UFO #12 - December DONE

Well, the last day of 2012!  For December I completed a NewFO that was not on my original list; it is a B&W String quilt with an appliqued echinacea.  (My bucket list keeps growing as I look at everyone's quilts!)  I machine quilted another QOV; it was mailed this morning.  I make machine embroidered labels for the QOVs.  My UFO list suffered in the last quarter of the year--I didn't follow it very well.  However, I completed 18 quilts in 2012 which is satisfying.

GET IT DONE 2013 - January

I may be setting my goals too high; but nothing ventured, nothing gained!

January, 2013 Goals:
1) Finish piecing R/W/B String QOV - to be donated to Star Valley Piecemakers for WY soldiers.  I currently have ten 11.5-inch blocks made; I need to piece 15 more blocks, make borders, binding, and backing.  I'm using a non-fusible foundation grid to sew my strips on--I can't remember when or why I bought it but I'm "using it up"!  (UFO-NewFO)

2) Machine quilt Blue/W Labyrinth QOV.  This top was pieced in December, 2012 and will be used when/if notified.  (It would be so nice if it was NOT needed!)  I plan to do feathers, SID, and a background fill on my longarm.  (LA-UFO)

3) Piece 2 Labyrinth QOVs in R/W.  I may substitute a QOV pattern from DeeDee's site.  I have fabric for these--nothing started.  (UFO-NewFO)

4) Make 2 Fall/Pumpkin table runners.  The pumpkin and backing fabric are cut to length, and I have tassles for the ends.  I plan to use fusible cotton batting as I did for the Halloween table runner I made in December.  (Hey, I'm counting it as 'being ahead' instead of 'being behind'!)  (SewUFO)


2013 UFO-NewFO List:
1a) Red Xmas Basket Quilt (UFO)
2a) A Graceful Winter Xmas Quilt (NewFO)
3a) Bear Claw in Bear Claw (NewFO)
4a) Baby 3D Pinwheel (NewFO)
5a) Embroidered Colorwork MOY Boys (UFO)
6a) Embroidered Colorwork MOY Girls (UFO)
7a) Scrappy Birds in the Air (NewFO)
8a) Scrappy LogCabin (NewFO)
9a) Embroidered Undercover Kids (UFO) DONE
10a) Scrappy Trip Around the World (NewFO)
11a) T-Shirt Quilt for Niece (UFO)
12a) Forest Floor (NewFO)
1b) Penguin (NewFO)
2b) Sapphire QOV (NewFO)
3b) Secret Jungle QOV (NewFO)
4b) Biscuit Quilt (NewFO)
5b) Scrappy "Corners 81" (NewFO)
6b) Embroidered Playful Snowmen (UFO)
7b) Lavender/Blue Pineapple (NewFO) DONE
8b) Black/Yellow Pineapple (NewFO) DONE
9b) Scrappy Postage Stamp
10b) Craftsy2012 BOM (NewFO)
11b) Craftsy2013 BOM (NewFO)
12b) Scrappy Irish Chain (NewFO)

{All Listed QOVs are NewFOs}
QOV1) R/W Labyrinth  DONE
QOV2) R/W Labyrinth
QOV3) R/W Labyrinth
QOV4) R/W Labyrinth
QOV5) R/W/B String DONE

LA-UFO
I currently have 79 quilts in this stack--too many to list here, but I do have a paper list (which will increase as I work on the UFO-NewFO List!).  I will list completions each month.  Wouldn't it be nice to complete all of them in 2013--and then have a problem as to where to put them?!  Time to get these done--my skills should definitely improve by the reduction of that pile!  Some of these are baby quilts; most are large quilts.

Other UFO Lists
SewUFO
MachineEmbroideryUFO
CrochetUFO
X-StitchUFO
DecoPaintingUFO
All of these lists are on paper; I will list completions each month.  I did not do very well on these lists in 2012; hopefully, by noting them here, I will do better in 2013.

STASH REPORT - Week 52, 2012

Used this Week: 0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 222 3/4 yards
Added Year to Date: 127 3/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012: 95 yards

 

I really wanted to finish 2012 with a net stash decrease of 100 yards, but life got in the way.  The sewing/quilting studio was lonely this week--the only thing I did was quilt a QOV on the longarm.  (Today will see me doing binding!)  Medical issues took priority, which thankfully doesn't happen often.  I love the gingerbread man fabric Judy showed on her blog--oh, the temptation!!

I'm excited to start the new year with new goals--are you?  I wish us all success in reaching our goals in 2013.

STASH REPORT - Week 51, 2012

Used this Week: 9 1/4 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 222 3/4 yards
Added Year to Date: 127 3/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012: 95 yards

 

It was a busy week in the quilting/sewing studio on the mountain!  We mailed 2 QOVs yesterday; I hope to get a 3rd loaded on the longarm today and start quilting it tomorrow.  (Today I will bake goodies to take to some of the seniors--and for DH's sweet tooth.)  Of the yardage used this week, 3 yards was gifted--it was so "rubberized" that my longarm didn't like it.  So, even though I "hoard" my patriotic fabric, I said goodby to it and sent it to a friend who crochets rag rugs.  Picture of one of the 2 QOVs is below; the other picture shows the label with name so I won't add it.  It is a different pattern--I don't like it as well so probably won't use that pattern again.  I made 2 QOVs like the one below, except for the narrow border (ran out of material so one has the flag material and one has the blue).  The 3rd I pulled a different blue from my stash for the solid blue in this picture.

And (drum roll!) I finished the string quilt that was hanging over my machine for soooooo long--I just needed to make a backing & binding for it.  It's now moved to the longarm UFO stack.  I used leftovers from another black & white quilt top I had made in which I incorporated the Morehead Lil Pierrot machine embroidery designs--so that top has just a touch of red plus red prairie points.  I'll take a picture of it when I get it quilted--can you tell I love that top?!  I digress--anyway, I added an appliqued echinacea (I have echinacea in my flower bed).

 

 I also finished a Halloween table runner--love it!!  The fabric is so special; I'm not sure you can see the bit of lime green in the haunted houses, but I used lime green for the backing.  (And Halloween isn't even one of my favorite holidays!)  I'm going to get some lime green buttons to put on the top and attach tassels (on order) to the buttons.

And that's what has happened in my mountain studio this past week!  Oh, I also started a red/white/blue string quilt--1 block done.  A friend gave me scraps from QOVs she makes, so I am making a string quilt for her to donate to the WY soldiers.  Now to the kitchen (I'm writing this on Saturday and will post it tomorrow)!

Judy's 2013 Project Aids

I've already decided to participate again with Judy Laquidara's "project aids" (for lack of a better name) in 2013 (see:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2012/11/30/2013-at-patchwork-times/).  I hope I can reduce the stash even more in the upcoming year--I'm excited to put 2012 behind me and start anew!  I think I will participate in (1) Sunday Stash Reports and (2) the UFO Report, and add a LA-UFO report to my UFO/NewFO report. 

