Stash Report - April 9, 2017

I am so glad to proclaim it is finally Spring!!  Although April and May will be busy months for me, I am happy to have March behind me.  If you read my blog occasionally, you know that I often start by saying I've been "proquiltinating".  That is the art of quilting, when I should be doing something else.  Most of the time, that is housework.  Cyndy Brunz had it right when she said, "Quilting is more fun than housework"!  The problem is, when you neglect housework for too long, it takes longer to get back to normal.

About a month ago, I reached critical mass.  The dust bunnies were multiplying faster than the ones outside.  So...I just had to attack the house!  My sons and I spent Spring Break capturing those little bunnies and banishing them from the house.  Along the way, we finally got rid of excess clothes, books, toys, and kitchen equipment.  My husband even joined the bandwagon, and got rid of clothes in the closet he's had since we got married, nearly 20 years ago!  The house feels lighter, airier, and I can finally breathe and sew again!

While I still have some more work to do in my closet and the garage, I am finally at a place I can conquer it as the last frontier of my sewing room.  Not only do I have projects running amuck, my room also became a dumping ground of sorts.  There are books, gift wrap, boxes, toothbrushes (??), and who knows what else lurking in there.  So before I could sew, I actually needed to declutter the room of the items that don't belong.  I also needed to restore some of my fabric to it's proper home, and tidy up the space.  That was my day's project.  While not perfect, the excess has been removed, the floors have been vacuumed, the out of place fabric has been put away, and my happy little sewing room is back to it's normal state of disarray.

I'm back to working on yesterday's guild project, which I didn't finish.  Turns out I took my sew in stabilizer instead of my fusible, so I just stopped working at that point.  Now that I can get the correct stabilizer out of my stash, I can finish the project.  Here are some photos of what others made, and I'll show you mine when it is complete.

I've now completely lost track of how many days I have been in the sewing room this year.  In fact, I haven't even updated my quilting journal, which is very unusual.  Now that the house is more reasonable, I think I can get back to spending at least 15 minutes a day in there, and maybe track it too!

Since I haven't actually finished anything, my stats haven't changed.  I haven't acquired anything either, which is perfect!  See actual projects others are working on and how they are managing their stashes over at Patchwork Times.

Until next time, Happy Spring!
Joy :)

Stash Report - March 12, 2017

About a month ago, I posted I was fighting whatever illness my husband had.  The next day, I lost the battle and had it too.  It seems once I was well, I had to play catchup to all of the things I didn't do while I was under the weather.  When that happens, sewing must take the back burner.  I am better now, and I think I am caught up.  Back to the sewing room I have gone.

For the time being, I have lost count of the number of days in the sewing room.  I'll have to look back at my notes and see if I can recreate which days the last half of February I was in the sewing room.

In the meantime, I did manage to complete a project.  It started as a new piece of "Ugly Dog" fabric in a paper bag that I selected at guild.  We all exchanged the fabrics, and were given some time to come up with a completed project from someone else's fabric.  This was mine...

At first, I didn't mind because I was a Star Wars fan.  I came up with several great ideas.  Then I started to cut out the fabric, and I noticed certain things that hindered me.  First, the color I thought was red was actually pink.  Red just didn't look good with part of it.  Second, I thought the word "Vader" was centered and looked like a mouth under the eyes.  It's not actually centered, and getting that face cut out proved challenging.  Finally, was the fact that the fabric had been washed and was no longer a true black, but more of a dark gray.

I decided cutting the individual sections apart was a good idea.  I really wanted to piece them back together in such a way that they no longer resembled Star Wars fabric. Here was one I tried. I like the pieced face, but not the fabric scraps I put with it.

 Unfortunately, that was a violation of the rules, which stated they had to be recognizable in the finished piece.  So I opted for simple piecing and color blocks.  I especially like the flange of the binding as a mini border and pop of color.  I disregarded the variance in shades of black, and it worked out.  It's not large, but it is finished.

Although the feature fabric was swapped, the remaining fabric, backing, and binding came from my stash.  It's nice to have a little moving out.

Used this week:  0.66 yards
Acquired this week:  0.00 Yards

Used this year:  12.08 yards
Acquired this year:  8.125 yards
Destashed this year:  3.955 yards

See how others are managing their stashes at Patchwork Times.

