Something new on my design wall

Blue-n-Gold Pride ended up getting pieced today, as well as a backing prepped for it. I was not able to get it loaded onto the frame by dinner time, though. And......frankly, after dinner, I no longer had any ambition to load it.

I wasn't completely unmotivated, though.

I hadn't just "looked" around the sewing room in a bit, so......I stood....turned...... and eyed.

The Fall Buckeye Beauty swap blocks from last year caught my eye. Since Fall is DEFINITELY in the air, I thought it would be nice to see what the status of the layout was.

I could leave this as an 8x8 layout and put those three extra blocks on the back. OR....

I could spend some time cutting into some more scraps in order to make thirteen more blocks to complete the bottom row and an additional row on the top.

And OF COURSE!!!! Once I was done cutting and piecing.... I found a HUGE stack of "extra" 4-patches from the swap. **hitting forehead** I guess I'll have to see about doing some kind of pieced border on this one.

I also haven't posted a Stash Report in QUITE a while. With the additional Buckeye Beauty units tonight, and the Jamestown Landing HSTs this morning, and the 9-patches of the Blue-n-Gold Pride piecing from last week.....
Stash Report: September 5 - 25
Used/wk: 4.819 yds
Purch/wk: 0.00 yds

Used/yr: 145.645 yds
Purch/yr: 81.917 yds

Net Used: 63.728 yds

I am definitely further behind in my "used" category than where I was last year, but my "Net" is MUCH nicer than last year :0)


Aren't these FUN!??? Candace has snack tomorrow, and a cousin of Paul had posted sunflower cupcakes like this on Facebook last week that she had made for HER daughter's snack day. With the girls' help, we made up 24 cupcakes, and enjoyed eating a couple too :0) {{Candace only needs 17 for her class}}.

Another weekend coming to an end. This one kinda FLEW by. You too?

Some purchases & Stash Report

Yesterday afternoon (Saturday), I left for my parent's place to drop the girls off for a week of Vacation Bible School at my parent's church. This is the 4th year for Cassie to attend "Grandma's VBS" and the 3rd for both Caitlyn and Candace. They enjoy it. Last year it worked out perfectly because I was holding a Volleyball camp during the VBS week, so my "babysitting" was covered. However, THIS year.....with no volleyball, I really have the ENTIRE week open to myself ALLLLL DAY. I SHOULD head in to school one of the days and do some preliminary work for the upcoming school year.........**sigh**.......we'll see. I'm still not ready to get into school-mode yet. I'm having a hard time getting "happy" for the upcoming year; with all the changes and uncertainties that are happening in Wisconsin....and all the changes that are in effect in our 7-12 wing alone.......**sigh**.......{{keeping my smile on}}.....I just don't want to get into school-mode until I ABSOLUTELY have to.

On the way back home today, when I typically turn off on the only exit of my trip to head home, rather, I decided to head into the town of Eau Claire instead. I knew there was a JoAnn's at the other end of town, and I wasn't in any hurry........

I never had been at this JoAnn's before; the fabric section was QUITE a disaster and rather untidy, BUT I really didn't care, nor am complaining. I just browsed around, not really looking for anything in particular except some bleached muslin. I had a roll in my hands and was going to request 10 yards of it (at a price of $2.99), however, when I turned down one aisle, I came across a section of muslin by the bolt, so I snatched up a 15 yard bolt for $29.99.

The Patriotic fabrics were all 50% off; too many of them weren't appealing; quite "scratchy" feeling, but there was this light bolt with tiny flag-like images on it that felt really nice-n-soft. I took the rest of the bolt (5 1/8 yds) @ $1.99/yard sale. CAN'T really beat that price. This black-on-black fabric was also calling to me; the price showed $5.99/yard. I normally don't buy ANY fabric at the listed price (ALWAYS a sales shopper here), but I really liked it. So, I requested the rest of that bolt too (5 5/8 yds), and as she printed out the price tag, she said "at $3.99 a yard." Hmmm???? I wonder if there was a sale that I didn't know about??? I also had the thought go through my head that maybe they offer an "end-of-bolt" incentive that I know some quilt shops do???? Anyway----at $3.99 a yard....I was quite pleased on the fabric.