My UFO/NewFO list for 2012 only decreased by 6--well, 7 because I found I had already put together a top with one of the embroidered block sequences!  And I substituted 5 quilts for those on my original list.  So, I can say (sort of) that I finished 11 out of 12.  And I did 6 QOVs--for a grand total of 17 quilts finished. 

My 2013 list will start with the unfinished quilts from this year--and I may list steps at the end of each month although my goal will really be to finish a quilt a month, which is a good motivation for me.  I have 5 remaining on my original list, and 10 left on my "B" list, and 3 left on my "C" list--I'll probably have an "A" and a "B" list for 2013.  In addition to piecing tops, I'm going to have a separate list of LA-UFOs which will be quilting all those pieced tops on the longarm.  (Would you believe 77 tops in that stack plus 3 QOVs?!  Time to get those done--my skills should definitely improve by the reduction of that pile!)  Some of these are baby quilts, most are large quilts.

I will again have lists for X-Stitch (1 finish this year), crochet (3 baby afghans finished and 1 stocking cap), sewing (I made 18 receiving blankets and 7 pillowcases plus some miscellaneous things), machine embroidery (I made embroidered blocks of snowmen for a quilt for myself and one for my sister), and decorative painting (none finished :-(  --have a lot to do here!).  I didn't do well on any of these lists--but, hey, one finish on any list is better than none!  I think I have too many hobbies.

So, my 2013 lists (that I will report) will be:

UFO/NewFO - LA-UFOs
Sunday Stash Reports

The other 5 lists I will share only on my blog, but less frequently than the ones I share on Judy's site.  I'll start making all my lists soon; wish me luck in 2013!

STASH REPORT - Week 50, 2012

Used this Week: 9 4/6 yards
Added this Week: 24 yards

Used year to Date: 213 1/2 yards
Added Year to Date: 127 3/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012: 85 3/4yards

 

Well, I messed up my stats big time!  I bought 24 yards of fabric that can be used as backing for patriotic quilts!  I made backings for 2 quilts (1 patriotic and 1 not) yesterday, and will make backings for 2 more QOVs this week.  Whew, I may get back to 100 yards decreased again before the end of the year.  I may start cutting out my next QOV today--or maybe I'll start on the Halloween and Thanksgiving table runners instead.  An early start sounds better than a late one!

 

I'm enclosing pictures of the sausage pillowcases I made last week--the gift ones are wrapped and on their way.  I still have 2 packages to mail, which I will do tomorrow.  Delivery seems to be really slow this year for some reason.  I'll have to start earlier next year.

I hope everyone is experiencing the joy and hope of the Christmas season!

STASH REPORT - Week 49, 2012

Used this Week: 11 3/4 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 203 3/4 yards
Added Year to Date: 103 3/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012: 100 yards

 

Well, finally!!  :-)  I made 7 pillowcases this past week--5 will be used as Christmas gifts and 2 will be future gifts.  And I have 1 QOV quilted--so the backing was added to yardage used.  It will be mailed as soon as I receive an address.  I have the 2nd QOV ready to put on the longarm.  I'm seriously low on fabric I can use for QOVs, including fabric to back these quilts.  Seems that most of my backing fabric yardage is floral--and I hate to use that on patriotic quilts.  So, I need to bask in reaching my goal of 100 yards net usage before I mess up my stats by buying more patriotic yardage!!

 

I used the "sausage" method on the pillowcases--really like having all seams enclosed (and not getting out my serger!).  The instructions I was using was 24-12-2 dimensions, but I changed the 2 to 1.5 for the accent and like the smaller accent better.  

 

We have had some snow--but not nearly enough!  Roads were icy when we went to church yesterday, and temperatures have dropped drastically.  Last week we were in the high 30's--this morning it was 2 degrees when I got up at about 6:30.  The wood fire burning in the fireplace feels sooooooo good!

STASH REPORT - Week 48, 2012

Used this Week: 13 1/2 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 192 yards
Added Year to Date: 103 3/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012: 88 1/4 yards

 

No excuses necessary this week!  I finished three tops and have 1 cut out and ready to assemble.  Two of the tops will be quilted on the longarm this next week and will be sent to the families of two of our soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan in November.  I will try to get the third patriotic quilttop sewn this next week to have on hand; I did count the fabric on it as all the blocks are made--and because I sort of forgot what I was doing!!  The third top was all done except I needed to finish appliquing an echinacea with leaves/stem on the front; I finally got that done--I think that was the UFO for either October or November.  Next week I will be able to add the numbers for backings/bindings which should boost me over the 100 yards for stash decrease.

 

I gifted a little over 3 yards--it was the "painted on" fabric from JoAnn's.  I didn't realize it was so "rubbery" until I tried to quilt feathers on my longarm; my thread broke nearly every 12 inches.  Talk about being frustrated!  Anyway, a friend of mine crochets rag rugs, and it will work fine for that--so she got it.

 

No, I didn't get the pillowcases made--maybe I will get that done next week, too!  I'm not sure where the last 2 months have gone, but I didn't get much sewing/quilting accomplished.  I think the pillowcases will be a priority so the Christmas box can be mailed to Hawaii.  

STASH REPORT - Week 47, 2012

Used this Week: 0 yards
Added this Week: 5 yards

Used year to Date: 178 1/2 yards
Added Year to Date: 103 3/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012: 74 3/4 yards

Well,  I'm going to use Excuse #512 (it was Thanksgiving!), just like Judy did!!  However, I added yardage--Judy didn't!  So, here's what happened...

 

I have 2 beautiful little granddaughters in Hawaii, and they both love Dora, the Explorer.  (Dora came as a surprise to me about two and a half years ago--I was still in the Sesame Street era!) I made my older granddaughter a Dora pillowcase a couple of years ago--she takes turns using it with the younger granddaughter.  Now Dora shares the scene with princesses, so...2 yards of different princess fabrics and 1 yard of Dora fabric which will become pillowcases, hopefully this week.  And then, because Grandma loves angels, there are also 2 yards of different angel fabrics!  (When I worked at the library, I told an aspiring writer of children's books that if she wrote about princesses and used pink on the cover, her books would be a success!)

 

We don't have family close, so my husband and I helped with the community Thanksgiving dinner at the civic center, for our second year.  It was wonderful--we gain so much more from it than we contribute.  The roads were clear of snow/ice, which we think contributed to lower numbers.  But those who ate with us spent time visiting--and that's one of the goals of the dinner.  

 

I guess I have my work cut out for me this week--getting pillowcases made and getting my stash used number up to 200 yards.  As I look out the window, the trees are frosted with new snow and big flakes are floating gently to the ground. 

STASH REPORT - Week 46, 2012

Used this Week: 0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 178 1/2 yards
Added Year to Date: 98 3/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  79 3/4 yards

This is getting too easy--I don't even have to go downstairs to check my notes on amount of fabric used!  Another week of "nothing used, nothing added."  My only time in the sewing room this past week was to embroider monograms on some lime green fabric.  My daughter-in-law will incorporate them on "art aprons" she is making for the two granddaughters.

