STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  28.625 yards

Fabric added this week 5 yards

Fabric added year to date  30.5 yards

Net used 2017  -1.875 yards

 

More backing fabric added this week, so I'm back in the red!!!!

 

I've been a bad blogger lately, but I've been working in any few spare minutes that I can find.  It seems like we're busy from morning to night. I did get another quilt top pieced, this time from scrap 2 1/2 inch strips - thus the need for more backing fabric.

 

The block pattern is called Ladder Star and is one of Bonnie Hunter's Addicted to Scraps in Quiltmaker magazine. 

Whenever I had a few minutes, I'd cut pieces for a block, then when I had 2 cut, I'd stitch them together.  I made 48 blocks, along with many bonus half-square triangle blocks, (stitched as leaders and enders),which I used in the 2nd border. The only "new" fabric used was for the 2 plain borders, but was also from my stash.

I really have to find some time to pin-baste quilts - I now have 3 waiting!

 

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  28.625 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  25.5 yards

Net used 2017  3.125 yards

No visible progress this week.  DH and the band have been busy, entertaining at 3 nursing homes last week.  Add in a day at Disney's Animal Kingdom with friends, and my quilting day, and the week just flew by.  I'm still trying to find time to pin baste my 2 completed quilt tops.  I've been making blocks for another project, using 2 1/2 inch strips from my bin.  I'm getting close to the 48 blocks that I need for the next scrappy quilt project.

This week the band plays another 3 days, with my quilting day on Wednesday, another Disney day planned with friends, and 2 quilt shows to attend on the weekend as well.  I'll try to squeeze in a bit of quilting too!

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week 7.25 yards
Used year to date  28.625 yards
Added this week  13.5 yards
Added year to date  25.5 yards
Net used 2017  3.125

I finished another baby quilt, made from a cloth book panel, yesterday, so I didn't have to go back into the "red" again!  My fabric order from Connecting Threads arrived, with backing fabric for 2 more scrap quilts that I have waiting to be quilted, and a couple of sets of 2 1/2 inch strips for another project.

Yesterday morning, I managed to get both backs pieced, pressed and starched, ready to pin baste.  Now I just have to find time when DH isn't off entertaining at the local nursing homes, and when there is a quiet time at the clubhouse, so I can use the large tables.

Saturday morning, DH and friends entertained at a fund-raiser for a local charity at their walk-a-thon.  Thomas Promise is a local charity the provides food to homeless students on the weekends, when the school meals are not available.  They receive a backpack full of ready to eat food.  The charity is currently providing 1000 to 1600 bags of food to students in our county, each week. 

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

 

ANOTHER SMALL FINISH

I finished the quilting and binding on Wednesday.  I used a cloth book panel, cut out the individual pages and added sashing and cornerstones.  When using a book panel, I look for one that doesn't have a very obvious beginning and ending.  This one worked really well, as did a book of opposites that I used last year.

The bad news is that my backing fabric for 2 more quilts arrived this week, so I'll be back in the red again on Sunday!

I have a second baby quilt almost completed, but 2 days at Disney World, and my quilting group on Wednesday used lots of my time this week - all things I enjoy.  DH and I go to Disney often, enjoy the fresh air, the stroll, the people and the entertainment.  I dislike walking, as I prefer to ride my bike, but I get lots of exercise on our Disney days.  I should get a step counter to see how many steps we take!

Back to quilting as soon as my cakes come out of the oven.  My neighbour gave me a starter for Amish friendship bread, and mine was ready to go today.  I discovered that you could freeze the starter, so I put it in cup size containers and save to use later.  This way my neighbours don't run when they see me coming!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  8.125 yards

 Fabric used year to date  21.375 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  12 yards

Net used 2017  9.375 yards

Thanks to completing my spinning spools quilt, I am well on my way this year, until my next order of backing fabric arrives!  

I pin-basted two more baby quilts this week, and have completed all the "stitch in the ditch" quilting.  Now I just have to get on with the rest of the quilting in each.

