PHD

Monday design wall

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I’m working on another retreat bag.  A large one this time.  I had a honey bun and wanted to quilt as you go.  I finished the quilt as you go and then went and cut the “fabric” too short … groan … sew, I had a wide enough piece cut from the bottom and added it to the side.  (see the top piece)  Hopefully it will turn out!lg-retreat-bagl.jpg

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Happy Quilting!
Gail

Friday’s Finishes

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PHD Update

Image result for Yeah clipart free

UFO #3 is completely done!!!   My goal for my PHD in 2018 was to finish 3 UFOs in each of the first 3 months.  I did it for January!!!   This House Wall Hanging is Done, done, done!!!  I doesn’t show in the picture, but I did little clouds in the negative spaces around the roofs.

house finished

Another Finish, but not a UFO.

I made a quilt for my sister sometime around 1984 or so … I didn’t know a lot about quilting.  It was a simple Irish Chain, hand quilted with a rose bud.  I was quite proud of it. Oh my, how things have changed … my quilting has improved quite a bit and I very rarely hand quilt.  And polyester batting is a thing of the past!  The quilt has been used and loved.  So much that the single layer binding has frayed a ton.  (I didn’t know to use a double layer of fabric at the time!)

So, my sister went shopping with a friend prior to having her surgery and picked out a fabric to use for the binding.  The quilt has faded and she picked out a lighter green that is perfect for it.  The first picture below gives you an idea of how much the binding has frayed … the second is a picture of the binding on the quilt. (Yes, I broke all the rules about only hand sewing on a hand quilted quilt and I sewed the binding on by machine.)

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Happy Quilting!
Gail

A Little Sewing

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PHD in 2018 Update

We have a late-comer to our PHD in 2018 group!  It’s Deana from Dreamworthy Quilts.  This post lists her UFOs with the actual month that she started the quilts.  WOW – I’m impressed!  I think she had said something to me at an earlier date, but I forgot!  Her post from December (HERE) has her list.

PHD in 2018 is now CLOSED.

Project Update

One of the UFOs I brought with me is the Necessary Clutch.  I worked on it a bit while my sister was in the hospital.  She’s home now and doing pretty good.

Anyhow,  it’s a fantastic wallet.  The write up states, “The Necessary Clutch Wallet isn’t just your ordinary wallet. Carry your cell phone/mobile, cheques, cash, cards, coins and still have room for your favorite lipstick or even personal items. With its closed ends, everything is safe and secure and there is never any worry about anything sliding out.”   You can access the pattern HERE.

The first picture shows the exterior and flap with the snap in place.  The lining is in the upper left corner.  The 2nd picture shows the credit card slots and the zipper pouch.   Will I get this finished?  Time will tell.

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Going to Visit

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There’s nothing new on my design wall.

Image result for images free nurse angel I am going to visit my sister for a couple of weeks.  She’s going to be recovering from surgery and I’m going to be her nurse and help.  Mmmm … not sure what kind of help I’ll be – but I can be bossy and get her moving and on the road to recovery!

img_1339.jpgI’m taking a few small projects with me.  I hope to complete at least 7 UFOs while I’m gone.  This is half of my suitcase (the other half is for clothes)

The UFO’s I have packed are:

  • 3 retreat bags
  • necessary clutch
  • mouse pin cushion (2)
  • a mystery table runner
  • donation baby quilt (x2)  I hope to get the tops done, not the whole quilt – but you never know!

Ha!  Wish me luck with all that!   My sister has a Janome 8900, so it should be easy to sew/quilt on since I have the same machine.

PHD Update:

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UFO #2

IMG_1338The fat 1/4 flannel quilt that was sitting on top of my filing cabinet is DONE!  The sun was shining for a few minutes after the quilt came out of the dryer.  I quickly hung the quilt on the line an snapped a photo.

The picture on the left is a picture from the back of the quilt and sort-of shows the quilting pattern.

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Happy Quilting!
Gail

Fabric Anorexia?