 I hope I'll have better numbers to report next week!

STASH REPORT - Week 45, 2012

Used this Week: 2 1/4 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 178 1/2 yards
Added Year to Date: 98 3/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  79 3/4 yards

I can't believe that the mid-point of November is rapidly approaching!  Where has the time gone?!  It's been awhile since I have posted a stash report or a UFO report--I think the year is slipping away too fast. 

Between my last stash report and this one I flew to Hawaii to visit my son and his "3 girls" (wife + 2).  The younger granddaughter celebrated her 2d birthday-- and I needed some "grandmother" time!  I did the usual touristy things--the USS Arizona memorial is quite sobering, beach walks at sea level are easier than walks on the mountain, the lush foliage on the caldera is beautiful--as well as celebrating a birthday and attending a couple of Halloween parties.  Every vacation should include one big "event" and for me it was the evacuation when we received the tsunami warning (been a long, long time since I've slept on the floor!) and fled to high ground.  But the vignettes I'll treasure during our snowy months on the mountain are the "tea party" with my older granddaughter (soon to be 4) and the nestling into my shoulder of the younger granddaughter!

And then home to get re-acclimated to our higher elevation and to recover from jet lag--and to reenter my usual events.  The only sewing I have done since my last stash report (weeks 40-41) was on Thursday when I made 2 pillowcases to put into the troop boxes our Auxiliary sends monthly.  At first I thought I would dust off my serger and whip them out, but decided it was really time to try the "sausage" method.  It was sooooo easy and quick--pressing the seams before enclosing them in a French seam probably took the most time!  

And this week I will try to get the borders on my October UFO and start working on the November UFO.

 

 

 

 

STASH REPORT - Weeks 40-41, 2012

Used this Week: 5 1/4 yards
Added this Week: 29 1/2 yards

Used year to Date: 176 1/4 yards
Added Year to Date: 98 3/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  77 1/4 yards

Did I go backwards or what?!!  I completely dismissed stash-busting when I saw those pretty yardages on JoAnn's Red Tag shelves with an additional 50% off!  I did get a little over 4 yards of patriotic fabric--but that was the only positive excuse I can make for bringing home those 2 bags.  Well, I can also say that I paid only $2 and $3 a yard for all of the fabric I bought--for their $10-12 a yard fabric!  Now I'll really have to work to get back to 100 yards decrease. 

 

I have the blocks sewn together on my black & white UFO for this month.  I used the yard of B&W I purchased at JoAnn's (see above) and still had to search through my scraps to have enough to finish the quilt top.  I wanted to put piping and prairie points on the edge--but don't have enough fabric left (only have about a quarter of a yard) to make them--so the quilt top is "resting" while I think about what to do next.  Hope everyone was more disciplined than myself this week.

STASH REPORT - Week 39, 2012

Used this Week: 0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 170 5/6 yards
Added Year to Date: 69 1/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  101 1/2 yards

 

No stash use to report this week!  I started on a scrappy string quilt, but will count the yardage when it is completed.  It was on my bucket list and I'm pleased with the way it is turning out--31 blocks to go!

 

I finished processing the apples we brought back from Colorado.  We worked on cutting/splitting/stacking wood this week; it was trees we cut from this lot and had not done anything with--a cord of wood for those cold winter days that are just around the corner.  They were on the north end of the lot so I carried the logs up the hill after my husband cut them to length--good exercise!  Our mountains are aflame with color--and unfortunately, also aflame with forest fires.  I do hope the hunters will be very careful.  The fire that threatened Jackson is out--the east end of town was on evacuation notice.  When we came home after Mass last night, we noticed another fire to the west--one of the ushers who is a firefighter got called out when it had spread to 30 acres.  I haven't heard any updates on it this morning.

 

Hope your week of stashbusting was fun and successful! 

STASH REPORT - Week 37-38, 2012

Used this Week: 1 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 170 5/6 yards
Added Year to Date: 69 1/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  101 1/2 yards

Another week without much accomplished--well, actually 2 weeks!  We were traveling and visiting relatives which explains the lack of sewing.  The yardage used was for machine embroidery squares to be used in a quilt; the designs were Playful Snowmen by Dakota Collectibles (http://www.embroiderydesigns.com/productdetails/dakota-collectibles/designpack/1/970161.aspx).  I had started embroidering these a few months ago and had 2 sets of 6 done as I was making a set for my sister's birthday gift.  I finished hers before we left home and mailed them while we were traveling; mine I finished yesterday. 

And then I cleaned my studio--sort of.  I made a list of quilts that are pieced but not quilted (76!!), and decided I need to work on the longarm and get some of those quilted!!  (It's just that I see so many pretty quilts and want to make them--I have so many quilts in my head and so much stash to use.)  And I found out that the quilt I had on my list to finish this month is already pieced!!  I've decided I want to go through my studio and box up things I haven't/won't use and get them ready to list for sale.  I'm no longer doing garment construction and can get rid of those supplies--and there are longarm rulers I don't use that can be listed for sale, too.  Wish me luck in getting this project done!!

STASH REPORT - Week 36, 2012

Used this Week: 0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 169 5/6 yards
Added Year to Date: 69 1/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  100 1/2 yards

 

I think I'll have to join the "pathetic" group this week--no yardage used, no yardage added--just status quo.  I did get both QOVs quilted on the longarm, bound, and embroidered label added to the back.  We mailed them yesterday--please keep our troops in your prayers.

Then I decided I needed to finish machine embroidering blocks I'm going to send my sister for her birthday.  I had 6 done and had 6 more to finish--they're done, trimmed, and ready to put in the mail when I get a birthday card.  Now I am doing the same blocks for myself.  You can see them here:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/75101692/machine-embroidery-cd-playful-snowmen  We'll both make a quilt with them--the settings will undoubtedly be very different.

I hope everyone else was more productive than I was!

STASH REPORT - Week 35, 2012

Used this Week: 11 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 169 5/6 yards
Added Year to Date: 69 1/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  100 1/2 yards

It's been a busy week with 2 tops and 1 backing completed.  And I finally hit the "100" mark in stash reduction.  After reading that Judy L. had a lot of pieced tops ready to be quilted, and knowing that I fall in the same category, I think I'd better concentrate on quilting tops for the foreseeable future!  Oh, dear, there are just so many quilts in my mind just waiting to be made!!

UFO #7 (Aug.) - DONE

I thought I was doing so well--and then I looked at the posts that are published and realized that I am definitely an underachiever!!  Way to go, everyone--so many have multiple projects posted for August.

I made my August quilt early in the month--Kakudo, a free pattern on the Kona site--and was feeling pretty smug.  I even used the Moda Marble I ordered to go with my focus fabric (it wasn't the color I had a bit of, but it matched the focus fabric).  And then I realized that Kakudo wasn't the August UFO!!  Oh, well, I'm sure it was on my "b" or "c" list.  Now it's moved to the longarm stack.

Neither picture really shows the "true" color--the poinsettias are bronze and gold and the orange-looking fabric is actually a cinnamon color.

