Stash Busting Recap

2012:  18 quilts finished - 223 yards used - net stash decrease 95 yards
2013:  9 quilts finished - 137 yards used - net stash decrease 119 yards
2014:  19 quilts finished - 186 yards used - net stash decrease 98 yards
2015:  21 quilts finished - 205 yards used - net stash decrease 165 yards
2016:  15 quilts finished - 198 yards used - net stash decrease 175 yards
2017:  8 quilts finished - 112.6 yards used - net stash decrease 90.23 yards
2018:  0 quilts finished
2019:  Unknown
2020:  21 quilts finished - 296.95 yards used - net stash decrease 208.06

Week 51-52 (12/13-31/2020)

   Used this Period:  19.34 yards

Added this Period:  0 yards
Used Year-to-Date:  296.95 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  88.89 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:  208.06

I finished embroidering one set of pillowcases, stamped X-stitch.  I will need to finish the edge, probably crochet a border.

I finished the 5th Sally King shoe quilt today--except for making the backing, which I will do tomorrow.  Then I will be able to figure how much fabric was used and finish out the year's stash busting.  I think I'm not doing as well on my piecing as I did even 2 years ago.  (I find the same thing is true in being a lector.)  Anyway it measures 78 x 93 inches and I pulled the outside border too tight--will attempt to fix that when I quilt it.

Finished the backing for Shoe Quilt #5--and broke the 200 yard mark on net yards of stash used!  I finished 21 quilts this year, mostly double or larger.  And with 3 days to spare before the New Year!  I believe I will concentrate on getting some of these tops quilted for 2021--and learning to use the new Epic2 Viking sewing/embroidery machine!  

Week 48-50 (11/22-12/12/2020)

  Used this Period:  5.47 yards

Added this Period:  2 yards
Used Year-to-Date:  238.93 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  88.89 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:  150.04

12/8/20:  Well, almost done with the first December quilt (still have another one I want to make this month).  I have the quilt top and the binding finished but don't have the backing made.  I'm debating whether to use fabric I have that doesn't really go with the Christmas cowboy boots/hats or whether I want to wait for a couple of days and buy fabric that will go better with it.  I could use a red fabric but then the quilting thread will show.  But still might do that.  I do have a marbled red that would work.  I'll think about it for a day or so.

The story on this quilt is as follows:  I fell in love with the fabric and made a Garden Lattice quilt in July using it.  Well, sadly, the fabric got lost in the quilt pattern and you couldn't see how outstanding the fabric really is.  I was disappointed but it was done.  I had 62" left of the fabric and decided I would make a "modern" quilt that would showcase the fabric.  Initially I had the center section made up of rectangles but that made it look bad because the sashing was off from the sashing of the 2 side pieces.  So, I ripped that out and made the flying geese instead.  I do like it although DH says it doesn't look like a real quilt--we both think of quilts as those that use the traditional blocks!  

This quilt measures 57x68.  Finished (except for backing) 12/10/2020.

Week 45-47 (11/1-21/2020)

 Used this Period:  22.34 yards

Added this Period:  0 yards
Used Year-to-Date:  233.46 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  86.89 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:  146.57

I've counted the fabric that I embroidered the Children of the World on, but not the remainder of the fabric for the quilt.  I started making the strips for the Triple Irish Chain blocks for the Children of the World quilt and for the embroidered blocks, too.  The finished block size is 14 inches; there are 28 blocks but I think I will only use 24 in the quilt and then make some pillows/shams with the others.  The fabric (excluding the embroidery background fabric) was purchased at Hobby Lobby in Casper in 2004--for $2/yard!  There will be enough for the backing and maybe even for a bedskirt!!

Friday, 11/20/2020:  I finished making the binding for the Children of the World quilt today.  This quilt is huge--106X106.  I had to piece the back as I lacked about 20 inches of the dark fabric.  I haven't made pillows or shams yet but did set aside the leftover fabric so I can do that.  I should have finished this quilt 2 weeks ago, but life got into the way.

DH's brother tested positive for Covid-19 and the virus claimed his life within 21.5-3 weeks from the first symptoms.  DH was calling Jim every day after we knew he tested positive,  but we didn't know he was getting so bad--hard to know when you are 700 miles away.  To make a long story short, when his son checked on him, Jim was turning blue and was incoherent.  He was taken to the local ER by ambulance, intubated, and transported to a larger hospital with a Cover ward.  He was put on a ventilator and eventually put on a dialysis machine as his kidneys started to shut down.  It was only 25 weeks and his other organs started to shut down.  Jim was only 77 years old.

Then my sister called and said she had tested positive.  She was sent home by the doctor, with instructions to go to the hospital if she got worse.  I was talking to her every day and warned her that she needed to have someone check on her each day because she might not realize when she had crossed that threshold; she was sure she would know.  I finally called her son-in-law and (knowing what how soon Jim had gone beyond that point) told him someone needed to check on her each day, maybe even a couple of times a day.  Well, her daughter did get an ambulance to transport her to the next small town where they admitted her to the hospital and started her on oxygen and an IV for liquids.  She was in the hospital for 5 days and then sent home to recover.  She said it has made her very, very tired and that her daughters are calling to check on her several times a day--but that she didn't want telephone calls or text messages.  I've tried to comply with her wishes and have called one of her daughters for news.

