STASH REPORT - Week 52, 2014 (12/27/14)

Used this Period: 0 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 185.77 yards 
Added Year to Date: 87.8 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 97.97 yards

 

The end of the year is nigh and an accounting is due!  In looking at my numbers, I wish I had not succumbed to the siren song fabric sings to me--"Buy me!"  And I wish I had used a bit more stash and finished a few more projects.  Which all brings me to thinking about what I accomplished in 2014 and what I want to cross off my UFO-NewFO-Stash Reduction list in 2015.  

 

I numbered UFO/NewFOs in 2014 and drew a number each month--as we used to do on Judy's blog.  Because my bucket list is so long and continues to grow, I made A-B-C lists and even started on a D list.  I wasn't very successful on the A list which is the one I drew from each month, finishing only 3.  I finished 2 from the B list, 9 from the C list, and 5 from the D list--a total of 19 quilt tops pieced.  That shows me that when I see a quilt that I "just have to make," I abandoned my original list and added those quilts to my C and D lists--hmmmm, something to work on.  Perhaps I will set a goal of finishing something on my A list for every "new" quilt I do from the C & D lists (the B list is more like the A list).  Or maybe that involves too many rules.  My crochet/decorative painting/embroidery/machine embroidery/longarm quilting project lists didn't fare very well in 2014. 

 

To end the year on a very positive note...I can see a real reduction in my stash!  Some of the shelves are becoming less crowded--yea!  I wish you all a wonderful and productive 2015!

 

 

STASH REPORT - Week 45, 2014 (11/8/14)

Used this Period: 5 yards
Added this Period: 2.67 yards

Used year to Date: 185.77 yards 
Added Year to Date: 87.8 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 97.97 yards

 

1 yard:  Sleep Sack for new grandson.

 

4 yards:  2 table runners which will be donated to the JCCW Bazaar.

 

I finally worked on my roly-poly penguins again and finished 6 blocks.  It is nice to be caught up.  I've started thinking about the sashing--not sure whether I will make the sashing as shown on the pattern.  Three more blocks--so this will be a finish for next year. 

 

Purchased 2.67 yards on sale at JoAnn's for a future unknown project. 

 

 

STASH REPORT - Week 44, 2014 (11/1/14)

Used this Period: 13.67 yards
Added this Period: 4 yards

Used year to Date: 180.77 yards 
Added Year to Date: 85.13 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 95.64 yards

 

I used 6 yards for double flannel receiving blankets to be donated to Turning Point, a pregnancy resource center.  Four of these yards (coordinating solids/prints) were donated by a lady with the stipulation that they not be sold at a craft fair.  I had 2 pink prints, so I made a third receiving blanket.  I added lace to the edges of the pink and yellow blankets; I have had that lace for a long time--probably 20 years--and purchased it at a garage sale for very little.  These are nice warm blankets.

Then I used 7.67 yards for the Pink Block baby quilt (made 2).  The pink prints differ a little, but the pattern is the same.  I plan to quilt these heavily, trying new things, and will donate one (maybe both) to Turning Point also.  These were quick and the "quilting will make the quilt."

I started making a sleep bunting for the new grandchild, using a Winnie the Pooh fleece.  This isn't done, so it is not counted.  It will use one of the zippers in my stash of sewing stuff--feels good to use some of this stuff!

DH is gone this weekend to help a friend disassemble a hunting camp in the mountains.  After seeing all the snack food they took, I think they went to eat, not work!  While they are gone, I have stacked wood, done laundry, and caught up on the roly-poly penguins (FatCat patterns)--that was 6 blocks!  I think they are so cute and can't wait to do the last 3 and put it together. 

STASH REPORT - Week 40, 2014 (10/4/14)

Used this Period: 16.6 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 167.1 yards 
Added Year to Date: 81.13 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 85.97 yards

 

Where did the weeks go?!  It seems like yesterday that I last posted.  The progress report is as follows:

Completed piecing a baby quilt for Harlan Michael and made the backing.  I haven't made the binding yet, nor have I completed the quilting.  But that must be done soon as I am going out to see this new grandchild.  I used 3.7 yards on this quilt.

Completed the piecing for the annual Sandi-Pat quilt and made the backing and binding.  Halloween was the quilt topic chosen for this year, and we went in very different directions on this one.  After Sandi made all the "creatures" to "march" around a pieced center motif and got this done before September, I quit dragging my feet and ordered a panel from Marshall's for my center motif ($2.99).  The rest of the quilt is all from stash--it felt really good to use small quantities of fabric & leftovers!  The quilt measures 65 x 82.    There are various golds as background for the appliqued jack-o-lanterns since I was quilting stash.  The applique pattern was from Embroidery Library and was one I hadn't used yet (but bought a few years ago).  I chose it because I wanted the quilt to be happy (not scarey)--and because it was only about 6100 stitches!  I have the trapunto batting behind the jack-o-lanterns on the center panel--and behind the 3 small bats and the larger parts of the trees.  I do have the larger bats as stand-alones that I will attach after it is quilted.  This was fun, and I really like the way it turned out.  The colors are much brighter--the picture doesn't show true colors--taken with all artificial poor lighting.  I pieced a short string of the 4.5 inch squares and inserted it in the backing--a first for me, but I was afraid I would run short on the backing fabric which has bright orange & gold leaves.  This will be a fun one to quilt and will be "quilted to death" except for the trapunto areas.  The center panel ends at the first narrow black border.