Yesterday was spent in the kitchen.  I made cranberry sauce - I have a great recipe for cranberry ginger cookies, and never have enough sauce leftover when we have a turkey, so I made this batch just for cookies!  I also made a pot of calico beans to take to our neighbours' Superbowl party today, along with some French onion bread.  I made a batch of granola bars, and some raspberry coconut bars to take along for those with a sweet tooth.  DH and I aren't great football fans, but we have fun with the gang, and enjoy watching the commercials each year, and eat lots of food that we only indulge in at Superbowl.

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

A BUSY DAY WITH MY QUILTING GROUP

Today was our weekly quilting get-together.  15 busy quilters met at our clubhouse for 4 hours of sewing, visiting, sharing, etc.   A few people dropped in for a quick visit, and to see what we are working on this week.

Several were piecing their row quilt parts - lots of little pieces.  Several were working on their own choice of projects.  A wool applique project was cut out and prepared for blanket stitching, and some hexagons were being hand stitched together.  I brand new quilter cut the pieces for her first quilt, and another cut pieces for a baby size quilt that she wants to try to machine quilt herself!   

We also had a visitor drop in to ask about our pillowcase sewing day, scheduled for March - she saw the information in our monthly newsletter.  Last year, my group completed 201 pillowcases in 4 hours, and we hope to do as well this year!  The Cases for Smiles coordinator will be attending, so we are looking for lots of volunteers. 

 I had another finish this week.  I was inspired by Bonnie Hunter's "spoolin' around challenge" from a couple of years ago, and I made 192 spools, using 1 1/2 inch strips from my scrap bin!  I decided to make them into blocks, and used more 1 1/2 inch strips for sashings and cornerstones.  
The two gold borders were made from cut-off backing fabric from a quilt I completed in the fall.  The middle borders were more 1 1/2 inch strips, joined together and cut to length.  The binding is also scrappy, with leftover 2 1/2 inch strips stitched together.  I kept the quilting simple, stitching in the ditch around the blocks and the spools, as the quilt was busy already.  I was able to use just over 8 yards of scraps to make this top!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  13.25 yards

Fabric used year to date  13.25 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date 12 yards

Net used 2017  1.25  yards 

I'm in the black this week, but I just squeeked in!  Since I hadn't done any machine quilting for a while, DH and I pin-basted a baby quilt panel when we were pinning the other 2 quilts.  I use it to "warm up" my quilting muscles, including my brain......

I outlined many of the elements in this cute panel, then stitched loops and swirls in the pink gingham-look border.  The quilt has pink gingham-look flannel on the back to make it cozy for a new baby.  It will be donated to my guild for the Hugs program at our local hospital.

 For the pinwheel quilt, I stitched double circles looping back and forth in each block.  I used a neutral thread in the light blocks and a variegated thread in the dark blocks.

The plain border was stitched with simple leaves, forming a zig-zag pattern, and then large swirls in each of the outer border blocks.

 I finally have my first two finished for 2017.  The top and binding of this quilt was made entirely from my stash of pre-cut charm squares (5 "), while the border and binding was made from leftover backing fabric from a previous quilt.  The backing fabric was part of the order that arrived last week.

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  0 yards

Fabric added this week  12 yards

Fabric added year to date 12 yards

Net used 2017  -12 yards

 Most of my purchases this week were backing fabrics.

Now I just have to find time to get them pin-basted.  They are all pressed and starched ready to go, and the binding is prepared as well.

My group wanted to work on a "row quilt" this winter.  I hunted through my files to find one that I liked and that could be made from scraps!  Back in 2012, Lori Holt offered a "row along" on her blog, a Bee in my Bonnet.  I had saved all the instructions for future use.  I've been busy sewing a row or two each day, enjoying the challenge of using my scraps before cutting into new fabric.  The pattern has 13 rows, consisting of 7 wider rows and 6 narrower rows.  

Since I wanted to use more scraps, I decided to change the final borders.  I hunted through my favourite resource - 60 Pieced Quilt Borders - Mix & Match by Judy Laquidara, and decided on border option #35.

