STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  56 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  14.5 yards

Net used 2013  41.5 yards

This week seemed to fly by - lots of cleaning and tidying with guest coming.  I did get a quilt top finished today.  I was inspired by all the cute "disappearing 9 patch" quilts that my group made for donation baby quilts.

I brought a yard of Paddington Bear fabric south, along with 2 fabrics to coordinated, and it made a sweet, quick quilt top.  Now I have to find something for backing.

 I'm sorry that DH and I didn't find time to pin-baste a couple of quilts, so I'd have something to work on when I get a few spare minutes this week.  I guess I'll have to begin a new project instead.  I already have 2 quilt tops with backs in the line-up to be quilted, as soon as they get basted - since I like to finish all my projects in a timely manner, they are "staring" at me!

DH picked up our first guest this morning, and they played 18 holes of golf on the way home from the airport!  They have another round planned tomorrow too - more quilting time.

Check out everyone's progress at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times!    

MY SECOND BOM FINISHED TO DATE

This is my "Version 2" BOM from my northern guild.  Pattern is found here!  Once again, I am using my stash for this project, with batiks being chosen for this one.  This is the quilt up to part 5.  Now I can send my photos of the two quilts to the organizer, as I want her to know that I'm keeping up, even though I can't attend the meetings!

When this project was announce, there were lots of different "Part 1" centre blocks brought in to the next meeting, and I'm hoping that everyone is keeping up with the parts.  I know how much work goes into organizing this type of project. 

ANOTHER FUN WEDNESDAY

Lots of fun, chatting and quilting going on today.  Another quilt arrived to be donated tomorrow to the Pregnancy Care Center - that makes 12 baby quilts from the group!



A few of the ladies were putting the finishing touches on their paper pieced block that will become a group name tag.

  Heather has only been quilting for a little over a year, and here is her first large quilt project.

The pattern is Judy' Laquidara's Pick a Pinwheel found here.

Heather did all the quilting on her regular sewing machine, trying different patterns to fit the areas of the quilt.  Congrats to Heather!

I've been trying to get caught up with my BOM from my northern guild.  The pattern can be found here.  It is a medallion style, and we are just finishing part 5.  The quilt tops will be shown at our June meeting - I'm anxious to see how many kept up each month.
 This is the regular pieced version, and I'm also making the version with a paper pieced centre block, as well as two paper pieced borders - the square in the square and a future one.
   

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I have nothing on the wall this week!

  I'm still recovering from the bug that attacked over a week ago, and DH is about half-way through the symptoms!  I did piece a back for a quilt, but I've been spending my energy doing some baking each day.  (I updated the recipe page...)

  Phase 1 of our company arrives next Saturday.  HS is arriving in Orlando on Friday, to attend a work related conference, but her company didn't want family or spouses along, so MS is coming to our place the following day instead.  He'll enjoy a couple of days of golf while she is "working".  Then, two days later, HS will be heading to our place for some R&R, and after a week in the sunshine, they'll be flying back home.

   I've been doing some basic meal planning, and baking bread and goodies so I don't have to do as much while they are here.  Meals will be simple - DH is great at the BBQ, and salads will be served in abundance, along with lots of fresh fruit.  Florida strawberries are in season now!

   I spent some time re-doing a basic quilt pattern to use some more fabrics that headed south in the fall.  I had to make sure that I would have enough fabric, using just what I have on hand.  I also have part 5 of my guild's BOM to complete.  Hopefully I'll be able to get some sewing done this week!

Check out Judy's blog, Patchwork Times for some inspiration!

   

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  2.875 yards

Fabric used year to date  56 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  14.5 yards

Net used 2013  41.5 yards

I finished my bluebirds and roses runner and 4 place mats early this past week.  I think I overdid it on Wednesday at my quilting group, and have been taking it easy the past few days.

We have company arriving next Saturday, so each day I try to bake something, so I can enjoy myself while they are visiting.  Today I baked peanut butter bars (my kids' favourite when they were little), and a mincemeat tea loaf.  I'll try to post the recipes soon - both are delicious!

I have 2 quilt tops ready to quilt, and I made a pieced back for one, using leftover fabric from the top plus a couple of extra pieces.  I even pieced the batting for one - I hate to waste anything!  Hopefully I'll find time in the next day or two to get these pin-basted.

Some of the members of my quilting group suggested name tags, so I found a small paper pieced block to use as a pin or lanyard.  I ended Wednesday with 5 ladies learning to paper piece - it was difficult to keep track of each of them.  I sewed my block this afternoon - I just have to decide what to use for a cord.  I'll be back teaching others next Wednesday too!