Then I made 4 pillowcases, the "sausage" type--one pair and 2 singles, all standard size.  I purchased the pink vertical rose fabric quite a few years ago at Hobby Lobby for $1.49/yd and decided it was perfect for pillowcases.  Don't know why it took so long to sew them!!

I also embroidered a sheep dog motif on a towel for a friend who has a sheep dog.

 

 

 

STASH REPORT - Week 33-36, 2014 (9/6/14)

Used this Period: 22.5 yards
Added this Period: 30.49 yards

Used year to Date: 150.5 yards
Added Year to Date: 81.13 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 69.37 yards

 

 

So, the stash increased again!  I purchased flannel for borders/binding/backing for the Christmas panels, white cotton for the background on the scrappy pinwheel, 2 different fabrics to use for sashing/borders on the machine embroidered snowmen quilt (it was marked down to $2.69/yd.), Halloween fabric (green and purple for the Halloween quilt and a panel to use as an off-center trapunto motif), backing fabric for 1 quilt, some baby fabric to make a quilt for the new baby who should make his appearance this week (not even started on this!), and some RazzleDazzle off-white (Marshall's Fabrics) just because.  On Marshall's Fabrics:  I was happy with 1 of the panels I received and 2 of the yardages--not happy with 2 panels and 1 yardage.  The pieces I am unhappy with aren't the same quality as fabric I purchased from the hardware store (yes, our hardware store carries fabric!) at $2.69/yd. on closeout.  I think I need to have fewer "just because" moments and more sewing hours!  And I sent an afghan instead of a baby quilt for the new baby who should make his entrance into the world imminently.

Sandi, my long-distance quilting buddy, and I decided that this year's quilt would be a Halloween quilt--for next year.  She wasn't going to start working on hers until after the first of the year; I wasn't going to start working on mine until I have some more quilts finished on the long-arm, probably starting in November.  Well, she nearly has hers done--and I haven't even decided how I was going to make mine.  I've been frantically working on the scrappy pinwheel quilt, trying to finish it before I got back to the Christmas quilt on the longarm.  I told Sandi she is putting a lot of pressure on me!  She was going to make the scrappy pinwheel quilt, too, but she really doesn't like piecing--and after assembling a couple of star blocks incorrectly on her Halloween quilt, she decided against it.  Anyway, I think I know how I want to make mine--and that is an accomplishment in itself!  I think mine will have machine embroidery, trapunto (using a jack-o-lantern panel), piecing, and maybe even some fabric manipulation!

I finished putting borders on the last 4 flannel Christmas panels; they are now in the LA-UFO stack.  I keep reminding myself NOT to buy Christmas panels when they go on sale this year--I still have some non-flannel panels that need to be finished.  Oh, my, I can't seem to resist anything Christmas!

 

I finished a scrappy pinwheel quilt--didn't make the backing or binding yet.  I made my pinwheels much too large, so the quilt is large enough for a king-sized bed (we don't have any!) with plenty of quilt for a pillow tuck!  It was supposed to have an inside border, then a half-square triangle border, and then a scalloped border--instead it got an appliqued basket in the center squares since they were so large.  Can't say much for my planning on this quilt.  I'm not pleased with it--I'm going to tuck it in the bottom of my LA-UFO stack and may never get it quilted!  The sad thing is that all my points and seams are quite precise, and the quilt is very square--and there are a lot of points and seams!!

   

STASH REPORT - Week 32, 2014 (8/9/14)

Used this Period: 2 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 120.01 yards
Added Year to Date: 50.64 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 69.37 yards

 

Two yards of stash were used to make nursing covers for my daughter-in-law; I used leftovers to embellish burp cloths made from cloth diapers.  I used cloth diapers for my son (36 years ago), so I always had diaper burp cloths, dusting cloths, etc.  Even then most mothers were using disposable diapers.  

These are "galloping horse" pictures from the longarm workshop with Linda Taylor.  The first one shows a quilting tool apron she gave us; she also gave us a small tote bag she embellished with her Statler.  The next picture was things we did that first day for Technical Skills--pantos (I had not done a panto for a long time!) and templates.  The second day we were doing Feathers & Fleathers (feathered flowers)--I gained confidence for quilting feathers and embellishing them.  The third day we stitched various things on a sampler that resembled a fan quilt--you can really see my "feathered" bird on one of the fans although it is more obscure in real life.  The procedure was that Linda would show us stitched samples in quilts and/or small samplers, then demo the stitching, and then we would work on the machines.  We also received workbooks/books and DVDs to reinforce the techniques/motifs for later.  The Gammill Vision II machines were soooooooo easy to operate, and Rick checked tension/needles/etc. each evening so they stitched beautifully each day.  I wish I had a genie to do that in my studio!  This will probably be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me--one that I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to enjoy.

STASH REPORT - Week 31, 2014 (8/2/14)

Used this Period: 0 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 118.01 yards
Added Year to Date: 50.64 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 67.37 yards

 

Oh, what a week this has been!  But to get the bad news out of the way first--no stash reduction.  Then all the good & fun news...

 

We got all the furniture back in place after the carpet cleaning.  I now have 5 apple crisps in the freezer (my son & family brought me apples from WA), and I have the last picking of the rhubarb washed and in the refrigerator--ready to be cut up for freezing and baking.  The laundry is done, and the cherries are picked.  The raspberries are a day-by-day thing.