Then I needed to make a QOV for a brave young man who stepped on an IED in Afghanistan and who has already undergone 14 surgeries--and has many more to go.  I feel so sorry that he has to go through the pain and suffering, but his attitude is so good.  I used the Carpenter Star pattern--it is pieced, quilted, and mailed.

And then I got word that 2 more QOVs were needed for the families of the platoon God is assembling in heaven.  They are both pieced--and, yes, I did use the Labyrinth pattern so I guess I did finish my August UFO!  They are ready to be loaded on the longarm tomorrow.  (I'm glad I bought patriotic fabric when we went to the city!!)

They are both exactly the same, but the backings will probably be different.  I embroidered the labels for all 3 of the QOVs at the same time--just need to get the quilting done.

I also made 2 10-inch blocks for a quilt to be given to the lady who has been the guiding light for our quilting guild.  Her husband has Alzheimer's, and she and her son will be putting him in a care home.  It has been really difficult for her.

Anyway, I'm making a Cherry Cobbler now and have 2 loaves of zucchini bread cooling.  It's a busy time of the year--how did I get everything done before I retired?!

STASH REPORT - Week 34, 2012

Used this Week: 7 yards
Added this Week: 13 3/4 yards

Used year to Date: 158 5/6 yards
Added Year to Date: 69 1/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  89 1/2 yards

Whoops!  My total stash decrease went backwards--perhaps it doesn't know that it is supposed to go the other way!  Oh, well--there's always next week to try to reach 100 yards.  My excuse is that I bought more patriotic fabrics--10.25 yards--and that I will start another 2 QOVs this week.  I wish we had no more need for QOV quilts, but until that time, I will need red/white/blue fabrics.  May God bless our troops.

 

I also bought a yummy Asian-type print in roses and pinks (my favorite colors).  I will be thinking about what pattern to use with it while I'm piecing the QOVs.  I will post a picture of the QOV I just finished before mailing it. 

 

 

STASH REPORT - Week 33, 2012

Used this Week: 14 1/3 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 151 5/6 yards
Added Year to Date: 55 1/2 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  96 1/3 yards

Yea--reduced that stash this week!!   I have 2 more borders to put on my August UFO, and the backing to make--my numbers should be good next week, too.  In addition, I pieced a QOV top and made the backing this week.  I will put it on the longarm today and will get a label embroidered.  Our troops are my heroes!

STASH REPORT - Week 32, 2012

Used this Week: 0 yards
Added this Week: 3 yards

Used year to Date: 137 1/2 yards
Added Year to Date: 55 1/2 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  82 yard

Well, my numbers finally changed--but not for the better!!  I added 3 yards, 1.5 of cinnamon and 1.5 of burnt orange Moda Marbles.  Neither actually match the one I was trying to match; however, both/either will work with the focus fabric I have for August's UFO.  Now I just have to get started!

STASH REPORT - Week 31, 2012

Used this Week: 0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 137 1/2 yards
Added Year to Date: 52 1/2 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  85 yards
And another week without anything new to report!  I did order some fabric from Hancock's of Paducah to use in UFO #7 (August)--piecing from stash presents some shortages!  I ordered 2 different colors of Moda Marbles because I didn't save the selvage so I wasn't sure which color I needed.  

UFO #12 (June) - DONE; UFO #3 (July) - NOT DONE

Life got in the way--I was at my mother's funeral and did not post the June UFO although it was finished.  So, even though I did not piece the July UFO, I do have a picture to post!

BowTie Medallion

STASH REPORT - Week 30, 2012

Used this Week: 0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 137 1/2 yards
Added Year to Date: 52 1/2 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  85 yards
I must be off--I thought this was week 31--but hey, I've been wrong before many times!  Whichever week it is, I did not get down to my sewing room yet again.  This is a trend that needs to be reversed, especially because I'm not sure what I did do this past week!  I know I picked and pitted cherries 2 days, defrosted/organized the freezer, and did the same with the side-by-side refrigerator/freezer, did laundry--but where did the rest of my hours go?!  I did cut some foundation pieces in preparation for a scrappy strip quilt--maybe I'm avoiding the sewing studio because that is where the iron is set up and I don't want to iron shirts!!  I'll try to reverse the trend this week.

STASH REPORT - Week 29, 2012

Used this Week: 2 2/3 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 137 1/2 yards
Added Year to Date: 52 1/2 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  85 yards
I'm back..but not very productive yet.  The yardage used was used early in week 27, and I haven't been down to the sewing room since early that week.  My mother died, so we went down to KS for the vigil/rosary and funeral/burial.  She had been in a nursing home for 2.5 years, so it wasn't unexpected--and she had a very peaceful death with a priest, my sister, and her daughter present.  I'm so thankful that we had gone down in April to spend some time with her.  I don't think one is ever old enough to lose a parent...I find I am still going through my personal grieving process.


Two Easter fabric table runners accounted for the yardage used.  I want to get buttons so I can attach/detach tassles to the ends--will look for Easter-type buttons when we go to the "big city."  Now I am ready to make a Halloween runner out of a favorite fabric that I've only been taking out occasionally to "pet."  I will post pictures of the table runners and June's UFO the first of July.

STASH REPORT - Week 26, 2012

Used this Week: 22 1/4 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 134 3/4 yards
Added Year to Date: 52 2/3 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  82 yards
Well, finally--I have yardage used to report!  Actually, this is over a 3-week period as I was making a large (did I say large?!) scrap quilt and used the yardage count per the pattern.  I just finished the backing this morning and have shifted the quilt into the LA UFO stack.  I really didn't intend for it to be so large but did not want to interrupt the pattern by making it smaller.  Anyway, it feels wonderful to see my numbers move in a positive direction.  I was able to use a 9+ yard piece of fabric from my stash for the backing, so it will be one continuous pattern on the back.

Skunk report--I think we have been victorious.  We still haven't seen the mama or found her den but Smokey, our Lhasa, no longer has little black & white creatures to share the yard with.  I let him out early in the week--but was paranoid enough to put him on a leash (he normally wears an electronic collar to confine him to our lot).  He was nose-to-the-grass around the yard while I was eyeing the brush on the forest floor--I thought he was just smelling where the first two skunks had been roaming--and it really startled me when I looked toward the south side of the yard and saw 2(!) skunks roaming near the edge of the lot!  Was I ever glad I had been paranoid!!

It is a beautiful summer day on the mountain--we are so fortunate!

STASH REPORT - Week 25, 2012

Used this Week: 0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 112 1/2 yards
Added Year to Date: 52 2/3 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  59 3/4 yards
Another week with nothing new to report--bummer!  I have half of the scrappy Bowtie Medallion quilt blocks put together and laying across the front of the longarm--and the other half ready to put together.  So, next week I will have a good report! 

