Over the past few weeks, I took stock of all the projects that are shoved inside my cabinets and shelves. I was not the least bit surprised to find quite a few forgotten ones. I love to play with new ideas. That of course comes at the cost of unfinished projects, no matter how much I despise having them around. I picked some of them to be my current work-in-progress projects.
I don’t even remember when I started working on this Victorian house or why I abandoned it. I found it quite by chance while looking for another painting. The house that inspired this one is itself in a sad shape, just like this painting of mine. I am now actively working on it, starting with adding a few magical elements to it.
After painstakingly drawing out the architectural details, this Gothic building came to a stall as well. I am glad I waited with this one though, because I have since changed my mind and now have a much clearer vision of how I want to proceed with it. Can’t wait to see it take shape!
Purchase Stained Glass Flowers patterns
The Garden Path quilt. I had the quilt layout design done long ago. However, upon revisiting, I changed the flower distribution while keeping the original layout. After a LOT of iterations, I am finally happy with it. There is now a bit of symmetry amongst the asymmetry. I also didn’t want the fabric combinations to repeat, that was part of the “puzzle” I had to solve as well.
Due to limited space, I don’t have a design wall. I use my computer software all the time for layouts. Plus, I like figuring out the layout first before I make the blocks, so I have a clear idea of how many of which I need to make.
My August goal was to finish at least a few of the blocks. I am so glad to have finished four of them. I will be joining One Monthly Goal, hosted by Patty at Elm Street Quilts.
I got a 12″ cutting mat lately. It is fantastic for trimming and cutting paper piecing fabrics. I place it on my ironing board, which is usually placed perpendicular to my sewing machine. This setting has been great for my back, since I can now just swivel my chair while sitting back on it properly.
Purchase Stained Glass Flowers patterns
These were the first four blocks that I made. I am very happy to have finally started on this one again and I am already halfway through making all the blocks. These are all 12″ flower patterns that I designed with stained glass motifs in mind.
I am considering both of the paintings and the Garden Path quilt as large projects. I know I will soon get sidetracked by something new and small for instant gratification. I just need to make sure I continue to come back to these.
How about you? Whether you paint, sew, or do other craft work, do you work on one project at a time, or do you find yourself working on a few small ones and then coming back to the large ones?
You can still link up on this month’s Wandering Camera here.
-Soma
I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page. Please pay a visit to some of them.
41 thoughts on “Reviving Old Ones”
Sharon August 28, 2019 at 16:24
What pretty flowers, and such a nice layout. I’m so easily sidetracked by all the pretty things out in the quilting world. I won’t tell you how many UFOs and WIP I have going at any given time!
Pattty August 27, 2019 at 04:10
Those flower blocks are amazing! Thanks for linking with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and congrats on your finish!
Sheryl August 22, 2019 at 16:39
Hi Soma wow what beautiful work you do,lol i always get side tracked and there fore have unfinished projects sitting around every where.
You are very clever my friend xx
Beth August 22, 2019 at 11:12
Your art is stunning. It fills my eyes. Your quilting is exquisite. How lovely! Happy PPF!
Susan Mann August 22, 2019 at 01:40
What beautiful quilt. Those are lovely. I love the drawings and the designs you have created xx
betty - NZ August 21, 2019 at 17:15
Your link at ‘My Corner of the World’ this week sure made my day!
My Corner of the World
Kelly Anne Rothaermel August 20, 2019 at 22:39
Wow! That is incredible!
Angie August 20, 2019 at 21:38
Soma – I usually have one large project underway at a time. But I will occasionally put one to the side. The recent example is taking time to stitch Christmas ornaments. Now that they are done, I have returned to my major cross-stitch project. With creative projects such as yours, it appears there is a real benefit to allowing some time to pass. Enjoy the rest of your week.
NatureFootstep PhotoArt August 20, 2019 at 02:26
I like the Flowers you created. Even if you got sidetracked it can be good to have when inspiration fails, wich it does now and then.
~ linda August 19, 2019 at 18:43
Just beautiful and beautifully done!
Sylvia D. August 19, 2019 at 17:28
Soma, Wonderful quilt squares! Persistence pays off. Looking forward to the finished quilt whenever it appears. Have a great week. Sylvia D
tammie August 19, 2019 at 15:11
These are beautiful. they remind me of origami.
Your drawings are beautiful too.
Rebecca Grace August 19, 2019 at 12:28
Those paper pieced flowers are so delightfully crisp and detailed! Love them. I do have a design wall, but I still do most of my designing at the computer. I use the design wall more as a place to store blocks and rows of an in progress project where I can see them. So I really ought to call it my Anti-Procrastination Motivational Wall, where I get to see the blocks accumulate as the project gets closer to completion, and there’s none of that “out of sight, out of mind.” :-)
AnnieO August 19, 2019 at 07:02
Charming and beautiful design and result! Love your color and fabric choices. I often work on multiple projects at once. Using one project’s pieces as leader-enders while piecing helps move them along. My other craft is embroidery, which is more portable than machine piecing :)
betty - NZ August 18, 2019 at 22:44
Wow, you definitely have some creative ideas! I love the colors that you used, too.
Nikki - Notes of Life August 18, 2019 at 14:07
These are amazing! Such wonderful work :)
Linda Calverley August 18, 2019 at 11:43
Love the garden path quilt.
Andrée G Faubert August 18, 2019 at 10:33
Hi Soma, it would seem that summer is a good time to revisit older projects. I’m actually working on a couple of UFOs myself and it feels good to be sewing again. I alternate between art quilts and regular quilts because the art ones require a lot of creativity and decision-making (because I make it up as I go along) where as the regular quilts mostly just need to be pieced. Enjoy your old projects. They are looking great!