 

I spent my week at a Linda Taylor longarm retreat/workshop--an excellent experience.  Gammill provided Vision II machines and we had 2 heads per table.  There were 12 of us in class from various states--New York, West Virginia, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Idaho, etc.--with varying levels of experience, different machines at home, but all eager to learn.  Rick provided a tension workshop on Monday evening, and most of the spouses attended.  Then we had 3 packed days of hands-on learning.  It was interesting to see the improvement we all exhibited; I think I'm ready to tackle those tubs of pieced tops now!!  I shared my table with a gentleman the first day, and then with a lovely lady named Aileen the next two days.  She is a lovely, gentle lady, and it was such a joy to work beside her!  It was exhausting, but I'm so glad I had the opportunity to attend.  I've never done a hands-on class at HMQS (Salt Lake quilting show), but I could do that now.  I don't do art quilts and I'm pretty structured in my quilting (I'm a Virgo!)--but I think I will spread my wings and "fly" every now and then!

 

There is a nip in the air already, and the hummingbirds are acting like their feeding frenzy is just around the corner.  I have lots of daisies still blooming along the back property line, some hollyhocks and Tiger lilies leading their beauty to the yard--what a lovely time of the year. 

STASH REPORT - Week 28-30, 2014 (7/26/14)

Used this Period: 1 yards
Added this Period: 4.45 yards

Used year to Date: 118.01 yards
Added Year to Date: 50.64 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 67.37 yards  

 

It has been a busy 3 weeks on No-Name Mountain!  We went on a dinner float on the river, a BBQ on the mountain, our son and family visited, and various other things.  We had our downstairs carpet cleaned after our son's dog had a bad night while they were in Yellowstone--so all the furniture had to be moved out and there was no access to my quilting studio.  I did get a large piece of flannel made into a pillowcase before all this happened--so the flannel tub is empty!  I bought some flannel for backings & borders on lap-quilt size panels.  (But it didn't go into the empty tub.)  This coming week I will be in a longarm class, so there won't be any stash reduction at this house.  Oh, and my carpet looks great!

STASH REPORT - Week 27, 2014 (7/5/14)

Used this Period: 2.8 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 117.01 yards
Added Year to Date: 46.19 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 70.82 yards  

 

Another small step forward.  My usage this week was:  1) .75 yard for machine embroidered shoes, 2) 2.05 yards for a Christmas panel made into a lap quilt.  I finally finished embroidering all the Sally King shoe designs I have purchased; now I have embroidered blocks for 3 quilts.  One is embroidered on a pink background (12 blocks), one on an aqua background (18 blocks), and one on a green background (13 blocks--one for the backing).  The embroidered blocks are 8.5 inches.  I will have to decide on a setting for each--in the past I've used a log cabin setting, a sawtooth star setting, etc. to incorporate embroidered blocks.  I'm very pleased with them--these shoes have such detail!--and even more pleased to take the embroidery arm off my machine for awhile!  

 

While I was doing the last shoe design, I looked in my basket of quilt panels--why did I listen to that siren song calling "buy me" when I saw them on sale after Christmas' past?  I pulled four flannel panels that I decided needed to be finished soon.  Then I got out that container of leftover flannel pieces and pieced together 4 borders around one panel--and added another lap quilt to the LongarmUFO stack!  I will need to purchase flannel for backings and borders for these 4 when we go to the big city.  Remind me at Christmas--DON'T buy any more Christmas panels until all panels in the basket have become quilts!!  It doesn't matter how cute they are!  I used Bonnie Hunter's system of cutting the remaining flannel scraps into various sized blocks for future use.  I have one piece that is large enough to become a pillowcase; I hope to get it finished this week.

 

 

STASH REPORT - Week 25-26, 2014 (6/28/14)

Used this Period: 2 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 114.21 yards
Added Year to Date: 46.19 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 68.02 yards 

 

Finally my stash decreased--not much, but every bit counts!  I have been machine embroidering the Sally King shoes and that accounts for the yardage used.  I have 12 blocks (8-inch trimmed) done for one quilt and 18 blocks (8.5-inch trimmed) for another quilt.  I have 1 block done for a third quilt but won't count that until I finish the other 11 blocks.  DH adjusted my longarm so it is ready for another top, but I want to finish this third set of blocks first so I can take the embroidery unit off my sewing machine.  

 

We've had a lot of wet, cool weather in the past week or two--the forest floor is loving it, as are my flowers.  The lake is up to 72% capacity, and we can see the Wyoming end from the deck.  I wish they wouldn't take so much water out each summer; supposedly, they are trying to get rid of the rainbow trout and restore it to browns and cutthroat, which are native to it.  Last summer they took it down below 6% capacity; you could drive along the old highway and see the old foundations, which are normally covered.  I don't believe they should fluctuate the level so drastically.  But, I guess no one has asked me what I think!

STASH REPORT - Week 24, 2014 (6/14/14)

Used this Period: 0 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 112.21 yards
Added Year to Date: 46.19 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 66.02 yards

 

Nothing in, nothing out--nothing changed!  What did I do to make the week pass so quickly (besides being a week older?!)--visited a friend who had surgery, had dinner for a friend whose husband was out of town, packed troop boxes with the Auxiliary and helped weed the Memorial Garden, went to the big city (140 miles round trip), had guests for a couple of days, etc.  The only thing I accomplished in the sewing room was to get one more "shoe" machine embroidered--and what a beauty it is!  It's a Halloween shoe with a pumpkin on the heel portion and intricate little basket/watering can/pail off the toe of the shoe.  I agree with whomever said blogs are better with pictures; maybe I can get a picture up next week.  In the meantime, here's to stash-busting.