The quilt group is busy this time of year.  Lots of projects are nearing completion, and many new ones are starting - some like to start a couple of things before we all begin heading home.  This time of year brings visitors to the sunny south as well, so schedules get very busy, too.  How did we ever find time to work!

Check out all the stash progress at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times!    

JUST BACK FROM MY WEDNESDAY QUILT GROUP

DH came for a visit and took a group picture with all the baby quilts that will be donated to the local pregnancy care center.  My congratulations and thanks goes out to each and every one of the great group!  There was a lot of learning about making scrappy quilts, with many hands making light work!

This time of year, there is lots of finishing of projects happening, and a few new ones before we end our season.  We'll be heading home mid-April, and although the group could continue, it shrinks every week, as people prepare to head north.  The few that stay here year-round get together in small groups over the summer.

Today some of them tried their first paper piecing project.  I found a small 3 inch paper piecing pattern that we are making into name tags.  As the group has been growing, it has been more difficult for everyone to remember all the names, especially as some are regular attendees and others come from time to time.  They will be able to turn the finished project into a pin or a pendant, but then I'm sure they'll be forgotten at home!  There were 5 working on the block today, with much supervision - most had not tried paper piecing before!

This gorgeous block (its either 4 or 5 inches), was made by one of the new members to the group, but obviously not a novice quilter.  She has 3 more to go to finish her project!  We all love the colours..... Now that some of them have tried paper piecing, I'm sure they'll appreciate her skill and hard work even more! 

COOKING AGAIN

I think I'm on the mend - I'm feeling much better this morning.....

I began by mixing and kneading the dough for 4 loaves of whole wheat bread - its currently rising in the microwave.  I place a glass measuring cup of hot water in the microwave, then heat it on HI for 1 minute.  Then I place the bowl of covered dough inside and close the door.  The moist warm air in the microwave makes the dough rise quickly.

Next I decided to make some black-eye pea and ham soup.  I had packages of diced ham in the freezer, and I just had a fancy for this soup.  It is simmering and is almost ready to chill and package for later consumption. 
The link to the recipe is found on my recipe page!

ANOTHER PROJECT FROM THE STASH!

I am always on the lookout for interesting border prints.  They make great final borders when you can find the right fabric to make the centre.
Another piece that was languishing in my stash travelled south this fall - it was a pretty border print with bluebirds and roses.  Unfortunately, I had only picked up 1 yard, so it had limited uses.

Since I wanted a "no brainer" project while I'm fighting my cold, I cut the strips apart, lengthwise.  This fabric had fairly narrow designs, so there were 6 complete strips across the width of the fabric.

I used my ruler to cut two of the strips into a 60 degree table runner, cutting two 60 degree triangles from each end of the two strips.  Then with some careful pinning, the runner was made!

Since I still had four strips left, I was able to make a set of 4 placemats from the leftover strips.

I pulled out my new bag of Thermore batting - my favourite for place mats and runners, found a part bolt of tan muslin, and a few pins later I was quilting!  I stitched in the ditch on both sides of all the darker blue lines, then added the binding.  The tan swirl fabric was leftover from a previous project, and once again I used almost all of it!
I hand stitched the bindings in place while watching TV in the evening, and while getting caught up on Downton Abbey this afternoon.
I used a blue variegated thread to outline each of the bluebirds, and then outlined the flowers and leaves on each side of the floral wreath with monofilament thread. 
   

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

A nasty "bug" finally caught up with me this week.  It started with a sore throat on Wednesday, and by Sunday morning I was in full head cold mode, with coughing, stuffy head, fever etc.  Dh went to the pharmacy topick up some cold and sinus medication to make this more bearable.  I know that a cold has to run its course.  I've been keeping at my quilting each day - it helps to take my mind off how I feel.  I've been careful to work on "easy" projects, since my brain is a bit foggy!

This is the first of 3 Christmas quilts all from one panel.  St. Nicholas is the largest of the three.  I had fun quilting it, and added dark gold blanket stitching on the four stars in the corner blocks.

 Santa Jumps Over the Moon, was the next part of the panel.  I outlined the letters forming "Welcome" with black rayon thread, then added some metallic dark gold to the moon and stars to add some sparkle.  I found enough pieces of dark green plaid to form the binding, hiding in my 2 1/2 inch strip bin.

 The final part of the panel was just the row of houses with the dark red and green frame.  The words were printed on the panel, so I carefully cut the pieces the same width as the house panel, then made the red and green pieced strips to set them off.  I machine quilted the holly vine with berries in the open area below the saying.

Now I can put these away to use as Christmas presents, or to donate to my guild.  It only took 20 years, but I've finally made a yard panel into 3 nice wall hangings!