And there are skunks in the neighborhood!  My husband called me upstairs to watch a baby skunk strolling down the street--and since they usually have litters of 4-6, we're sure there are more.  The family who live a couple of cabins down from us have a great deal of "stuff" in their yard--and the baby skunk went under a pile of pallets.  Oh, no--don't want skunks around!  And don't want one to come into our yard to play with our Lhasa!  I've told Smokey he is not to play with little black and white creatures--but, I'm sure that admonition will not have any lasting impression if one of those little black and white creatures comes our way.  We're on the mountain, so skunks can be a problem--especially with all the wood piles, etc.  Do you suppose it would help if I put a sign up saying "Skunks not welcome!"--probably not.

STASH REPORT - Week 24, 2012

Used this Week: 0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 112 1/2 yards
Added Year to Date: 52 2/3 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  59 3/4 yards
Oh, no--how did the week go by so quickly?!  I did spend time in the sewing studio; however, I'm working with scraps for my June UFO and will not count them until I finish the quilt.  Then I'll probably just use the yardage stated in the pattern.  Sooooooo...  Maybe I'll have something to report in the next couple of weeks.  Hope everyone is making progress.

STASH REPORT - Week 23, 2012

Used this Week: 0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 112 1/2 yards
Added Year to Date: 52 2/3 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  59 3/4 yards
Can I report on yard work instead of stash this week?!  For the second week in a row I have nothing to report--I'd better get this trend reversed during the coming week!  I did spend time planting, repotting, cleaning decks, freezing rhubarb, etc.  We just added a small greenhouse in a small clearing on one side of our home, and are going to see whether we can be successful in raising a few vegetables and herbs on the mountain.

UFO #2 (May) - DONE

Oh, how I love this quilt!  It has been on my bucket list for a long time, but I may have created a monster as I want to do some more Log Cabin quilts.  I looked at many quilt galleries and decided to do a center "star" layout--this was after I had made a few blocks.  I decided to use more dark blues in the 4 center blocks--then decided I didn't like them.  I finally pieced them in the backing; I don't usually make pieced backings but this quilt "grew like the house Jack built," and I was cutting it close on having enough backing fabric.  (I should have taken a picture of the backing fabric because it looks like a watercolor picture in blues.)  Anyway, using those four blocks means I don't have leftover blocks, and that is good! 

The quilt is 90x90--too large to get the top in the picture.  It sort of looks like a giant X in the picture, but I don't really see the X when I look at it on a bed.  I will be quilting with feathers in the blues, and will use the quilting to make the star and corner pieces stand out.  Anyway, the quilt now resides in the Longarm UFO stack, with the backing and binding, just waiting for the longarm quilter (ME!).

In the meantime, I quilted my first T-shirt quilt for a friend--Carol and her daughter did an excellent job in preparation and piecing, so it was easy to quilt.  It was presented to the granddaughter at her graduation from high school yesterday.  Unfortunately, it added another "to do" on my list; I still have my son's T-shirts and think I will surprise him with a quilt--which would be better than keeping them stored in a box!

I love the blue/yellow combination--and think my next log cabin will have to be blue/yellow or blue/yellow/green blocks.  I do have a Christmas Baltimore Album quilt (Longarm UFO stack!) in blues and greens that I really love.

STASH REPORT - Week 22, 2012

Used this Week: 0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 112 1/2 yards
Added Year to Date: 52 2/3 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  59 3/4 yards
Oh, what a sad day on the mountain--nothing new to report!  I don't even know for sure where the week went, but I think it was occupied with gardening, household chores (and, no, my house isn't any cleaner unfortunately), and other mundane things--but no sewing.  

STASH REPORT - Week 21, 2012

Used this Week: 9 3/4 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 112 1/2 yards
Added Year to Date: 52 2/3 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  59 3/4 yards
This "high math" is tough!  I've decided to round to the nearest quarter yard instead of getting into thirds and twelfths.  It just gets too complicated.  Anyway, it was a good week in the sewing studio--one backing and binding made my numbers look good.  I finished my May UFO (pieced top) yesterday and shifted it to the longarm UFO stack--I'm happy with it and will post it at the end of the month--blue/yellow log cabin pattern.  It's been on my bucket list for a looooooong time!  I have a T-shirt quilt to put on the longarm now; it is a grandmother/mother gift for a high school graduate.  After it is quilted, I will piece a Carpenter's Wheel patriotic quilt (hopefully before the end of May) so I can participate in Judy's feathers instruction. 

STASH REPORT - Week 20, 2012

Used this Week: 7 1/4 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 102 3/4 yards
Added Year to Date: 52 2/3 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  50 1/4 yards

Happy Mother's Day to all those mothers out there!  The homily at Mass last night brought tears to many of our eyes--and laughter to our hearts.  Each of the mothers/children there could relate to so many of the things the deacon enumerated--from cleaning up barf to standing on the sidelines of a sporting event (rather than staying in the warmth of the car) to hurting for our children's hurts and being proud and thankful for their triumphs.

It's a good thing I sewed the first part of the week as I was at HMQS (quilt show in Salt Lake City, Utah) the latter half of the week (wonderful time!).  I'm working on my May UFO which is a log cabin in blues and yellows (see Carla Barrett's http://www.flickr.com/photos/featheredfibers/page11/).  This has been on my bucket list for a long, long time!  I have 4 blocks sewn together--and won't use them as I don't like them.  I decided I would make my log cabin in a star design and was going to use dark/medium blues for the 4 center blocks of the center star--but, as I said, I don't like the dark blue.  So I will make 4 more in which I use all medium blues for the center of the center star.  Oh, well, it was an experiment that didn't turn out like I wanted!

I gifted 3.5 yards to my quilting buddy, Sandi.  These were leftover "blades" and leftover fabric from my Christmas Dresden plate quilt (UFO #10 for April).  I don't want to make any more Christmas Dresden plates/fan quilts--so I sent the leftovers to Sandi as she wants to try out her ruler--and likes to shop for Christmas fabrics!  I still have some Christmas fabrics left but it is larger cuts and I will keep it for future projects--just not Dresden plate/fan quilts!

My husband gave me several "friendship boxes" (each containing a fishing lure/item) for Mother's Day--and each made of a different wood.  I love them!!  And want you to see them, too.  He also got me several pair of SmartWool socks--said it wasn't a very romantic gift and I told him it was a wonderful gift.  There's nothing quite like the feel of a new pair of SmartWool socks--or any new pair of socks!!

See the turquoise in the walnut "box?"  Can you identify the other types of wood?  What a lovely gift!

HMQS classes were good--now I need to go downstairs and practice, practice, practice!  That may affect the completion of the May UFO--but what fun!  I love feathers and have lots of new ideas to try.  If any of you are longarm quilters, I highly recommend Claudia Pfeil's classes--and Jamie Wallen's classes/CDs--what wonderful feathers they both make!  Have a great Mother's Day and a wonderful week!

Advent Calendar panels...