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Stash Report

I HAD to go to a store and buy binding.  Yes, binding.  I found the perfect binding.  And while I was in the store, I looked and looked and looked around.  The lady cutting fabric was busy with a lady having tons cut … so, I looked around some more and there was absolutely NOTHING that said, “Buy me!” or “take me home”  except for the 1/2 yard of binding fabric.   I’m afraid that I might be getting sick.  Seriously.  Is there something called fabric anorexia?

Fabric Used this Week:     0  yards  
Fabric Used year to Date:  0  yards
Fabric Added this Week:    0.5  yards 
Fabric Added Year to Date: 0.5 yards
Net Fabric used for 2017:   6.5 yards  

Binding

Quilting is finished and binding is happening on this quilt:

 

Another OH NO!!!

As I was searching through my stash looking for something I know I have.  I found another UFO.  Probably from 2008 or 2009.  It was started at a murder mystery retreat.  The quilt was a mystery and there was a murder mystery at the same time.  It was sort of fun.  One of the owners of the quilt shop / retreat centre was “killed” with a wavy rotary cutter.  The evidence was clear:  The “murder”  weapon was near the “victim” with the red rick-rack circling his neck and a piece of red fabric (indicating blood) by his head.  We were given clues throughout the weekend.  Unfortunately, at the end, the rational for “who” the murderer was included a lot of clues that we were not given.  So that part was frustrating!  And the quilt … yes, the quilt!  I finished the top with grandiose ideas to piece the back … and so it has sat and sat and sat … languishing … ignored and totally forgotten – until today! That brings my total UFOs at the start of 2018 up to 60.  I’m still going to stick with finishing 28 for my PHD.

PHD in 2018  //  UFO tally

With my latest UFO find – the number of UFOs left to complete has increased by 1.  I certainly hope I do not find any more UFOs.  If I do … I might just pretend that I didn’t find them.

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Happy Quilting!
Gail

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Progress with no finishes

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Image result for free sewing clip art

PHD Update:

Well, the quilting on my PHD #2 (Flannel Fat Quarters) is still in progress … almost done.

On Ringo Lake … Half of the top is pieced together … Those pesky little brown triangles were not fun.  I’m sure I took each one of them out at least once!  Hopefully they will behave on the second half of the quilt!IMG_1330

That’s all that’s been happening!

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Happy Quilting
Gail

Monday, Monday

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clipart music notes As I wrote the title for this post, the song started singing in my head!  The Mamas & The Papas … you can hear it on YouTube HERE.  But, I can guarantee that my quilts will still be with me!

Design Wall:

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The start of the layout for “On Ringo Lake”.  This quilt is on point and will be impossible to “web”  so there will be a lot of careful sewing to ensure things stay in the correct position.

Interesting that in this picture a lot of the pinks look like coral …  a few are, but most of them are pink.

PHD in 2018 Update:

My cousin Terry is showing off her organizational skills and sent me a link to her PHD update: Sew Sunday @ My Quilting Legacy  Give her a visit and say “hi”.

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Happy Quilting in 2018!
Gail

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Rainy Sunday

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PHD in 2018

Oh me, oh my … Ann @ Laughing Gas Quilts has finished her first UFO of the year!!!  Check it out HERE.  At this rate, she may achieve her PHD by the end of the month, or maybe February!  unknown-jpg

Susan – is joining via Instagram … I will post details when I have them.

Two of my friends want to join in PHD in 2018.  Marie has an Instagram account and I’m just waiting for her to approve me.  Diane says she does Pinterest enough and is going to follow along at home.  Ha!  I know they just want that (now) coveted certificate of PHD in 2018!

First Finish of 2018

Here it is: my scrappy Irish Chain.  As I mentioned before, most of the 2″ squares in this quilt came from other quilters.  People that lovingly don’t want to deal with their own scraps, so they handed them to me.  But, NO MORE!!!  As fun as it was to sew with other people’s fabric – this did nothing to decrease my own pile of scraps.  At any rate, I’m quite happy with how this quilt turned out! It’s 68x 82″.

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Stash Report

Since most of the scraps from the above quilt came from others (and not added into my “Fabric Added” calculations),  I estimate that approx. 7 yards of my fabric was used (backing, white background & binding).