So, now, in addition to the worry by this election and all the fraud associated with it, DH and I have been worrying about our relatives.  We will be leaving for funeral services for Jim on Sunday.  DH's sister did not offer to host us over night (she has never extended an invitation for an overnight stay--Jim always did!) so we will have to stay at a motel.  Since that small town has an enormous number of Covid positives (3 of Jim's friends are also in critical condition), I am very nervous about staying in the motel.  The first night we will stay a little over an hour away and drive in for the funeral, but the second night we will be staying in a motel there.  May God keep us safe.  Since DH's sister never offers to host us, I foresee that we will not be visiting there again.  I've hosted them several times--different strokes from different folks, I guess.

For a bit of good news, DH got me a new Viking sewing machine--an Epic2 sewing/embroidery machine!  I used it to finish the pieced backing and the binding for the Children quilt--just straight sewing.  When we get back home, I'll do some embroidery to try that out and sign up for the 3 months free mySewNet subscription.  I will still be able to use my 4D Pro software (there have been about 5-6 upgrades since I bought 4D!) on the computer but the mySewNet now offers all the things previously offered by the separate software--for a price, of course.  It will be interesting to explore the possibilities of this machine.  I am already planning on some face masks (doesn't look like we will get rid of those very soon even though research says their effectiveness in stopping Covid is minimal) with sequins.

I had wanted to finish a second quilt in November and 2 in December--might not meet that goal now.  We'll see.

Week 42-44 (10/11-31/2020)

 Used this Period:  2.5 yards

Added this Period:  0 yards
Used Year-to-Date:  211.12 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  86.89 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   124.23 yards

90" Bear Baby Q

Week 40-41 (9/27-10/10/2020)

 Used this Period:  1 yards

Added this Period:  0 yards
Used Year-to-Date:  208.62 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  86.89 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   121.73 yards

I spent a week doing nothing with sewing/quilting.  Guess I took a break.  Then, this week I decided to use the embroidery module to make blocks from the bear collection for a baby quilt.  This was one of the early purchases I made of embroidery designs.  I had used it once for a baby quilt years ago--not sure where that quilt went--maybe donated.  It hadn't been that long since I embroidered the funky snowmen, BFC cupcakes, and Animals 2x2.  But I had nothing but problems between the computer and the sewing machine.  It wouldn't let me "send" the designs from the computer to the machine and anything I tried on the computer gave me an error message (Windows System Error--shut all programs; Error xxx, Can't communicate with the sewing machine, etc.). I unplugged all units and walked away for a couple of hours--that didn't work.  I checked all connections--all secure.  I reconfigured the embroidery software for send--that didn't work.  I tried to Reboot Safe to correct the Windows system software--that didn't work.  Finally I got one design sent to the machine (don't ask me how!) and embroidered a bear; I then got 3 bears done before I stopped for the night to get dinner.  Who knew whether it would work the next day or not.  I decided I would just do 9 bear blocks and assemble it with sashing.

Sure enough, when I tried it the next morning, it didn't work--error messages on the computer and no ability to send designs to the sewing machine.  I went through a lot of the same things I had done the day before--and finally got the last 3 bear blocks completed.  Then I shut it down for the day, knowing it probably would not work the next day and deciding I needed to make notes before I took it to Pinedale for repairs.  I decided it was time to quit trying to do the embroidery (would have to postpone embroidering the "Children of the World" designs for the Triple Irish Chain quilt) and take the embroidery arm off.  So, I shut down the computer and when I turned to shut off the embroidery unit--there was the last design I had tried to send, waiting to be embroidered!!  So, I decided to try sending one of the "children" designs to the machine to see if it would work--and it did.  I have no clue what made it work like it had before all this--I think it was the threat of taking it to Pinedale!  Anyway, that day I embroidered 3 of the "children" blocks--and it worked again the next day!  As of last night, I had 15 designs embroidered--13 to go.  The computer and embroidery unit worked just like they had before--for several years!  Yesterday I embroidered 3 Steamboat designs and then took off the embroidery arm to sew 3 face masks.  I will try to embroider the last 13 designs tomorrow (the 11th), which will then be ready to make the quilt.  Guess I will make sure I use the embroidery software/computer often to keep it happy!