Tata for now,
Joy :)

Stash Report - February 12, 2017

Happy Sunday!  It has been a busy week.  I've been fighting some crud that my husband has, but so far I have managed to stay ahead of it.  I felt just bad enough I could push off a few things and stay home, but not so bad that I couldn't sew.  And sew I did!  I managed more than 15 minutes in the sewing room all 7 days, which brings my annual total to 36 out of my 200 goal.  See how Kate is doing over at Life in Pieces.

I have finished all of the center blocks for Bricks in the Barnyard by Bonnie Hunter, in an enlarged size.  I think I have also made the french braid border long enough, but I won't know for sure until I get the center put together.  I am normally a piece the row by row then join the rows kind of quilter, but I decided this time to make large 4-patches from the blocks, and then assemble those into larger four patches.  I think there will be less of a chance that I will reverse some of them.  You'll understand when you see them, so come back tomorrow for Design Wall Monday to see my final arrangement.  I'm hoping to have a completed top by the end of the day!

I also attempted to join the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2017.  I had an idea for a finished quilt that would use the scrappy colored blocks with a little preplanning.  I really wanted a constant light neutral for it, but I don't have any yardage in my stash.  So...I went shopping!  I came across these two lovely fabrics.  One is such a light gray, that I would call it silver if it had a sheen to it.  The other makes me hungry, because it looks like sprinkles on a cupcake.  They are teeny, tiny polka dots.  I think the colors would be perfect for the RSC17.  I bought 3 1/2 yards of each, so I could make sure I had enough as a background.

So I took my idea and made a block with the purples I had pulled out.  Then I made a second block.  FLOP!!!  I hated them both.  I disliked them even more together.  So, I disassembled them!  I didn't even bother to take a pic.  I've now gone back to the drawing board, and I am pondering another idea.    If I get the top together today, I may try a block or two and show it tomorrow.  See...you have to come back!

Yesterday was also our guild day.  We made a  Simple Sewing Companion from 2 fat quarters.  This will be great for keeping my scissors and needles secure while I am on the go with handwork.  I love how unique everyone's turned out.

I also won the door prize, which included 7/8 yards of Valentine's Day fabric, a quilt coloring book, and colored pencils.  What a fun holiday surprise!

Be sure to check out Patchwork Times for updates on how other quilters are using their stash.  There are some fabulous ideas there!

Used This Week:  0.50 yards
Acquired This Week:  7.875 yards

Used Year to Date: 11.42 yards
Acquired Year to Date:  8.125 yards

Net Destashed Year to Date: 3.295 yards

Until tomorrow...Blessings!
Joy :)

Stash Report - Week 4

This week, I got to celebrate my elder son.  Even though he was turning 12, he still wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheese.  To show he is growing up, and much to my husband's dismay, he asked for only books for his birthday.  That makes a Mommy proud!

Despite having been a busy week, I did manage to get into the sewing room all 7 days this week.  That brings me to 22 out of my 200 day goal for the year.  I am following along with Kate over at Life in Pieces.

I was able to reassess where I was on Bricks in the Barnyard by Bonnie Hunter.  I had all of the pieces made for the original quilt size in her book, but then remembered I wanted it larger.  I'm a tall gal, so I prefer to make my quilts long enough for me.  (Just in case I love the quilt so much I keep it!)  That will require about 1/3 more blocks.  I spent the week cutting them out and beginning the piecing.  I was doing pretty well, until I pressed all of the seams for one unit the wrong direction.  Oops!  I have to press them all again before I can move on.

I paused on the making of the Bionic Gear Bags for my Mom and Sister.  I decided I didn't like the zippers I had for the outside.  I really want a purse zipper with two larger pulls.  They will just make these bags a little nicer to use.  I have one, but the color isn't quite right.  I've ordered new ones, and they should be here this week.

Although none of these projects are complete, I am encouraged by the amount of progress I made.  I did have to buy the zippers, but I have been able to use what I already have for the rest of it.  Still, I have an addition for the week.  Our guild celebrated our 1st birthday.  One of our members made these cute fabric cupcakes for everyone.  So, I have the 1/4 yard addition.

