Posts Tagged ‘UFOs’

UFO Bonanza in Omaha

Written by Diane Harris on November 6, 2023. Posted in Blog, Classes, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Open Classes for Everyone, Quilt Lifestyle

Wouldn’t it be great if someone could jumpstart a UFO (or two) for you? How helpful would it be to have a coach and a cheerleader to tackle your UnFinished Objects?

Let it be me! Join me at Mangelsen’s in Omaha on Monday, Dec 4 and get revved about your UFOs once more.

No matter what stopped your progress, bring your quilting UFOs to this unique work session and get started again. Maybe the instructions were bad. Perhaps the technique was beyond your skills. Or somehow you simply lost your sew-jo.

Whatever the problem, we’ll brainstorm solutions together and start moving toward a finish. This workshop is fun and inspiring, and you’re bound to leave jazzed up about your projects once more.

Workshop runs from 10 to 4 and is $65.

Learn more or register here

A UFO I reimagined and finished during the pandemic

Sometimes a person with “fresh eyes” can see things in a UFO that you cannot. I can’t tell you how much fun it is to embrace whatever people bring to class and solve the issues in a creative way—together!

This house quilt was a UFO because the sashing I originally planned didn’t work with the scrappy reds I’d embraced along the way. When you’re alone in your sewing space, this kind of situation can be discouraging and overwhelming.

But when you have an experienced quilting and UFO veteran at your side?

It becomes an inspiring adventure into creative problem solving.

Join me at Mangelsen’s in Omaha on Monday, Dec 4 for all the fun. I can’t wait to see what UFOs you bring me!!

Learn more or register today for the UFO Bonanza.

Have a great and creative week!

Quilt retreat with friends

Written by Diane Harris on March 31, 2022. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

My local quilt guild and a shop owner are hosting a retreat!

I signed up last-minute when I saw that my schedule was wide open for the next few days. I’ve never been to this venue near Schuyler, Nebraska. Most of my best buddies are going, and some time away will be good!

The problem for me is always what projects to take along. I have a zillion UFOs. I want to start a zillion more new quilts. And I have things in progress that I really want and need to finish.

Even Steven blocks, design by Kitchen Table Quilting

I found a bunch of blocks when I was reorganizing fabric recently. One group was Even Steven blocks with white grounds, above. The design is by Erica Jackman of Kitchen Table Quilting—so easy and very satisfying as it lends itself beautifully to a scrappy vibe.

A few hours later, I found more Even Steven blocks but these have colored grounds. I don’t remember exactly but I think I loved the block so much and I had so many parts cut that I decided to make two quilts. Now that seems overzealous, so what if…

Alternating white grounds with colored grounds

What if I used the blocks together by alternating them in one large quilt? I think this will be just the ticket! I hope to have these set into a quilt top before retreat ends.

Sewing for retreat needs to be simple—if it’s absolutely mindless, even better.

Because I’m always conversing with the friends around me. I hop up and check out what others are making. I grab some M&Ms. And if the sewing isn’t simple, I mess it up!

I’m ready to sew these slabs of pink bricks into a quilt top, too. I’m very excited about this quilt. It’s the simplest piecing with a really nice effect. Not sure yet if I’ll send it to a publisher or create a pattern myself.

I’m taking the nine scrappy pixel blocks I made recently. I needed to make these as soon as I saw the tutorial on Instagram, but when I got to nine, I felt finished.

So I’ll sew them together and call it good.

This idea came from Susan P @sushi.farmer on Instagram, where she tells exactly how she selects fabrics for a pixelated look. It is brilliant.

I have a few other things up my sleeve and I’ll post again soon with updates. Thanks for visiting Stash Bandit today!

Quilt on,

UFO Clinic for Quilters

Written by Diane Harris on March 3, 2021. Posted in Blog, Classes, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

I had an idea the other day and I decided to go for it! I’ve hosted a UFO workshop many times in person but I wondered about doing it virtually. I think it will work!

You’re invited to join me

Join me for an informal two-hour session and get help with a UFO (that’s quilt talk for UnFinished Object) that has you stalled.

About this Event

I’ve helped scores of quilters regain momentum to finish UFOs and get their sew-jo back. Whatever the problem is, I can help you figure it out and start moving toward completion.

Maybe it was ugly fabrics or a technique you didn’t understand. Perhaps the instructions were unclear or the method was too difficult—or maybe you just need a cheerleader to urge you forward.

