An eclectic blog about beads, beading and beyond



Thursday, January 7, 2010

From UFO to FFO - dealing with UFO’s hovering in your beading stash

My New’s Year’s beading resolution is finish all those disconcerting and guilt rendering Un-Finished Objects (UFOs) hovering in the ‘I must do that zone’ around my home. At current count there are about ten UFO’s hovering in that zone in my home. Several of these UFOs just need a few more beads of a specific colour to turn them into a Fabulous Finished Objects (FFOs) and a good shopping list that I remember to take to the beadshop is all that is needed. But, it’s the serious long time UFOs that are in danger of becoming eternal UFOs. I really don’t know how to finish them and/ or I feel uninspired about doing what is needed to finish them. That’s how I felt about a little beaded button brooch I created from weaving around a ceramic handmade button. It became a UFO a couple of months ago after a fatal drop from a height smashed several beads. The thought of painstakingly repairing it was not nearly as exciting as starting a new project. However, I took some advice from a Facebook beading friend who said to always do one UFO before you start your next new project. With my 2010 beading resolution still fresh I decided to just do it. Do one UFO before starting my new project. 20 minutes later only 9 UFOs now live in my bead stash. (See the finished brooch in the photo) Some beaders suggest dedicating a few minutes a day to UFOs, others suggest a few hours week. I guess it depends on how many UFOs are hovering in the bead stash and why. However, it was in the world of quilting I found a wealth of inspiration for morphing UFOs into FFOs. Quilters have a whole website devoted to UFOs (the UFOphanage -http://www.needlepointers.com/displaypage.aspx?URL=http://www.ufo-rphanage.com/intro.shtml). This is a great site for anyone with UFOs – beading or otherwise in their life. Ideas included trading UFOs with others and having a UFO retreat. However, amongst all the handy hints it offers there is one clear UFO message – there is no substitute for just doing it – deciding now’s the time to turn a UFO into a FFO.

How do you keep your UFO under control?

5 comments:

Patricia C Vener said...

This hits home; I have a bunch of these that I am planning on finishing within the next six months. And one that will likely stay up in the atmosphere until I decide on the direction I want it to go. :)

Foxan said...

Lol!
Mine are taking over the house ;)
Gotta do something about it as well :)

Live, Love, Laugh, Write! said...

I was really good at tackling UFO's for awhile, but kinda got out of the habit. I think I'll try to tackle one a week...

Mary T Designs said...

What an inspiration. I have several UFOs in danger of becoming eternaly RIP. You have inspired me to take a second look. Thanks!!

Dawn N said...

Your button brooch turned out great. You made me feel guilty about my UFOs so I'm off to check out the quilters website :)

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