As I was puttering around some more, this lady approached me, said something.......and it took me a moment to register what it was. She was handing me a coupon for $5.00 off a $35 or more purchase........she had said "Coupon?". What a kind thing to do!!!! She shrugged and said that nothing was jumping out at her, and obviously I had found some goodies, so she wanted to see it useful for someone.

SO.....the final damage was:
15 yards muslin
5 1/8 cream QOV fabric
5 5/8 black-on-black
for a total of 25 3/4 yards that will be included in today's stash report.

The book shown in the picture was given to me by my mother; she found it at her Goodwill store. "Quilts from Aunt Amy."

In addition to the fabric purchased, this week's report includes fabric used in my Splendidly Marching Along quilt. Before leaving for my parents, I started piecing a backing. Some more width is needed before I can load this onto the frame.

Stash Report: July 11 - 24
Used/wk: 8.75 yds
Purch/wk: 25.75 yds

Used/yr: 131.375 yds
Purch/yr: 81.917 yds

Net Used: 49.458 yds

Design wall - UFO! and Stash Report

Oh BOY! This UFO hasn't seen the light of day for awhile, but for whatever reason, I thought I'd bring it out to FINISH over the next couple of days weeks now that I've learned a thing or two about applique. I don't know what happened where I had one "weird" block (placed in the center)----this has been an on-n-off project for the past 4 years, so I'm sure I miscounted/misplaced the original white units, so I just grabbed whatever "light" scraps I had to finish up the final block the last time I worked on this last year.

Most of the fabrics (I dare say 90%) are fabrics that I inherited from my Grandmother in 2007 (when I started this baby). I'll have to see what I have left of her fabrics because the blocks will be connected with strips of sashing.

I learned a trick using a glue-stick to turn over the seam allowance and it's how I applique now, unless I simply cut to size and applique with a raw edge. Applique is NOT my cup of tea, but I WILL finish this UFO!

Block #1 of 13. A block a day? That'd be 2 weeks, and then the EASY part of piecing everything together. ;0) End of July goal?......SURE!

OH! The designer suggests to cut away the extra fabric underneath after appliqueing..... I'm actually thinking of leaving it there; giving the finished quilt some more weight. Thoughts?????


I didn't post a Stash Report yesterday, so I'm doubling up this Judy post :0)

Stash Report: June 13-19
Used/wk: 23.292 yds {{I'll have to look, but I think this is the new record!}}
Purch/wk: 14.167 yds

Used/yr: 109.625 yds
Purch/yr: 47.167 yds

Net Used: 62.458 yds

Stash reports: May 30 - June 5 & June 6-12

When I work downstairs in my quilting room, I always have my "Mom's Quilting notebook" dutifully at my side. YES, it needs to be labeled with strict rules that it is MOM'S NOTEBOOK, otherwise three little sets of hands will snatch it to make pretty pictures in....or be used as a waitress' notepad....or as a scientist's field guide......{{You get the picture}}

This is where I keep track of all my yardage/strips/scraps used...

...or notes on blocks I've seen that don't come with a pattern. {Thanks again, Angela, for sharing some basics of the Scrap Block....so CUTE!}

I had been kinda dieing to know what the verdict of these past two weeks would be after slicing and sewing so much fabric for With Heart and Hostess with Heart.

Stash Report: May 30 - June 5
Used/week: 5.382 yds
Purch/week: 0.0 yds

Used/year: 68.257 yds
Purch/year: 11.0 yds

Net Used: 57.257 yds


Stash Report: June 6-12
Used/week: 18.076 yds {not bad}
Purch/week: 22.0 yds

Used/year: 86.333 yds
Purch/year: 33.0 yds

Net Used: 53.333 yds

Alright, time to get busy to double that usage by the end of summer :0)

Hopscotch; Stash Report; Rainbow Scrap Challenge

Hopscotch....I guess I've determined how large I want the center. It's quite amazing how fate works.....I ran out of 4-patches at the completion of 63 blocks, so a 7x9 layout it is. I have plenty of the copper fabric for sashing and may even have enough left over for a final border. For now, it rests.

A few nights this past week, I started sorting and cutting some purple scraps for April's Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I have not counted any of this into my stash report yet.....