Here are the 2 panels I purchased:

Christmas Memories II (Paintbrush Studio 120-319)

704 Angel Advent Calendar (Hensley Studio)

STASH REPORT - Week 19, 2012

Used this Week: 6 1/2 yards
Added this Week: 2 yards

Used year to Date: 95 1/2 yards
Added Year to Date: 52 2/3 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  42 1/2 yards
One quilt back and a start (barely!) on May's UFO--thank goodness for the quilt back!  I stopped at Stitch 'n Time yesterday afternoon as I am searching for a Moda Marble for another project.  Nope, didn't find the marble fabric (I find one of the disadvantages of quilting from stash is that often there's just not quite enough of a particular fabric for the project I want to do!), but I did find 2 Advent calendar panels that I just "had to have!"  I seriously argued with myself (I already have too many projects!), but the thought of sending 2 completed Advent calendars to the granddaughters in Hawaii next Christmas won the battle!  I will post pictures of the panels later today.

In the meantime, we have at least 1 hummingbird visiting our feeders, I have seedlings started, and I will freeze dry some chives today and pick a few stalks of rhubarb.  I can't believe how early our season is this year--definitely a change from past years! 

Hope everyone will visit Judy's site to see those stashes being reduced!

UFO #10 (April) - DONE

I have to admit that the UFO I finished was not #10 on my original list--it is actually #8 on my B list of UFOs!  What can I say?!  I walked into my sewing/quilting room and saw the bowl (my husband does wood turning so I have a lot of wood bowls in my room!) full of Christmas Dresden plate blades in various states of completion--and decided that I needed to get them out of the way and into a completed top.  So that's what I did.  This was truly a UFO!!  I made 3 Dresden plate/fan quilts last year with Chrismas fabric, and had leftover blades, some of which were already sewn together for plates.  I tried to give my extras to my sister, and she said she had too many projects already started.  I decided one more would be fine, and proceeded--and now it's done.  I still had some leftover "blades," but a quilting buddy wants to make a Dresden plate quilt and I will gift them to her--yea!!  Used quite a bit of my Christmas stash, too.  Backing and binding are made.

 

 

 

Christmas Dresden Plate

STASH REPORT - Week 18, 2012

Used this Week: 1/2 yards
Added this Week: 25 yards

Used year to Date: 89 yards
Added Year to Date: 50 2/3 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  38 1/3 yards

Well, what a difference one week makes!  My net decrease bit the dust.  I purchased 25 yards of patriotic fabric for quilts for injured/KIA members of the armed forces--my little patriotic tub was very depleted.  I like to use patriotic colors/themes for those who have sacrificed so much for our country. Now to work on decreasing the stash again!

STASH REPORT - Week 17, 2012

Used this Week: 2 1/3 yards
Used year to Date: 88 1/2 yards 

Added this Week: 0 yards 
Added Year to Date: 25 2/3 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  62 1/2 yards

Well, I had too many blades cut out for my Dresdan plate quilt--so I decided to make it larger (after attempting to give them away to my sister!).  I got all the centers stitched yesterday.  Today I will square the blocks, sew them together, and start on the borders (yep, more blades sewn together end-to-end!)--maybe the quilt top will be done by the end of the month.  The good news is that the Christmas fabric stash keeps decreasing!  Hope everyone had a good week.

STASH REPORT - Week 16, 2012

Used this Week: 2 1/2 yards
Used year to Date: 86 1/4 yards 

Added this Week: 0 yards 
Added Year to Date: 25 2/3 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  60 1/2 yards

Progress--but not much!  I worked on my Christmas Dresden plate quilt the first two days of the week--and then spent the rest of the week traveling.  We went to see my mother who is in a nursing home--I so wish we could bring her back with us and I could care for her--or that I lived closer.  As it is, I can only pray that God will send an angel to hold her hand each day--those now frail hands which pieced so many quilt tops and hand-quilted them. 

My Easter Egg Bowl...

I thought you might like to see my wood-turned Easter eggs and the bowl they reside in.  Each is made from a different wood (there are a few duplicates), come in different sizes (pullet to goose!), and are filled with M&Ms!  The bowl (with eggs) resides in the dining room year-round--and I periodically shake the eggs to see whether the Easter Bunny has made a trial run.  A few times I have even found the Easter Bunny's "nest," located in my husband's shop!

Well, the Easter Bunny did insert 2 plastic eggs this year--I think that was to insure that I could see them and would not get discouraged in the hunt.  We still have snow in the yard so it is a challenge to find some of them (Mr. Bunny always tells me how many I should find!)

STASH REPORT - Week 15, 2012

Used this Week: 1 yard
Used year to Date: 83 3/4 yards 

Added this Week: 0 yards 
Added Year to Date: 25 2/3 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  58 1/4 yards
Taxes got in the way--that's my story and I'm sticking to it!!  I worked on a Christmas fabric Dresden plate and only used a yard of fabric--but I further decreased my Christmas fabric stash.  And that is good.  When I cut the background fabric, it will make a larger dent and bigger numbers--probably next week, not this week.  And now I'm off to search for Easter eggs (wood-turned eggs in lots of different woods--and filled with M&M's!)--I do believe I'm in my second childhood!

STASH REPORT - Week 14, 2012

Used this Week: 11 1/2 yards 
Used year to Date: 82 3/4 yards 

Added this Week: 0 yards 
Added Year to Date: 25 2/3 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  57 1/4 yards
Those quilt backings/bindings make a real difference in numbers!   It is good to see the stash decrease mathematically--maybe I'll be able to visually see a difference soon!

UFO #8 (MAR.) - DONE

March has come and is nearly gone--and UFO #8 is done!  Yea!  I have had the Shadowbox pattern for about 2 years I think and knew I wanted to do it in browns & golds--so I was excited to get it started and finished.  I love the fabrics--some were leftovers from a lined jacket I made in the fall of 1997.  That was another class taught by Dee, a very talented lady who was a Bernina girl but who could help everyone with their brands of machines.  It is probably the only lined jacket I will ever make--but I learned a lot and love that jacket.  Anyway, I had to add a few fabrics to those I used when making the jacket (a fan on the back of the jacket and prairie points, etc.), and I purchased Moda Marbles for the sashing/shadows.  Here is the picture--we just took it and the colors look more muted than they are in natural light (need to find a solution to lighting for these pictures!).

Shadowbox in Browns/Golds

Then, because the Shadowbox quilt was finished quite early in March, I went to my "C" UFO list and started on my funky Santa quilt (Nancy Barrett, With Needle & Thread - "Nicholas' New Friends" - machine applique).  I was so excited--but when I got to the last 8 blocks, I wasn't quite as excited!  I did use most of my red Christmas fabrics, and was able to use the Debbie Mumm fabric I got from Mari for the backing.  The quilt is quite large so the picture won't show all of it.

Nicholas' New Friends

There are 4 embroidered blocks, a couple of pieced blocks, and a block with decorative stitches.  I also used some decorative stitches and decorative trims on some of the Santas.  I am going to make some tiny yo-yos for the Santa caps, add some pom-poms on some, and buttons on others--but will wait until it is off the longarm before doing that. 