STASH REPORT - Week 23, 2014 (6/7/14)

Used this Period: 0 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 112.21 yards
Added Year to Date: 46.19 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 66.02 yards

 

A finish--in the Longarm UFO stack!  I used a CircleLord Baptist fan board since this scrappy bowtie quilt seems traditional and old-fashioned.  I bought the boards from a lady who was selling her longarm supplies a few years ago, but I had never used the Baptist fan boards.  One of my goals is to keep doing new things on the longarm--so this met that goal.  I was happy with the way it turned out; now it's time to hand-sew the binding down on the back of the quilt--not looking forward to that because the quilt is 92x95.  I have another backing loaded and hope to start on the next quilt tomorrow.   UPDATE:  I started quilting on a lap-size stack 'n whack kaleidescope; I have one more row to stabilize before starting on the custom part.

 

I machine embroidered another of the Sally King (BFC website) shoes--that's 7 done and 9 to go for my 16 block quilt.  They are sooooooo detailed and creative!  UPDATE:  I now have 9 shoes embroidered--my favorite is the one I did yesterday as it is so feminine and beautiful.  The colors blend so well--pinks and peaches, my favorite colors!

 

In my "spare" time I picked the rhubarb and made a pie.  It is so beautiful outside--sunshine, green grass, blooming flowers.  And those little black and white critters are out and about.  One of our friends called one night and wanted DH to come and get rid of the skunk that was under her deck (her husband is out of town).  They have some lumber and other materials under the deck, so it was difficult to dislodge Mr. Skunk--and he went down the hill pretty fast when he lost the battle to stay hidden from view.  I'm sure he will be back and we will get another call. 

 

NOTE:  I'm doing "updates" since I start the blog early in the week and finish it before posting.  I didn't get the binding done on the scrappy bowtie quilt--it's still waiting on the stair railing!

STASH REPORT - Week 22, 2014 (5/31/14)

Used this Period: 0 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 112.21 yards
Added Year to Date: 46.19 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 66.02 yards

 

Nothing in, nothing out--but lots of time in the studio!  I quilted a lap-sized Christmas throw from a panel, using a clam shell board.  The flannel is luscious--feels so soft and comforting.  I used leftovers from another quilt for the borders and the binding--the inside border had to be pieced.  Since I was already 19 quilts behind on my goal of quilting 5 quilts a month, I loaded another top on the longarm--and didn't have a king-sized batting that was needed so that got put on hold.  Darn--no excuse not to finish cleaning the house!  I just have a few things left to do downstairs.  I got a king bat on Thursday (no quilting supplies in our little hamlet), but have not started the quilting yet.  Since it's a new month, I'm now 24 quilts behind on my Longarm UFO goals!

But, in the meantime, I started on a machine embroidery project for another quilt.  Have you seen Sally King's shoes for machine embroidery?  They are very detailed and so creative (http://www.bfc-creations.com/Designs/000menus/SallyKing.shtml).  They remind me of the shoes in the movie "P.S. I love you."  Where were those kinds of shoes when I was young (and foolish?!) and wearing 3-inch heels?!  Anyway, I have 5 blocks embroidered and am in love again.  If you have time, go look at these shoes on the BFC site.  I try to get one done each day.

This is such a pretty time of year here.  My daffodils and tulips are blooming, and the columbine aren't far behind.  I need to get rhubarb picked and put up--and my garlic chives are already popping blooms on top--everything is early this year.  I did get one flower bed de-grassed (is that a word?!) and need to spend some time in the yard--and in the studio!!

STASH REPORT - Week 21, 2014 (5/24/14)

Used this Period: 5.4 yards
Added this Period: 15.72 yards

Used year to Date: 112.21 yards
Added Year to Date: 46.19 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 66.02 yards

 

Whoops--I went backwards!  Six (6) yards is patriotic fabric, so that doesn't make me feel badly.  And it was $2.44/yd. on a Memorial Day sale at JoAnn's--even better!  But I counted it, along with the other fabric that jumped in my cart, saying loudly "Take me; I'm only $2.00/yd. and $2.50/yd!"  Where was my will power?  It went out the door at that siren song!

Anyway, on the plus side, I put borders on a Christmas panel (now lap size) that I bought several years ago, and pieced a backing and binding for it.  The backing is loaded on the longarm, so I will begin quilting it this coming week.  My DH was out-of-town, which was a perfect time to start cleaning the house, spraying the perimeter as a bug deterrent, etc.  Only problem was that he came back before I was expecting him, and I did not get the entire house cleaned (on the list to finish next week).  A dead mouse and a live spider in the garage--where was he when I needed him?!  He is usually the person who stays to take care of the homestead, so this was different.  Our son said I was having an adventure in my own house!!

STASH REPORT - Week 19-20, 2014 (5/11-17/14)

Used this Period: 0 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 106.81 yards
Added Year to Date: 30.47 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 76.34 yards

 

No quilting to report, no stash usage.  Week 19 included a trip to Salt Lake City for HMQS.  It was fun, exhausting, inspiring--what more can I say?  I enjoyed the classes, the vendors' wares, the quilt exhibits.  It was rainy and overcast, but that didn't affect we quilters!

Week 20 was spent working on decluttering and organizing the storage room.  Lots of stuff was eliminated, and separate piles for recycling, the thrift store, etc. popped up in the family room.  One corner contains boxes belonging to our child; do any of you still have keepsakes and other memory things stored for a grown child?!  Someday it can provide a trip down memory lane; I can't get rid of it!  I will finish that room tomorrow and start on another room.  DH did some upgrades on the longarm that I've been putting off for awhile.  I hope to get a couple of quilts quilted this week, but probably won't get any piecing (i.e., stash-busting) done.  Not enough hours in the day and it's time to work in the yard. 

