Monday, May 31, 2010

White UFO's

We all have them.
Unfinished projects that we keep moving from place to place,
vowing to complete them, adding them to our "To Do" lists.

This is one of mine.
I taught quilting and made fabric projects for a couple of decades.
I used yards and yards of batting, warm and natural, polyester, you name it.
After each project there were irregular shaped "bits" left and I stashed
them away in a box in the garage. One box became two, and as it
headed toward three I decided to take action. For several evenings
I rotary cut all the bits into squares. Eyeballing it, not overly concerned.


I started stringing the squares onto some linen thread and
every so often added small vintage silver glass balls
from Germany that had been around awhile.
I figured it would make a great holiday garland for my
all white house. I felt good about recycling.


I got to about here and then piled the leftover squares into this box.

Where they sat for the last two Christmases.

Until last Thursday. I started to move the box to another spot and thought
to myself. Enough. Finish the darn thing.
Turned on some good tv and after several hours, I ended up with....


Three very long garlands. All knotted and beaded and ready for
Christmas 2010. One more thing to check off the "to do" list.

Accomplished * Completed * WooHoo!

What is on your list?

Please join everyone for the 50th White Wednesday
hosted by Kathleen at
Faded Charm
Congratulations Kathleen!

also linking to Woo Hoo Wednesday
over at Always Nesting





28 comments:

Anonymous said...

One of the prettiest garlands I've ever seen...beautiful!

erin's art and gardens said...

well, my dear ...i just love, LOVE your garland!! and especially the fact that this is recycled batting and of course your creativeness! oh...and the fact that it is a WHITE garland...o.k...you could sell these! just caught up with your other posts and loving your memorial day tribute and the lovely angel images. have a good week, sweety.
erin

the old white house said...

That is so pretty! I bet it looks fabulous all strung up, very unique and special for the holidays. doesn't it feel good to be able to check something off of the 'someday' list? My list is sooooo long! Theresa

Kathy said...

Now how very clever is that! Looks very good
Kathy

Nice and Easy Antiques said...

I bet you can't wait for Christmas time!! How cool!

★Carol★ said...

That is the most unique and creative garland I've ever seen, and I bet it will look gorgeous at Christmastime! I have to go check out the rest of your blog now, to see if you've got other great recycling ideas like this. This is my first White Wednesday, so I'm very happy to meet you!
Happy WW,
Carol

Amanda at 32˙North said...

It does feel good to complete a big project like that, doesn't it? What a wonderful way to use the left overs from your quilts - and you'll get a lot of pleasure from them every year at Christmas - great!

Amanda

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Dear Suzan
You are so darn clever!!! These are fantastic... I'll have to come and visit you for Xmas.. but hang on.. do you have snow?? I've never seen a white xmas!!

Well I never tire of your creativeness.. so ingenious and pretty!! xxx julie

joanne said...

very creative, and beautiful too!!

Razmataz said...

WOW! I am flabbergasted! What a ton of work. But how Fabulous!

Crystal said...

So pretty! They turned out great!

Dee@FrenchBleuVintage said...

You are truly amazing. Always thinking outside the box ~ just lovely.

bj said...

I'M IN LUV....this is awesome and come Christmas time, you are gonna have the prettiest garland to hang...just love it.

Lady Pamela said...

Way to go! A finished project and getting ready for Christmas at the same time. Feels good, doesn't it.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE this project!!! Doesn't it feel great to accomplish a Christmas project months in advance and just tick it off the list??? I wonder if this could be made with fabric scraps since I don't quilt - would they be thick enough? Love the beads as a pretty filler in the garland. Thanks so much for linking this project to Woo Hoo! Wednesday.

Ann @ makethebestofthings said...

That really is lovely. An all white house? Sounds wonderful! Can't wait to see this with your Christmas decor, it will be beautiful.

Faded Charm said...

I love this idea for a garland and won't it look lovely at Christmas time.

Doesn't it feel good to get projects finished. I'm headed down right now to my studio to keep plugging away. That room is going to get organized even if it kills me.

Happy wednesday!

Kathleen

Tanya said...

SPECTACULAR! If I had been stringing them, I would have had to say "pasttime for an idiot". :-) You ROCK!

Debra@CommonGround said...

What a great idea, love the white with the silver balls. Can't wait to see it hung up this Christmas!!
xo,
Debra

Rust: Vintage Inspired Design said...

Ohhhh...I am loving this garland.
Happy WW!
xojanis

www.MaisonStGermain.com said...

THAT is an awesome garland!!!!! Just great:)
~Debra
Blog: Capers of the vintage vixens

The Tin Rabbit said...

I love this garland! How very creative you are! It will be so pretty on the tree with twinkling lights!

Anonymous said...

That was totally worth the wait-It looks amazing. It will look sensational at Christmas!

Best wishes,
Natasha.

jackie said...

I love your garland. What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

I love your garland. What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Hello,
I am a newbie @ your blog, and love it.
Such a creative idea for a garland, and a finished project no less - ah, those two little words "finished project" are musical!
Anyway, I just joined as a 'Follower' and hope to pop by often.
Happy to "meet" you!
Zuzu

Carole said...

Hey Z,
it's been so long since I've commented on your lovely blog though I have been by lurking now and then.lol
Heading home with more paperwork to do but wanted to say hi and hope your feeling better.
Love the garland and the use of old scrap....recycling is the best!
I have a list a mile long of unfinished projects. I'd have to live to be 200 to get them all finished.
Ok night night dear friend!
Carole

June said...

What's on my list you ask, Suzan? A LOT! TOO MUCH! A BUTT LOAD!!!
I absolutely LOVE your garland and I am sooo glad that you finished it, cause it turned out so awesome. I spied some of your beautiful creating space and it would be so fun to see more. It looks gorgeous in there!
I'm back from FC finally and have missed you. I have some major cating up to do here at the ole' homestead, it looks like a jungle in the garden. Dale said it rained the entire time I was gone to Washington. Things have grown totally out of control, so you know where to find me.
hugs to you dear friend.