Well, I am continuing to *not* work on any sewing projects, by design.  I have been compelled and consumed by working family heritage scrapbook/photo albums, which have been a weight on my shoulders for years.  They have been the 800-lb gorilla in the room.  But, I got my big girl panties pulled up and since this past January, I've completed *4* such albums and *omg* what a relief it is!  

Not only have I finally properly stored the family photos and documented the stories, once the albums are done, they REMAIN DONE.  I don't have to make another one (for that family); there are no more photos to put *in* them.  I feel such a great sense of accomplishment!  

My craft room is adjacent to my sewing room.  I can *hear* my sewing/quilting calling my name.  For the past year, I've been able to successfully block out those siren calls but now, since I've had such great progress with those four family albums and the fact that my NEW INNOVA longarm machine is arriving this Tuesday (!!), I will be alternating my time between working on the current album and working on the new Innova.  

In preparation for its arrival, I did a cursory sweep around my sewing room and gathered up all the completed tops that I had been working on for the past couple of years.  THOSE tops were the result of my concentrated effort to get my UFOs under control (bwahahahaaaa!!!!!) so that I had put my nose to the grindstone and *just pieced the tops*.  As of this past January (when I stopped so I could work on this scrapbooking stuff), when I collected all the tops from wherever they were, I counted ... 42 tops.   All of those tops, waiting to be quilted, are now hanging in the family room closet, in plain sight of the new Innova.  I have a lot of quilting in my foreseeable future!

I'm hoping that I'll be able to post some completed quilt pictures "shortly".  :-)

What an accomplishment to finished those 4 photo albums!  You go girl!  I know what a daunting task that is because several years ago my DH went through all our photos, scanned them into the computer, repaired flaws on the really old ones and made them into digital collections.  Any time you have to sort through boxes of photos, many unlabeled, it's quite a task.  I think you deserve a lot of play time on your new beauty.  You certainly have enough quilt tops on which to practice!

I have been working on 2 early Christmas presents, want to deliver on Thanksgiving. One was a tree skirt (done) for DS and DIl.  The other is fabric gingerbread men and two tree blocks which will be included with fabric paints for DGSs to decorate as they wish.  Then I need to get back to quilting DGD baby quilt,hard to believe she's eight months old already.

We had brunch with DS and boys today so now have an idea for a birthday gift for the youngest who's BD is the end of Jan.

Jo

Hi you all!  I peeked at the other thread periodically but couldn't commit to keeping up.  I am now the new owner of Shelley's >10 yr old Tin Lizzie longarm machine.  DH has been making her new space more comfortable with new lights overhead.  I still need to get mats for the floor and some sort of rolling stool.  I'm sharing the garage with two of our cars and now our son's car has an issue sooooo...  my practice sessions will be interesting!

I also am needing to make my challenge project for the VOS retreat forum challenge and...  ssshhhhh.....  maybe some hostess gifties. 

Oh...  and I am participating in the 2017 Rebekah Smith wool challenge.  So I am doing lots of applique and ** sorry **  can't share pictures until the program is done.  

Besides working on my UFOs,  I'm getting ready to start Bonnie Hunter's new mystery quilt.  Of course, I do have my forever project that I work on during the Nascar races (season ended today) and now during NCAA basketball games  (go Wildcats ... Villanova & Arizona).  

I've been working on goodie bag projects for the retreat.  Can't show a picture because they are a surprise.  Also completed 8  Christmas pillowcases for the kids in the family.  Working on a rag quilt for my daughter.  She requested it.  Just have clipping and washing to do.  I'll add a picture hen it is complete.  I have an apron cut out for my oldest granddaughter who plans to be a chef.  Hope to finish it this week.  Also trying a fidgit quilt for my /DMIL.  Some of the blocks are completed.  Not put together yet.  After these are completed, I can get back to my UFO's and there are many.

Picture of the pillowcases in case any missed them on the ''Completed Projects" thread.

Just working on the AZ Retreat challenge and can't give any details.

That is very impressive to tackle all those photos and turn them into loving albums that your family can enjoy.  I was pretty good about putting all my photos in albums and not tossing them in a box, but several years ago I got new albums and went through my old ones to divide them up between my 3 kids so they could each have their own.  Now all I have are the ones from when I was a kid and my mom's old ones--they can figure out what to do with them when I'm gone!  Now to figure out what to do with the ton of them on my computer.

42 quilts!?!  I do believe you will have plenty to work on with your new machine. 

What darling pillow cases!  You have been busy!

I'm so glad you started this up.  I missed reading about what every one is doing.  I've been mostly scrap busting.  I've done several charity quilts from a gazillion 2.5 inch squares and one string quilt.  I think I have enough strings to make a quilt for everyone in my county!  And I do have several tops all layered and ready that I need to quilt--not nearly as many as Pirate!  Only 7 of them.  I did get about 4 or 5 of them finished and when there is a decent day to take them outside for photos, I'll post them.