I’ll be happy to do what it takes to move your UFO into the finished pile.

I’m in! Take me to registration.

A 10 person class will make it possible to help everyone. I will ask for your patience as I work out a system.

I can’t wait to tackle your UFO together!

Click here to register.

This session is an experiment and is priced accordingly. Future sessions may be priced differently.

The Katy Coleman Miracle: Part 2

Written by Diane Harris on October 31, 2020. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

If you missed Part 1 of the Katy Coleman Miracle Quilt, catch up now.

I promised my thoughts about Katy’s finish.

To say that I was overwhelmed when I opened the box Katy sent me would be an understatement. I was floored.

I wasn’t expecting her to spend this much time on my rejects! I greatly admire her spirit of adventure and her willingness to invest.

I love the details. Aren’t those trees wonderful? And I loved hearing about Katy’s thought process (see the first post). She has harnessed the power of letting the work guide you. She’s an artist.

I’m a grandma too, so I can imagine how much fun it would be to collaborate on a project like this with a grandchild.

I’ve enjoyed the quilt for several months, but now it’s time to send it back to its forever home with Katy and company.

Thank you, Katy Baatz Coleman, for jumping in wholeheartedly and for adding so much creative joy to the world around you!

Quilt on,

The Katy Coleman Miracle Quilt (with apologies to Joe Cunningham)

Written by Diane Harris on October 14, 2020. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

Back in 2017, Joe Cunningham (AKA Joe the Quilter) visited International Quilt Museum with his improvisational piecing techniques and it was really so much fun.

I take classes like this to expand my creativity and to get inside the minds of other designers and artists. If I end up with a quilt, so much the better.

A full-on hissy fit and other random thoughts

Written by Diane Harris on June 12, 2020. Posted in Blog, Quilt Lifestyle, Trunk Shows

A while back I wrote about some quilts that were in trouble with me for a post called “Quilts in the Doghouse.” I just finished piecing another top, a recent UFO (which means I started it in the past year or so), and near the end of the process, I had what you might call a full-on hissy fit.

First I want to say that Hexie Framed is a great design and a well-written pattern from Emily Dennis of Quilty Love. None of this story is the pattern’s or the designer’s fault. This is all on me.

New Old Work, Part 2

Written by Diane Harris on June 9, 2020. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Quilt Lifestyle, Trunk Shows

Another recent finish is my Bitty Blocks row quilt. I started this years ago when I was working as an editor for Quiltmaker. We had this idea to create 3″ and 4″ blocks and post them for free on our website. There was no such thing as a marketing team so we had to market ourselves, and this was one of the ways we did it.

The thing about Bitty Blocks is that they’re addictive. You make a few, and then you make a few more, and you’re having so much fun that pretty soon you have 50 little 4″ stars or 70 tiny houses at 3″ x 3″, and then what?

New Old Work in the Studio, Part 1

Written by Diane Harris on June 8, 2020. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Trunk Shows

Hey quilters, how are you holding up? I know. Me, too. Things are starting to open up here in Nebraska, and I wonder if my friends would want to head out to a quilt store this week. I am ready!

I have sewn like a crazy woman during the pandemic. I’ve finished up some things, started a bunch of new things, and practiced machine quilting a LOT.

In December I dug out and shot all the UFOs I could find, including these little baskets.

Quilting Adventures in a Wild Garden

Written by Diane Harris on May 11, 2020. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Trunk Shows

I’ve been machine quilting much more than usual during this extended time at home. I’m learning a lot. I am so happy to have finished My Wild Garden recently.

It’s an improvisational quilt, which is a fancy way of saying I made it up as I went along. You’ve never had so much fun as improv quilting allows.

Quilts in the Doghouse

Written by Diane Harris on April 18, 2020. Posted in How-tos and Ideas, Quilt Lifestyle, Trunk Shows

I’m not going to talk about the pandemic. We’re all frustrated. So…

Let’s Talk Quilts.

I’ve been finishing up some things the past few weeks. I have a lot of UFOs squirreled away in closets and cupboards and it would feel great to be done with them. And, BONUS, some of them can go into trunk shows! I have extra time because my engagements with guilds have been cancelled for April, May and June.

Two quilts I finished this week gave me pause. One was My Christmas Album, above. It’s a great design by Tina Curran with fusible applique and a border of Christmas sweaters. But when I took the final stitch, I didn’t feel anything good. I felt all manner of royally ticked off.