I'm staying accountable by reporting in with Patchwork Times.  So my numbers for the week are:

Used This Week:  0.00 yards
Acquired This Week:  0.25 yards

Used Year To Date: 10.92 yards
Acquired Year To Date: 0.25 yards

Net Destashed Year To Date: 10.67 yards

Blessings to all,
Joy :)

Design Wall - January 23, 2017

Monday morning finds me proquiltinating again.  Once again, I should be cleaning house, but I am in the sewing room instead.

I am finally getting back to Bricks in the Barnyard by Bonnie Hunter.  It has been so long since I worked on it, I can't remember exactly where I am.  So in a little while, I will be laying out the blocks  on the floor and counting the center blocks.  Then I'll investigate the remaining pieces I have to see if I need to cut more center and border units.  

Unfortunately, I can't spend all day in the sewing room.  I will have to leave later to help my in-laws clean out Aunt Eacie's apartment.  This sweet lady passed away last Sunday at 99 1/2 years old.

She was really just a big kid at heart, trapped in an aging body.  She always loved to plan themed parties, especially picnics.  But she always had trouble with ants outside, and she called them "piss ants."  So for her 90th birthday, I made her a "Piss Ant" quilt.  The back of it shows in the photo above.  As I was going through my scraps, I found these.  I love how quilts and scraps can make you think of others, whether it is in the giving of quilt, or remembering someone who has passed.

I was digging through my scraps, because I have decided I want to participate in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2017 I keep seeing everywhere.  I really don't have a lot of purples, but I pulled what I had.  (And discovered my scraps were not as well organized as I thought they were.)  I have an idea for a block, but I need to investigate to see if I have enough scraps in the correct sizes to make it.  I also don't think I have the correct background fabric, but we'll see.

That's what my day looks like...black and gray with a chance of purple!  I hope you get to spend some time sewing, but if not, be sure to check out what is on other people's design walls at Patchwork Times.

Blessings, 

Joy

Stash Report - Week 3

It's been a busy week in the sewing room.  I have been working on finishing up Ruler Bags.  The first one uses my collection of Texas themed fabrics and is for my sister.  It finishes at 21"x26", and she is excited to take it to her retreats coming up in February.  It has 3 feature pockets on the outside for her longer rulers, and seven pockets inside for her other rulers.  It is sized so she can carry an 18"x24" rotary cutting mat.  I love my coffee bean one, and I know she will enjoy hers too.  Total out of my stash for this bag is 5 3/8 yards.

I also completed a ruler bag for a fellow guild member.  Her ruler bag is much larger, and finishes at 37"x25".  It has 3 outer pockets, and 14 inner pockets.  She provided the butterfly fabric, but I provided the solid quilting cotton for decor and pocket linings, colored pockets, and various muslins, interfacings, and batting to complete the project.  I will be delivering it to her tomorrow, and I think she will be pleased.  I was going to also make her a smaller one for a 12"x18" mat, but I need to discuss design with her.  I just don't think I have enough of the butterfly fabric left to make it work.  Total out of my stash to complete this bag is 4 1/2 yards.

This week I also quilted a table runner my guild taught as a class last year.  I actually finished the top and had it sewn to the backing last September during QuiltWeek, but never actually got it quilted.  Now, it is a finished project, and I can claim it as 2/3 yards used and mark it off my "To Do" list.

During the same Quilt Week, I almost completed a First Aid Bag.  Again, it was close but not completed.  So, I finished up this cute bag.  I'm not completely sure what I am going to do with it, but I can mark it off the list and claim the 1/4 yard used for it.

And finally, I finished up this Easy Wonder Clip Bowl by Birdcage and Thread.  It only used up 1/8 yard, but I can see where it will be extremely handy.  I plan to make a few more of these for my sister and Mom, now that I know how they go together.

I'm checking in with Patchwork Times for my stash report.  Since this is the first I've used this year, my weekly numbers are the same as my yearly numbers:

Used Year To Date: 10.92 yards
Purchased Year To Date: 0.00 yards

Net Destashed Year To Date: 10.92 yards

In addition to those bags, I also began quilt planning for an "Ugly Dog Fabric" challenge with my guild.  The challenge is to take a piece of someone else's "ugly" fabric and create a completed quilt.  I'm pretty excited about mine, but I'm not quite ready to share it yet.  The planning has begun for it, and I'm looking forward to getting it started this week.

