My Oldest UFO...

Or, why I have an aversion to handwork. Over the past few weeks I've seen quite a few quilting bloggers post about their oldest UFO's. I have even commented on a few, with encouragement to finish them up. All the while my oldest project has been languishing in a trunk in my basement. While I only began quilting in the summer of 2001 (I had made a couple of one block "blankies" before then -- you know a single block of fabric sewn together with a nice fluffy polyester batting and tied with either yarn or Perle cotton? umm -- while nice enough in their own right, I'm not going to count those as "quilting" maybe as inspiration to make a "real" quilt, but not quilting as I now know it), I have been a crafter for many years. It's something of a family tradition. I am currently the only quilter, but we have knitters, embroiderers, cross stitchers, seamstresses, etc. Fiber arts are well represented as well as painting, decorating, etc. So, my oldest UFO is one that is PQ (pre-quilting) and has been hanging out for the past 11 years.

This one may also explain why I have mentioned here and other places why I am not all that enthusiastic about handwork and/or the color blue. It is a Mirabilia cross stitch pattern called "Mother's Arms" on linen. For those of you who do cross stitch, please don't ask me the gauge, as I really can't remember. Tiny. Small. Possibly smaller than my vision now wants to play with. If you click on the link on the title of the pattern you can see how terribly far I still have to go on this one. Despite the fact that I have worked on this one on and off for years, I tend to do so in spurts and it has never been systematic. I work for a bit, see how much more I have to do and then put it away.

Why did I even start it? Well...this is one of those projects that someone else saw, loved and said -- here's the stuff, do it for me. Normally, when people do that to me I kindly look at them, tell them I have no time, and say I would be happy to teach them how to do it themselves. Why not this time? Um...well, because said person was my mother (oh she of the fantastic Easter bunny presents), the same lady who made me my shiny blue fairy costume as a child, the same lady who helped me create my Rubik's cube costume (actually easier than the blue fairy), the same lady who TAUGHT ME how to do cross stitch. Yeah, that one. I can't say no to her. Just not possible. So -- this one will get done some day. I am thinking it may be a summer project to try and get more of it done. I'm thinking a Buffy-thon. I have all 7 seasons on DVD. An hour of vampire slayer fun, an hour of cross stitch (ok, or maybe 2 or 3). And if Buffy is not enough (and she probably won't be -- see all those blank spaces on the close-up? SOME of them get filled with floss, most will be filled with metallic thread and/or beading) there is always Angel. Maybe I should add this one to my list of UFOs to finish and stop calling it my "Lifetime Project." If anyone is interested, I will even post pictures of my progress (even though it is not a quilt project -- hey, there is a cross stitched quilt wrapped around the baby) although you may be disappointed that after several hours worth of work you will see a very tiny area completed.

On more sewing related topics -- dd's pants have two hems, some elastic and a couple of ties and they will be done. I'll get a photo when they are complete. Other than that -- I will be trying to post/read/comment over the next week but Mom (see above mention) will be here tomorrow for a visit and the computer room is also "her" room. I don't have a sewing room -- but we do have a room dedicated as a computer room/library/guest room. I am contemplating taking it over as my own domain -- but then where would dh go to play with things electronic? Hmmmn...something to think about.