Last Finish of 2013! (Stash report week 51)

Here it is!  The last quilt of the year.  

This is my second Bonnie Hunter Pineapple Blossom quilt. Used a jelly roll + yardage for my MIL's Christmas gift.  I used wool batting off the roll from Hancock's (not Hobbs, which had an uneven thickness to it - won't buy that ever again) so it's nice and light to launder but still warm.

This is my last finish because tomorrow I have to pack up my sewing corner til next year.  Eleven days to be exact, the storm knocked a day of our guests plans.  I know ya'll can commiserate with me, no sewing for over a week!  

I cut some 2" strips for the Celtic Solstice mystery, maybe I can get DH to take his parents somewhere and I can sneak in some sewing time on the featherweight.  Or, I may have to call a quilty friend and see if I can escape for a few hours on day 8 or 9!


The last thing I need to do is alter DH's new 3 pair of pants/jeans.  They have been lying around for at least 2 months - ugghh!  He has been such a great help this week cleaning.  He worked on the kitchen yesterday while I finished his mom's quilt.

Oh - and DH's learning.  Our son's den mother has a home business in which she supplies onesies with "tattooed" sleeves to shops and retailers worldwide.  Well, she thinks she needs an extra pair of hands, someone who can sew, to help her out.  She told her story to DH and said, "Your wife sews, right?"  And he answered, "No, she quilts."  YEAH!  He's learning!

To the numbers.................

My last package form the Scrappy Trip Along Flickr swap arrived this week.  Three yards of neutral 2.5" strips!  I like doing swaps, but they can get expensive - $12 for postage.  

Now that I have 3.5 of my containers full of 2.5" strips, it may be time for me to do something with them rather than accumulate more.  Assuming I have any time to think over the next 11 days about anything but the next meal that needs to be cooked, I need to come up with a strategy for using fabric in 2014.  The most obvious is to not buy any more fabric!!!

Used this week: 0.41
Used YTD: 120.173
Added this week: 3
Gifted this week: 0
Added YTD: 150.625
Net used YTD: -30.452

Please also check out some more stash reports at Judy's Patchwork Times.

Winner of Traveling Stash Box #1!!

And the Mr. Random Number Generator chose......
...
...
...

#1 - Dee Dee

I have emailed Dee Dee and await her confirmation.  This box has been traveling around blogland since 2011!

If you'd like to throw your hat in the ring for other stash boxes, Katie maintains a current list of the boxes' whereabouts - http://karmawillowdesigns.blogspot.com/2013/12/december-traveling-stash.html.

Cherie has a giveaway for  Box #6 on her blog, Quilted Jonquil.  Take a look at some of the pretties she's added!

Giveaway reminder!

Please don't forget about the Traveling Stash Box #1 Giveaway.  

Leave a comment on this post before 9AM CST tomorrow morning to have this fun box hit your door step next week.

Have a great day!!

Traveling Stash Box #1 Giveaway (Stash Report Week 50)

One yard cuts & notions

This is the second stash box that's come into my house in less than two weeks!  Jennifer moved the contents to a larger box when she posted it.  

FQs in the box!

I cannot get a good one-time-everything-in-the-box photo, so here is a whole slough of pix so that you see what came in it.  There are Tula Pink and a Horner "Crush" FQs in this pile!

Half yd cuts and remnants

Patterns, mags, & one book

I didn't take a whole lot. Well, I didn't think so until I looked at the photo - LOL!

Taken: That's the beagle pattern glaring in the
right corner!

Some of this I took in order to clear out the old and put in some "newer" stuff.  I took 2 of the several one yard cuts, claimed several older remnants (two of which weren't quilting cotton) and 7 FQs (I luv FQs).

I took the 3 old magazines and book and replaced them with 2 newer issues and a recently released book, A Month of Sundays.  I won the book and it was a lovely read.  Since I am in de-clutter mode for the holidays, someone else can enjoy this sweet book.

Added to the box.

Also added to the box are LQS quality half yard cuts (top), assorted FQs (including 2 batiks), and a small panel of printed inspirational squares.  

Also added to the box.

Then, some hexie samples from Paper Pieces, an AHHHHH (beginner hexie) from Hillbilly Handiworks, a quilt label, a ruler holder, and a some needle threaders jumped out of my drawers to the box!