In the meantime, I have started stitching two Bionic Gear Bags.  One will be for my Mom, and the other for my sister.  I hope to have those finished up this week, so I can get them in the mail.  Mom knows I am working on hers, but my sister's is a surprise that will coordinate and arrive with her ruler bag.  If I have time before Friday, I may even make my sister a matching Scrap Bag.  We'll see.

I've been following Kate's good example over at Life in Pieces by trying to spend at least 15 minutes sewing every day.  This week, I managed all 7, which brings my yearly amount to 15 out of the 200 that is my goal for this year.  It really is amazing how much I am able to accomplish with this goal.  Whether it is grabbing a few minutes to run a few things under the needle while waiting on my boys, or the "just a few minutes" that turn into 3 hours, I've been pleased with what I have been able to accomplish this week.

And while I'm reporting, let me also say that I am following along with Shelley at Prairie Moon Quilts in The 350 Block Challenge.  Since I was making bags and not actually quilting, I'll claim 10 blocks this week and year.

I'm also going to spend 10 minutes a day this week straightening my sewing room.  Just that little time will yield big benefits by the end of the week.  I've been pulling multiple fabrics, so I have fabric strewn across my room.  Spending a few concentrated moments of time cutting down scraps or putting thread back in place will help tremendously.  I was also looking for batting pieces for one for the ruler bags, so I need to fold and label some pieces.  These little tasks will help return the sense of serenity to my sewing room.

But before I go, I want to wish a Happy Birthday to my Father-In-Law.  Happy 70th Birthday, Pa!  He has been a wonderful role model to my husband and sons, and we are beyond blessed to have him as the Patriarch of our family.

Blessings to All this Week,
Joy :)

Design Wall Monday

It is starting out as a beautiful week.  I should be doing more housework than I am, but I am "proquiltinating" instead.

I haven't yet gotten my sewing room back to a state of order, so I am working on the project that was on top of the stacks...Ruler Bags!  I've made 2 before, one for me and one for Mom.  Now my sister has asked for one.  I am making her one using my collection of Texas themed fabric.  The strips will be the outside of the bag, and the wildflowers will be the interior.  I'm hoping I can get it finished up today, after purchasing the correct color thread to sew on the binding and straps.

The other ruler bag I am making is for a fellow guild member.  She saw mine last year, and asked me to make her one.  She provided the butterfly material, which will serve as both the exterior and interior of the bag.  It is home dec fabric, so it should also be durable.

These bags are not really difficult, but there are a lot of little details. They are sized to fit an 18x24 cutting mat, so they take up a lot of space while making them.  Once they are complete, I will have more room to figure out what projects are next.  I also auditioned quite a bit of fabric for my sister's bag, which I need to get put away.

These aren't really on the Design Wall, but I am linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times anyway.

Happy sewing!
Joy :)

Stash Report - Week 1

Happy first week!  I hope you have had a successful week working your projects.

I managed to get into the sewing room 1 day last week. I'll be following along with Kate at Life in Pieces each week to report days with more than 15 minutes in the sewing room.   Since that day was only to figure out this year's goals, I have nothing out this week. I have been sick this week too, so nothing in either.

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times.

Blessings,
Joy :)

Ringing in the New Year With New Goals

Hello, Blog Friends!  Did you miss me?

When I looked at my last post, it was hard to believe the last 4 months of the year flew by.  Mom came into town just after that post, and she and I went to Chattanooga for Quilt Week.  There were some classes and purchases, but mostly a lot of quality time with Mom.  If I can get to the point where I can take some pics of the projects I worked on in classes and fabric purchases, I'll make a post about it.  In the spirit of complete honesty, the packed bags are still in my sewing room.  I've rummaged through a few, but for the most part, I didn't make it into the sewing room much after I got home.

Why?  The short story is my husband went to Peru.  It doesn't sound like too big of a deal, until I explain that first I had to prepare him and get him packed to be in the middle of the jungle.  He was working at an orphanage near Iquitos.  I spent about 2 weeks trying out snacks and putting together his backpack for 100+ degree heat, without clean drinking water or medical facilities.  Good thing too.  While he was there, he slipped and fell several times.  I had sent him with a bandage, which he was able to wrap his knee with so he could hobble around until he got home.  When he arrived home, he fell again and could no longer put weight on it.  Several Dr. visits and a surgery later, he has a new ACL in his knee, but is still unable to walk without crutches.  He is steadily getting better, and we anticipate he will be off the crutches in the next week or two.