STASH REPORT - Week 18, 2014 (5/4/14)

Used this Period: 3 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 106.81 yards
Added Year to Date: 30.47 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 76.34 yards

 

Another finish--a Hungry Animals baby quilt.  I have a basket in my quilting studio that contains panels that "I couldn't live without," some Advent calendars to make for my lovely GDs, etc.  I had my DH make some adjustments on my longarm and wanted to see if that fixed the problem I encountered when machine quilting my last quilt--it did, and that is one more quilt out of the Longarm UFO stack!  That's good news--but the bad news is that I'm 20 quilts behind schedule in my Longarm UFO stack (at 5 per month)!  I've quilted 5 this year--only 4 months behind schedule.  Even worse news:  I still have 98 quilt tops ready to be quilted.  Yikes--I'd better get busy.  I think the stash busting will have to take a back seat for awhile!

 

I didn't piece the quilt for April--it is a machine embroidered quilt and I wanted to embroider the blocks in a larger size than I usually do--and only have small and very large hoops.  So, I ordered an in-between size hoop, and it has taken almost 2 weeks to get it to the store in the nearby "big city."  And now I've drawn the quilt to be pieced for May.  I may be able to finish one of these two quilts by the end of May, but I'm sure I won't finish two!  Add to that the trip to Salt Lake City for HMQS this week, and I don't think there will be very many completed projects or stash reduction!  But it will be a whole lot of fun and inspiration!!  

 

 

Peaceful Sunday...

I ate pie for breakfast (the last piece!)--yum!  It's not snowing here, but we have a misty rain falling every once in a while.  People can't understand why we still have 20-24 inches of snow on the roof :-).  I'm not sure I can either since it seems like it has been melting for 2-3 months off and on!  Smokey (our CA Lhasa) was a pest this morning--came in to get me up and finally succeeded--sat on my stomach, stretched out and laid on my chest, licked my face, licked my hands, growled at me--just wouldn't let up.  When I finally got up, he curled up on the loveseat beside me and promptly went to sleep!

I'm moving slowly today--cleaned in my sewing studio yesterday for too long.  Guess that says something in itself!  I couldn't find the ruler base for my longarm and figured the little girls (grands) found "a better place to store it"--finally went downstairs again just before we left for Mass and found it in with all my rulers--apparently I was anticipating what they might do!  I probably won't be able to find anything since I cleaned and rearranged.  I think today is a day to finish the baby afghan I'm crocheting.  I had my DH bring me the afghan and crochet hook so I wouldn't disturb Smokey who is now curled up on my lap--wonder how Smokey got so spoiled?!

Something to look forward to...

I just made motel reservations for HMQS in Sandy, Utah.  I have gone to HMQS for a lot of years; it is so inspiring to see all the quilts & vendors, to take classes, to meet new/old friends--and not that far to drive.  Last year I missed because of health issues, so it will be doubly nice to attend this year.  I will be taking 5-6 classes May 8-10.  Then I will be taking a workshop from Linda Taylor the end of August; the classes will be held in WY--even closer to drive!  And in between, in July, our son & daughter-in-law and two granddaughters will spend time with us here on the mountain.  Does it sound like there won't be much stash busting going on here?!

STASH REPORT - Week 17, 2014 (4/27/14)

Used this Period: .5 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 103.81 yards
Added Year to Date: 30.47 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 73.34 yards

 

Not much stash reduction this week.  I did make blocks to send for the QOV Block Challenge that Kevin the Quilter is ramrodding.  (http://kevinthequilter.blogspot.com/)  

This is such a needed and worthy cause.  I just became aware of it on Sunday, and didn't want Wyoming to go unrepresented (and someone else from Wyoming sent blocks in on Monday!).  Anyone from Montana reading this?  Montana isn't represented yet.   

 

 

STASH REPORT - Week 16, 2014 (4/20/14)

Used this Period: 13.2 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 103.31 yards
Added Year to Date: 30.47 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 72.84 yards

 

'Tis a reason to celebrate--stash reduction!!  I finished the pink Log Cabin ("I'm In Love!") quilt on Sunday and made the backing on Monday...and I'm still in love.   The colors in the first picture are true; the colors in the second picture have a yellow tint.  I'll be glad when I can have DH take the pictures outside on the porch again.

The forest floor is showing, more so every passing day.  Mr. Moose has been visiting.  We think he is in his second year rather than a yearling, and he has no fear which may not serve him well.  He was eating pussy willows in a neighbor's yard on Friday, and we sat and watched him from the Jeep for about 30 minutes.  Then he came to visit in our yard on Saturday evening about dusk.  We had just returned from attending Mass when he ambled up--looked at us as we were standing by the vehicles and then passed within 10 feet of us as he made his way to the back yard.  He feasted on the pussy willow first, progressed to the serviceberry bush, and then munched on the small spruce.  And that was it--DH made enough noise to move him away--that happened to be one of the few spruce trees we have planted that the deer haven't reshaped!  He has been back several times; he likes laying in the back yard and surveying the world through the trees.

 

 

 

 

STASH REPORT - Week 15, 2014 (4/13/14)

Used this Period: 8.47 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 90.11 yards
Added Year to Date: 30.47 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 59.64 yards

 

Whoops, I forgot to count the fabric used for the bindings on the 2 quilts that were quilted last week.  And I donated 1 yard of fabric to a wonderful lady who makes beautiful table runners & placemats for our church bazaar.  This week I finished a scrappy quilt that I will use to practice borders/sashing.  It's pretty ugly--too many darks!  But it will serve its purpose well.