While I was messing around trying to get things to work, I started looking for software disks for the Windows system and the 4D embroidery system (which is quite old already!)--which led to finding things I hadn't used or even looked at for years.  (In addition I tried to find where I put the key for the treadmill when the grands were here several months ago--I hid it because I was afraid they would get hurt on it.)  Never found the Windows software--I think it was already loaded when we bought that laptop computer.  I finally found the 4D software--right where it should have been!!  I also found a lot of the small disks that were used for embroidery designs several years ago--and found the 2 disks that contain the fly fishing designs I purchased from Great Notions several years ago.  I have them loaded on the computer (from when DH put the designs on CDs for me) but the folder shows that it is empty.  I'm sure they were in HUS format, but 4D software still shows the HUS formatted designs--just not those!  Anyway, we have no machine that reads those disks anymore so I threw most of those disks away--except for the purchased ones (who knows why I kept those but I did).  Got rid of a bunch of stuff--and will continue to throw away things that can no longer be used in future weeks.  I found the 2 panels I was going to have the girls use to make lap quilts--amazing what all is tucked away in the studio!!

I can't count the fabric usage for the "children" yet (until I get the last 13 blocks completed), but am counting the fabric for the "bears" blocks.

Week 39 (9/20-26/2020)

Used this Period:  7.34 yards
Added this Period:  0 yards
Used Year-to-Date:  207.62 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  86.89 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   120.73 yards

Sunday, 9/20:  I worked on my funky snowman quilt today.  I have just one more log to add to 12 blocks and then I can trim the embroidered blocks and start putting it together.  Tomorrow will be busy with ironing, cooking, cleaning but I hope to get the quilt laid out and ready to assemble.  

Tuesday, 9/22:  Finished the funky snowman quilt top; still have the backing to make.  The finished size is 67x67.  Used:  7.34'

I cut out the background pieces for the Moda boot quilt.  This is a quilt that Sandi and I are both doing for the 2020 quilt.  I'm not sure how I want to "decorate" my boots.  We decided that we could use decorative stitching, embroidery, ribbons & other embellishments, appliqué, etc.  In other words, the choices are wide open!  I'm going to put an embroidered "Steamboat" on one of the boots and inset a small quilt block on another.  Should be fun!  I need to go make my appliqué patterns now.

Week 38 (9/13-19/2020)

 Used this Period:  0 yards
Added this Period:  0 yards
Used Year-to-Date:  200.28 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  86.89 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   113.39 yards 

Sunday, 9/13:  I thought I could use my master list of flimsies/quilted quilts to determine what happened in the quilting studio in 2018-19.  Alas, when I recopied that list, I didn't get it entirely in order--I know I added quilts that I found that hadn't been put on the list.  So, that didn't work.  However, I do know that I finished one hand-embroidered quilt top (Floral Garden) in blue/yellow. in addition to the 2 bargello tops.  So, those 2 years will have to remain a mystery!

DH and I both donated blood yesterday--Red Cross in Thayne.  I again asked for the best "sticker" since I'm a very difficult stick--vein is small, deep, rolls, and collapses.  The vein rolled 5-6 times but she was able to get it.  Hemoglobin level is high again--17.2.  Oh, well, someone will get iron-rich blood!

Monday, 9/14:  We again are the proud owners of a Jeep!  This one is a 4-door 2015 and it feels good when driving it.  Yay!  Steve did a wonderful deal for us--excellent trade-in on the Subaru, full tank of gas, and a trailer hitch!  He's going to spend winters in Texas and summers here--hope he keeps coming back!

Saturday, 9/19:  I finally have gotten back to the quilting studio and am working on the funky snowman machine embroidered quilt blocks.  After a lot of back and forth, I decided to use log cabin blocks to put it together--and will make half of each block the background fabric and half another fabric.  When I trim the blocks, they will be 11 inches, so I adjusted the center square so I can use 2" finished logs.  I ordered backing for 3 quilts from Marshall's Fabrics and have a backing fabric for this quilt which is in lavenders.  Should be able to finish it early next week.  Then I will be able to count some fabric used.

DH put grab handles in the Jeep.  They make it so much easier to get in and out!  We took quick bread and cookies down to Linda McN as her husband died on Friday.  All her kids are home for a little while.  I think it is so sad that COVID has eliminated funeral services--that was such a good way to offer comfort, say goodby, share memories.  I think al restrictions will be lifted after the election--it's all so political!

Week 37 (9/6-12/2020)

 Used this Period:  7.27 yards
Added this Period:  0 yards
Used Year-to-Date:  200.28 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  86.89 yards
Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   113.39 yards

Finished the BFC Cupcake quilt top and binding; I will order backing for it today.  I really like it--and used fabric from stash for sashing and borders.  The embroidery was already done so it didn't take as long.  It's a bright, cheery quilt for sure!  Dimensions:  68x85. Completed:  9/11/2020

Later:

I just went back through my blog--what an eye-opener!  I wish I had kept it up every year; I also wish I had blogged about various stuff that was happening during the weeks!  Oh, well--maybe I will do better from now on--seeing how interesting it is to go back and read the information.  Pictures are especially nice--take a note, Pat!

