Final Score - 46 to 48
I can't believe that I'm here telling the world about this!
You'll either laugh, gasp, roll your eyes or call me stupid - wait maybe all of the above! :-)
I should not be allowed to buy another piece of fabric ever. Actually, I probably shouldn't be allow to get near my sewing machine. This is ludicrous but remember I've always described myself as a PROCESSOR! I love "to do".
So what are you looking at? The picture on the left is two piles containing 46 quilt tops with their backings and the picture on the right is one very large pile of 48 quilt tops without backings. Yep, you got it, that's 94 quilt tops that need to be quilted.
If you decide to leave a comment please be kind ;-)
55 comments:
Heehee -- well, now I don't feel so bad any more.
When you figure out what to do with yours, let me know so I can do it to mine, too.
Jeanne :)
wow - that is amazing! and it looks like they are so varied - what a testament to the importance of quilting as a process!
Juliann
That is just wonderful! A customer told me I was a "topper"...I like the process of making tops. Well, I think you get to be queen! :)
Your are a very productive women.
very pretty stacks there :) you can do it want me to cheer you on? Gimme a Q! Gimme a U! Gimme..well you get the idea ;) xoxo melzie
WOW....
I don't feel bad now about my tops to be quilted... hehehe
:D
These are not all yours, right? These are the unfinished quilts for the whole State of Arizona I bet.
I didn't know anyone had more finished quilt tops that I do. That led me to finally get a longarm - and I still have most of the unfinished tops! You either need to buy a midarm or longarm or find yourself a good longarmer.
OMG - that is such a nice looking pile. My first thought was .... time to get a longarm machine, you surely have lots of tops all ready to practise on.
How nice that you have so much to show for all the time you've spent creating gorgeous quilt tops.
You are a topper! Look at all those finished tops! Wonderful job. Me, well, I love to make blocks, but struggle to get them to the top stage. Once a top is finished - off to the long arm quilter as my reward! I figure - I already have a fair amount of time, skill, $ invested in a top - might as well take that last step. Oh - go ahead - pick out a favorite - and get it quilted!
Cheers!
Evelyn
You shouldn't be embarrassed, you should be proud that you've completed so many tops! It would be interesting to see them all hanging up in a line somewhere, how much clothesline do you think that would take?
Gasp! That does it! You are officially the Queen of Tops! LOL
I see some beautiful quilts in there. I was going to say send two a month off to be quilted - but you would have four more to put on the pile at the end of the month!
I bit the bullet a couple of years ago when I was off for my shoulder surgery, and just pieced backings. I had eight or ten quilted during that time, and it felt good to get them done. Now there's another 10-15 piled up. The problem I have with my quilts is that once the binding is on them, then they go in a closet and I lose interest in them. I agree with you - the most fun is making the top!
Everyone has their favorite (and least favorite) stage! I'd love to look at all those tops. It's too bad having them long-armed is so pricy - have you ever thought of getting a machine? It's amazing how prolific you are!! Way to go!
Wow! I'm really impressed - most folks may have that many UFOs and quilty ideas in their heads, but you actually got them out and into a top! :) So, congrats!
Instead of thinking about how much there is to do to finish quilting these, give yourself a pat on the back for being such a productive piecer!
You need to come up with a plan. What do you intend to do with all those tops? Are some of them destined to be donation quilts? Maybe you could get a couple friends, guild members or a new longarmer looking for practice to help you quilt or tie them and get them done and donated. Or maybe you got all you wanted to get out of doing them (i.e. learning a new technique, testing a new pattern) and you are willing to let them go as is...auction them on Ebay, or as a fundraiser for your guild or something like that.
FInally, I'm going to say that I'm glad to see there is someone out there with as many or more UFOs than I have!!! :-)
The piles look great. Maybe you just need to buy a pie safe to pile them in or some ladder racks to drape them over.
My only comment is, "I hope you own a long arm"! If not, I hope you have plans to buy one or you have a long arm quilter close to you who will give you a "volume discount"! *LOL* Just think of the Christmas presents, wedding gifts, birthday presents, graduation gifts you have piled there!