Fabric Used this Week:     7  yards  
Fabric Used year to Date:  7  yards
Fabric Added this Week:    0  yards 
Fabric Added Year to Date:  0 yards
Net Fabric used for 2017:   7 yards  

PHD in 2018  //  UFO tally

I thought I had 56 UFOs … but NO … oh NO …. I found 3 more …  Yes 3!!!   That brings my total UFOs to 59!   #   SEW – Since I originally said that in order to get your PHD you had to finish at least half of your UFOs or a maximum of 28, I will stick to completing 28 UFOs and finish all new projects that I start in 2018.  I’m finding that 28 is stressful enough, 30 would be over the top for me!

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Happy Quilting in 2018!
Gail

Sewing, but no finishes!

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PHD in 2018

We have another blogger joining us in this challenge.  She’s a fellow Canadian from the east coast.  Her blog is “Laughing Gas Quilts.”  Can you guess what she does for a job? In her comment, she said, “What goal directed, box ticking, overachiever can resist the lure of a certificate of achievement?”  LOVE it!

Are you interested in getting your PHD in 2018?  You can see the details HERE.  You have until January 10 to join and send me your list via instagram, Pinterest or Blog.

Progress Report
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Scrappy Irish Chain:  quilting is happening  … there are 49 blocks to put feather wreaths in and 50 blocks that need outlining.  Oh me … I like doing the feather wreaths, but outlining the blocks is boring, boring, boring …  Sew, I’ve set myself a goal of doing 7 feather wreaths a day and an hour of outlining.  Hopefully in 2 or 3 days, I’ll have the quilting done.

 

 

 

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On Ringo Lake:  I’m starting to work on Clue 8 – the blocks …  This picture contains all of the pieces I need for the main blocks.

I think I’m going to like this quilt!

Within hours of the “reveal” some people were posting pictures of their completed tops.  I have no idea how they did it!  There are several steps in the final clue and I know that it will take me a lot longer than a few hours to have this quilt to a flimsy stage!

Link-ups

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

Happy Quilting
Gail

 

 

 

 

PHD in 2018 – update

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newyear-0014

As 2017 comes to an end, I’m thinking over the past year.  Lots of ups and downs – with a needle and thread.  I want to thank all of YOU for visiting my blog, commenting and supporting me in my quilting endeavours. I’m looking forward to a fun year in 2018 as I, and others, work on completing their PHDs!

Update

The list of participants in the PHD in 2018 challenge is at the top of my blog.  Including me, there are 5 of us aiming for the certificate.  You can see the details HERE.  You have until January 10 to join and send me your list via instagram, Pinterest or Blog.

Here is the list:

Terry is working on a project and would like some advice.  Visit her latest post and give your opinion. Here post is  HERE.

Preparation

Sandwiching

In the last few days, I managed to get 2 quilts sandwiched.  As you see below,  my daughter’s dog “Fergie” decided that she wanted to help sandwich it.

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This quilt was made from 2 packages of flannel fat quarters that I bought a LONG time ago at Craft Warehouse (?) near Portland, Oregon.  I always planned to make a rag quilt with the fabric, but wasn’t impressed with the work it would take to cut the “rags”.  Even with the Accuquilt – each block would have had to be done separately because of the heaviness of the flannel,  Sew – the plan changed and this became a disappearing 4 patch.  The backing is also flannel.  I can’t wait until it’s finished! It should be nice and cozy.

Quilting

This quilt is under the machine right now. It is primarily made with scraps from other people.  It did nothing to reduce MY own scrap pile.  In making this quilt, I realize that I don’t WANT any more scraps!  But I must admit, it’s fun to sew with other peoples fabrics! unknown-jpg   It will take a bit of time to get this one quilted. I’m doing small feather wreaths in the white blocks and outlining the coloured blocks. Slow going!

