STASH REPORT - WEEK 35, 2015 (8/29/15)

Used this Period: 5.5 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 126.9 yards 
Added Year to Date: 36.25 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2015:  90.65 yards

 

I'm backkkkkkkkkkk!  I have my enthusiasm back and am wanting to get things done.  I even got up last night and made a list of the quilts I would like to finish this year with special notes for piecing and about how to quilt them.  (Don't ask me what happened to my list!!  It fell off the wagon and hasn't been looked at for ages!)  I don't think I will get them all pieced--I have 8 that I would like to finish in 2015.  Maybe I can get 6 done--maybe.  

 

Anyway, the only yardage I can count this week is the backing I made for last week's finish.  However, I pulled out the purple/lavender sampler quilt that has been languishing in the box forever.  It was one of the Craftsy "free" classes from a couple of years ago.  I finished the first few blocks and then didn't like some of the current blocks and --there it went, into the box!  I decided that I would just make whatever blocks struck my fancy and planned a layout that would accommodate the various sizes of the blocks.  Anyway, I'm back at it and am using up lots of small pieces of various shades & hues of purple (and I don't even really like purple!).  I would like to finish it this coming week, but we have a couple of birthday celebrations coming up which will limit the time I spend in my quilting studio (thank you, friends, for telling me I can call my room a studio when I am working on a quilt!).  Then I will try to finish the second red/white single Irish Chain, adding to the blocks left over from the one I finished last week which will get rid of those orphan blocks.  And THEN, FINALLY, I will start on the animal quilt!

 

We are going to spend a night at Old Faithful Inn to celebrate my birthday--and then we will come back and I will bake a chocolate cake for my husband's birthday.  What terrible timing for birthdays when we were teaching--our first paycheck for the year came at the end of the month while our birthdays were at the beginning of the month!

 

After next weekend, our mountain village will fall back into a quiet, sleepy little town in the forest.  We always enjoy the fall and winter months with few people--and then we look forward to the return of the summer folks and the awakening of the forest.  We still have wood to cut/split/stack--and I saw the first woolly worm of the season.  Evenings and nights feel like fall already.  Can you tell I'm ready?!

STASH REPORT - WEEK 34, 2015 (8/22/15)

Used this Period: 0 yards
Added this Period: 9.5 yards

Used year to Date: 121.39 yards 
Added Year to Date: 36.25 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2015:  85.14 yards

 

I went backwards again!  But I have an excuse--sort of!  Because I made the red/white quilt smaller than originally planned (yes, it is a single Irish Chain--I was so concentrated on how I am going to quilt it that I didn't even realize the pattern!), I have leftover 9-Patch squares but ran out of the white fabric.  So I bought 3 yards of the white and will make a second red/white Irish Chain quilt sometime in the future.  

 

And then...  Sandi (my quilting partner from our previous hometown) and I decided on our mutual quilt for this year.  She sent me a wildlife panel with 6 large & 6 medium animals; we decided to base the quilt on log cabin blocks.  She was having a hard time deciding what colors to use, and I had decided to use blacks & browns.  I suggested that we might be able to use leftover fabric from our Northwoods quilt from several years back--and she decided to do that.  I have a large piece of 2 fabrics--and had to purchase two to go with the ones I had--thus 6.5 more yards in my stash.  Sandi had enough so she didn't need to buy more.  I really had a time trying to find what I wanted--was almost ready to give up when I checked at Hancock's in our near "big city."  I found the brown with gold/tan in their Halloween collection--yea!  Now I can hardly wait to get started--good thing, as Sandi is probably more than half done already!!  I think they will again be very different because of our individual interpretations and "loose" rules!

The medium brown strip that is laying on top of the applique will be used for the "light" logs.  At least, that is how I am envisioning the block.

  

 

And this is a gift from the lady I gave the embroidered shoe quilt squares--what a surprise! She is so talented--and such a lovely person!

 

STASH REPORT - WEEK 32-33, 2015 (8/15/15)

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

Used year to Date: 121.39 yards 
Added Year to Date: 26.75 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2015:  94.64 yards

 

Finally--I spent some time in my sewing/quilting studio!  (What is the difference between a "studio" and a "room?"  I'm not sure!)  I finished a "9-patch with alternating plain squares" quilt (haven't done a backing or binding yet).  I hesitate to post a picture as it is just very plain at this point; however, I really like seeing pictures when I read the stash reduction reports--so, I will put a picture of my "plain" quilt top.  I used reds from my stash.  The reason for this quilt is a picture I saw on Pinterest (sorry, I don't know the site it came from so I cannot give credit for the quilting)--I want to quilt my plain quilt top the very same (well almost--size is a little different and some fillers will be different) as the picture I captured.  So.....here is one quarter of my plain top (72x90):

 

This week was very different from my usual uneventful days.  I wore the hat of the town clerk for 2 afternoons since it was one of those few occasions when both employees had to be gone--so I answered phones, handled walk-ins, read a book!  Then on Friday DH and I helped with the Senior Center's annual golf tournament, which is something I really enjoy but that is very tiring.  Ten hours on my feet is difficult!  Today we're attending a picnic for veterans and auxiliary; in fact, I need to quit this blog and go make a dessert to take!!  Then we'll attend Mass this evening.  Maybe I'll get back to my sewing/quilting room/studio tomorrow!!

 

 

STASH REPORT - WEEK 29-31, 2015 (8/1/15)

Used this Period: 1.5 yards
Added this Period: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 118.39 yards 
Added Year to Date: 26.75 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2015:  91.64 yards

 

Not much to report--the used stash was flannel that I gave to a friend who is making a rag flannel quilt (and has been for awhile!).  I had used the scraps to make borders for several flannel panels, but still had some left.  When I found out that she is still working on a quilt we both started several years ago, I told her that she should take the leftovers and use them.  I showed her how I had utilized them in borders on some of the quilts I finished.

 

We had a nice 8 days with the grandchildren--and then 2 weeks to catch up on rest & sleep!  My, where do they get that energy?!  I still need to scrub/wax the dining room floor, but will wait until September.  We have been sawing/splitting/stacking wood for use in the upstairs fireplace this winter.  We still have about 4.5 cords to do, but will start again when the weather is cooler.  I do enjoy the "fall projects," and it is good exercise.  We have had a few nights with the temperatures in the high 30's, which is wonderful for sleeping.  It feels like fall in the evenings and early mornings--and even during the days.

 

I did start on a simple red & white quilt top that I want to use to practice some longarm quilting techniques--but can't count anything yet.  And am thinking of what blocks to make to finish the lavender/purple sampler quilt that is waiting in the wings.  Perhaps I'll be able to count some stash usage next week!