A ShutterBug Explores August 17, 2019 at 15:30
Wonderfully elegant stain glass pattern artwork with fiber!
Happy Day to You,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Courtney August 17, 2019 at 13:29
You selected two great projects to work on! I love both the drawing and the quilt blocks. Beautiful work!! Yes, I get sidetracked all the time too. I have so many projects going on at the same time. I have more than ten works in progress waiting to be finished. ha! I do go back and forth depending on which one I feel like working on that day. So many times I feel like I get stuck and can’t go any further until another day. I like having multiple things going on at once and I’m really excited when one of them gets finished!
Margy August 17, 2019 at 09:23
My sister is a master quilter. She even has a long arm machine at home because she got tired of going to the quilting shop and using theirs. My mother made wonderful clothes for both of us (even a few shirts for dad), but I never got interested in sewing. Neither was my grandmother, so maybe it skips generations. You must have a very steady hand to draw such intricate lines. My hand shakes too much even if I rest it on the table while drawing. – Margy
Sue Palmer August 17, 2019 at 03:24
Such a beautiful design Soma, I think we all have unfinished projects ab9ut the place! !
Lady Fi August 16, 2019 at 23:09
Such beautiful designs!
Christine August 16, 2019 at 19:08
These are so lovely!
Carol August 16, 2019 at 14:15
Beautiful designs – you’re so creative! Can’t wait to see the finished product.
audrey August 16, 2019 at 10:58
Wow! So pretty.:)
gillena August 16, 2019 at 09:27
Luv your garden path design
Happy PPF
MUCH❤❤LOVE
Robyn August 16, 2019 at 04:43
Lovely drawings and blocks. I need to be creative again as I’ve been doing much mending and sewing dull household items (curtains). There are some projects that have been stored, during my years of being in transitory living accommodation, that I’ve recently discovered and can look at in a new light so I’d like to complete these.
Tracey August 16, 2019 at 03:20
What an amazing design, all so beautifully put together and so clean and crisp. Like most I have a huge bundle of WIPS that in a lifetime I will probably never finish. Yours are true works of art. Thank you for sharing.
Creative wishes & Happy PPF Tracey
DecorCraftDesign August 16, 2019 at 02:59
Wonderful drawings and beautiful quilts!
riitta k August 16, 2019 at 01:11
Hi Soma,
Your quilt patches are wonderful! And I admire your patience to do such elaborate work. I am sure the outcome shall be marvellous in due time. At the moment I don’t do any handicrafts, books and reading take all my spare time (I’m a book blogger as well). Thank you for linking at Friday Bliss – have a great weekend.
Valerie-Jael August 15, 2019 at 23:48
I LOVE those beautiful quilt blocks, and the WIP drawings – wonderful. I always have unfinished pieces, as I work on several things at the same time. And I often change things while I am making them, they just seem to develop a life of their own! Happy PPF, hugs, Valerie
Ulrikessmaating August 15, 2019 at 22:10
Hej soma,
The quilt is really amazing! I have many projects :-) and i am drawing ideas for my quiet books in a book. Your drawing skills are really great :-) i have so many ideas, oh,oh….greetings from denmark, ulrike :-)
BillieBee August 15, 2019 at 21:13
I’m pretty sure I have this pattern. I think it’s lovely. Your drawing skills are fantastic.
Mary August 15, 2019 at 20:16
I’m so glad to see you back with the flower blocks. I loved these when you first started them. Your fabric choices are fabulous.
It’s always so much fun to discover older projects and bring them to life again.
I’m definitely a multi project worker. Just today I had a granddaughter over for sewing. I happened to have three projects o three tables. It’s tough to explain to someone. lol
Kim August 15, 2019 at 16:43
I think the joy of creative life is to be sidetracked. Needless to say I always have a few pretties in the pipeline with the expectation that something new and wonderful will begin to swirl around in my imagination. Love those stained flowers, Soma. Don’t let me wait too long to see them in all their glory. =)
Janine @ Rainbow Hare August 15, 2019 at 15:15
Your projects are lovely so it’s great to see they are having some tlc after being abandoned a while. It seems to have been a year for getting side tracked for lots of us. I’m really too much of a one project at a time person and, somehow, the garden became a project in itself this year, which was not good for sewing and blogging. I hope you are keeping well and enjoying the Summer :)
Michelle August 15, 2019 at 14:06
So many lovely projects! I love your drawings, and the flower quilt is beautiful! So light and delicate.
As for WIPs, I just did a post on that myself. I discussed my 3 top WIPs. I have two wire-weaving projects for a couple of themed challenges. 2 crochet projects (with others waiting in the wings – I have the supplies and patterns chosen, but haven’t started. Pre-WIPs?). And a Hoffman panel call “Skylines” that I am hand-quilting.
Kathleen Kingsbury August 15, 2019 at 13:57
Oh definitely sidetracked, by other projects, and by life. Just today I got started on a pillow that was already kitted up by myself, for ease of getting back into, and it’s been waiting patiently for almost two years for me to get back to it. Luckily it is very easy to get back into since all the cutting work is already done.
Dixie August 15, 2019 at 13:17
O dear. Yes to sidetracked. I usually have several projects on the go.
Always nice to give a project time out, then I find I can look at it with new eyes and
renewed enthusiasm.
Your drawings and blocks are lovely, Soma. Enjoy…
Susan N. August 15, 2019 at 08:27
It is easy to get sidetracked. I have several “projects” going though not all the same thing. Like you have quilting and painting. I can only work on one for so long, then I need to switch to something else. It really helps in the focus department. Usually they are not all big projects either. At least one smaller one. I like the process as much as I like the finished item.