Looking back at 2023 I made a lot of things, but I feel like I hardly made a dent in my UFO list that I have been dragging up every year. It maybe time to move on from these projects, it’s time to assess them and finish them or end them and move on. To be fair, I did have a lot of custom quilts this year and I made some progress.

This is the tired ol’ list from 2021

List of UFO’s to finish in the next 365 days: 

• Simple things 1930’s embroidery/appliqué 
• Teal, black and white maze quilt
• Love Entwined Quilt – appliqué 
• 365 Batik block quilt 270 blocks to go
• Dragon quilt finish quilting embellishing etc (oldest circa late 1900’s)
• Holiday Snow Village 2021 BOM
• Needing quilting/binding Berties year, Growing up odd, Misses Miller, Christmas Figs, Halloween Figs, Botanica Park, Washboard, Red and white quilt, Paper pieced ice quilt, Autumn leaves, Quick curve quilt.

I did work on Simple Things a bit. I got another block done, three totally, and since there are only 9 blocks, I should be able to finish this in 2024. If I get it all out and assemble it, then all that’s left is the embroidery. 

The Teal, black and white quilt should just be scrapped at this point. I don’t want to fix it, and I ‘m not really sure I like the color combo any more. Plus, I have used a lot of the teal fabric for other projects. Seriously thinking of pitching it, after salvaging for scraps.

Love Entwined and Holiday Snow Village are both appliqué quilts and like Message in a Bottle, they have not been on the hand work to-do list. Part of the impasse is that cross stitch is now my hand stitching preference. I did pull the MinaB blocks out and worked on one, this quilt isn’t that big, 12 blocks. However each one has to be pieced and then appliquéd. A little less than Simple Things, as there is little to no embroidery. Love Entwined is, hmm, I may have to dig that out, and see what it needs, I sort of remember that its mostly done.

365 quilt, yeah, a block a day. I could re-start that, do a leader ender. I should see how many blocks I have made. Perhaps I can do half, and still make a decent sized quilt. Although it is medallion style, so thought/math maybe involved there.

The Dragon quilt, this is an embellishment thing. It just needs a lot more beading and stuff added to it. Hand work again, but in reality, I feel like it is too far finished to chuck, but I don’t want to invest more time into it either. 

On the quilting of TBQ tops I did finish a few, all that’s left for that list are Growing up Odd, Washboard, and the paper foundation quilt “Ice”. This year I have added to the pile, the Reunion quilt still needs quilting and then there are a few whole quilts (Big Dream flowers) and a few small baby quilts. I put the top I made at the Asilomar retreat in that pile too. I really want to do some graffiti style quilting on it. 

Looking ahead, eyes on the road, I want to get a white board list up in the sewing studio. Listing current projects and UFOs. I think if I have the list in sight, I will finish one, rather than start a new project.  I also have kits I have bought to do. I did start the Swordfish one, but just sorted out all the pieces of paper foundation, no sewing. I bought two more kits on sale yesterday, and I know for sure that there are three more in my closet. Those need to get WB listed too. 

On the plus side, I am caught up with Indigo Way, I finished part five yesterday. There were a bunch of half blocks to do, so I think this one will be set on point in the final mock up. I should get some time in on Morning Glories too. 

My finished in 2023 list:

• 20 quilts sold
• knitted 5 hats
• finished 6 cross stitch projects
• made two waxed canvas bags
• quilted 4 quilts for other people
• Finished 29 quilts
• made 17 bity boxy bags for gifts

Finally, in looking back mode, I have been blogging here for about ten years. I mostly do it for myself to keep a record of my projects and doings. Lately it’s become a bit of a chore, I still have things to say, but getting photos and content to post is not my favorite part. My bill for WordPress is coming up at the end of January. I’m not sure if I’ll renew. I have used up 98% of my 6GB for media storage, which means if I want to keep blogging here, I have to move up to the next level (more$$). Over the tenure of Touch of Grey, I have followed and read lots of other blogs, linked up with many design walls, finished lists, quilt-a-longs and such. I have noticed that many have switched to instagram, Pinterest and Facebook, which is fine for them. I miss reading the thoughts and inspirations that are absent from instagrams, yeah, pictures are pretty and all, but I feel like it’s more of a sales pitch. Tag me, # blah blah, @someone, all so easy to copy/paste and not think.  I’m not here to make money, just organize my thoughts and ideas. These first few weeks of 2024, I’m going to be thinking if I want to continue posting here, or end it. My other idea is to start a new blog, a free one, it would be bare bones, no photos, or maybe just one or two.  Or I could go old school with a journal and white board, we’ll see.

Be Kind.