Wednesday, February 21, 2007

UFO's in my closet - or... Procrastination and Aging

I have closets full of UFO's - UnFinished Objects. There's a lovely baby wall-hanging latch-hook rug that has never even been started, (the daughter is now 24 yrs old and married), the four or five embroidery kits that I have in various stages of completion, the 2nd of 2 counted cross-stitch pictures of rabbits and flowers for the downstairs bathroom, the current quilt on the frame, which has made it to I believe 2/5 of the rows completed, 3 other quilt tops waiting for sandwiching and quilting, along with fabric for another 8 or so tops, yarn for sweaters and baby clothes, the list goes on and on.

And the monstrosity - the quilt that refuses to get finished because it has a bad case of "Murphy's Law" Everything that can possibly go wrong with a quilt has with this one - including my having pinned it wrong and now having the top being about 10 inches too long for the backing and batt. (Don't ask)

I've made dozens of lists of the UFO's - trying to find a way to force my mind to work around the concept of actually FINISHING them before I start new things, or buy new yarn/fabric/whatever. It has thus far proved a futile effort. I can only take comfort in the thought that I am not alone. For every UFO in my closet, there are as many women just like me with a closet full of their own UFO's.

The big deal is, I really WANT all the things I "plan" to make with the yarn and fabric and kits and stuff. (Bunny picture 2 will look adorable in the bathroom once it's finished!)

I'd love to hear from anyone who has suggestions on how to begin to cut this down some. For heaven's sake, I'm 50 years old - I've got to stop acquiring and begin finishing or I'm going to end up being one of those women you see their houses when they die and they're all full of some sort of bizarre collections.

8 comments:

Peacechick Mary said...

The sane woman within who lives with the playful child within only allows 1 project at a time and when that is finished, then and only then can I get another. I know, she's very strict, but I had to sign her on or I would be buried in projects.

Sewmouse said...

Damn - mind if she takes a vacation in Chicago, Mary?
*laughs*

BBC said...

Sorry, hon. Can't help you. I moved projects here with me. And have collected many more since.

But look at it this way. When you start looking around into things.

Well.....

It's frigging like Christmas.

I'm always making new re-discoveries.

Shoot, I have so many things that I forgot I had. Talk about riches.

LOL

It'll be a pleasure to leave this mess to the kids or whoever.

He, he, he.

billie said...

i wish i could help- but i am in the same boat! perhaps we could form a self help group? :) pick the smallest and start there. if they are all in various stages of undone- pick the one closest to 'done.' believe me- i have tried all of those theories. i have a crewel bride on the hoop; a template cut to start making a quilt top applique- and thankfully no yarn projects started- but a whole tub full of yarn balls. i'm with you sistah soldier!

BBC said...

Forget it, I don't want to be any part of any self help group.

I love all this stuff.

It will be the legacy that I leave.

He, he, he.

BBC said...

Just to be a snot.

Maybe I will leave it all to you.

He, he, he.

Anonymous said...

I say strew all those projects around the house so you can't walk through anymore. Then shoot a video about how you need organizational help because you have too much crap. Send the video to HGTV and get them to come and force you to pitch it so they can completely refurnish your place. With the money you now have because you no longer need to save for new furniture, you can go and buy new stuff for new projects, which is what we all know you really want to do anyway. Lets face it, if you weren't bored with the UFOs in the closet, you would have finished them by now.

Sewmouse said...

GSB??

I love you, Girl! You made me laugh at 3:30 in the afternoon on a work day - almost NOBODY can do that!

*hugs*