Stash Report: April 4 - 10
Used/week: 16.25 yds (Backing for RRCB & Raven Stars; Hopscotch blocks)
Purch/week: 0.0 yds

Used/year: 62.875 yds
Purch/year: 11.0 yds

Net Used: 51.875 yds

To close this post.....I always enjoy glimpsing through pictures after Candace has had the camera. There is what she snapped over the past two days....







Off to eat some late lunch and then head outside. We broke SEVENTY DEGREES TODAY!!!!! Wooooooo :0)

Roll Roll Cottonboll top done; Hopscotch started

Measuring at 95" x 110", Roll Roll Cottonboll top is complete. It's big. Very big. And will be perfect for my our king-size bed. I'm not sold on the 4.5" blue outer border, but I didn't want to stay-stitch around the edge of the quilt in order to pin it to my frame. One thing for sure...I am GLAD I have a frame that will fit this baby! I actually measured the length of my frame---about 125". So, I'll be able to load this sideways to reduce as much bulk as possible on the take-up bar.

Like I said yesterday....a little bit here and a little bit there....and the top just slowly came together. Once those string blocks and the HSTs were complete, it sped up a bit, but still probably the most time-consuming quilt top I've ever made to date.

With some downtime last night, I pulled out Bonnie's Adventures with Leaders and Enders book to see if there was a perfect pattern for the 4-patches I tidied yesterday. Sure enough....



So, I started pulling scraps from my 1.5" box. {{The pattern calls for 2" strips, but I modified it to fit the smaller 4-patches I had pieced.}} These blocks will finish at 6", and I don't have any preset notion of how large I'll make this quilt. I don't have any yellow/cheddar/orange as suggested in Bonnie's pattern, but I have had this copper fabric in my stash for over a year. I think it may be the ticket; definitely will be ideal for a boy/male/gentleman's quilt.

I haven't included any numbers of these blocks into my stash report yet. I'll wait until I have all the blocks pieced. But, I did add a bit (removed a bit) due to adding the borders to RRCB and the baby quilt I pieced last week.

Stash Report: March 21 - April 3
Used/week: 3.875 yds
Purch/week: 0.0 yds

Used/year: 46.625 yds
Purch/year: 11.0 yds

Net Used: 35.625 yds

Happy Sunday.

Two and a half finishes with a Stash Report

Ugh. BOY, I've been in a slump lately and have allowed myself to play the victim instead of making the best of it and moving forward with a few different things at work. This slump has migrated its way to my quilting life; not having much of any motivation to do anything.

WELL! What a poooooooh way to live, huh?

So, this AM while catching up on blogs, I read Bonnie's "A Heart for Japan" post where she was requested to get the word out for assistance on sending quilts to Japan. Putting everything into perspective, my life is no where NEAR as bad as what it could be, so ..... I shook out of my whiny-victim mood and said....."stop sulking and get busy Amy!"

Having been two weeks since I really spent any real time quilting, I started with the quilt that was on my floor---Maltese Star (QOV Mystery #24). The final borders needed to be pieced onto it. 20 minutes later, measuring at 64"x80"----top done :0). It has been set aside because it IS meant for donation to QOV, but I wanted to get busy on some Japan donation quilts.

While I was finishing up Maltese Star, I started doing some brainstorming on how to finish up my Red Blossoms quilt that STILL was displayed on my design wall. I thought it would be a perfect quilt to finish up and donate!

A small 1" light inner border was added, in addition to the pinwheel extensions to the top/bottom, and one final 5" red border, finishing this quilt at 66"x76".

Find fabric for a backing wasn't super easy, but I think I pieced it together well enough to accomplish its job. This is yet another project showing the symmetric nature to just about everything I create. 180 degree rotational symmetry, slightly off-balance, shown here. The larger red pieces are a hand-dyed fabric that was in one of my many storage boxes.

I didn't change out my pantograph at all---still using my 4.5" Chinese Crescents, a perfect "loose" pantograph.



While I was quilting Red Blossoms, I needed a small break, so I pulled my Blue Ridge Beauty off my 'waiting table' to trim off the excess batting/backing from quilting it a few weeks back. Then took a few moments to prepare some binding and zooooooomed away, finishing off this quilt at 68"x80".