Updated Stash/Quilt Stats

2012:    18 quilt tops completed    95 yards net stash decrease

2013:    9 quilt tops completed       119 yards net stash decrease

2014:    19 quilt tops completed     98 yards net stash decrease

2015:    21 quilt tops completed   165 yards net stash decrease

2016:    15 quilt tops completed    175 yards net stash decrease

2017:    8 quilt tops completed      90.23 yards net stash decrease

2018:

2019:

I didn't blog very much in 2018-2019; therefore, I don't know what the numbers were for those years. I know I did some stash reduction and did complete some quilt tops but have no idea what the numbers were.  I know that my sister stayed with us for a week in 2018 and we each made a king-size bargello quilt.  After she left, I used the leftover fabric and made a second bargello quilt.  I had a second knee replacement in October, 2018; the first knee was done in September, 2017.  What else happened--who knows!

Week 34-36 (8/16-9/9/2020)

Used this Period:  9.85 yards
Added this Period:  5.56 yards
Used Year-to-Date:  193.01 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  86.89 yards
Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   106.12 yards

Finished the Animal 2x2 quilt, except for the backing.  Not sure but I think I'll order a blue blender for the back so it won't conflict with the fabrics on the front.  I'm really not happy with the medium blue on the front, but since I didn't have enough of the M'Liss blue fabric that I used for the embroidered blocks to do a Triple Irish Chain and could not find a better blue for the third fabric of the blocks--well, just a long way of saying I'm not really happy with it but will live with it. This is a quilt that the quilting will make the quilt!  It ended up being 78x89.  I finished it on 9/9--bleeding over into the next week.

Week 32-33 (8/2-15/2020)

Used this Period:  14 yards

Added this Period:  5 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  183.16 yards

Added Year-to-Date:  81.33 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   101.83 yards

Bought 2' for Rippled Sunbonnet; 3' for 2x2 Animals

Used 8'34" on Rippled Sunbonnet and 5'2"for backing 

Rippled Sunbonnet 72x82:  Another one done.  

I had to buy more of the fabric for the binding, but was able to pull stash fabric for the backing.

BARN QUILT:  The barn quilt "Cascading Stars" won 2d place in the Star Valley Quilt Trail contest.  The prize money was $1000 which I split with Don Snider since he made the wood block for me and hung it on his front porch.  The only part I was disappointed in was the indigo smallest star--it has too much of the black/gray tone in the hue.  And the sun has changed the blue crystals that I added to it to a purple/silver color. Oh well!  It was hung with the smallest sawtooth star at the top left.

Week 30-31 (7/19-8/1/2020)

Used this Period: 23.62 yards

Added this Period: 0 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  169.16 yards

Added Year-to-Date:  76.33 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   92.83 yards

GardenLattice:  11'22"  
Curved Log Cabin:  12'  

July 19:  I finished the Garden Lattice Cowboy Christmas (boots & hats) quilt 70x80.  I used that pattern so I could use large pieces of the fabric, which is beautiful.  However, it didn't show up like I had hoped.  I did find a good backing fabric from my backing stash and now it is in the longarm UFO stash.  I made 2 small pillows (not stuffed) and a top for a sham--to be finished when I quilt the Garden Lattice quilt.  I also finished the curved log cabin quilt that I saw on the internet.

   

July 20:  After surfing the internet as long as I could, I got up and started on the floors.  Today I'm dry mopping, wet mopping with a floor cleanser, and then applying a finish; then DH is buffing the floors.  I put this off because Smokey tracked in and also had accidents, both with his throat and just plain accidents.  Poor baby, he couldn't help it.  Anyway, we will put down new area rugs in the dining room and the great room after I clean and apply finish to the floors.  I will have the dining room, kitchen, hallway, spare bedroom upstairs done today, plus cleaning the tile foyer and the tile in the main bath and in the laundry room.  It will take awhile to get the creases and bumps out of the round rug in the dining room so it's good that we got started.  The floor looks so much better.  In another year or so, DH will lightly spray some of the traffic areas where the finish is gone.  Anyway it will be good to have this done.  I want to do the master bedroom, master bath, and the other 
bedroom tomorrow--if I have enough finish.  If not, I'll wait until we get more as DH ordered it.  I'll wash the throw rugs and do a good "summer" cleaning as I do the floors.

August 1:  The floors are done--and look really nice.  I said it was the last time I was going to do them but they look so nice I may have to do it again!  I started another quilt on my list (Rippled Sunbonnet Sue embroidered blocks) and had the top minus borders finished by 7/27.  I'm quilting from stash again and couldn't figure out what to do for borders since there's not a lot of the fabric used in the top left for borders.  Guess that will be an easy finish for August!!

Week 27-29 (6/28-7/18/2020)

Used this Period: 9.5 yards

Added this Period: 0 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  145.54 yards

Added Year-to-Date:  76.33 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   69.21 yards

July 6:  I finished making the curved log cabin blocks for the next quilt (30 blocks)--one that I saw on the internet and fell in love with.  I'll have to put the blocks together and decide on a border before it is finished.  When it is put together, I'll see whether I like it--I just used scraps to make it.  I'll guesstimate the yardage used.

