May 1, 2021

Used this Period:  7.2 yards

Added this Period:  0 yards
Used Year-to-Date:  17.54 yards
Added Year-to-Date:  2.5 yards

Net Stash Decrease for 2021:  15.04 yards

Well--long time, no blogging!  I'm not doing very well with my goals this year--can I blame it on COVID?  (Why not?  Everyone else does!). I've been in a quilting/sewing funk and have hardly even gone downstairs since finishing the January selvage quilt.  So, what have I accomplished?  Well, the hump-back trunk is finished.

DH did the technical parts--new handles, new board where missing on the bottom, new hinges supporting the top, lining the tray and bottom portion with cedar strips, etc.  I had spent quite a bit of time removing all the old paper and glue from the inside--then took several months' hiatus while it sat in DH's workshop (until he got tired of it being there and started working on it!).  After he did the "man" things, I stained the wooden staves and varnished them and then painted the embossed and plain tin parts.  We're happy with the way it turned out!

Then I finished one afghan, the one with the long history.  The color of the variegated yarn is Sea Coral, and I initially bought 3 super skeins.  That wasn't enough; but when I tried to buy more, nearly everyone was out (darn COVID).  Amazon had some but wanted just under $19 a skein--it's usually about $6.50.  I decided I could wait until it became available again--and it finally did in January.  It's so soft and pretty.

And I worked on stamped X-stitch quilt blocks in February-March.  Not sure why I decided to do one more hand-embroidered quilt--they are a lot of work and take a lot of time.  I finished it in March or early April and let the blocks set for awhile.  I wasn't sure what type of fabric to use for sashing; but when I went through my "backing" tubs, I found the exact one I wanted to use--has nearly all the colors of the embroidered blocks and 7.2 yards!  So, I put the top together and made the backing and binding--and now it is in the "long-arm" tub, awaiting quilting.

So then I counted the embroidery UFOs--what was I thinking when I started a new project without finishing the one I was working on?!  I counted 10 UFOs--and then found some more a couple of days later!  I also have 4-5 kits that should be done and probably won't be done.  One I love but it is on 32-count fabric and that is much too small for these old eyes.  In addition, I have 4-5 X-stitch afghans I would like to make--and lots of Christmas stockings and floral scenes I really would like to do.  

So, at this time, I'm making myself work on UFOs of one kind or another each day.  I've been trying to do at least 5 rows on a teal variegated afghan every day, and have been working on a "Dream" dresser scarf, too.  And the Embroidery Essentials (for Epic2) course is calling my name--as is the longer and the quilt tops stored in 8-9 tubs.  

On another note, my crocus is blooming!  And the snow is gone from the front flower beds.  I have one daffodil that should be out tomorrow--spring is here!  It was 80° outside yesterday, which is very nice but won't be so nice during the summer fire season.  And now back to working on UFOs!