Check out all the creativity at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times. 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  5.375 yards

Fabric used year to date  55.125 yards

Fabric added this week  2 yards

Fabric added year to date  14.5 yards

Net used 2013  38.625 yards

  I received my latest order from Connecting Threads.  Batting was on sale, so I ordered a new supply, and because I was a bit short for the free shipping, I ordered a yard of "background" fabric from the clearance page!

Then today, DH and I stopped at my local quilt shop on the way to pick up groceries, and I found some perfect fabric for a project that has been percolating in my brain for a couple of years.  I think I'll be ready to work on it when we return north in the spring - the draft of the design, along with the background fabric are waiting in my sewing room.

This week, I finished 4 small Christmas projects - made from panels that I've had for at least 20 years!  I managed to make them only using  stash - bonus!

I hope everyone had a busy week using their stash!  Check it out at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.  

CUTTING IT CLOSE!

When I was packing to come south, I chose some Christmas prints to provide backing and binding for my Christmas projects.  I used a black background fabric with candy canes to back the largest of 3 panels on my next "use it up project".  After checking my southern stash and my pre-cut strip bins, I had nothing that would be appropriate for the binding on this project.  I knew that there wasn't much of the backing fabric left, but I decided to cut the strips for binding and hope for the best.

I knew it was going to be close, especially when I completed the 4th corner.  I stopped and measured, and the tiny piece laying on the batting was all that was left after I cut the strip before stitching the final join of the batting!  
Whew.......

VINTAGE PANELS

When can you call fabric "vintage"?  Before heading south, I dug into the depths of my stash, and found some panels that I know that I bought almost 20 years ago.  I decided that it was finally time for a couple of these to become a quilt.

This is the first one to be completed, and the largest in the group.  All I had to do was trim it, give it a good press, using a bit  of spray starch, then find a backing and batting.  I had brought some Christmas fabrics to use up, so one piece was used for the backing, and in my scrap batting, I found a piece that was the perfect size!

( Some say I'm too organized, but after pulling out many pieces of batting to find something to use, I took the time, with DH's help, to roughly measure each piece before storing it in a bag.  Each bag has a list of all the different sizes that are available, so I can see, at a glance, if I have a piece that will do, or two pieces that can be joined to use!)
 
I had fun quilting, first with some "smoke monofilament" thread, doing some stitch in the ditch, then I pulled out my thread boxes and played with various colours to highlight the nose, flowers, eggs in the nest, and mittens.  I used an irridescent mylar thread to outline the snowflakes and quilt the snow, then a light blue variegated thread to quilt the swirls in the blue sky.  I still have to quilt the final blue border, but decided to sew the binding on so I'd have some hand sewing to do while watching TV last night.

Off to my quilting group.......  

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I've been working on a project that I had planned to do last winter.  I had chosen all the fabrics from my stash and had them packed together with the magazine pattern.  Of course, I had too many projects planned, and didn't even look at this one until a couple of days ago!  

Of course, my project looks nothing like the one in the magazine, as I was using some of my "vintage" fabrics, trying to clear the shelves.  It went together very quickly.  There are 12 blocks in the pattern, 6 of each "centre" fabric.  I really should have read the pattern more thoroughly before decided on this one, as there was a lot of waste!  The pieced squares and rectangles in each block were made with the stitch and flip method.  I was able to salvage some of the larger triangles, but the smaller ones didn't meet my "minimum size to save" criteria.  It did make for fast assembly though....

 I'm pleased with the overall results and will make a nice quilt, finishing 62 x 78 inches.  The yellow fabric in the blocks and border have rose coloured flowers and blue butterflies.  DH kindly balanced on the sofa so I could get a picture of the whole thing.

I'll probably go on to make a couple more small projects before I get around to quilting this one.....

Check out all the creativity over a Judy's blog. 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week  0 yards

Used year to date  47.75 yards

Added this week  2.5 yards

Added year to date  12.5 yards

Net used 2013   35.25 yards

DH and I attended the quilt show in Orlando today.  They had 40 vendors!  After a long hunt, I found a perfect charcoal grey tone on tone fabric to round out my collection for the next large quilt project.

Tomorrow I hope to get the fabrics serged and washed.  

I  have promised myself that I would finish a few small projects before starting another big one!  I also picked up some embroidery floss to complete the final three embroidered sections for "My Wish" Christmas BOM that I was working on over the summer and fall.  It fell by the way side while other projects moved to the front of the list!
I also discovered that when packing to head south, I left one of the applique pieces behind, so I'll have to finish this one in the spring when I return home.

I was working on a quilt top, and just as I was about to add the first border, I noticed  that one edge section of  a block was turned upside down, so I've been picking out the seams......

Check out all the stash reports at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.