The rules can be found here but, basically, you must be an active blogger in the U.S., replace chosen items with like items in quantity and quality, and be willing to move the box quickly along to the next recipient, although, allowances for the holidays will probably be tolerated at this time of year.  Katie has some good hints for how to save money at USPS.com when shipping the boxes.

The giveaway will end on Thursday (12/19) at 9AM CST.  Hopefully, I can get the box out of the house before the holiday house guests arrive.  Please tell me in one comment what, if any, plans you have for New Year's Eve.  

Onto other fun stuff:

After celebrating at our "so long" luncheon for quilty friend Cheri, who is moving, last weekend, I had such a headache that I didn't show you the goodies that came home with me.  Now, lest you think that the headache was from too much imbibing, let me set you straight.

About five of us spent 3 hours walking the streets of teensy-weensy Kimmswick, MO, visiting 28 shops on the annual Cookie Walk.  I had no idea there were 28 shops in that little town. It really wasn't too cold until the 14th shop and I thought, "why didn't I bring my earmuffs!"

Quilty friend Gale brought us all Thirty-One bags (above).  I think we will all be bringing them to our sews days, they are that big, and have a zipper on top!

Then, while this was a luncheon for Cheri and we gave her a signature quilt which I bound last week, she made iron totes for everyone, ten in all.  She enlisted Joyce and Elise in her work, too, by cutting, marking, sewing on buttons.

 It took me a while to figure out how it folded together.  Unfolded it becomes an ironing pad.  Each fabric was different and they just handed out gift bags and waited to see who got which tote.

Quilty friend Charla and I are planning to do the Tonga Nature BOM together using our own batiks. The fabrics used in the BOM did not appeal to me at all, hence my not doing it in the LQS.

And, Charla had issues with the directions, or lack thereof.  The pattern is pretty stingy with block construction instructions, both written and pictoral, and is certainly not meant for any beginner.  So, we thought we would do a block together per month at our sew days.  It took me a few hours to go through my batik stash and come up with this pile of 11 fabric families (still need a border fabric but that can wait til the top is done).

I've been doing little bits of work on Bonnie Hunter's mystery, Celtic Solstice.  I mean little - like 3 or 4 units per clue.  That will all change next weekend.  I won't make any progress.

I had intended you show some, but some of my Flickr photos have disappeared, completely, atm. HHMmmmm......

We are hosting my husband's family this year - his parents for a 12 day visit (I won't say another word!) - so I have to clean up and put my sewing corner to bed while we have company.  I will have to de-stress at the gym or by reading.

My stash numbers haven't changed.  I put a little more into the box than I took, but it was mostly an even trade.  I've been shopping the clearance FQs at Ozark Fabric Facebook group again but they haven't arrived, so I'm not counting them!

Used this week: 0
Used YTD: 119.763
Added this week:0
Gifted this week: 0
Added YTD: 147.625
Net used YTD: -27.862

I must get my MIL's quilt done this week, a little more FMQ'ing and binding.  Please also check out some more stash reports at Judy's Patchwork Times.

Please enter the giveaway for the large flat rate traveling stash box.  It might get to you by Christmas!  What quilty fun!!

Stash Box Winner and Celtic Solstice Clue #2

Cherie of Quilted Jonquil has won Stash Box #6!  
She has been contacted via email also.  

Watch for another giveaway soon, I've won another box from Jennifer!

Here are 3 complete units for Celtic Solstice clue #2.  Several squares and rectangles are cut and ready for some chain piecing, which I just might get to in a few minutes, but I doubt if I will get anymore of the 97 units still needed done before week's end.  I fully expect to be finishing this mystery just before the next one comes out!

Click over to Quiltville and see how other quilters are solving the mystery!

Giveaway Reminder (Stash Report week 49)

We visited some dolphins on Thanksgiving!

Despite a moving sale at a LQS, no new fabric has been added to the stash - woohoo!  Given that DS and his buddies have commandeered the basement the past two cold, snowy days, nothing has been used either.

We spent the week of Thanksgiving on Hilton Head Island, SC, as a belated 50th wedding anniversary for my in-laws.  So, between catching up at home, getting back to the swing of things, and having my sewing corner turned into "play time" central, my numbers remain unchanged from last report weeks ago.

