What happens to unfinished quilt projects often called UFOs? See these quilt projects in a new way. Maybe they have mistakes or were not coming together asthe original maker intended. Someone may have passed before being able to finish a piece. Many times they are given away. I find these new opportunities in my quilting guild’s flea market.
Some of my first steps into creating art involved taking someone else’s unfinished projects and rethinking how they could be used. Looking back after a decade, I realise that seeing these quilt projects in a new way helped move my creativity forward. Maybe it can do the same for you.
Sorry No Photo
I adopted someone’s squares with colorful 3D stars. I reimagined them as Mexican pinatas. Then I added an iguana to watch the pinata fun.Unfortunately I don’t have any photos of the whimsical piece. Partly because I had no confidence that they were worthwhile. Partly because I completed it before digital cameras made taking photos so easy. However, the quilt did sell at the quilt auction at our annual show.
Unintended Consequences
Stretch Your Brain
I made this traditional blue and cream baby quilt from discarded half triangle blocks. Before one is aware, your brain stretches to think in a different way.In addition,it frees your mind to consider a new way of looking at the blocks. Train your brain to do things a bit differently. Leave patterns and instructions behind. Seeing quilt projects in a new way exercises the brain.
With some blocks, I discovered that they had been discarded for a reason. Maybe they were not enough of them to do anything with. Sometimes the blocks were not all the same size. Yet I persevered. I continued to use these unfinished quilt projects in a new way to create a new unique quilt. Little did I know that this unknown direction would lead me down a path to see things differently.
Birdhouse Blocks
I found these bird houses many years ago. Someone had put a lot of work into making them. Yet around that time, I moved away from working with traditional blocks. They remained stored away.
Finally, I decided to pair them with an art quilt tree that I had made. The scene seemed a bit empty of birds in spite of being two main habitats for them. Therefore, taking an environmental angle,I named the piece Remember Birds ?
For many years scrub jays and robins made common appearances in my yard. Yet now I am actually overjoyed to see these previously common birds. I am not sure why they are no longer common. We did have a devastating forest fire not too far off. Or was it the many aggressive crows that had moved in?
True Confessions Time
I am not a fan of commercially made patterns. In my sewing days,I had several bad experiences which I blame on the commercial patterns I used. We pay our money and expect them to deliver. I have never used an artist made pattern. Using a pattern is not an option for me. Maybe that makes it is easier for me than for some to take this path towards creativity.
Unknown Paths
Sometimes we start down paths that we don’t even know are taking us somewhere. We are just trying something new. We have no idea of the ultimate affect they will have on our artistic lives. That is what happened to me. I saw beautiful traditional blocks that were put up for adoption at my guild’s flea market. Someone had put a lot of work into these blocks. Saving me time and energy I thought maybe I could use them for one of my quilts.
In Conclusion
Consider seeing unfinished quilt projects in a new way by reusing someone’s blocks . This is something anyone can do where ever they are in their quilting path. You are the boss. You make the choices. Will they all be successful ? Maybe yes, maybe not. But that is how we learn.
https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2019/11/following-your-heart/
https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2023/04/how-to-be-a-brave-artist/