My Favorite Block

My Second Favorite Block

My Husband's Favorite Santa

And now on to April--UFO #10; for me that is an Irish Chain in pinks.  I love making Irish Chain quilts, and pink is my favorite color--what's not to like about April's choice?!  I'm not sure what size this quilt will be, or if I will add any embroidery.  Guess I'll think about it for a couple of days!

STASH REPORT - Week 13, 2012

Used this Week: 3/4 yards 
Used year to Date: 71 1/4 yards 

Added this Week: 0 yards 
Added Year to Date: 25 2/3 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  45 1/2 yards

Oh, this math is getting complicated!  I just rounded so I wouldn't have to get in the "12ths" of a yard.  Not much fabric used--I counted a guesstimate for the applique used in my Santa blocks as I was using fabric scraps from my applique stash.  I spent a lot of time sewing--well, not counting Monday when I read instead of sewing!  My Santa quilt is progressing (good thing--need to start preparing our tax returns!); it is assembled in 4 segments and I have 2 put together.  I will count the sashing next week; I had hoped to have all 4 segments put together, so I could count it this week but the book was just too enticing!  I have one more machine embroidery block (there were 6 total amongst the applique blocks) to do today and then I can put the final 2 segments together  :-)  and start thinking about borders.  There is a lot of blanket stitch when you have 34 blocks.  My husband asked how many "pieces" are in each block, so I counted the one I was working on at that time--24 (some have more, some have less)--but that's not counting all the starts and stops for overlaps, etc.  I'm ready for this quilt to be done!!

What a weird winter/spring it has been!  We have had so much melting this year--makes me afraid for summer forest fires.  Our roof had only about 6 inches of snow remaining, and some of it is completely free of snow.  The forest floor is showing, and the catkins are on the native pussywillows.  We've seen more birds returning--and it's still March on the mountain!!  I'm beginning to get spring fever with the nice weather.

On another note, I may have to learn to use the camera so I can add more pictures--but maybe not!  Gives my husband a reason to get out of his shop and visit the sewing/quilting room!!

STASH REPORT - Week 12, 2012

Nothing in, nothing out--well, sort of. 

Used this Week: 0 yards 
Used year to Date: 70 1/2 yards 

Added this Week: 0 yards 
Added Year to Date: 25 2/3 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  44 5/6 yards

I have been working on the Santa quilt all week; only 10 more blocks to applique, and then I can start putting it together.  Since I am using fabric from my "applique" stash, I'm not sure how much I have actually used.  So, I decided I would not count the fabric in the appliques until they are all done--then I'll probably use the amount shown on the pattern minus a percentage since I don't think I actually used as much as they recommend.  Anyway, that is my plan; I should be able to finish the blocks this week and count fabric used next week.  I was really excited about the first 18 blocks, but now am looking forward to finishing the applique and putting the top together.  So many tiny pieces!  My husband remarked that most people who would look at the finished quilt would have no idea of how much time is involved--true! 

A Walk Through Quilting Memories...

Yesterday gave me an opportunity to take a stroll back through quilting memories as a friend brought her daughter and granddaughter over to look at some of my quilt tops.  What beautiful fabric we saw--chronicled in quilts I have pieced.  Some I had forgotten that I had made, some of the details I added made me laugh (egg and chicken recipe names added in the sashing of the funky chicken quilt top--truly those chickens look like they've spent the afternoon nibbling on corn mash!), some of the tops were just beautiful!  Thank you, Carol, for bringing your family to take that stroll with me!  Alas, it was also a reminder of how many tops are waiting for the longarm--wish there weren't so many patterns saying "make me, make me!"

STASH REPORT - Week 11, 2012

Another week has passed--oh, how fast it goes!
Used this Week: 13 2/3 yards 
Used year to Date: 70 1/2 yards 

Added this Week: 16 2/3 yards 
Added Year to Date: 25 2/3 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  44 5/6 yards

Well, my numbers still look OK, but my net decrease went down--and here's the culprit (thanks for recycling what you weren't going to use, Mari):

Medium Flat Rate Priority box filled with Christmas fabrics:
2 pieces, 4.25 yards and 2.5 yards Debbie Mumm Santas,
3 yards T'was the Night Before Christmas cotton
Here Comes Santa, flannel, 2 panels
Cold Winter Noses by Sandy Gervais for Moda, flannel panel
Debbie Mum Santa panel
almost 2 yards Woodland Christmas from Mumms the Word
1 yard Snowmen by Brother Sister Design Studios
Asking $20, includes flat rate box shipping within US.

I couldn't resist!  I'm a sucker for all things Christmas, and especially fabric.  And what a bargain price-wise!  I have 3 wreaths that stay up year-round (my husband does woodturning, and I added a beautiful wreath this year that incorporates wood birdhouse ornaments), a Woodland designer Santa, some nutcrackers, some Christmas items I have painted--well, anyway, I'm a sucker for all things Christmas!  So my "Christmas" fabric tub is stuffed to the top--and I love it!!  I had actually been working on decreasing that tub last year--I think I made 4-5 quilt tops using Christmas fabrics--but couldn't resist this offer.  The Debbie Mumm Santas will be enough for a quilt back and the 3 yards of T'was the Night Before Christmas is what I call a "border" fabric with the width being made up of separate "borders" all put together (clear as mud?).  I will use it to put together printed borders for a couple of quilts.  I'll probably use the flannel panels to donate or gift--just quilt them to a flannel back (do I see more purchases of flannel backing?!) and perhaps add 1-2 borders to make them a nice lap size.  Oh, what fun!!

On the "used" side, I finished my March UFO--it's large and I used 7 2/3 yards for the backing.  I will wait to post a picture of it.  Now I'm working on a Nancy Barrett Santa quilt--have had the pattern for a couple of years and am enjoying putting the applique blocks together--have 4 done.  And that's my week in a nutshell!

Wood-turned birdhouses tucked into the pine branches.

Isn't he pretty...

He was part of the herd we watched yesterday!

STASH REPORT - Weeks 9-10, 2012

And here's how my week (whoops, 2 weeks!) went:
Used this Week: 6 2/3 yards 
Used year to Date: 56 5/6 yards 
Added this Week: 5 yards 
Added Year to Date: 9 yards 
Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  47 5/6 yards

Not an outstanding week, but I made progress.  I bought 5.5 yards to use in my March UFO (I'm nearly ready for borders) and .5 yard of a black fabric for a quilt on my bucket list for "someday."  I need a lot more blacks before I can get started on it.  So, the yardage used this week was for the Shadowbox March UFO.  I opted to make the larger of the two sizes--wow, 84 x 104 is really, really large!  I've got the vertical rows draped over my longarm and they trail across the floor; I will finish the sashing and inner borders today.  Some of the fabric used was leftover from a fall, 1996 project--I love that fabric!  I wonder how I ever managed to cut into it--I wonder why I didn't just leave it in the cupboard and take it out frequently to pet!!  Now it will be in a quilt that I can "pet" as I pass by!

I finished the large envelope for the back of my paperdoll quilt (Feb. UFO); I will button it to the back of the quilt after it comes off the longarm.  I backed the 2 dolls with felt and the clothing with fabric from the quilt top--voila, the dolls and clothing went into the envelope where they will wait for little hands to pull them out! 