Used this week: 0
Used YTD: 119.763
Added this week:0
Gifted this week: 0
Added YTD: 147.625
Net used YTD: -27.862

Monday evening I received Stash Box #6 that I won at Shanna's blog.  It is a medium flat rate box filled with quilty goodness: fabric, patterns, pre cuts, notions, and even a dvd.

Please click over to this post if you think you would like to be next stop on the Stash Box express.  Hurry - the giveaway ends Tuesday (Dec.10) at 9AM CST.

Please also check out some more stash reports at Judy's Patchwork Times.

Celtic Solstice Clue 1 update

I'm trying to finish projects and get ready to host out of town company over the holidays, so my mind isn't on the mystery.  But, I wish it were!  I need some mindless, repetitive sewing.

Of course, I'd have to cut out first, and I've not done much of that so far. Luckily, I'm doing the small version.

I am organized and ready to keep up with each clue. Need to get something besides a cardboard box, but it will do for now.

Some sewing done, with the walking foot on - I'm FMQing and binding on two of my machines atm.  Once I'm done, I can put my regular foot back on and stitch some units.

I was the happy winner of Stash Box #6.  If you'd like to win a fun box of quilty goodness, please click over to this post.

For more Celtic Solstice inspiration, click over to Quiltville.  It's so fun to see all the fabrics that have been chosen for this mystery.

Namaste

Traveling Stash Box Giveaway!

on my 6ft table

update: Cherie of Quilted Jonquil has won Stash Box #6!  

Before leaving on our Thanksgiving vacation, Shanna told me that I had won one of her stash boxes (she had won 4 of them!).  

When I first started bogging, I entered every traveling stash box giveaway.  They were quite popular!  Then, I read less and less about them.  This one has been revived and it was loads of fun to open the box, bulging at the seams, and pull everything out.








The above photo doesn't really show you what is in the box.  There are no books, one magazine, and one instructional DVD.  This is nice as books take up so much room that might otherwise be allocated to fabric - lol!

Here are several patterns with a nice variety of projects.

...and some precuts.

...some notions, too!

To the fabric!  Several pinky/burgundy cuts, a few Asian pieces, some cute kids - just a nice variety.

For larger photos, please click over to my Flickr page.

I took one yard of a batik blender, the cute butterfly print, two cute modern prints, the Moda candy squares and the yellow scrap.  Also, two small needlework patterns.

Note: I took a third pattern not pictured here.

I added a Puttin' On the Ritz charm pack, some batik FQs since I took a batik, neutral and stripe FQs, a half yard of Riley Blake B&W, a Maisy panel to go with the kids novelty prints, and three small project patterns.

Now one of you can be the proud temporary owner of Traveling Stash Box #6!  

There are rules, which you can find here.  The most important rules are: (1) that you are an active blogger, (2) you agree to look through the box and get it on it's way to the next person in a timely manner, and (3) understand that as the winner, you pay the postage on the medium flat rate box to it's next stop.

For my own rules:

1.  The giveaway will run for one week.  A winner will be drawn at 9AM CST on Tuesday, Dec. 10th.

2.  Please be sure that you are not an anonymous blogger.  If you are unsure, please leave your email address in the comment.

Please tell me in your comment:  Do you have your Christmas decorations up?  Or, do you plan to put any up this year? 

Fell off the Wagon! !(stash report week 46)

Oh - did I ever!!!

First, a LQS had a post-market clearance sale.  I went in there needing nothing but a few greens for the new Bonnie Hunter mystery.  Well, at $1.99/yd, I came away with 9 yards (5 yards of light for a possible backing, right corner). 

Then, another 1.25 yards of green for $3.99/yd jumped onto the pile of bolts.  Finally, the one I knew I'd have a weakness for, the 108" wide fabric at 25% off plus another 30% off coupon leapt into my arms (top right)!

Guess what, 3 yards of extra wide equals 9 yards of regular fabric.  So, before the weekend my stash numbers took a big hit - 19.25 yards!  YIKES!!  It doesn't look like that much, does it?

Then, at our sew day yesterday, quilty friend Elise brought a big box of fabric from her closet.  She's de-stashing!

Well, at first I picked up 3 yards of novelty for pillowcases and bags for DS.  

