I’m pretty
good about getting ideas and starting them. However, I’m not so good about
finishing them. I’ve tried various methods to try and overcome this, but I just
tend to chase squirrels and go down rabbit holes.
Three of the
art quilting groups I belong to issue challenges and I always plan to
participate. I get my idea for the challenge and get started. Then for one
reason or another I’m starting another one before any get finished.
A few months ago,
I decided enough. ENOUGH. Focus. Focus on Finishing.
I selected
five quilts to focus on. I could not add to the list of five until one was
finished. I keep it at five at a time. I select one on the list to be my main
focus until it is finished. The other four are for backup in case the main
focus needs to simmer for awhile or I need to get some supply to finish it. I
have backups I can work on in the meantime. This is my Focus on Five (FoF)
method.
Most of my
WIPs/UFOs are small; a few are medium (over 36”) and a few are large (50+”). I
have one large, one medium, and three small ones on the list.
I will allow
myself one plus if there is an upcoming deadline for something not on the list
that I really want to do. This is FoF+.
This process
is going to take some time.
Recently in
one of my groups there was a contest to see who has the most unfinished
projects. I had 36 that have been started; some more in the designing/planning
stages, and a few more “want to dos”. Yesterday I remembered one more started
but not finished project so now I’m up to 37. And there may be a few more in
hiding!
So how am I
doing with my FoF? Well one has ben completed and replaced. One will be
completed today. And I haven’t started any new projects at all!
So it’s
working thus far!
My list of
five:
Escape
Storm
Winter
Clown
Red
Red is
finished!
Happy
stitching!
Rose