As much as I really was looking forward to having this join me upstairs as my new snuggle-quilt, it is needed much more over seas. So, off to Japan it will go!

I'm pretty tuckered out, but rather pleased with my day's progress. Another hour of binding is needed and I'll be able to check Red Blossoms off my list, too.


I mentioned a few weeks back that the girls and myself have been doing some puzzling; DH caught us in the act last weekend (it was a PJ day for sure!)


Stash Report: March 7-20
Used/week: 6.07 yds
Purch/week: 5.0 yds (backing for Raven Stars)

Used/year: 42.75 yds
Purch/year: 11.0 yds

Net Used: 31.75 yds

Not much action today...

I was downstairs by 7:30, making progress on Maltese star - Mystery 24. I didn't lay out any border treatments, I simply saw a picture in my head and went for it. Here's the current status (pictured sideways); I still want to add a final wider blue border, but I don't have enough of any one blue fabric (that I can find, anyway). There may be a gem or two that I can find in one of the donation boxes, but I didn't feel like digging in to the boxes today.

Therefore, I finished up piecing the 20 string blocks of RRCB part #7 and 6 more of the pieced blocks from part #7. I didn't take a picture before heading upstairs for lunch, nor have I been back downstairs since.

DH is down-n-out with some form of bug. Psht! He even is giving us the sympathy-craving-vomit routine. {{ewwww}}. So, rather than heading back downstairs, I've remained up here, cleaning and rearranging the living room.

And now, all of us girls are kicking back, watching Ice Age and having an afternoon snack.

Harry Potter update
Yeah, yeah....I wouldn't say I'm obsessed as some, but it IS quick reading so far. I'm on page 208 and will probably spend the next hour or so with my feet up, reading.

Stash Report: Feb. 28 - Mar. 6
Used/week: 1.75 yds
Purch/week: 0.0 yds

Used/year: 36.68 yds
Purch/year: 6.0 yds

Net Used: 30.68 yds

Raven Stars; Red Blossoms; RRCB; BIL visit; Stash Report

Since Raven Stars isn't a mystery, AND for the fact that I want to show you all that I HAVE been doing something quilty this weekend.........my quilt center has been pieced despite having two more steps yet to be printed for y'all. This is merely the quilt center; I am still planning a simple border.

A shot of my design wall, still housing Red Blossoms; the border pinwheels were my leader-ender project for the day.


At the end of the day, with about 30 minutes left on the clock before I knew I needed to pack up, I pieced together 10 of the string blocks for RRCB.

Amazingly, for much of the day though, I was upstairs watching "Uncle Ryan" and Cassie and all the others play the Wii. Simutaneously, I worked on a puzzle that has been out on our side table since Christmas; I'm not much of a puzzler, but.......I finished it. Sorry Cass!!!!

Although a good amount of sewing happened this weekend, my stash report still won't change (much) since all the fabric used had already been recorded. However, I will at least get updated numbers to include the fabric used last weekend for the mini-nine-patches.

Stash Report: Feb. 14 - 27
Used/week: .61 yds
Purch/week: 0.0 yds

Used/year: 34.93 yds
Purch/year: 6.0 yds

Net Used: 28.93 yds

Blue Ridge Beauty top done; Red Blossoms gettin' there

Blue Ridge Beauty (69"x80") - pictured sidewaysThe final borders were put on this morning---there will be no continual UFO status for this thing!!! A backing was pieced from a large amount of blue that I found in the donation boxes and already loaded up on the frame. I was hoping to get a start on the quilting today, but not so sure that will happen now.

I also worked on Red Blossoms today. Thanks to Amanda, I feel just fine only having pieced one more block to have the center finish square. (Speaking of Amanda...be sure to check out her Scrappy Red words quilt!!! As for my red quilt...the center has been pieced together, and I even spent some time piecing the bonus triangles into pinwheels for some sort of pieced border. Now that my design floor is clear of Blue Ridge Beauty, I think I'll play around with border layouts for Red Blossoms. I definitely need to break up the center from the pieced border with a light/white inner border strip.

And, as the meteorologist promised, today the temps hit the 50's!!! WOW! Heat wave! Naturally, I needed to make the most of it!!! Laced up the tennies and ran 1.8 miles once DH returned home from fishing with Caitlyn.