I also worked on a log cabin quilt in pinks--and fell in love!  Pink is my favorite color, and I like log cabin quilts.  I intended to do a straight furrows layout but changed to a different layout which looked better IMHO since one fabric did not match as well as I wanted.  I seriously thought about waiting to piece it until I found fabric that was more complimentary--but decided I would make it work instead.  How's that for will power?!!  I had commitments on Friday and Saturday, so I did not complete the quilt and it will go on next week's stash count.

STASH REPORT - Week 14, 2014 (4/6/14)

Used this Period: 0 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 81.64 yards
Added Year to Date: 30.47 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 51.17 yards

 

Well, another finish--this one in my crochet UFO-NewFOs.  I'm trying to use all the yarn I have stashed--and there's a new grandbaby on the way, so that variegated yarn was just right (although I had to buy another skein!).  I used a simple picot edging on the afghan and really like it--sort of understated elegance.  Wouldn't it be nice to have no stash in any of my craft hobbies?!

After cleaning my quilting studio in preparation for a rolling thread cabinet which should be done sometime this week, I loaded a quilt onto the longarm.  The last time I quilted on the longarm was too long ago--and now I feel like a beginner again!  To make it easy on myself, I used my clamshell board--just to sort of ease into this skill set again.  It was a good choice for the baby quilt I quilted, and I am happy with the way it looks.  I used a variegated thread.  I wonder how long it will take to get some of my skills back?! 

I don't know how or why, but my one of my longarm canvas leaders was off by a couple of inches.  I can't understand how it happened--the gorilla tape attaching it to the pole had not moved and the leader was not out of alignment--the center point was just a couple of inches off.  Oh, well--even though I avoid all things "mechanical" or remotely related to being a fix-it type of job, I removed the canvas, shifted it by eyeballing it, and reattached it.  Then the next day, I got DH down to check it; we straightened one end and decided to leave it like that for a few quilts to see if it shifts again.  I quilted one more baby-sized quilt, and it seems fine.  This quilt used the same variegated thread and has a variegated chenille backing--the little animals on the front look like they are chenille so it is a perfect backing--and makes a heavy and warm "blanket."  I used a ribbon meander.  Both of these were just a piece of fabric (that coordinates with the backing) and involved no piecing.  

 

The story:  Years ago I found some little stuffed bears made from the same type of chenille; they were on sale and I bought them.  When I made this same quilt years ago as a gift, I pinned one of the bears to it.  I found the same top fabric ("chenille-looking" bears) a couple of years ago in the hardware store (yes, the hardware store sells fabric and is more like the old general stores!) in the little town (350 pop.!) that is 18 miles from our little town.   Who would have thought that would ever happen--finding fabric you really like and had used previously several years prior?!  I decided to make the same quilt again--and that's the story! 

 

One of my 2014 goals was to longarm quilt 5 quilts a month--a worthy goal since I have just under 100 quilts awaiting their visit to the longarm!  (And then I could use those rubbermaid tubs to store something else!)  In my defense, there are so many new, unmade quilt tops calling my name--such a siren song!  Anyway, after the March finishes, I'm only 18 quilts behind my goal!

And all of that verbiage is a long way around to say that my stash remained the same!

STASH REPORT - Week 13, 2014 (3/30/14)

Used this Period: 10 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 81.64 yards
Added Year to Date: 30.47 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 51.17 yards

 

Oh, yea--another finish!  This is a lap-size quilt (49x64), and it is the pig applique quilt that Sandi and I agreed would be our "quilt of the year."  Very easy with just a few pieces to blanket stitch around.  I almost quit after one block, but didn't feel I could since Sandi had hers nearly done.  The black background fabric that I had in my stash is very flimsy (not a good "hand") so I found some lightweight interfacing (how old was that?!) to back it.  In fact, I used 2 different brands and then had to use sew-in interfacing that I sprayed for 4 of the blocks!  I know that doesn't count for reducing stash--but it did make that drawer a bit emptier! 

 

I like the pigs better than I thought I would.  I ditched all the ideas I originally had (3D inner ear, crocheted spiral tail, button eye, pieced sashing and border, embroidering on each pig's body), so it is pretty plain--guess the quilting motifs will have to make up for the lack of piecing innovation.  I tried crocheting several different yarns/threads for the spiral tail, and they were all too bulky for the rest of the quilt, even the thin threads.  IF I were to make it again, I would replace about 4 of the pig fabric choices (the middle pig in the top row is a pale pink with white daisies, but you can't tell from the picture)--oh, well.  (I'm NOT going to make it again!)

And now on to other things.  Oh, by the way, the story on the dark fuchia pig is as follows: 

"My pigs have been very, very naughty--well, at least one of them.  The lady of the house was mixing dye as she wanted to hand-dye some muslin, and he (of course it was a "he") couldn't keep his snout out of the dye.  He thought his fellow pigs looked washed out, and that was not for him.  He actually jumped into the wash tub full of dye and rolled around in it.  And now he's preening in front of his fellow barnyard mates--because he looks so bright and PINK!"  (Oh, well--there's always a story behind my quilt aberrations...)  

 

I intended to make him facing the opposite direction but I was afraid I was going to run out of my fusible, so I drew the pig shapes on it to make sure I had enough (just barely!!)--and forgot to turn him the other way!  Talk about "the best laid plans..."!  Such a simple quilt, and it caused so many problems!!