I can't believe how many tops you have. I had to read your post twice to make sure i read it right LOL
I have about 7 tops that needs quilting and i thought that was too many.
Wow, that's a lot of quilts! They all look so beautiful too. Are you planning on getting a long armer? As a new quilter I'm amazed that you've made so many :)
WOW! You have an excuse to buy a long arm!
You certazinly ARE a topper and you most LOVE playing with your sewing machine !
I'm definitely a (hand)quilter. I'm always nervous, when I have to use my machine (strange, but true...). I'm always searching for hand piecing and applique work and, even while making them, always thinking at the blessed moment of quilting them !
(I'm sending an e-mail to you, with your permission).
Kind regards,
NADINE in Belgium.
Wow! I have to admire your COURAGE to put them in all one photo instead of hiding and stashing them in various corners, under beds, in grocery bags, in the car trunk, linen closet, etc! Arghhhh - you are ripe for a long-arm machine! I would love to see them all opened up.
Boy, did you ever make the rest of us feel better today LOL! I hope you are asking Santa for a longarm machine!!!
Oh my gosh! You made me SO HAPPY! Gee I was feeling guilty about the 8 or 9 I had! Now what a great stash is that, a stash of tops!
You have made a great many beautiful quilt tops, and looks like you really love them and take care of them, the way that you have them all neatly organized. What is it that is stopping you from completing them? Do you dislike quilting that much? Aren't willing to commission someone else to finish them? Are you afraid to let them be finished?
Don't worry, you'll be able to still keep them after they are finished, if you want, and will get to admire their new "adulthood" status.
Even if you never finish them, they will be treasures for others who get them to finish...I know I have one of my great grandmother's I am finishing by hand...and it is a spiritual journey / connection with my past for me when I have time to work on it...in fact, I think it's part of our legacy to leave things unfinished for others to take on!
Why would we not be kind?? You love to make tops, it is obvious. Following through, maybe not so much? So either I guess you could start quilting them and owe a kings ransom to the quilt shop for batting or send a few out to be quilted every once in awhile.
Please don't let them hang them all on the clothesline at the garage sale when they could be used and enjoyed by you and your family or friends!
I applaud you for completing that many tops, Darlene in the first place---too many of us just let them become half done, barely started or ideas floating around in our heads.
I feel so much better now....... I am not alone... Not as prolific as you either.
Wow, you are a top-making MACHINE, Darlene! Wow - I'm impressed that you are so prolific. No eye rolling or negativity from me... I have my share of unquilted things too, although just a fraction of yours! ;-) I think you definitely earn the title "Queen of Tops"
We need a retreat....... You bring your tops and we will all assist in the finishing of these lovely soft hugs.
Okay so we know you love to piece tops together and you are a very quick piecer. Now...do you think you could spend from now until January 1st doing nothing but quilting? Well maybe a few tops put in there.
I'd say set yourself a goals and start working. You do such fantastic work! Any ideas what you might do with them once them get quilted? If you don't have a supply of loose money, i'd forget the longarm lady, that always seems so expensive to me. I think I have about 6 or so, maybe less. We can work together and get it done.
Oh and if you have any you wish to donate, please think about LindaJ's boys ranch. They will be collecting for a while and they love to finish tops!
Now chin up...you didn't do anything bad! You are just a great quilter!
Wow! You have some lovely stacks to show for all of your hard work.
I'm thinking you could sort through and see which tops are ones you really want to see become quilts for you and your family and make a plan to get those quilted.
The rest could probably find very happy homes being donated to groups such as Linda J's WTIL or any number of other worthy organizations that might be near and dear to your heart. Or they can be used as fund raisers. A couple of years ago, I used quilts to raise money to participate in the Breast Cancer 3 Day walk.
There are probably as many options as you have tops. You have a wonderful collection.
Wow, 31 comments and 32 with mine, that HAS to be a record!!! Sorry, your stacks don't faze me, I think they are just a gorgeous sight. You are a Master Quilter!
