Stash Report - March 20, 2016

Happy Spring!

This week, I enjoyed traveling from Middle Tennessee to Mid-Eastern North Carolina.  The Red Bud Trees, Bradford Pears, Saucer Magnolias, and Daffodils are in full bloom.  What a beautiful and welcome sight!  While losing an hour due to Daylight Savings added to losing another hour due to crossing time zones is not my favorite way to start a trip, I had a great time in Winston-Salem, NC this week.  I attended a Tuffet SourceTM Affiliate Training Workshop, and boy was it fun!

I met with other Independent Teachers and Quilt Shop Owners, while learning all the ins and outs of Tuffet making, from the creator herself, Sharyn Cole. Somewhere between the great conversation, classes, food, and fun, we even managed to complete a few tuffets!

If you read my post last week, you might remember I bought the fabrics for the workshop, but second-guessed myself when I got there.  I really didn't have time to shop before we started sewing, so I just sewed them up!  And I'm so glad I did!  The first tuffet is just a top right now, but after it was sewn together, I am really pleased with how the fabrics look together.

As I was packing for the trip, I also grabbed a few music fabrics from my stash and put them in the bag.  With the purchases I made for the workshop, a few of those fabrics came together in perfect harmony to create this lovely tuffet.

The other thing I love about tuffets is how unique and individual they are.  Just look at this sea of tuffets!

My additions this week were 4 fat eighths, which were part of my goodie bag at the workshop.  Into my stash they go, as I look for the perfect place to use them.

That's about it for me and the past week. I did manage to use some, but I have more work to do to get back in the black. I'm hoping that will happen this week, as I will be home with the boys while they are on Spring Break. Can I finish one of my quilts this week?  We shall see!

                                        This Week                     This Year

Used                                          4.25                           18.75

Added                                          .50                           27.75
Net Used/Added                        3.75                             9.00

I'm linking up to Patchwork Times for my weekly Stash Report.  If you have the time, check out how others are doing using what they have.

Blessings for the week, and Happy Spring!
Joy :)

Stash Report - March 13, 2016

Have you ever bought fabric for a specific project, only to get ready to start it and not like your choices any longer?  Well that where I am today. This week, I bought 5 yards of fabric for a tuffet workshop with Tuffet SourceTM. I arrived last night in North Carolina, and this morning when I pulled them out, I don't like them any more. 

In the top left of the photo, are 7 - 1/4 yard cuts of various blue, maroons, and browns. It will be used with a blue from my stash for a demo tuffet in the 64 strip pattern. I chose these colors so that down the road, I could give the sample to my sister for her house. Ehh...I should have gone with batiks. I still have time to go to a local shop or two before we start sewing those up tomorrow.

The fabrics at the bottom of the photo show 3 - 1 yard cuts of fabric that I bought for a tuffet that uses 2 feature fabrics and 2 coordinating fabrics. When I packed, I grabbed the music fabrics from my stash that I thought would coordinate with my purchases. And now...I'm not so sure. We'll see in about an hour, when I get set up in the sewing room with more light.

And the random solid black fat quarter? I took my son with me to the quilt store, and he picked it out. Because I had to have his favorite color in my stash, of course!

So my numbers dove further into the red for this week, but it should have a turn around for next week.

                                      This Week                       This Year
Used                                             0                             14.50
Added                                           5                             27.25
Net Used/Added                           5                             12.75            

Visit Patchwork Times to see how others are doing on Stashbusting, and what projects they have been working on this week.  Until I post updates from my workshop, have a great week!
Joy

Lucky Projects Chosen for Completion

I certainly enjoyed having an extra day in February!  I actually got up at 4am, and didn't return to bed until 11pm so I wouldn't waste the gift of time.  I spent the time getting my items ready for a consignment sale, helping at the Book Fair at my child's school, taking the items to consignment, and getting my little one to the Dr.  He has an ear infection.  :(  The good news is he is on the mend.

The bad news is, I did not place one single solitary stitch. So on Leap Day, I was unable to complete any more of my February goals.  So here is the recap:

1. T-Shirt Quilt - Done!
2. Cute Critter Binding - Done!
3. Rainbow Garden Binding - Done!
4. Bionic Gear Bag - Done!
5. Guild Block - Done!
6. Civil War Celebration - Borders and background cut, 2 of 8 blocks complete, and setting blocks complete.
7. Quilting Cousins Patriotic Table Runner - Blocks Cut, but not yet sewn together.
8. Christmas Advent Calendar - Done!
9. Temple Replacement Quilt - Just a pattern and folds of fabric right now.
10. Tuffet - Strips in order and first 2 strips pinned or sewn on.

For March, I want to complete the projects that weren't complete in February.  I've also added a few other lucky projects to the list.  