 

I have now cut all the background blocks for the penguin quilt; I wanted to make sure that I had enough fabric as we will be going to the nearby city in about a week--not much left over!  I won't be able to count anything on that quilt for a long time since it is a BOM, and I only have the first 2 blocks downloaded.  I am excited about this quilt--but that is the way I always feel when I start a new quilt!  I just finished Block 1 (Saturday morning)--I'm in love!

STASH REPORT - Week 12, 2014 (3/23/14)

Used this Period: 16 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 71.64 yards
Added Year to Date: 30.47 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 41.17 yards

 

Wow, my stash was increasing after adding 10 yards last week instead of decreasing--but this week helped reverse those numbers!  I checked back to last year's ending report and found that I have already purchased almost 2X as much fabric this year (and it's only March!) as I did in 12 months last year.  Guess it's a fabric diet for me!  I do still have 2 quilts that need backing/binding, which will help the "Used" numbers, but I need to go back to "shopping the stash."  sigh..... 

 

I finished the Scrappy String Quilt and made the backing.  My lighting downstairs isn't very good, and the colors don't show "true."  The pinks and yellows--and actually the pastel colors don't show up very well--hardly even look pink or yellow!  It is actually much prettier than the pictures show--I'm happy with it!  It measures 84x96.

 

Well...much of this week was spent in the kitchen.  I made cinnamon rolls on two different days.  Saturday I made a couple of salads and a sandwich spread.  A friend wants to come out and make pies, so guess I'd better practice a bit more on my pie crusts.  I have the blocks of the pig quilt ready for blanket stitching around the applique, so perhaps I will have a positive report on my stash again next week.

STASH REPORT - Week 11, 2014 (3/16/14)

Used this Period: 0 yards
Added this Period: 10 yards

Used year to Date: 55.64 yards
Added Year to Date: 30.47 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 25.17 yards

 

Whoops!  My yardage went the wrong way!  I thought I would be able to finish the scrappy string quilt I have been working on this week, but didn't get it done.  I have 56 blocks made, but still need to trim them and put them together.  Guess I will have better numbers next week! 

 

I bought yardage to make the Penguin quilt from FatCat patterns--black and white for the penguins (extra white because I can always use it) and a gray for the background.  I was really looking forward to starting on it but am feeling the letdown after finishing the blocks for the string quilt.  I will work on a purple sampler quilt and the pig quilt next--well, maybe I'll also cut the background blocks for the penguins.  Just not enough hours in the day to get everything done.

It is melting here--still have a lot of snow in the yard, but the load on the roof is diminishing.  The pussy willows are thinking seriously about sending forth the catkins and the stellar jays are flitting around--we may have an early spring this year.

STASH REPORT - Week 10, 2014 (3/9/14)

Used this Period: 8.4 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 55.64 yards
Added Year to Date: 20.47 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 35.17 yards

 

Done--yea!  I was going to put more borders on this quilt, but couldn't find the right shade of browns in my stash to go with the brown "scribble" border/sashing--so I stopped there.  I made the backing and the binding, and it is now in the UFO quilting stack.  I still have quite a few of these rectangles cut and ready to use.  At one time, I cut a strip from every fabric in my stash and then cut them into these rectangles--and gave away 2 or 3 entire sets--and made a couple of quilts with them, too.  This quilt measures 67x72.  I grouped the colors.

The other thing I finished this week is a crocheted afghan.  I was helping a friend who wanted to get back into crocheting, and decided that I would make the same pattern.  She finished hers before I finished mine!  I almost always make my afghans quite large--and this one is large!  Winter is such a good time to crochet an afghan, especially when it gets big enough to cover your legs while you are working on it!

We have a big ice rink in our front yard!  Our temperatures seem to bounce right up to the mid- to high-thirties after each snow, so we've had a lot of melting.  The streets are slushy, and the holes in our gravel streets here on No-Name Mountain are big enough to swallow a vehicle--well, almost!

I have now sewn all of the remaining rectangles together and plan to use them as a scrappy border for some future quilt.

STASH REPORT - Week 9, 2014 (3/2/14)

Used this Period: 0 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  47.24 yards
Added Year to Date: 20.47 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 26.77 yards

 

Nothing to report for this week.  I'm working on a scrappy stacked coins quilt which I should finish soon. 

STASH REPORT - Week 8, 2014 (2/23/14)

Used this Period: 4.7 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  47.24 yards
Added Year to Date: 20.47 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 26.77 yards

 

Another finish--my February quilt.  I learned a lot from this baby quilt.  I used 4.5-inch squares for the pinwheels and found that was a little large.  I will have to make sure I anchor the 3D portion when I quilt it.  I'm not sure how well this would hold up with the many washings needed for a baby quilt; it may be a quilt that looks best draped over the crib instead of for everyday use!  It is quite heavy. I used pink background fabric and different fabrics that pick up the colors on the border (which will also be the backing).  The colors in the picture are not the bright, clear colors of the fabric.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sandi (my long-distance quilting partner) and I have decided to postpone the quilt we had planned to do for 2014 and do a less time-consuming quilt.  We are choosing the applique pig from FatCat; it is a free pattern and can be found at http://fatcatpatterns.com/.  Our thinking was that it has very few pieces to be appliqued which fits our schedules better as we are both concentrating on finishing UFOs.  AND it is very cute!

I'm sad that the Olympics are over--I enjoy watching the sports events.  I don't watch much on TV during the day, but the Olympics are an exception.

