STASH REPORT, A SMALL FINISH AND GROUP FUN

Used this week  3.75 yards

Used year to date  98.25 yards

Added this week  14.25 yards

Added year to date  82.75 yards

Net used 2019  15.5 yards

I gave in to a fabric sale at Quilts on Plum Lane in Dade City, and then placed an order at Connecting Threads that included 2 sets of fat quarters for 50% - I couldn't resist.  I chose ones that had colours that I was collecting for some planned winter projects.

My first finish is a small baby quilt.  The blocks were leftover from printed fabric that I used many years ago.  I set some of the small blocks on point, and added triangles, and the others have a small border.  I made piped binding to add a small green accent.

 

I have also been working on my 52 blocks in 52 weeks, but I'm already behind on the last two made available.  These are blocks 26 to 43.  The end is in sight, and then I'll have to play with a layout using 52 blocks!

My quilt group is back in full swing.  We had a dozen quilters on the first week, and a few more yesterday.  Everyone is working on their own projects, and we had fun checking out all the lovely fabrics, helping each other with layouts, suggestions for borders, and understanding written instructions.

DH and his group, Three for a Quarter, are off to entertain at a local nursing home this afternoon.  They volunteer their time, bring lively music, singing and a few silly jokes to brighten the day of the residents.

Yesterday, a member of our southern community came by to drop off some lovely quilting fabrics to share.  She is not doing as much sewing as she had in the past, and thought we could use the fabric to make pillowcases for the charity "Cases for Smiles" or other charity projects.  I plan to spend a few minutes sorting through the 5 bags of fabric, and organizing the smaller scrap pieces by colour.  I'll take them to the group next week to share with everyone.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  6.375 yards

Fabric used year to date  31.25 yards

Fabric added this week  47.75  yards

Fabric added year to date  53.75 yards

Net used 2019  -16.125 yards

What a huge amount of fabric to add in one week, but it isn't all my fault!!!!  I did pick up some fabric to make my "52 blocks 52 weeks" blocks, and I am making a checkerboard rails quilt (Bonnie Hunter pattern), to use up lots of my 1 1/2 inch scrap strips, and needed black and white fabric for the checkerboard pieces, and I picked up 2 yards of striped fabric, for use as binding.

I also made a quick stop at my favourite local shop to pick up a bit more fabric, more black solid, and a beautiful print that I plan to use for a new quilt pattern.  I also found some sweet pink print flannel to use on the back of another quilt for our granddaughter.
 

The remaining yardage came as a gift from my southern quilting group.  We meet every Wednesday from 11-3, and have fun making quilts and other sewing projects.  Many work on their own individual projects, but I also provide patterns for easy beginner quilts, and this year led the group in 2 mystery quilt projects.  

We went out for lunch on Wednesday, along with some fabric therapy at 2 different fabric shops.  We do this every year before we all head off to our northern homes for the summer.  It is always a bit sad, but we'll all be together again in November or December.

I received a lovely card, signed by all the quilters, and a tote bag filled with fat quarters!  They all know that I track my stash, and there was some evil snickering as the fabric was passed around for all to admire.  Of course, this has moved me into the red again this year!  Now I have to ramp up my quilting, and get back into the black again.......  Too many projects, and too little time. 

I managed to complete another quilt in time to add it to my "used" yardage!  I started with a panel designed by Nancy Halverson that had been lingering in my stash.  I also had a leftover all-over print and coordinating floral stripe, from a project I made in 2000! I us!ed the stripe to make a mitered border, which I demo'd to my group, and used a pretty floral flannel for the backing.  

Since I am a fabric pre-washer, I'm off to serge all the raw edges of my new fabric, and sort it into loads of like colours.  Since I donate almost all of my quilts, I like to make sure that any loose dye is out of each piece, and that any shrinkage happens before I use it in a project.  I've had some big surprises over the years!
 

STASH REPORT AND MORE

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used  year to date  48.625 yards

Fabric added this week  22.5 yards!

Fabric added year to date  62.125 yards

Net used 2018  13.5 yards!

Since we are nearing the end of our time in the south, along with many of our friends, my quilting group went on an outing on Wednesday.  We visited Brandon FL, and made a stop at the big Joanns store there (I only replace a ruler!).  After our shopping, we headed to the Cheescake Factory for lunch.  None of us had room for cheescake!!!!!  While we were waiting to be served, I was presented a lovely card, and a bag of goodies!

They had each chosen a fat quarter or two or three, and after I had time to look at all the lovely bundles, I folded them to fit on my shelves, and counted 80 fat quarters!!!!!  It is their fault that I'm back in the red again.

Now to get sewing!

We then headed to Gigi's Fabric Shop, where we were greeted by Gigi and her lovely staff.  She  gave us a tour of the shop, and offered our group 10% off all the fabric etc., that we chose to take home!  Of course, I couldn't resist.

  I picked out 2 black and white prints to add to my collection, along with some vehicles and fish for future grandson items.  That accounted for the 2.5 yards in my report.

Next Wednesday will be our last week to get together and sew before I have to pack up all my quilting stuff, and get ready to close our house for a while.  We always feel sad to return north, but we are both looking forward to getting some real grandson hugs!

This past week I finished the top of my Diamond Hill project by Esther Aliu.  I decided to only complete the 4 blocks, and I changed the sashing etc., as I want to use it as a wall hanging.  I spent a couple of days piecing a backing for this project, and then DH and I pin-basted the quilt this morning, so I hope to begin quilting it soon.  The grey fabric is leftover backing from a previous project.  The green flowered print has been in my stash for 24 years - leftover from making 5 bridesmaid dresses for my niece's wedding.  They had full skirts, cut in gored panels, and the pattern of the fabric was directional, so there were many long triangle wedges of fabric remaining.  I've made items with some of the fabric over the years, but no matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to use it all up!

FIRST WEDNESDAY QUILTING TODAY

There was a larger than normal turn-out for our first week of quilting, and some even brought their machines!  Most of the time was spent greeting old friends, and getting caught up on everyone's summer happenings, family news, etc.
We did sit down and discuss some plans for the coming season, but as most are fairly experienced quilters, they'll be working on their own projects.  I do have a couple of small projects planned to teach how to use the 45 and 60 degree angle lines on the ruler.  We'll also share some small, gifty items, including luggage tags, mug rugs, mug carriers etc.  Everyone shares what they learned at their guilds and other sewing/quilting groups too.
I hope to be a bit more organized next week - I had to call DH to bring my iron!  I'm still catching up after having company for 2 weeks, and of course, I'm coming down with a cold, including a nasty tickle in the back of my throat.
I returned home to find my DH and his friend practicing their guitars, so I'm being serenaded while I type!  They played for several senior residences over the summer, and have lined up some here in Florida as well.  They enjoy playing, singing and having a good time, and volunteer their time to entertain - a win all around!

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.
   

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!