IMG_1269

Piecing

The other day, I was almost caught up with “On Ringo Lake” and thought I had a week to finish Clue 6.  But, to my surprise and likely everyone else’s – Clue 7 came out yesterday and Clue 8 came out today … Needless to say – I am not caught up! And, I suspect the final reveal will come out tomorrow.  The picture on the left is the remaining Clue 6 to sew together.  At the top of the picture is a few Clue 7.  The picture on the right is the Clue 8 – the block … And I just noticed that the middle bottom block is upside down!  Good thing it’s not sewn together yet!  Image result for smiley face

 

Well, I’ve got a lot of sewing to do and absolutely nothing will be finished before the New Year rings in.

Stash Report

As of tomorrow, January 1,  I’m starting off my Stash Report at “0”

Fabric Used this Week:     0  yards  
Fabric Used year to Date:  0  yards
Fabric Added this Week:    0  yards 
Fabric Added Year to Date:  0 yards
Net Fabric used for 2017:   0 yards  

PHD in 2018  //  UFO tally

I have 57 UFOs …  SEW – to get my PHD this year, I will complete 1/2 of the UFOs and finish all new projects that I start in 2018.

Total finished: 0

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Happy Quilting in 2018!
Gail

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Getting ready to Quilt

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IMG_1257I’ve been working on Bonnie Hunter’s “On Ringo Lake” and am almost caught up on the clues.  This is a picture of the start of Clue 5.  It is done.

 

PHD in 2018

PHD in 2018I’m going to work on my quilting PHD in 2018.  Look HERE for details.  You can join me if you want to!

 

 

IMG_1223I was looking at the projects on top of the filing cabinet and analyzed why I’m not thrilled about them.  See the container on the top left, that says “Paper Piecing + 2 baby quilts?”  Well, the purple that you see in the corner is the border of the quilt that was paper pieced. (Which I did without sewing on the paper!)  It needed to have the back pieced.  There wasn’t quiet enough to cover the whole back … but I knew that I had enough fabric from the front of the quilt that it could easily be pieced together.

IMG_1261Sew … since I want to tackle projects that are on top of the filing cabinet first, I pulled that container down.  I had to laugh at the label that I made ahead of time and put in the box.  I don’t mind the label stating it’s one year earlier, but not 2.  In my last trunk show, I told the audience that my labels have the date that the label was made, not necessarily when the quilt was finished.

But, this quilt now has a destination – so I decided that I would put the label right on the back of the quilt.  Image result for stress clip art freeI actually pieced the backing and then did the label.  That was nerve-wracking!
In retrospect – I should have embroidered first, then pieced the back.

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But the back is pieced, and the label is done.  Just need to sandwich it and quilt it.   Now, I don’t feel reluctant to work on this project.

 

A Chance to win Silk Batting

Quilt Books & Beyond is having a give-away. Click on the link for a chance to win Silk Batting and a Quilting Book.

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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End of Year Report

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As promised, I said I would show you this quilt once it was gifted.  It spent a bit of time in transit and I found out this week that little E now has her quilt.

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PHD in 2018

PHD in 2018

I’m going to be working on my PHD this year.  Are you going to join me?

PHDs are Projects Half Done … and I aim to get half of mine DONE.

Check out this post HERE for details.

 

On Ringo Lake

IMG_1257

Here is the start of Clue 5.  If you want to join in this Bonnie Hunter mystery – there is a button on my side-bar.  You can always download the clues to do the mystery at a later date.

I find that doing the mystery quilts are a fantastic way to learn new and faster techniques.  Her mystery quilts are like taking a course in making the quilt.  The directions are superb!

Stash Report

I will continue doing this in 2018.

Nothing bought – but I did finish my charm pack runner,  candle mat & co.   img_1249.jpg

These are my 2017 year end numbers:

Fabric Used this Week:     1.5  yards  
Fabric Used year to Date:  172.5  yards
Fabric Added this Week:    0  yards 
Fabric Added Year to Date:  62 yards
Net Fabric used for 2017:   110.5 yards  

UFO tally

My 2017 UFO record.