I miss Smokey terribly and visit his grave nearly every day.  So many tears!  The worst time is when I go to bed--I keep listening for the click-clack of his nails on the floor.  The grands and Blair are supposed to come up for a few days, arriving tomorrow evening, so there will be no sewing for a week or so.  By then the new area rugs should have arrived, and I will need to scrub, wax, and buff the floors before putting the rugs down. Guess that will be my spring cleaning.

Friday, July 17:  The grands and Blair are gone; they were here for 4 1/2 days and then one evening and night on their way back to the Springs.  It was good to have them--but, oh, that energy!!  They kept Grandpa busy making projects in the shop and both girls attempted to learn how to crochet.  The 2 years difference in age makes a real difference--Shane was successful and had about 6 inches done on her afghan when they left but Ryan was getting pretty frustrated.  Her mother and I crocheted through the second row so if she decides to work on it, it should be easier for her to follow the pattern.  I don't think her heart was in it--and there is quite a bit to learn in crocheting, even though it was all the same stitch. Controlling tension is difficult for beginners and is absolutely essential. 

I worked on the curved log cabin and the Garden Lattice (with the Christmas cowboy boots and cowboy hats) on the couple of days they went to Montana to visit friends.  I got the curved log cabin assembled into a flimsy, and also the Garden Lattice except for borders.  Today I put 5 smaller borders on the curved log cabin, in the same colors that are in the quilt.  Then I searched through the 2 tubs that have backing size cuts of fabric to see if I have something to use as backing for each of these quilts, and was successful.  I will make the backing and binding for the curved log cabin tomorrow and then start on trimming the setting triangles and making borders for the Garden Lattice.  I'm going to have to guess at the yardage on the curved log cabin since I used leftovers from the fabric stash.  And on the larger cut I forgot to measure it--oh, well.  I'll guesstimate.

I've been pulling the out-of-control ground cover from the thicket--and it is going so slowly.  After I get it pulled out, I will use a weed killer on it and hope it won't come back.  I would rather have bleeding hearts by Smokey's grave.  Wish I were 10 years younger--it would go faster.  The mosquitoes are terrible.  I'll use bug spray the next time I go out to work on it.

July 18:  I finished the backing and binding for this curved log cabin, 72X82.  It's hard to see in that lighting, but the top logs are yellow and the borders are the same color sequence as the logs.  I'll work on the Garden Lattice tomorrow; hope to finish it and get it in the stack.  I'm thinking that I will have my UFO list strictly on the longarm next year--when I finish the Garden Lattice, I will have finished 13 quilt tops this year and need to get my 114+ tops quilted!

Smokey, the Bandit

7/17/2003 - 6/30/2020

Smokey died last night, probably about 1:15 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.  He was about 2 1/2 weeks shy of his 17th birthday.  There will never be another Smokey; his personality was more than life-size.  I held him, stroked him, whispered into his ear, hummed to him--but he waited until I went to bed to depart this life.  I've warned God that Smokey can be quite mischievous--and to please let Smokey lay on His knee until I join him.  What a blessing Smokey was in our lives.

Week 26 (6/21-27/2020)

Used this Period: 16.9 yards

Added this Period: 0 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  136.04 yards

Added Year-to-Date:  76.33 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   59.71 yards

Snail's Trail:  8' 32.5"
Scrappy Camp:  7.5'

This was a productive month!  I finished the fishing quilt for DH, using a modified Snail's Trail pattern.  I had a border print that had a section for camping and one for fishing.  I used the fishing border print on the Snail's Trail--but didn't have enough for the 4th side so I used solid colors for the top border. Then I used leftover blue fabric combined with the camping border to make a large lap size quilt.  Darn--didn't have enough of the fishing hook fabric (used for backing for the Snail's Trail quilt) for the backing.  So, instead, I used a solid bluish turquoise for the backing.  I had initially bought it to use for the alternate Snail's Trail blocks but used a lighter turquoise instead.  Sigh--it all worked out, I guess.  The Snail's Trail is 62 X 73; the scrappy Camp quilt is 57 X 63.

   
Those are fishing creels in the printed fabric, which has a blue background.

   

Week 23-25 (5/31-6/20/2020)

Used this Period: 8.88 yards

Added this Period: 6 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  119.14 yards

Added Year-to-Date:  76.33 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   42.81 yards

6' for background of apricot Dresden plate
2' 32" for plates

Life happened again.  DH's brother-in-law, Glen, passed away.  We spent about 10 days in Colorado.  Glen was 87 but it came on pretty quickly--perhaps that's usual at that age.  He will be missed.  He was always supportive of me and was the first member of DH's family that I met--49 years ago!  It is always sad to look back and think of the many people we have lost--miss them so much but my time to join them is getting closer.  I will be 80 in the fall.

Our CA pup, Smokey, is in his twilight years--he will be 17 years old in July if he is with us that long.  I can certainly understand what he is going through--stiff joints, failing eyesight, loss of hearing, etc.  He doesn't eat much any more and is frightfully frail.  The life expectancy for Lhasa Apsos is 12-14 years--but it is sad to see him getting ready to leave us.