Oh ....
Caitlyn had a wonderful time! It was just DH and her, so she was on the receiving end of all the attention....

I have NO CLUE what this picture is all about, but DH sent it to me.

DH is cleaning the fish right now; I'm finishing up a few loads of laundry; Caitlyn and Cassie are outside feeding the animals, and Candace is writing her name on all the valentines for her class tomorrow; all signs that the weekend is coming to an end.


Stash Report Feb. 7-13
Used/week: 4.67 yds
Purch/week: 0.0 yds

Used/year: 34.32 yds
Purch/year: 6.0 yds

Net Used: 28.32 yds

Stash Report Jan. 17-23

Stash Report: Jan. 17-23
Used/week: 4.75 yds
Purch/week: 0.0 yds

Used/year: 19.15 yds
Purch/year: 0 yds

Net Used: 19.15 yds

Nothing spectacular yet, other than the 0.0 yard purchased for the year :0)
This week WOULD have been very quiet on the stash used side if I wouldn't have decided to participate in the Quilts4Military Mystery 24. I did a decent amount of quilting by finishing off four quilts for my MIL, but none of the fabric used was mine. Soon enough those numbers will start spiking! I MUST continue fighting the urge to stop in at the quilt shop though....so tempting!!!!

Watching the Packers beat the Bears.....almost the end of the third quarter. Come on Pack! Come on Pack! Come on Pack!!!!

MIL quilting; Green Beauty Quilting; Stash Report Jan. 3-9

This is the MIL quilt I was working on yesterday morning before my body tuckered out on me. I only had one pass left of it to finish up, so shortly after starting downstairs this morning, I was removing this from the frame. I'm not sure who she was making it for, but it's another to add to the pile of finishes to hand to her at the end of the month.

I tried out my new pantograph on it: Watercourse by Lorien quilting. I purchased this for my Green Beauty {{Jared Takes a Wife}} in mind, so I thought trying it out on a smaller quilt was a wise decision.

And naturally, it was a piece of cake, so I spent the morning hours prepping a backing and batting in order to load Green Beauty onto the frame. I've gone through 7 bobbins already and am nearing the finish. But I think this may be where I leave it for the night. My mom is spending the night and is expected any moment; but more importantly, the Packer game has started!!!



I'm not ruling out heading back downstairs later, but....I won't get down on myself if I don't.

Stash Report: Jan. 3 -9
Used/week: 5.2 yds
Purch/week: 0.0 yds

Used/year: 9.00 yds
Purch/year: 0 yds

Net Used: 9.00 yds


End-of-post update... Yup. Mom just arrived, with a GOODIE in tow! :0) Hancock Fabrics from the hometown was having a 50% off sale on batting, so I asked mom to pick me up a roll of Warm-n-Natural. Ya can't go wrong at $5.49/yard for a 20 yard roll.

First Stash Report 2011: Jan 1 - 2

My first report of the year, and it's all good
(DUH! As if I've had a lot of time to actually go out and BUY anything!....oh...but....well....I guess I could have bought something online with all these "END OF THE YEAR" sales being literally thrown my way via email after email???) 

But ...nah! I've been good.

{{mind you, this report only consists of two days since I didn't start counting until Jan 1}}

Used/week: 3.75 yds
Purch/week: 0.00 yds

Used/year: 3.75 yds
Purch/year: 0.0 yds

Net Used: 3.75 yds

Projects started this week: None
Projects completed this week: None

Projects that saw time this week: 

Serenity (left)

In Flight (right)







Current Leader/Ender project: Blue Ridge Beauty

Final Stash Report of 2010

I know Judy counted last Sunday as the last Stash Report of 2010, but I wanted to go to the end of 2010 before starting over for 2011...

After the super week of vacation sewing, I'm ending on a good note, with a NEW WEEKLY RECORD!!!!

Stash Report: Dec. 27 - 31
Used/week: 20.236 yards
Purchased/week: 6.75 yards (to finish Trav's quilt---part of the used too!)

Used/year: 262.382 yards
Purchased/year: 228.486 yards

Net used: 33.896 yards

---

Goals for 2011:
Used / year: 300+
Purchased / year: 200-
Net used: 100+