Whilst traveling around the USA I've been finding some amazing products in various quilt stores.  After playing with a few, it occurred to me that it might be fun to share these with YOU!

The first product I'd like to review is a rehash of something I've used and loved for years.  The previous incarnation was called 'Thread heaven' and came in a tiny blue box. Production of that version has been discontinued. I was horrified to think that the quilt world had lost such a great tool. 
This version is called Thread Magic and as far as I can tell is identical.
Silicon-based thread conditioner is something I continuously use when doing any hand quilting or needle turn appliqué.  
The soft silicon coats and smoothes threads, helping to  make them last longer and keeps them from tangling.  Especially useful on the thin threads that easily fray. This new version of this conditioner contains more product, and also has a re-designed package that makes application to a thread easier.
Little slits in the top edge of the container make it possible to drag a thread through the silicon gum or gel without removing the product from the container.  
In the past I would pull out little balls of the gummy stuff which would then get misplace or end up mushed into the carpet.  This new container addresses the deployment of the product. So glad to find that Thread Heaven hasn't gone forever and instead is now available 'new and improved'.                                                                                               

Old sayings of my parents have haunted me this past week as I struggle to get through all my remaining UFOs;. "My eyes are bigger than my head" and that I have "Bitten off more than I can chew" seem to be easily applied to a few of these projects. 
I have friends who finish each quilt before starting a new one.  I admire their attitude and their resolve, but absolutely cannot do what they do. Thankfully there is no necessity for everyone to manage their quilting in the same way! 
Some of my projects have taken years because I lost heart and shuffled them to the bottom of a pile, like the little school house quilt on my previous post.  Other quilts take years because I'm not content to work on one project without intermission especially when a project takes hundreds of hours to accomplish.  Yes, hundreds. Like some everlasting gobstopper quilt type project.  
Currently I have two of these "more than I can chew" quilts on the go.  Every day I try to put in SOME time on each. Most days I can only nibble way, not really take a serious bite out of them, progress seems painfully slow. 
One other legacy my parents left me was a saying that often runs through my head while working on these gobstopper quilts..."You can eat an elephant one bite at a time." Eventually these projects will be done, just like some massive meal, just not in one sitting.  
      ** disclaimer: No elephants were harmed in the production of this blog**