I was very tempted to change the numbers for the June quilt--this Dresdan plate has been on my list for a few years already.  But I decided to get it started and searched the stash for coordinating pinks.  While doing that, I found some matching apricot fabrics instead.  I decided I would make the quilt as large as possible--but the size would be limited by the amount of fabric available.  I did need to buy background fabric to stitch the Dresden plates onto--and played with the size of the blades (no pattern, just a picture from the Internet).  Anyway, the flimsy is done; however, I will need to get some fabric for the backing and binding.  The quilt size is 76 x 93.  I saw a picture with one blade lowered for "He loves me, he loves me not" and decided my quilt needed that, too.  So, this quilt is finally off my list!

    

I'm getting a bit tired of quilting--perhaps my quilting mojo has never really returned.  I'm trying to use all the stash but realize that probably won't happen--not enough years left in my life!  Perhaps after this year I will stop quilting for awhile.

Week 22 (5/24-30/2020)

Used this Period: 11.125 yards

Added this Period: 0 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  110.26 yards

Added Year-to-Date:  70.33 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   39.93 yards

Finished the May quilt with just a couple of days to spare!  What a trial of errors!  I would have finished a couple of days sooner if I hadn't made so many dumb mistakes that required ripping and resewing.  It's interesting that so much green shows in the picture--I thought the predominant colors were the pinks with yellow accents.  Guess I should photograph the material before I start a quilt--might use different blending fabrics if I do that.  Anyway, the background is a pale pink--taking pictures downstairs doesn't really show the true colors.  (66X84)

Now to see what number is drawn for June.  The daughter-in-law and older granddaughter are coming on Monday and will stay for a couple of days before taking the Jeep back to Colorado Springs with them.  swim think Shane has lots of projects she would like to do--and not nearly enough time to do them!  I'll have to pick out some cross-stitch projects that she might like to do.  And clean!!

Petunia I, II, and III are history.  Who would have thought that skunks like marshmallows?!  Daffodils and tulips are blooming and the Canadian Red Cherry is about to make its fragrant statement.  It is a beautiful time of the year.  

Week 19-21 (5/3-23/2020)

Used this Period: 0 yards

Added this Period: 21 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  99.13 yards

Added Year-to-Date:  70.33 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   28.8 yards

2' pale lavender
11' Marshall Fabrics
3' blue for fishing quilt
5' apricot for Cathedral Window quilt


Life got in the way again.  Our brother-in-law suffered a brain bleed from which he didn't recover.  We traveled to Colorado to support the family and attend the funeral services.

I'm trying to finish my May quilt but it may be a bit late.  The fabric added to my stash will be used for future quilts--hope I remember which fabric goes with what quilts!!

Week 17-18 (4/19-5/2/2020)

Used this Period: 14.9 yards

Added this Period: 0 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  99.13 yards

Added Year-to-Date:  49.33 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   49.8 yards

7.9' Halloween quilt (assuming fabric for blocks already counted)
7' Halloween quilt backing

  
The Halloween quilt finally is done, measuring 83 x 103-- finished it on Monday, the 20th.  The "perfect" backing I had picked out of the "backing stash" only had 6'15"--so I will be using another backing that isn't as good a match (but has over 9'!).   The embroidery in the Sawtooth Star blocks are various Halloween silhouettes--another purchased design set used! 

   

Week 15-16 (4/5-18/2020)

Used this Period: 1.75 yards

Added this Period: 3 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  84.23 yards

Added Year-to-Date:  49.33 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   34.9 yards

.25 binding for 3D Bowtie baby quilt

1.5' face masks

I made face masks while I was waiting for the black Kona cotton I needed for the Halloween quilt.  I've tried a couple of different patterns and now am putting non-woven interfacing as 2 additional layers of protection.  (I had to clean out the sewing drawers to find elastic and interfacing--sometimes it is good that I never get rid of anything!).   Finally 1/4" elastic arrived and so did the Kona cotton (Missouri Quilt Co.).  So the Halloween quilt went to the top of the sewing list and face masks were put on hold.

   

Week 14 (3/29-4/4/2020)

Used this Period: 10 yards

Added this Period: 0 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  82.48 yards

Added Year-to-Date:  46.33 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   36.15 yards

4' backing for Christmas Santa/LogCabin
6' backing for "Twas the Night Before Christmas"

Tuesday:  I was on schedule to finish quilting 5 quilts this month--and then Murphy's Law happened!  I got a Needle Fault F70 error on the longarm--and it was dead in the water.  The few things I tried did not solve the problem so I called Mike (Quilts on the Corner) and asked DH to come downstairs.  Since I don't know a bushing from a nut/bolt, it is very difficult for me to follow any instructions I'm given.  Anyway, we didn't get it resolved last night so DH started working on it this morning.  I just had about 24 inches left to do on that quilt.  Anyway, DH got it retimed and I have finished the quilt--just need to hand-sew the binding on the back.  It has an extra loft batting and is really heavy.  I still have about 2-3 of those battings to use--not sure why I bought them but now will try to use them before I start using the rolls of batting.  New quilt # will be drawn tomorrow!

