Stash Report - 25 - 6/19/11

The retreat was a success in that I did get lots of sewing done. Projects completed to the fabric reporting stage, not so much. The outfit for Paige did get finished and mailed -  1 1/2 yards.

The indigo project got finished - 2 1/2 yards.

The batik log cabin top got finished but I reported that last weekend during the retreat.

But the yellow top did not get hand stitched so I need to wait to report the back and binding. And since the retreat ended on Tuesday, I haven't touched a machine or sewing machine.

I did some fabric shopping this week. I needed more fabric for the tote bag bottom but it went out as soon as it came in so I'm not counting it on either tally. And I bought a cute knit fabric for a Paige outfit - 1 1/4 yards. :)

Geez, it comes in so easily and takes so much effort for it to go out. No wonder most of our stashes are so out of control.


Stash Report
Used the past week: 4 yards
Used year to date: 55.25 yards 

Added the past week: 1.25 yards
Added year to date: 82.75 yards

Net used in 2011: -27.50 yards 


Head over to Patchwork Times to see how others are doing with busting their stash.

Retreat

We sewed and ate and sewed and ate. Once in a while we slept. We actually went 10 or 11:00 am till midnight or 1:00 am every day.

I am happy with what I accomplished:

The batik log cabin (UFO #8) got it's borders on.

The romper for Paige got made.

And the indigo project got made.

My friends also accomplished a lot. Unfortunately I don't have pictures of everything but here are some.

First stage of Joyce's Twister

Joyce's 1930s Tumbler

Audrey and Beth's Sparkling Gemstones. It's in all Jennifer Paganelli fabrics and an eggplant sashing.

Elaine's completely hand pieced sampler.

Debbie takes a break to give Amber some lovin'.

Stash Report - Week 24 - 6/12/11

Eight of us are retreating at my house. Yesterday we had a total blast. My abdomen hurts this morning from laughing so hard. Luckily the heat wave totally left us (it was actually so cool that we had to start closing windows).

I finished the batik log cabin top. Oh, I love this top. I'll try to edit in a picture later when I can have some ladies hold it up for me.

More to come as we sew, sew, sew for three more days.

I did buy fabric for my niece's college quilt and bloomers for dgd, Paige.

Stash Report
Used the past week: 13 yards
Used year to date: 51.25 yards 

Added the past week: 6.5 yards
Added year to date: 81.5 yards

Net used in 2011: -30.50 yards 


Head over to Patchwork Times to see how others are doing with busting their stash.

Indigo

After wondering and googling about what color indigo actually is, I am probably now more confused than ever.

Crayola has it as a purplish blue:

 Kona Cotton has it as  darker than navy blue:


                                       

This is an Indigo bush:

 

 And how about Indigo by Lancome:

                                    

 And I now know there is a Texas Indigo Snake. Look at that beautiful blue pattern:

 

So I decided *MY* indigo challenge project would be mostly dark blue, some purples and some purplish blues - dark and light. (The green is the cutting mat) And I think they all look great together.  And since we don't allow quilt police in this challenge, I am very happy to go with it. These would be one side of a tote.

The plan is to complete this project during our 4 day retreat. Yes, 4 day retreat! Can't wait.

Design Wall Monday

This coming weekend I am hosting a 4 day retreat here at my house for my Friday Quilting friends. DH is going out of town for 4 days and we are going to sew every day he is gone. In getting ready, I am prepping several projects to work on then.

1. A new romper for dgd, Paige, using this fabric and pattern.
    Preparation to do: cut out all pieces - Done

2. Batik log cabin - add border, quilt and bind
    Preparation - cut out border, make backing and binding  Edit - Done (Wednesday afternoon)

3. Yellow taxi cab - bind - this is actually on the long arm and I expect to have it quilted by the retreat so I will be able to sit and stitch the binding when my back needs a break from sitting at the machine.
    Preparation - quilt top, make binding, attach binding. Edit - Done (Monday afternoon)

4. Indigo tote bag
    Preparation - cut out all pieces Edit - Done - (Tuesday afternoon)

5. Mini log cabin block
    Preparation - none - Done :)

6. Nine patches for Patrick's college quilt
    Preparation - draft pattern, cut strips

Go see what is on other design walls at Patchwork Times

Year of the PIGS

It's that time again to think about our PIGS. Jill over at Ramblings of a Fabric and Yarn Obsessor has asked us again to consider a question about our PIGS:

"Your guild has challenged you to complete the PIGS that you least 

want to work on. What project would it be and why."

I know exactly what project I'd have to work on - don't even have to think about. I think it was called "The Wind Doth Blow".

I started this project sometime in the 90s. I truly have no idea when. My guess is the early 90s. I had gotten the pattern from a magazine but no idea which one. I spent ages and ages collecting greys for the background. Grey just wasn't an easy color to find those days. But I found some and I loved this quilt. But then for some reason I put it down and didn't look at it for years and years. 

I look at it now and all I can think is, "what on earth would I do with this thing?". The days of country styling left our house many moons ago. Even if it was a style I wanted to work on, I have no idea where the pattern is. I suppose I would add a simple border and be done with it but I seem to remember it having a very nice set of borders and I hate to not finish it properly.

I think the only way this top will ever get finished is if I am challenged. Hmmmm, may have to add it to next year's UFO challenge.

Go over to Jill's and see what projects others don't want to work on.

Stash Report - Week 23 - 6/5/11

I finished the Roman Stripe Quilt, UFO #9 this week and none of the fabric had ever been counted. That used about 8 yards.

I also finished a new outfit for dgd, Paige.

Don't you just want to pinch those cheeks? Look at those rolls
on her arms and legs! They are having a terrible time finding outfits that the elastic on the legs doesn't act like a tourniquet on those thighs.

So what's a grandmother to do? Make her outfits that fit, of course.





Having had only 4 sons I never got to make cute little outfits like this.

And I certainly never made little headbands with fabric flowers on them. I should have made pacifier holders but that never occurred to me at the time.

Am I having fun making baby girl clothes? uhhhh, yeah!!! 1 1/2 yards for the Paige outfit.

Stash Report
Used the past week: 9 1/2 yards
Used year to date: 38.25 yards 

Added the past week: 0 yards
Added year to date: 75 yards

Net used in 2011: -36.75 yards 

Well, better than last time but still a long way to go.

Check out other stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Yellow

Yellow is the color for June over at SoScrappy. I'm having trouble keeping up with the monochromatic challenges and definitely am not wanting to create any more UFOs, eighty five is enough, thank you very much. So I haven't participated in as many of these challenges as I would have like But January was yellow month over at PatchworkTimes and I created this top.

I love it but it never got finished so I will use Angela's challenge to get it quilted and bound. Woot!

UFO #9 Done - albeit late.

Yippee. Physical Therapy has been helping alot and I am back to quilting. Finished hand stitching the binding on UFO #9 today. Quilting it left handed was tricky but I am soo glad I took the challenge to get it done.

These blocks were made by members of an online group I have been with for 12 years. They were swapped in 2000. Yup, it was definitely time to get this UFO completed.

Check out other UFO completions at Patchwork Times.