The Bobbin Buzz & Stitchin' Bits

Have you started something and not finished it? That's a UFO or "Un-Finished-Object". Got a UFO in a bag or box sitting on a shelf? That's a PIPS or "Project in A Paper Sack".

You'll need a box of "Tall Kitchen Bags" and a magic marker or "Sharpie" for this but you'll be thankful you did it.

Now gather all your project together in one spot. (Fight off the urge to resume working on any of them at least for the moment.) And sort through them as follows...

Make space for 3 piles of these UFOs AND PIPS...

PILE #1: Make one stack for those projects that would no longer be possible to finish OR that if you did finish you wouldn't have any use for the project. Maybe its a size 2T shirt for your grandson. It was a great idea when you started it, but he's now in his freshman year of college. Or maybe it's a set of placemats with fabric that matches your camper - but it's the camper you traded in 3 years ago. You get the idea. Call this "Pile 1".

PILE #2: Make the next stack for those projects you started but really don't have a desire to finish. You're just not interested. Everything is there, it COULD be finished, but you really don't have a desire to do this anymore. Call this "Pile 2".

PILE #3: Make the final stack for those projects that you REALLY LOVE and YOU WANT TO FINIsh someday... "When I have time". Call this "Pile 3".

Now get a box full of "Tall Kitchen Bags" from under your kitchen sink or in the pantry or wherever you store them. Place each project inside one of those bags. Use a "Sharpie" marker to put a number on each bag... 1, 2, or 3... along with a one-word description of the project.

Everything in a #3 bag goes into your sewing or craft room to start with. Put them all in one area that you can get to easily. You'll need these later!

Now make a brief list on paper of everything in bags numbers 1 or 2 and an estimate of the cost of the stuff in that bag. When you're done with this list, put it in with your tax documents you're collecting for 2008. They may be tax deductible!

Choose which of the following places will get everything in the #2 and #1 bags. Senior Center? Shelter with workshop? Charity Rummage Sale? AmVets? Salvation Army? Figure out which place you can give these projects to and get them out of your house now. After you drop them off, drive your car to the nearest DQ or Starbucks or whatever is your favorite treat place and treat yourself! You've done something good today AND you've cleaned out your sewing or craft room AND you've taken a burden off your conscience by "completing" a whole bunch of unfinished projects!

Now about the #3 projects... the ones you really want to do "someday".

I just checked my calendar. It has a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and a Sunday. But there's no "someday" on my calendar! Take a look at your calendar. If there's a "someday" I want you to circle it. If there ISN'T a "someday" on it, then it's time for you to pick another day. Pick one. Any of the days that are on the calendar. Maybe Saturday is a good one for you. Or maybe Tuesday's are good for you.

Pick one day that IS on your calendar circle it. Now pick the time that day that you will do one of those projects. Maybe 8am works for you. Or 6pm. Write the time and the one word you put on one of those #3 bags on that date on your calendar.

At the appointed date and time - tell yourself "Someday is now!" Stop whatever else you are doing and go grab that bag off the shelf and simply do it.

Post a photo of a finished UFO in the ATW photo gallery. If it's a genuine "UFO" that you have now finished I want you to put in there when you started the project, how long it sat in a sack, and when you finished it. I'm looking for the longest, smallest, biggest, etc projects from start to finish posted in our photo gallery during the month of April 2008. That gives you almost a month to finish one of your projects. I'll award a prize to one of the photos posted.

-- Larry