January 2 July 0
Feb 0 Aug 1
Mar 0 Sept 2
April 0 Oct 5
May 2 Nov 1
June 4 Dec 0

Linking to:

To see what other’s in the quilting world are working on – click on the following links:

Happy Quilting
Gail

A Friday Finish

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IMG_1246IMG_1248

 

 

In November, I showed a picture of a table runner, in progress, that was being made with a charm pack that I received from Benartex fabrics. (See HERE).  The charm pack called, “A Moose for Christmas” is super cute.  I ended up making a table runner, a candle mat and 2 coasters.  I think there are only two 5″ squares left over.   It was fun to play around with the half-square triangles!

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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Getting ready to start my PHD 2018

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My list is ready …

I pulled out the quilts and took pictures of what’s in the tote. This is the tote that I use for my “big” machine (Janome 8900).  It’s usually only used when I’m going to a retreat.  It’s full quilts that are ready to be pressed, sandwiched and quilted.  2 of them have backings ready.  These are the first 7 that will be quilted.

There are 8 quilts in progress on top of my filing cabinet and 6 in bins on the top shelf of the closet:

Then – there is the 4 mystery quilts I’m working on – 3 with the guild. (no pictures yet) and the Bonnie Hunter mystery.

Then there are 3 baby quilt projects for the guild …

That’s a total of 28 projects … Which will be enough to complete my PHD!  However, I do reserve the right to switch things around and finish some other project(s).

Interesting … these are only half of my UFOs.  As I contemplate the projects that I’ve listed here … the ones on the filing cabinet are the ones that I have the least interest in finishing.  So, I should start on them first, right?

Now, I’m going to need motivation and encouragement to get these done, so I can complete my own PHD! (see details HERE).

Unfortunately, I realize that I have at least 3 other projects that I want to get done this year.  One is a t-shirt quilt, another is a quilt for my son (requested a few years ago) and I also need to repair his very first quilt.  It’s falling apart. Literally.

PHD in 2018  

If you want to join in the fun finishing PHD (Projects Half Done), you can see the details HERE.  Add the link to your blog, Instagram, or Pinterest board and you can join in the fun!

Stash Report

I did this last year and am pleased with the amounts that I used.  This year, (so far), I used 171 yards of fabric and bought 62 yards.  I definitely used up way more fabric than I bought!  And that’s a good thing!  Sew … I’m  going to keep doing my Stash Report.  I found that when I was tempted to buy with no purpose, I would often think, “I have to report this on my blog.”  And, sometimes, it worked and I wouldn’t buy any fabric!

Planning Party

Yvonne, from quiltingjetgirl is having a Planning Party.    I emailed Yvonne, just to make sure that it was OK to join the 2018 Planning Party while I host “PHD in 2018”.  She said, “yes.”  I first met Yvonne in the spring when she was one of the hosts for the “2017 New Quilt Blogger’s.”  This group experience where I received valuable feedback about my blog and met some awesome quilters as well!

Link-ups

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

Happy Quilting
Gail

Sewing, sewing …

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On Ringo Lake:  Clue 4 is DONE!!!  (it was an easy clue)  And bit’s and pieces of Clue 1, 2,  & 3 are done … still sewing away at them!  I’d sort of like to get them done so I can possibly get at least one UFO done & increase my fabric used numbers a bit!  And also decrease the numbers of UFO’s I’m entering into 2018 with.

I do know that I need to get the Christmas decorations out and decorate the tree … hopefully in the next few days.

PHD in 2018

PHD in 2018

Are you going to join me?  Check out this post HERE for details.

 

 

Stash Report

Nothing bought – nothing finished!  So my total stays the same!

Fabric Used this Week:     0  yards  
Fabric Used year to Date:  171  yards
Fabric Added this Week:    0  yards 
Fabric Added Year to Date:  62 yards
Net Fabric used for 2017:   109 yards  

UFO tally

UFOs completed:

January 2 July 0
Feb 0 Aug 1
Mar 0 Sept 2
April 0 Oct 5
May 2 Nov 1
June 4 Dec 0

17 UFOs completed!  There are 27 UFOs left to complete

To see what other’s in the quilting world are working on – click on the following links:

Happy Quilting
Gail

PHD in 2018

/ quiltinggail / 75 Comments

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.

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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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