International Maples–finished.

I’m on a roll – three, no, make that four finishes in three weeks!  Can you tell I’m feeling rather pleased with myself?  Mind you, three of these four finishes were partially/almost completed, but it’s still a great feeling.

I’ve just finished putting the last stitches in the hanging sleeve of International Maples.  Like most of my UFOs this one has been hanging about for a while.  Way back in 2000 I took part in an international block swap organized by Morgan of Down Under Quilts (DUQ) Internet quilt group.  The idea was to stitch a maple leaf block using fabrics which related to your home country.

An arty outdoors photo

I have used seven large maple leaf blocks, and two sets of four little ones in my quilt.  The blocks arrived from Australia, New York, Ontario, Alberta, Indonesia, plus mine made with a New Zealand inspired batik.  Sadly, over such a long time, I have misplaced the names and origins of the other blocks. 

The blocks languished in a bag for quite a while, until I finally decided to “just do it” and assemble them.  The quilt top was then layered and pinned, and was added to my UFO List of Six when I decided to get serious about my indecent number of UFOs.  And finally, it’s finished.

International Maples

Cowboys and lassos from Calgary, and autumn colours and squirrels from Adirondack Mtns

Batik fabric from Indonesia

And from the Swap Hostess, who lives in Adelaide, Australia, who chose to make four small blocks.  The pale block features motifs from the indigenous Aborigine people, and the green fabric shows the outline of Australia and the Southern Cross star constellation.  The grape fabric acknowledges the world famous Australian wine, and the floral block features some of Australia’s unique wild flowers.

And from the Swap Hostess, who lives in Adelaide, Australia

I am thrilled with my finish, and feel the quilt turned out wonderfully well with all the different fabrics glowing against the black background.  I machine quilted in the ditch around all the blocks and sashing strips.  And then, with a little trouble as I'd forgotten how to go about it, I free motion quilted veins in all the maple leaves using variegated thread. That gave some texture to the blocks.   Many thanks to all the quilters who took part all those years ago.

How many UFOs did you say?

My friend Carol from South Dakota wrote to me in a bit of a state. She decided to compile a list of projects started but not completed. She said, “When I got to eighty one I quit and did not look any more. That is a terrible amount and I am surprised I have so many”. Carol’s quilt guild is encouraging everyone to bring their list along, and hopefully they will work on them during the year and whittle the number down a bit.

I’m not going to have a count up of UFO’s, I decided. I’m not really sure how many I have but……..there are those two large bed quilts in sitting room that I’m still assembling, black and whites for my daughter and burgundy and cream for my niece. The cot sized Angel quilt needs the border finished. Then there are the two bed quilts hanging on my quilt stand still only half machine quilted.

Two quilts waiting for me to complete the machine quilting

Oh, and I nearly forgot, my exploding stars quilt with all those lovely signed blocks from our UK holiday two years ago is still only half put together. That’s just what I have in the sitting room.

Exploding stars quilt still in pieces

My sewing machine lives in the dining room, and I have a corner jam packed with bits and pieces. What’s there, I wonder? A summer nightie I’ve smocked and have yet to stitch up. Healing Heart blocks I received when I was undergoing chemo and radiation, thanks everyone who sent me a block, receiving them certainly brightened up those dark days. A Father Christmas body waiting to be stuffed, and I’m stitching a new Christmas cushion for the caravan. There’s that apron I started, and those pretty floral blocks I was going to stitch into a table cloth. Not to mention all those lovely New Zealand fabrics that I was going to make something with. Anything else in that corner can just stay hidden.

I have to admit that I have a little secret. Tucked away under the computer desk in the spare bedroom is a large basket full of different bags of blocks, collections of fabrics, goodness knows what else. I’m certainly not going to investigate all those bags at the moment, that’s much too scary. What exactly is a UFO anyway? Does the fabric I’ve put together to do a quilt “one day” count? I’m sure I’ve got several lots like that. And what about all those swaps I’ve taken part in? And I know I’ve got several patterns with the pieces cut out, all ready to start stitching. Goodness knows what else I have hidden away! And then there is a couple of half finished things in my knitting bag. Ahhhh……. where does it end? But there is no way my UFO’s reach Carol’s number of eighty-one. Do they? I’m never going to count them to find out!

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