Wednesday:  The April UFO quilt is #2 (Halloween  Black-Orange Star Quilt (UFO)(with embroidery--not done)).  

Week 13 (3/22-28/2020)

Used this Period: 12.2 yards

Added this Period: 0 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  72.48 yards

Added Year-to-Date:  46.33 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   26.15 yards

1'18" (1.5) blue for embroidered animals

6' 35"green trees backing

2'2" yellow backing
60" masks

Finished the Animals 2x2 embroidered quilt blocks!  I won't be trimmin'g them until their number is drawn--however, I will count the fabric used on the blocks now.  That was a lot of embroidery for sure.  Now I need to get the quilting studio ready for the next project.  I think I will put the embroidery unit away for awhile.

End of Week:  This week I quilted 3 quilts on the longarm.  I will load another one tomorrow and maybe I can get 5 done by the end of the month.  I have made 4 cloth masks to donate to the hospital and have another 5 partially done--hope to finish them tomorrow.

Week 12 (3/15-21/2020)

Used this Period: 0 yards

Added this Period: 0 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  60.28 yards

Added Year-to-Date:  46.33 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   13.95 yards

No fabric that can be counted.  I've spent all week machine embroidering Morehead's "Animals 2X2."  There were 28 designs and I can do about 4 a day.  They probably have an average of 18-19000 stitches and 10-12 color changes.  My back hurts before I'm done for the day!  Anyway, I have 3 more to do--then I can count the fabric used for the squares.  I won't make them into a quilt until that number is drawn.

No Stations last night, no Mass tonight--I'm going through withdrawal!  I hope we soon get past this coronavirus and hope all the family stays healthy.  Please God!

Week 11 (3/8-14/2020)

Used this Period: 14.25 yards

Added this Period: 0 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  60.28 yards

Added Year-to-Date:  46.33 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   13.95 yards

Thursday:

Done!!  Yea!!  The quilt turned out to be 85x85, and I really like it.  But I will say that I'm really tired of making HSTs!  Now I need to get ready for son & family's week-long visit.

   

Week 10 (3/1-7/2020)

Used this Period: 5.17 yards

Added this Period: 0 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  46.03 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  46.33 yards

Net Stash Increase for 2020:   .30 yards

(1 yd. panel, .34 yd. brown, 1 yd. yellow sash/brdr, 2.83 yd. back'g)

Monday:

I finished the Henry Glass "When I Am Big" baby panel; it is now in the queue for longarm quilting.  I wish the panels would be squared on the fabric--just saying.  One more done--it went fast and easy.  Since the March number is #7, I will need all the extra time I will have for the month.  This fabric and pattern were set aside long ago--before we left Casper (2005).  The fabric was purchased at Hobby Lobby on sale--they had wonderful sales back then with fabric often finally costing $1-2/yard. I love the fabric for this quilt!    

So, the Bear Paw in a Bear Paw quilt became a Double Bear Paw instead--a quilt I saw on the internet.  I worked on this quilt during the week--so many HSTs!  I've decided that I don't want to see another HST for the near future.  I was dreading making and attaching the setting triangles--but they went easily and look great.  I figured out the side triangles mathematically and then went to the internet to find out what size to cut the squares for the end triangles--what a great tool.  I decided to make smaller bear paws to put in one of the borders--haven't decided yet whether to put some appliquéd vines/leaves with partial borders of the bear paws.  So, still can't count any of the fabric--next week should show a decrease in the stash!  I hope to be able to finish this quilt this next week, hopefully with a few days to share.

Week 9 (2/23-29/2020)

Used this Period: 1.33 yards

Added this Period: 6.25 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  40.85 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  46.33 yards

Net Stash Increase for 2020:   5.48 yards

3/4 yd. red for pillowcase
3 yd. blue ($3/yd) for 2x2 animals quilt
2.5 yd. blue for bkgd 2x2 animals quilt

Sunday--

So, today I worked in my sewing room.  I decided that I would embroider on some kitchen towels, using the moose and cabin appliqués that are my favorites.  First, I had to find them--I will have to spend some time in organizing my design files again--they are such a mess and I can't find anything!  Then I had to figure out how to unzip files--that took a bit of research.  And then I tried to find my embroidery notes on the sequence used in appliquéing the moose and cabin.  I wasn't successful but did find a lot of stuff that I didn't know I had!  I have a lot of small disks with designs and software and we don't have any computers that will take them.  When I clean my room, I might as well toss them since I can't use them anymore.  We can still use the CDs and DVDs with our equipment, but who knows how much longer that will be the case.  After making a complete mess of the room again, I finally started embroidering the towels.  I did one that I will bring upstairs to use when I make cinnamon rolls--so I could write notes on the sequence to replace the notes I couldn't find.  I got 5 towels finished today and have 8 more to do.  They make wonderful small gifts, so it will be nice to get them done.  And I never did clean up the room!