I was able to dig into my 1 1/2 inch strips to make these cute 3 inch blocks.  All the neutrals in the quilt are cut from leftover strips, or from small pieces of fabric that have been in my stash for a long time.



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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week 0 yards

Fabric used year to date  0 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  0 yards

Net used 2017  0 yards

What a boring report - same old, same old!  I've been working hard every day, but not completing any projects.

I have 2 scrappy quilt tops completed, and the binding prepared for each.  I've ordered backing fabric, that should arrive soon, so I'll be able to finally have a finish this year!

I have a third scrappy top started, but it has been on hold while I work on the row quilt with my group - also using scraps!  

I think I see a trend - trying to use lots of pre-cut scraps this year.

My bin of 1 1/2 inch strips has shrunk by 1 1/2 layers out of three.  My 5" charms stacks are about half used, and I've even made a dent in my 2 1/2 inch strips.  I made scrappy binding for one of the quilt tops.  I also have a stack of 4-patches, made as "leaders and enders" using 2 inch squares, that will be turned into quilt blocks soon.

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week 0 yards

Fabric used year to date  0 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  0 yards

Net used 2017  0 yards

 I'm not off to a good start this year.  I still have to figure out what I plan to use for backings for the quilt tops that I've completed so far.

My time has been taken making the first 2 of 13 rows for my group's row quilt.  I have to try to make samples of the next few rows, so I can stay ahead of the group.  I've also spent some time with some of my newer quilters, helping with problems.

We had a visit with our cousins from Jan 1-4.   We talked, laughed, played Sequence (a board game), and ate way too much food.  DH and I are back to our normal diet.  I cooked a turkey dinner while they were here, so I made turkey soup with the bones yesterday.  We're having it for lunch today, and 5 containers of soup headed to the freezer.  We also packed up some turkey and gravy for later meals as well.  DH wants me to make more cranberry sauce!

See everyone's progress at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  0 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  0 yards

Net used 2017  0 yards

I'm following Judy's lead, and starting the year with a clean slate!

I've been keeping track since 2011, and my grand total used in the past 6 years is 683.875 yards.  During 3 of those years, quilts shops in my area closed, and had awesome sales that I just couldn't resist.

 

I'm busy cooking my turkey today, along with sausage dressing, giblet gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans and rutabaga casserole.  Good thing we only eat this once or twice a year!  Our cousins are coming to stay for the next 3 days, so I thought it would make for easy leftovers.....

I finished my zigzag blocks yesterday, and need to plan the layout before stitching them together.  I'll have to see what I have for backing fabric, as I will soon have 3 lap quilts ready to quilt.

Happy 2017, and check in with Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

 

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2017

DH and I have had a great year.  Our family is happy, and we've enjoyed our time with our first grandson, watching him grow and explore.  We are fortunate to be healthy, and happy.

My goal again this year is to use more of my stash!  I've been making quilt tops from my pre-cut strips.  I have bins of 1 1/2", 2", and 2 1/2" strips, along with 2" and 5" squares.  I have completed 3 tops already, using 5" squares and 1 1/2 inch strips.
My latest is spinning spools, all made from 1 1/2 inch strips.  I'm currently working on another top made from strips - this one needed width of fabric strips in lights and darks, and my 1 1/2 " bin has almost no full width strips left!  Now I have to plan projects to use up all the short ends!

My southern quilt group starts our winter project this Wednesday.  They asked for a row quilt, so I found an interesting pattern to share with everyone.  

Hope everyone is looking forward to 2017!  Happy quilting.....

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hope everyone is enjoying their day in their own special way.

We Skyped with our family early this morning, and watched our grandson open his presents.

We are delivering plates of holiday goodies to our neighbours, then

 heading out to spend Christmas and Boxing Day with our cousins in their new home!

 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  217 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  87.75 yards

Net used 2016  129.25 yards

 

 Nothing completed, but lots of sewing going on....

Machine quilting - densely stitched leaves inside each block around the leaves.

Swirls and leaves stitched in the sashing areas. 

I like open quilting on my quilts, especially in the open spaces.

The outer, dusty green border has feathered hooks, with a row of echo stitches on each outside edge.