Just read the comments, as kcquilter and calicocat say, you definitely need to ask Santa for a longarm...also I'd like to see those stretched out :-)
I'm a topper too- but- I don't have quite as many as you! I think you just have proof of a hobby about which you are passionate...
An absolutely fantastic body of quilt work Darlene! It's wonderful!! And I really do know how easily that can happen..when it's just the first few or dozen, we barely notice.
I applaude your courage to actually count them and show them to us. I don't think any of us are without sin, and won't be thowing any stones at you..*VBS*
There certainly is great potential for some wonderful gifts in those piles, and the ability to make some charities very happy with your contribution.
If you love to sew, as that's primary..that's what you should do. Hugs for a great gal, Finn
Oh, my goodness! I don't think I've ever known anyone with that many tops to be quilted. You ahd seriously better get busy . . I mean . . REAL busy! :)
Judy L.
WOW, 94 tops?? I thought I was bad. I don't know how many I have ready for quilt but I"ll be sure the count them up. I definitely WON'T have as many as you do!
Wow! That's a lot of quilts!
LOL that cracks me up. I don't have the nerve to post the quilt stacks at my house....yours are very colorful!
WOW. I am very impressed.
Darlene - I laughed out loud when I saw how many comments this post had attracted - almost as many as you have quilt tops
What does it matter if you have created that many tops - you've enjoyed making them and no law says you have to quilt them - anyway they're good insulation for the house in the winter cold - just keep piecing tops if that's what makes you happy, eventually if you don't get to quilt them someone else will love to inherit them to quilt instead
Gosh, it looks like some beautiful work there. Have you thought about eBay?
I am laughing and laughing! No wonder you are in a Quilting Daze! You got a million fun comments. My suggestion is that you pair up the tops and quilt them double sided. Then you are down to 52, only 52, quilts.
Oh wait, math lesson needed. I just looked again and you have backs for half of them. You are good!
WOW....you are the queen of toppers LOL
If you finish one quilt each month
it will take aprox eight years before all is finished, if you do not start another project LOL
You are a productive woman. I have also a lot of toppers in my sewingroom. Do we challenge eachother to finish them??
and you realy need a longarm machine LOL
And I thought I had a lot! Wow!!!
Wow!... if ever anyone needed a longarm , you do!
I had to read and read again, I could not hardly believe you had that many tops!
That is amazing...
all the quilters of the world are just so happy that you posted those pictures! we all feel so much better! ;) What a beautiful stack of quilt tops. And someone said (not sure who in the stack of comments-LOL) said it was nice to pass on some tops to the next generation. I agree, I loved quilting my Grandma's quilt. Spending time quilting on someone else's quilts causes you to really reflect on that person. Just think of how many are going to be thinking of you one day!
I have just two words to say:
No comment !
You are the best of unfinishing things !
Sorry for my bad english
Kérouézée
http://kerouezee.over-blog.com/
I think you are brave to give a confession like this :-)
Do you have a plan for how you will finish them all ?
I'm looking at your quilt tops with a smile on my face. Now I know what to show hubby when he asks me 'where's this one going'. My usual response is 'no where dear, it's staying right here'
I've already commented on this post, but I was scrolling down from posts I hadn't seen yet and I saw the phone sitting by all your quilt tops. Ha ha, I think your quilt tops are calling you!
There, that makes 54 comments.
Boy that makes me feel like I'm way behind in my sewing. I like to make tops to then just feel stressed about not quilting them just as fast,that's hand quilting.LOL! I am saving for a brother quilting machine. It's the only way. You should open them up and show them to us.
I can be very kind....as I have been in that situation before too...although your numbers top mine.
6 years ago, I wrote everything unfinished in an excel program, printed it out, and stuck it above my machine.
My aim was to start and finish a new project, finish 2 old projects, then start and finish a new project...etc
Following this regime, I am now down to about 20 quilt tops to go, and my oldest top is from 2001!
So I am really proud of this!
Being able to start and finish a new project, made sure I didn't get frustrated with only the old projects! Good Luck!!!!
Cheers
Nicole, Berlin, Germany
OH MAN I am so glad I came and started back here,,, I am so glad you have this only at a triple my number. Thank you so much for sharing.
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