It is amazing how much something like this impacts your life, especially when you add in the holidays.  He can't do things like carry his own cup of coffee from the kitchen to the table, and there was a 6 week period he couldn't drive.  That meant me taking the kids to school (both at different times) and taking him to work.  I'd have a couple of hours (assuming I didn't need to take him to a lunch or get him something to eat), and then it was time to reverse the process and pick everyone up.  Between housework, the extra help to him, and the holidays, there was simply no time to get to the sewing room.  I did hurriedly make a few things, like a clear plastic stadium bag for my mother-in-law and a bag for my sister.  These were quick, less than 1 hour projects, squeezed in at the very last moment.  Naturally, this was the year we spent Christmas in Texas.  After all, I had a new nephew to meet!!  (I have a new grand-nephew due any day now, and another new nephew due in April.  I'm so excited!!)

Now that things are a little less hectic, and he is starting to put weight on his leg again, things have started to get back to normal.  I've been able to spend several hours in my sewing room, both evaluating where I am and goals for the year, as well as trying to catch up on blogs I've missed.  (That's how little time I've had...not even time to read!). Just in case you are wondering...I didn't accomplish any of my goals for last year, except getting a quilt repair finished for someone else.

So, as I look forward to this year, I've tried to simplify my goals a little.

1.  Reduce Project Pages to 1 1/2 pages
I keep a Quilting Journal.  In fact, in December I filled up the one I've been using for the last 5 years. So today, I started a new one.  It starts as a standard spiral, and then I add lists of projects, both started and planned, followed by when I work on them.  It includes days sewn, monthly goals, any project planning I do, purchases I make, project quantities I complete, number of blocks I make, any guild or class notes I take, and anything else sewing related I want to write down.  Right now, that project list is 2 1/3 pages.  Many are sewing projects, which could be completed in under 2 days each.  If I focus, I can just sew them up and get them off the list and out of my sewing room.

2.  Use More Fabric Than I Purchase
I don't have a specific usage amount...just to keep it in the black.  The good news is, I have most of the fabric for my projects that have actually been started.  I'll be reporting these most Sundays at Patchwork Times.

3.  Complete 15 quilts
Normally, this would be a lofty goal.  But the truth is, many of my quilts are near completion.  In many cases, my projects are basted quilts that just need to be quilted and bound.  I am sad that Aunt Marti at 52quilts.com will not be continuing her UFO Challenge and monthly parade this year, but I still plan to complete many quilts that I worked on this past year as part of the challenge.  I've decided to report these as part of Judy's UFO Challenge at Patchwork Times.

4.  Spend at least 15 minutes sewing for at least 200 days this year.
I'll be following Kate's good example over at Life in Pieces.  I've limited it to 200 days, because I need to be realistic.

5.  Make 500 Blocks this year
I'll be following along with Shelley over at Prairie Moon Quilts and their block challenge.  She hasn't released any updates to last year's challenge yet, but 500 is my personal goal for the year.  I have several planned quilts that should be quick quilts and make that number doable.

6.  Assimilate all scraps into a scrap system.
This year, I made a start, but I am finding more and more scraps that need to be cut down to various size.  I basically follow Bonnie Hunter's Scrap User's System from Quiltville, but I am also reviewing the way Lori Holt at BeeInMyBonnetCo.blogspot.com organizes hers.  As I finish quilts and I am finished with the project, I will take all of the fabrics and put them back into my stash and scrap system.

7.  Start Pineapple Crazy Quilt
I know this sounds "crazy", but I am going to start this quilt from Bonnie Hunter.  My goal is to use up some of the scraps that I have now, especially the smaller pieces.  Because the pineapple blocks are small, so are the pieces needed to complete it.  My goal is to complete at least 1 block with fabrics I use on each quilt I make.  This will allow me to have my own personal quilt of my quilting journey. It is not a quilt I plan to complete, or even at a specific time in the future.  I am just going to start it and enjoy the process of making each block.

8.  Blog 40 times.
In 2016, I blogged 25 times, so I am looking to increase the frequency this year.

Those are my goals for the new year. I wish you great success as you evaluate where you are in your quilting journey.  Thank you for joining me on mine.

Blessings,
Joy :)