 

This quilt was difficult to photograph - too much light and it looked washed out.

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  13.875 yards

Fabric used year to date  217 yards

Fabric added this week 7.5 yards

Fabric added year to date  87.75 yards

Net used 2016  129.25 yards

I just finished the final stitch of the binding on my Shades of Autumn quilt!  I had a mechanical problem with my free motion stitching, but after a quick call to the repair expert at my local dealer, we figured out what was wrong, and I was able to complete the quilting.  Pictures to follow - my quilt holder, DH, has been busy practicing for tonight's Christmas sing-a-long.  One of the members of the group has been away for 2 weeks, so they are busy, busy, busy.

We stopped into my favourite local shop, "Quilts on Plum Lane" in Dade City.  I picked up 3 pieces of fabric from the clearance area, and 7 fat quarters.  My plan of using pre-cuts all winter has one flaw - I forgot that I was teaching the group a row quilt, and needed larger pieces for some of the blocks.....  Don't you hate being forced to shop for fabric!

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week 0 yards

Used year to date  203.125 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  80.25 yards

Net used 2016  122.875 yards

Nothing completed this week.  DH and I finally pin-basted my autumn leaf quilt, but we had so many visitors and interruptions this week, I haven't made much progress.   We've also been hanging the Christmas decorations and lights outside.

Hopefully I'll be able to get at least one more project completed by the end of the year!

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

QUILT TOP COMPLETED

I just put the final border on my pinwheel quilt top.

Now I'll finally begin quilting my autumn leaf quilt.

My new threads are arriving tomorrow

while we are spending the afternoon at Epcot for

Christmas Candlelight Procession.

Saturday I'll be in the mood to decorate inside and out for the holidays! 

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

No design wall in my southern home, but I took a picture of my latest scrap project.  I had stitched the blocks together in one direction, and the seams are pressed, and it is pinned, ready to sew the remaining seams in the top together.

The pattern is called Pinwheels on Parade, and found in one of the Nickle Quilt books.  My plan was to sew from my bins of precuts.  The centre of this quilt was made from 5 inch squares.  I had separated all the batik squares, and had enough for the dark blocks, but not enough for the light ones.  I had packed lots of "neutral" prints to help use up the scraps, so I cut 5 inch squares, after I took all the neutral ones from my "light" stack of 5 inch squares.

My next decision will be what to use for the borders.....

DH and I finally made it to the clubhouse on Sunday afternoon and pin-basted my autumn leaf quilt!  I'm anxious to start quilting, but I ordered a few spools of thread from Superior Threads, and I plan on using one or two of them in this quilt.

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  7.75 yards

Fabric used year to date  203.125 yards

Fabric added this week  20.25 yards

Fabric added year to date  80.25 yards

Net used 2016  122.875 yards 

My numbers always change at this time of year - can't pass up on Black Friday sales.  I went to Joann's on Wednesday at dinner time - no line-ups at the cutting table.

  

Flannel for backing future baby quilts, 

fabric for two more pillowcases

and some "neutral" Christmas prints.  I'm always very selective when choosing fabric at Joann's - some is great while others are not!

My finish was the Calico Friends baby quilt that I shared earlier.

Check out others' progress at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

ANOTHER BABY QUILT FINISHED

Just another quilt made from a panel....the larger (yard by width of fabric) are almost impossible to find lately.  I've been working on the ones in my stash, as our hospital gift shop loves them - they sell better than the pieced and appliqued quilts, and the money goes to our Hugs program, to pay for other items provided in the layettes that they give away.

DH and I, along with a good friend, headed for the Disney Studios yesterday.  It was packed with families who had the whole week of Thanksgiving off!  Our goal was to see the Fantasmic show and the Christmas multi-media/ fireworks at night.  We managed to enjoy a couple of other favourites while we were there.  DH and I plan to return another evening just for the  Christmas show- the beauty of having an annual pass.  Next week we plan to go to Epcot for the Christmas Candlelight Processional.  It has become a part of our Christmas traditions, seeing the orchestra, massed choir, and hearing the story told - it lifts my heart......