shake. No, not again! HAHA! Anyway, I will start to make a list of my UFOs and see if this is something I can commit to. I’ll come back and post again if I can join in the fun! ~smile~ Roseanne

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yes, Roseanne, finishing 28 UFOs is lofty and definitely way more fun than typing references! I figured that if I put it in print and shared it on my blog – I might, just might get them done. Here’s hoping you’ll come and join in the fun!

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      • Hi again,
        I made my list and posted on my blog today that I’m joining you. Thank you for the motivation! I look forward to getting all of these complete this coming year. Without you, some of them would have stayed buried for the ages. ~smile~ Roseanne

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