We had snow yesterday, so the branches of our towering pines are adorned with mini-puffs of snow--it is really beautiful.  My (I've claimed ownership!) goats were grazing only about 6 feet above the highway yesterday evening--they are so beautiful! 

A new month...

Ah, a new month with new goals and no finishes--yet.  After Judy drew #8 for the March UFO, I had to make a trip to the fabric store yesterday to find coordinating fabric--there goes my stash-busting report for the second month in a row!  I had all the golds (and have had some for a lot of years!) I will be using but no brown to go with the golds.  So, I bought two browns and will preview each today to see if I like them.  I may substitute black for one of the browns when I see how it looks.  I bought the pattern sometime in the last two years and this will be the first time I use it.  One of the definite advantages of doing the UFO Challenge is finally using some of those patterns that I couldn't live without!!  And one of the disadvantages is my growing bucket list--I look at all the beautiful quilts and think "I want to make that one!"--and the bucket list grows and grows.  I love Judy's leaf quilt--I think I just have to make one soon.  (Maybe I'll add it to my C-list!)  I think I'll start on my ShadowBox quilt today--and maybe dig through my Christmas fabrics to make one block of Nancy Barrett's "Nicholas' New Friends"--I don't think I can wait!!  And here's the story of how Nancy's funky characters call my name...

When we moved to our mountain after retiring, my quilting friend and I decided we would make a quilt each year, our long-distance attempt to continue inspiring each other.  Sandi would choose the pattern one year and then I would choose the next year; Sandi usually chose applique and I usually chose traditional pieced quilts.  Our quilts looked so different because our visions were different--fabrics, colors, how we put them together, etc.  One of the first quilts we did was the Northwoods quilt--I was not too enthused about the applique and Sandi wasn't too enthused about the pieced sashings--and we both loved it when it was finished!  Then on one of her year's we made a MOY quilt--we both have Viking Designer sewing machines and used a lot of decorative stitching on the blocks--and again they looked totally different--I complained every inch of the way--and turned out loving it.  (I just took it off the guest bed yesterday!)  Anyway, I chose Nancy Barrett's Elepinks--they are such funky elephants and pink is my favorite color--and Sandi hated it from the first stitch!  But when it was finished and she took it for show & tell to her quilting group, they absolutely loved it and there were lots of oohs and aahs.  And that always makes us take a more positive look!!  I absolutely love my Elepinks, which I put together in blocks (not according to pattern directions)--and, again, they look so different!  We did Noah & Company and I did Tea for Twenty (Sandi declined on that one!)  And I have the patterns for In Santa's Workshop and Nicholas' New Friends--did I say I love Nancy's funky characterizations?!  (http://withneedleandthread.com)  And I don't even want to do another applique quilt--but it is calling my name!  And I have the patterns just waiting to be used!! 

Anyway, I think I'd better spend time in my sewing/quilting room today!  It is snowing lightly again today, but we didn't get the 6-8 inches expected.  We really need more snow!

UFO #1 (Feb.) - DONE

First February quilt

 This was my first quilt with the paperdoll fabric.  I used 2.5-inch squares from my scraps container for the sashing and appliqued all edges with a machine blanket stitch.  Then, just because, I used decorative stitches on each piece.  I have one "block" that is slightly smaller that I plan to make into a pillow, but will wait until I quilt this as I have 2 backing fabrics pulled from my stash and am not sure which one I want to use.

Too many leftover paperdolls/clothes--second February quilt

Second "envelope" almost done--will be buttoned to back of quilt

Well, I had too much fabric left, so I decided to make another quilt.  This one is larger, about 70x90.  The pinks don't show up well in the picture--they're much prettier than they look.  I don't usually work from the center out, but I did on this quilt because I was working from a picture I had downloaded from the internet.  It went together easily--and I used more clothes!  I decided to make a coordinating "envelope" pillow to attach to the back of the quilt so I could slip a couple of dolls with their clothes inside for the granddaughters.  Unfortunately, the dolls were larger than the envelope--so it became a separate pillow instead!  It is ready for the pillow form to be slipped inside.  Another quilt in the longarm UFO stack!

And then I decided I would make a larger envelope which I will button on the back of the second quilt--large enough for 2 dolls with clothing!  It's almost done.  You can see the color of the pinks better here--the printed pink is the backing for the quilt.  I have only 2 dolls that had multiple pieces of clothing that "fit" without showing part of the doll underneath on the sides or bottoms.  I still have to fuse the dolls to felt and then decide how to get the clothing to stay on the doll--waiting for a trip to a fabric store in the nearest big town.

So, on to the next UFO Challenge!  I'm glad to have finally used the paperdoll fabric. 

STASH REPORT - Week 8, 2012

Used this Week: 30 2/3 yards 
Used year to Date: 50 1/6 yards 
Added this Week: 0 yards 
Added Year to Date: 4 yards 
Net Stash Decrease for 2012:  46 1/6 yards

Oh, how good it feels!  This was a productive week.  Our ladies' church group had a Valentine's Day luncheon on Tuesday and suggested everyone bring something that could be used by the local Turning Point program.  So, on Monday I dug through my assortment of flannel (does flannel count?!) and made 5 large-sized receiving blankets.  A definite plus on that project was learning to use the hemmer foot for my sewing machine--some of those specialty feet have never been used by Yours Truly!  What a neat hem--and I got lots of practice in using it.  As an aside, when I lived in a larger Wyoming town (where none of our towns are very large!), I took some "feet" classes with Dee.  What a wonderful way to get to use those specialty feet.  And Dee was so knowledgable--she was a Bernina Girl but could help with all the different brands of machines that were used in the class.  Anyway, love the hemmer foot!

The luncheon was wonderful--quiche, salads, and sundaes--and it was good to migrate north from my little hamlet and mingle with friends.  Sharon did the luncheon--what a talented lady!  Have you ever met someone who could make a silk purse out of a sow's ear?  Well, she definitely can and does!  She used a footed glass candle holder, lined with red (of course, Valentine's Day!) napkins, as the container for baguette rounds--what a lovely addition to the table!  I will remember that for my next gathering--and will use the brandy snifter with whatever napkins go with the occasion!  And Turning Point received many items for the babies.  Anyway, that was so much "fun" that I decided I would use the remaining flannel and some plisse fabric to make more receiving blankets--which I understand are now called swaddling blankets--showing my age here!  I have 13 more ready to donate.  Really helped reduce that stash.  As did the 6 yards gifted to my sister (double knit fabric that she uses for quilts for the grands).

I was really on a roll so I mended DH's Carhartts and shortened the sleeves on a denim jacket for myself.  And sorted out my yarn stash while looking for some crochet booklets I couldn't find--and then organized my cross-stitch stash, as well.  (Both of those stashes have their own 2012 UFO lists!)  Which made me think I really should go through my sewing/quilting items and sort out those that I won't use again--hmmmm.  Wonder what I can accomplish this week?!