STASH REPORT SUNDAY 7 MAY 2017

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  69.625 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  51 yards

Net used 2017  18.625 yards

We've been home for a month, and my report hasn't changed at all!

We seem to take longer each year to get back into the groove.....

We've had lots of rain since we returned, and there is some localized flooding, but not near our home, so far.  Lake Ontario has an extremely high water level, and many docks and waterside properties are flooded as well.  The damp weather, along with our return to a home with stairs has been playing havoc with my knee.

We've had 2 trips to spend time with our grandson, and will be returning next weekend again - our younger son and daughter-in-law are celebrating their 5th anniversary.  We plan to send them out for some together time.  They had a huge fir tree uprooted in their yard during a late winter storm.  Most of it fell into the neighbour's yard, but the uprooted stump remained in theirs.  DH has been trying to dig it out, and cut off as many parts as he could, but finally had to give up - it is just too large.  Our son had a company come and give him an estimate for grinding the stump, and since the 5th anniversary is "wood", we offered to pay for the work....

I attended my guild meeting on Wednesday - great to see lots of familiar faces.  I sat with 2 newish members and told them about several of the fun activities coming up.  We played "strip bingo" - the cost was 8 fabric strips @ 2 1/2 inches by WOF.  I was relieved when I didn't win - I have every inch of storage space packed, so I better get using some fabric!  I was handed two small quilts to complete for our community quilts project, and spent the last 2 days machine quilting, and attaching the binding and sewing on the label.  It gave me time to catch up on some of my favourite TV shows that have been waiting.

I've been working on a super scrappy quilt top, using lots of orphan blocks and small bonus half square triangle units.  It is super scrappy, even for me, but I'm sure it will keep someone warm when it is finished.

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

BACK AT IT!

I worked diligently, getting all most of my quilting gear unpacked, but then my sewing machine was calling!  I had a collection of oriental print 2 1/2 inch strips, so I started sewing them together.  When I finished I had an odd sized block of fabric, so I pondered what to do with it.




  While looking for Oriental prints, I came across an unused section of strips, pinned and leftover from a kaleidoscope quilt that I made several years ago.  I cut the 4 repeats into small squares, and made 4-patch units, then added triangles made from a cream/metallic gold print, to make them stand "on point". 
 I needed to make the unit longer, so I cut some green strips to stretch the pieces to fit the two short ends. I also used the cream print for border strips.

Finally I used the remainder of the main print to make borders for the quilt top.  I usually plan things before starting, but this seemed to evolve as I stitched.  I think it takes less time to plan before cutting, but this was an interesting experiment.
Now I just have to find some backing fabric.
After lunch, DH and I did some clean-up in our small front and back garden areas of our townhouse.  We put all the leaves into our "green bin" to be collected tomorrow morning.  Our community does lots of recycling, so we usually only fill a green bag with garbage once a month.  The "green bin" takes all the kitchen scraps, including bones and fat, along with paper towels, tissues, and small amounts of garden clippings. 

 I've always had a compost bin at every house we've lived in, but I can't have one here, so this allows me to recycle, knowing that it will be made into good compost.   My irises and day- lilies are sending out new growth, along with many of the perennials.  My chives are full, and even a parsley plant survived the winter.  Some areas are slower to grow, especially in the front as the area near the door gets very little sunshine this time of year.  We took out a large shrub in the front last fall, so I have to decided what to plant in its place.  It had grown too large, so DH dug it up and transplanted it at a neighbour's home, and we hope it survived its upheaval.
I'll be attending my guild's executive meeting on Wednesday evening, and our community quilts coordinator is planning to bring me some pin-basted quilts to stitch.  It will be great to see everyone, after being away for quite a while.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  3.875 yards

Fabric used year to date  93.75 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  62.75 yards

Net used 2015  31 yards

I finally made all the quilt storage bags that I need for my entries into Quilts Kingston 2015.  They have to be turned in on Tuesday.

Wednesday night is our final guild meeting of the season.  We always end with a dinner, and for the past few years, the catering has been done by the executive.  I have to make bean salad for 100!  The amounts were given to me by the person who made it last time, but I'll make my own dressing from my Mom's bean salad recipe.
I dug out some orphan blocks to work on, and have finally started something new.  I'll show more tomorrow.  Now back to checking my email, and other computer chores!

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

FINALLY MADE IT TO MY GUILD MEETING

I miss two things when we head south each winter.  First, I miss seeing my family.  Second, I miss all the fun at my quilt guild.

Last night our guest speaker was Susan Purney Mark.  She kept us entertained with tales of her many quilting adventures.  She also brought lovely quilts and fabric for everyone to see and feel.  I had already made a quilt from one of her books, Accent on Angles,  so I didn't sign up for the full day workshop today.  Of course, I forgot my camera again!!!!
There were many quilts displayed for show and tell, and a local Brownie group attended the meeting to show the quilts made from blocks that they had designed and made.  The finished quilts were donated to our guild's community quilts program, to be given to those in need.
I enjoyed seeing all the familiar faces, and hope to spend next Tuesday at the community quilts work day and pot luck lunch!

I am busy machine quilting BOM quilt version 1.

  I've done all the straight line quilting, and I'm working on the light background areas next.  I often quilt all the areas of one colour at the same time.  I guess I find it easier than changing threads and adjust tensions.  I usually begin with the area that I already have a quilting plan for, and it gives me time to think of a design for the rest of the quilt.  I need to get both of my BOM's quilted so I can show them at the June spring dinner meeting!
I've also been working on my hexie project.  I have the units finished for the next two rows, and now I am adding background hexies, (pale blue Fairy Frost fabric), to each, then sewing them to their neighbour.  These rows have larger units, so I only have to make 8 per row.  I'm also taking out the papers to recycle them into more basted hexies. 

 I'm getting more accomplished than I thought, but that is due to my sore knee - I've been doing less stair climbing, and more sitting! (not really a good thing).