Tuesday, May 4, 2010

A find while cleaning house...

Well, I am amazed! I was cleaning out our old antique dresser...and guess what? I found these blocks! I totally forgot making them...and still have no memory of the actual sewing, but I know I made them as a Block of the month from a quilt shop named Nostalgia. The date? 1997. Wow! At the time, there were very good instructions on how to make the blocks, and as I was just learning to piece, that was good, I got great experience! But, the setting together directions were really made for someone who had experience...and I was stuck. I just kind of gave up...and a UFO was born.

Thanks to Finn, and Debi, and many of you bloggers out there...I have the skills and knowledge to put these blocks together! I have looked at Finn's Orphan train, and studied how some of the quilts were put together. Debi gave me the Big Blue and Yellow quilt pattern, and the pieces were put together much the same way I needed to for this quilt....so....
This is what I have together so far. I don't like the yellow background block on the left, but will leave it in there so it does not become lonesome on it's own! My favorite? The tiny flying geese! I love that bit!


OK...I have been doing very well on my cleaning, and decluttering...but 13 years? Wow, that is a long time for a UFO to simmer!!! Can any of you beat that?

Have a super day,



Julie

25 comments:

Pat said...

Nope...you have me beat (as I've only been quilting not quite 5 years now)....BUT...I do have a LOT of UFO's for not being a quilter for many years yet. LOL

Vicki W said...

That red cross and star block (I think it's called Mexican Rose) was the block I used for the SECOND quilt I ever made. Boy was that stupid! That quilt took forever! I'm not sure if finding old blocks is a blessing or a curse. My Mom and I still have some blocks that belonged to my Great-Grandma and people seem to find more every time we get a quilt done!

Terry said...

How about 24+ years? I have some appliqued maple leaf blocks that I know I made before I met hubby. Someday I really do plan to make them into a quilt...but not anytime soon! LOL

Amelia said...

Even if they are old...they are pretty!

Becky said...

Won't it feel great to have this UFO together? It's looking great. I have a counted cross stitch project that is 19 years old. I started it for DS before he was born. I never worked on cross stitch after having him:) Quilting is now my obsession.

Karen said...

How fun is that?? To balance out the block that you don't like, add some more of that color. I love the variety. You have the makings of a great scrap quilt.

Quilter Kathy said...

oh yah...I can beat that :)
But what a great find! Can't wait to see how it all comes together!

Jan said...

Not beat...mine are about the same time frame...92-98. Back when I was just starting. :) I think that gold background block would make a nice pillow to throw on the couch during summer. Karen's idea of adding more of that color is perfect. Have fun with them.

Rose Marie said...

Yes .... sorry to say .... I bought some embroidery blocks shortly after we married and come May, we will be married for 33 yrs. .... and they still haven't been touched (except for 1 complete block) since then. Perhaps it is time to take them off the shelf again soon.

viridian said...

What a grat find. It looks like you did a fine job on the piecing. the rst will be great also.

Karen said...

I'd like to find such nice blocks that I had forgotten about for so long.

Laura said...

What a great find! I'm sure I have cross stitch UFO's that are older, but seeing as I've only been quilting since 2001, you've got me beat for age of quilting UFO's, although I seem to have a large number of those!

AnnieO said...

No, but I do own a yo-yo coverlet of my grandmother's on which the label reads "Made 1934. Tied 1997"!!!

Very fun find, there, Julie.

Liv said...

Eventually it will become a beatiful quilt. I wish I had blocks like that. The only UFO I have of that age is a cross stitch runner, which is 25 years this year. Every second year or so, I do some stiching :))))

retdairyqueen said...

It will be lovely when you get it done
Worth the wait

katrien said...

What a lovely blocks you find back.
This will be a nice quilt.

Debi said...

All of your blocks look great what a wonderful find!

Deanna said...

I can't wait to see that project finished!

Lori said...

You must have really had them hidden well for them to be "lost" for 13 years!!!
They are looking great all together!!

House of Mouse said...

i would love to be able to make blocks like that so I could put them away and find them later! LOL As usual, this is going to be a great quilt...can't wait to see how it all comes together.


Anett

Darcie said...

That's a great story, Julie! You will have to include the story to your label. ;-)

Hugs....

Julie in the Barn said...

I just finished a little mini that I pieced in 1985!! It even got moved to new houses twice so I can't blame it on being stashed away and newly discovered. I also have some antique blocks from the 30s I bought back around 1989 and always intended to make into a top. They are still in a baggie in a drawer. Maybe I'll get to them sometime during the next decade.LOL.

Elaine Adair said...

... wow - what a happy find - and they are beauties, to boot!

Yellow block? just put in another one, somewhere! 8-))

*karendianne. said...

Oh my, this is utterly amazing. I can hear the beaming joy in your voice. I happen to be totally impressed! This is some serious pulling together, serious MATH and serious talent.

I love the little FG's, too.

What a fun find my friend. What did Sophie think?

Rae Ann said...

What a wonderful find! I would love it if that was in my drawer.

Puffins and purples!!

I was tempted by Puffins...a squirrelly breed!!  LOL!  This fabric was shared with me, and I have been loved these bright, candy corn colors...