1. Civil War Celebration: Here are the borders laid out for sewing.  I just haven't had time lately to sit and stitch them.
   
   
   
   
   
2. QC Patriotic Table Runner - Back in it's box until I finish the Civil War quilt.
3. Temple Replacement Quilt - I've really only selected the fabrics and pattern.
4. Tuffet for Playroom - Do you see the forms on top of the quilt?  The wedges are stitched or pinned with the first two strips.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Buttercream Summer Block - My goal is to finish the block I was working on in February.  I was hoping to finish it during karate tonight, but didn't.  It will be on the plane with me tomorrow, so hopefully it will be finished before I get to Houston.
6. Summer Solstice Block A Day - ShooFly - This quilt is already basted to the backing.  I just need to mark it in the Baptist Fan pattern and free-motion quilt it.  Do you see it in the picture of the tuffet above?  That's the cream back of the quilt that is folded.
7. E'Lane's Shoes - This is an embroidery project for my Mother-in-Love.  They are embroidery shoes for each of my boy's, which is to compliment shoes that were embroidered for her when my husband was born.
   
   
   
   
   
8. Cash and Carry Pouch - I made one of these several years ago, and the piece on the bottom is leftover from then.  But my pouch was lost when my purse was stolen.  It was what I missed the most, so I am making a replacement.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Coffee Mug Bag - I'm not entirely sure what this is going to look like or what style I'm going to make.  I just want one to match the Bionic Gear Bag and Ruler Bag I've made over the last few months.  I do know that it will include a few of these fabrics.
   
   
   
   
   
10. Boy's Pillowcase Bags - I found a cute pattern for a pillowcase bag.  I told the boys they could help me make them, and they picked out their own fabrics.  I'll let them make it with these, but I did not pick them out!

Again, it is a long list.  However, many of them are just small projects that were lucky enough to make the list.  There are 3 quilts on the list, but 1 is just quilting, and 1 is a strip quilt that should move along quickly.  That means I will hopefully be able to take my time completing the Civil War pieced quilt.  I'll be travelling some this month, so the hand projects should keep me busy when I am without my machine.

Do you have any goals for the month?  Here's hoping you have a few special projects picked out.  Happy March Everyone!
Joy

Stash Report - February 28, 2016

This week, life has kept me from my sewing room for extended periods of time. I have made it to the room for 5 or 10 minutes at a time. I used that time to accomplish several things.

First, I made it a point to put away 10 things a day in the snippets of time I had. Maybe it was a few skeins of floss I had pulled out or fabrics I had tried out but not used. There were even some fabrics I bought last year but hadn't put away. They were just cluttering up my work surfaces, and now they are happily back in their homes. I even managed to dust and vacuum. My sewing space is so much tidier now. 

The second thing accomplished in the short amounts of time was getting cutting done. I finished cutting the borders and the rest of the background for my Civil War quilt. I also cut out the pieces I need for my table runner. The tuffet pieces are now in the correct order, and the first several pieces are pinned in place on the foundation. All of those projects are ready to just sit and sew. 

So my stash hasn't changed this week, but I did manage to get some needed things done. A stash reduction is just a few days away. Monday maybe?

                                      This Week                       This Year
Used                                             0                             14.50
Added                                           0                             22.25
Net Used/Added                           0                               7.75            

On the other side of things, I had someone at karate ask of I always had a project with me. Well...yes, yes I do. If I have binding to hand sew, I do it there. I use a kit similar to this. This is the same kit I use for hexagons.  I just sub the thread for some cheap thread and add hexagon paper and precut fabric.

Otherwise, I have an embroidery project with me right now. I like something that I can slip in my purse, and the pencil pouch works great.  This is what I carry in my pencil pouch, and my progress on my current block. I just have to finish my squiggles at the top, the ferns, button-hole stitch the grass down, and stitch the hexagons in place. I should be done by the end of Tuesday.

When I have a larger project with me, I use this bag.  This is just what I pulled out that was still in it.  I must have been using it for another block of the same quilt I am currently embroidering on.

You might be wondering about the bobbins and the 'cheap' thread. When I am putting on binding, I use thread off of a bobbin. Partly it is because of size and carrying it with me. The other reason is to use up the rest of the thread on the bobbin so I can wind fresh bobbins for the next project. Sometimes my bobbins miswind, so that helps use it up without just trashing the thread.  I also receive sewing kits from time to time as gifts.  It is very thoughtful, but the thread is not something I would use in my machine or on something I want to be around for a while.  So, I include it in my embroidery bag for basting background fabric to foundation fabric or basting templates when paper piecing.

That's it for now.  I am linking up to Patchwork Times.  Have a great week!
Joy