 

 

 

And what's happening now?

I've been having trouble getting my links shared on Judy Laquidara's Stash Report--now I'm getting a trash can!  I don't do twitter or facebook, so I clicked on the "Do not show again" button, and that's when the trash can appeared.  If I click on the trash can, my link disappears--of course!  Anyone have any ideas?

STASH REPORT - Week 6-7, 2014

Used this Period: 0 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  42.54 yards
Added Year to Date: 20.47 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 22.07 yards

 

We're baaaaack, but no quilting last week or this week.  Instead I went to gymnastics, swimming, skiing, pre-school classroom, etc.--and that is so much more important than reaching stash reduction goals!  Unfortunately, I caught a cold from the granddaughters before we left; I don't think I've been this congested since retiring from classroom teaching.  We had a nice visit (I know why God gives children to the young!), and I'm so thankful for that time.  We were fortunate and slipped home between snow dumps; we had good roads until we reached NoName Mountain.  I hiked through the piles of snow to the garage and waited until DH cleared a path to back the truck in--then I unloaded and put things away.  

 

Sunday morning...

I finally got down to my quilting studio yesterday and started on my February NewFO.  I made some progress but didn't finish anything so nothing counts--maybe next week.  Sandi, my long-distance quilting partner, and I decided on an easy Sandi-Pat quilt for this year, shelving the more challenging one we were discussing for sometime in the future.  So, I will get started on that quilt, too, and try not to fall as far behind as I did last year.

Outside, the temps are hovering above freezing, and we have a February melt going on.  We are expecting snow most of the coming week--I hope, I hope!  So many are saying they are ready to get rid of the snow, but we really need the moisture.  The snowpack in our county is finally reaching the average.  Hope everyone is enjoying the Olympics.

STASH REPORT - Week 5, 2014

Used this Period: .4 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  42.54 yards
Added Year to Date: 20.47 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 22.07 yards

 

There was no sewing going on at my house this week, but I did use some yardage to line a vintage case.  And I used some lace, too, which I had leftover.  I can't even remember when I got the case, but know it was at a garage sale.  It has been "saved" all these years with a granddaughter in mind!  My sister-in-law has picked out a few pieces of her mother's and great-aunt's costume jewelry, and I will put those pieces into the "jewelry case" for the girls' to use for dress-up.  I can't believe I put off lining that case for as long as I did!  Do any of you find that you did crafty things in the past and feel hesitant about doing them now because you don't remember exactly how you did them?  

 

I had my husband draw a number for the UFO I will work on for February; it is a pinwheel quilt.  We are going to visit the grandchildren so it will be awhile before I get started.  But the afghan I'm working on should grow (I work on it as we travel).

STASH REPORT - Week 4, 2014

Used this Period: 0 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  42.14 yards
Added Year to Date: 20.47 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 21.81 yards

 

Oh, no--where did the week go?!  Nothing added and nothing used.  

 

I'm still nursing a bad back--the muscle spasms are gone but the pain is still there.  This all started in about 1980, when I herniated discs in the lumbar region.  Fast forward to now, and those discs slip every once in a while.  And I'm really wanting to get down to my quilting studio!

The downside is that I have time to browse the Quilting Board and put another quilt (Fons & Porter's "Emily's Wedding Quilt" also listed under some other names) on my Want-to-Do list as another scrappy.  That list keeps growing!

I did attend a "lesson" on making cinnamon rolls at the Senior Center (walking slowly, sitting gingerly) and made rolls on Saturday morning--big, fat ones!  The recipe they used included potato flakes, which I've not used before.  They turned out very tasty, and I'll use that recipe again.  The only problem is there are only 2 of us eating them!!  I'll have to share some with other year-round residents.

Another picture...

I want to post another sample of the Sunshine Pineapple quilt--this one done in yellows.  I really like this sample, and I do have some yellow/lime green fabric that would look nice if incorporated into yellows and oranges. 

I'm still nursing my back; I won't be doing much again today.  The muscle spasms are relaxing, so I hope to be back to normal soon.

STASH REPORT - Week 3, 2014

Used this Period: .14 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  42.14 yards
Added Year to Date: 20.47 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2014: 21.81 yards

 

I did sew this week, but don't have much I can count as no quilt tops were completed.  I made 14 more scrappy blocks with my 3-inch scraps but haven't decided how to put them together.   I cleaned my quilting room and put things back where they belong, and ironed some shirts for my DH.  Then I found some red hat fabric I had quilted years ago; I remember that I had planned to use it to make big craft bags to give to my sister and niece.  I decided that it would be a lap quilt instead, so I made binding and finished it for a different purpose than planned--and have a complete finish!  And then while perusing Pinterest, I again saw pictures of the Sunshine Pineapple quilt--oh, it is sooooo pretty!  So I added it to my list of "want-to-make" patterns.

I started cataloging decorative painting magazines--a task prompted by a request my son made for a painted sawblade for his shop.  Unfortunately, the lifting of heavy boxes caused a flareup of my back problems, so I'm moving pretty slowly and won't be running any races this week!  I have some more cataloging to do as I'm about half-way done--I would like to get back into painting again to reduce my stash of items collected for that purpose.

We went to a private viewing of "Saving Mr. Banks" that was arranged by the Senior Center.  We took friends with us and it was a nice outing.  It was funny because several of those who attended remarked that they had not been out that late all year (and it was about 7:30 pm)!  The mountain goats continue to provide a show; the herd grazes about 5 miles out of town.  And they really do leap from craggy rock to craggy rock like depicted in many pictures!