Tuesday:
I finished the towels yesterday, so I now have plenty to give as gifts or to donate when my DH donates a cutting board to JCCW.  So that's one less project to finish.  Today I went to lunch with the seniors and that sort of messes up accomplishing anything for the whole day.

Saturday:
Senior lunch on Tuesday, noon Mass in next-largest nearby town on Wednesday, trip to nearest big town on Thursday, Mass on Saturday--another week with not much accomplished! It's so difficult to get motivated to start something when we break in the middle of the day.  And since we drive 70 miles round-trip to attend Mass (and DH is an usher so we usually get there an hour early), the day doesn't hold as many hours as I would like.  I'm still doing the recumbent bicycle every day (miss just a few) which also decreases my available hours for hobbies.  And maybe, just maybe, I've slowed down and also spend too much time on the computer!  (I spend time perusing my favorite quilting sites and saving pictures of quilts to make and longarm quilting samples--you should see how full those files are!!)

All that to say that what I accomplished this week was finishing a second pillowcase for Mr. Spiderman (grandson) and making 12 scapulars smaller and with shorter cords.  I also started working on the Henry Glass "When I am Big" child's quilt (10b on the list)--but not far enough along to count anything as used.  No longarm quilting done this month--now I need 13 quilts done to meet my desired schedule :-( and that's probably unattainable!  On to another week...

Week 8 (2/16-22/2020)

Used this Period: 5.33 yards

Added this Period: 0 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  39.52 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  40.08 yards

Net Stash Increase for 2020:   .56 yards

4 yd. backing for #9
1.33 yd. Spiderman pillowcase

Thankful for a new week and leaving the February quilt behind!  I will need to make a backing and binding for #9 yet, and then get some quilts quilted.  That should take me through the end of February.  Am I losing my quilting mojo?

Sunday--
Well, I just wasted a week without getting any quilt tops quilted.  The week went fast.  We traveled north one day and traveled south another day.  It will be difficult to get 8 quilt tops quilted--make that impossible!  One week left for this month.

Week 7 (2/9-15/2020)

Used this Period: 4.47 yards

Added this Period: 11.5 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  34.19 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  40.08 yards

Net Stash Increase for 2020:   5.89 yards

The breakdown of the additions to the stash:  1 yard of Spiderman to make a pillowcase for the grandson; 1 yard black to finish the Halloween quilt; 1 yard for the February quilt houses; 1.5 yards of a purple print for the #5 shoe quilt; 4 yards of a peach solid for a future Cathedral Window quilt; and 3 yards of a beautiful pink floral--a "just because!"  All at Hobby Lobby's 40% off of all fabric.  

Then on Tuesday it quickly became one of "those" days.  I am constructing the houses for February from scrap stash and ran out of the roof fabric.  Because I was cutting and sewing all the pieces for various parts instead of doing just the pieces for a couple of blocks at a time, I have a lot of sewn pieces that are unusable in this quilt.  Makes one want to say a bad word!!  So it took a while to bolster my resolve again to go downstairs and start making half-square triangles from some different fabrics--the houses will not all be the same.  Because I don't like this quilt, it makes it hard to work on it--I just want to get it done!!

End of Week:  And now it's done--as much as I am going to do on it.  Only one border .  I don't like it any better now than when I started!  From now on, if I have a NewFO on the list that I am not excited about doing, I'm just going to take it off the list and do a different quilt.

Week 6 (2/2-8/2020)

Used this Period: 3.58 yards

Added this Period: 0 yards

Used Year-to-Date:  29.72 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  28.58 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2020:   1.14 yards

Well, I just lost my weekly post--darn.  I have reconstructed my numbers as accurately as I can but may be a bit off.  I finished the Bunny Baby quilt--a panel + backing that I bought for $2.50.  I added some flannel from stash to make borders, which accounts for the fabric used this week.  I finished cutting the pieces for the Cowboy Christmas quilt (not yet counted); it's just waiting for its number to be chosen.  Then I worked on the February #9 quilt, which is a Log Cabin/House quilt for me (yardage not yet counted).  I finished the 13 Log Cabin blocks and have designed a house block, drawing on several different house blocks from the internet.  I think we are traveling to the near big city this week, and I want to get a specific fabric at Hobby Lobby to use in the house blocks.  Hope our store has that fabric; if not, I'll have to think of something else to use.  I'm not happy with this quilt--used the wrong fabric for the "chimney" in the Log Cabin blocks but don't want to rip them out.  This quilt will be a lap-sized quilt.  In addition, I have 5 quilts lined up for the longarm and hope to finish quilting them this month.  In my spare time I constructed my taxes spreadsheet.  A busy month!

I want to buy a background fabric for a Cathedral Window quilt (on my list!), and a blue background fabric for a sawtooth star quilt in blues.  I have a lot of blue fabric in my stash that needs to be used.  So far I am just buying coordinating fabric to use with stash fabric--but it is adding up and making my stash. numbers go the wrong way!!