Waiting In The Wings

Monday, September 11, 2023

Yikes - The Counting of The Tops!!

A calming visitor (much needed) at breakfast time this morning to begin my day, a Barbary Dove, beautiful, look at the subtle feather colours, they're very friendly and one actually flew up and landed on my hand!


I'm still here but no new projects on the go at the moment. A high dose of steroid (prednisone) for a flare of my PMR - not PMT, I'm 76 yrs - but an ongoing problem Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Anyone who takes steroids knows the effects these can have, currently I have around 4 hrs of sleep each night, my brain is soundly in overdrive and fizzing with great ideas but not the ability to carry through. The good side is that I am pain free and can actually move again.

However at 3am early this morning I hit on the idea of something simple - counting up my tops waiting to be quilted, this was a task long overdue. Humour me whilst looking at the photos below. Oh, before I make a start fabrics arrived two days ago, just two new colourways here in  classics from KF, there were a few other bold and brights, as usual.




On with the main point of this post.

You will, I think, have seen a photo before of my two narrow ladders in the hall, they hold ten tops waiting in line.


The large ladder in the hall has four tops - Gypsy Wife is hidden under one of the other three,  still waiting her turn. These are the larger size.


I also have a small  waist high stand with four rails, obviously for four quilts, this is now home to
seventeen tops, medium size and a few wall hanging size. Of necessity it is now in the bedroom and is extremely heavy to move.


Last picture - I promise,  so a small design board in the hallway leading down to my little studio
with three basted quilts, the centre one is Northern Lights and partly quilted, left hand side is Liquorice Allsorts and right hand side a peep of Midnight at the Oasis.




You can do the math and see the size of my problem - perhaps the 3 am idea was not the best one I have had. I'm now going to have to work out a system to complete these tops, obviously over a good length of time, and also to be stitching on new projects - of which I also have many lined up! Luckily I have two machines so I think my newer Bernina will be permanently set up with quilting foot etc on my large quilting unit and my older one in some other place purely for stitching. Where this will live I do not know presently. Perhaps I should post a studio tour and you could offer suggestions , actually I think I shall do this if you can bear to look through more photos next post.

Happy Quilting
Maureen


14 comments:

Nancy J said...

PHEW !!! I thought I had a lot but your tally far outnumbers mine. I have decided that any of the tops I don't really fancy will be cut up ands made into bags.Does Prednisone cause sleeplessness?? hadn't heard of that side effect but can understand if it does. The PMR, Hugh's hasn't gone away at all. but the dose now is lower than for some time.Love your ladders,great idea for display and of course a tally up .!!

Julierose said...

Oh great that you have 2 machines and can set one up for just quilting! Good idea:)))You have so many beautiful tops in line--choosing the first may prove difficult...take care and don't overdo...(look who's talking, right?)
Hugs, Julierose

Linda Swanekamp said...

Well, at least your tops are on display and attractive to look at while waiting. My are all jammed on hangers in a closet. You should feed some of them to longarmers to keep your body from being overwhelmed. Next time, count floral fabrics instead. Stay healthy, work smart.

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

I love lots of photos. Bring them on.

If you can bear to part with a few of your quilt tops you might ask the longarmer if she would take a top in trade for some quilting. I did that back in the 1990s when my shoulder was really bothering me and my longarmer didn't like to piece tops so she was happy to take a trade.

I only got one of the new coloration pieces of Kaffe fabric. I may have to go back and look at the others.

Robin said...

I love the way you have your quilt tops arranged. Where did you find the ladders to display them all? I, too, have my tops hanging in a closet and would love to bring them out into the light of day. You've made some really lovely tops.

Linda said...

What a beautiful collection of quilt tops, Maureen! Such glorious colours.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Such a super collection! Love how they are all out on display, all in their unfinished glory! Your post made me smile this morning :)

Danice G said...

So many pretty quilt tops. I also have many that need finishing. I'd love to see more photos of the rest of yours.

Terri said...

You are a busy girl. I'd love to see your studio!

Quiltdivajulie said...

Photos ... more photos ... colors and designs and more! As to the number you have pending, if you try to quilt all of these yourself on your DSM, how will that impact your health? I know I could not do that (only because I have the sit down long arm am I able to FMQ my own quilts). The colors in your waiting quilt tops are GLORIOUS!

loulee said...

You have fun planning, while we look forward to some posts about quilting and binding. LOL

audrey said...

What a fantastic way to display your quilt tops! This way you get to enjoy them even when they're not 100% finished up! Tho maybe not in the wee hours of the morning? And it's absolutely lovely to have someone admit that they have more ufo quilt tops than myself. sigh.... Best get crack-a-lacking so I can catch up! hehe

Janie said...

Your dove visitor is beautiful!
and Your quilt top collection is fabulous, Hannah looks almost finished, great progress!
thanks for sharing. I hope you feel better soon.

Agile Jack said...

And I thought I had a ridiculous number of quilt tops in different places around my house. You put me to shame!!!