After being near the table full of fabric all day, my will power waned.  Thoughts of backing for my Eleanor Burns Victory Quilt crossed my mind and a 6 yard cut moved to my bag (top).  Then, thoughts of holes in the stash reminded that there's not much yellow or purple.  After that, who can resist a 4 yard cut of floral Robin Pandolph for a possible future backing and a one yard cut of paisley in general?

Yes, my weakness garnered another 16 yards to add to the stash!

 I was so looking forward to being in the positive this year but it's just too late.  There is no way I can finish another queen size with holiday season looming.  It would take more than just one queen size quilt to put the numbers back in balance, so I have my UFO list to give me solice.  If Easy Street gets back from the quilter soon, it will be the 4th queen size UFO project crossed from my list this year.  

To the numbers......

Used this week: 0
Used YTD: 119.763
Added this week:35.25
Gifted this week: 0
Added YTD: 147.625
Net used YTD: -27.862

Check out some more stash reports at Judy's Patchwork Times.

Stash Report Week 45

Oh! How I wish everyday to be as productive as last Sunday.  

Unfortunately, quilting often takes a back seat to household chores, appointments, and, in my case, lack of sleep.  Can't FMQ when my days were starting at 4am.  So, I'm trying to get back on track today and hope to get more done on my MIL's Pineapple Blossom.

Here's the week's highlight!  A package of fabric from Hancock's of Paducah!  Yep - I shopped their "web sales" section again with an additional 15% off code.

The three neutrals will be cut up this afternoon for a neutral themed Scrappy Trip Along flickr swap.  We swap 2.5x17 inch strips.  I have no plans for a scrappy trip top, but hope to cut the strips into 2.5" squares or use the strips with Bonnie Hunter patterns.

The house print will also go into a future swap.  I'll keep the navy London bus fabric as my stash could use a few darks.

Off to get some chili fixin's and then, back to quilting.

To the numbers......

Used this week: 0
Used YTD: 119.763
Added this week:5.0
Gifted this week: 0
Added YTD: 112.375
Net used YTD: 7.388

Check out some more stash reports at Judy's Patchwork Times.

UFO Time Crunch (stash report week 44)

Now, I really must get quilting!

had it rolled this week 

The jelly roll Pineapple Blossom for my MIL needs to be finished before the holidays, preferably before Thanksgiving.  At our last guild meeting Dar, of Dar's Patchwork Garden, recommended Sharon Schamber's method of thread basting.

I'd read about it, read raves about it, but didn't seriously think of trying it myself.  However, Dar was so positive, that I went out and bought two MDF trim boards and in less than a few hours, had the lap quilt all basted using two strands of floss. No worries about the back being crinkly or wrinkly. 

And now I can count the front and back in the "used" column.  The backing is 4.3 yards so the scrappy front is 5.375 (4.3x1.25) for a total of 9.675 yards!

The quilting design came to me while I was basting as well.  So, maybe I will give that a start today.  We'll see!  I have holiday preparations to work on (i.e. cleaning the house thoroughly) and a yard to finally, once and for all, put to bed for the winter.

My additions came in a package from a Flickr charm swap.  This round we swapped one yard of neutrals and one yard of text fabrics.  As you can see, several of the text fabrics are also neutrals.

Leona, our generous hostess, also sent along some lovely batik strips, 27 to be exact.  They are so pretty and are colors that I do not have.  A scrappy batik quilt must be in next year's plans!





To the numbers......

Used this week: 9.675
Used YTD: 119.763
Added this week:2.0
Gifted this week: 1.875
Added YTD: 107.375
Net used YTD: 12.388

Check out some more stash reports at Judy's Patchwork Times.

A little bit added (stash report week 43)

Nothing much has happened here on the quilting front.

It's been a week of working out, school activities, starting the holiday house cleaning (b/c we're having a house sitter over Thanksgiving, then hosting the family Christmas), and getting houseplants indoors for the winter.  Lots of rearranging and de-cluttering has been occurring.

About 4 seams were sewn this week to get the Be Merry Christmas top in one piece.

Now to find border fabric and figure out how big the first one needs to be to accomodate the checkerboard border, b/c I'm sure I don't match the measurements given in the pattern.

Although, I have some tops that require some quilting, so this one may have to wait a while.

Two packages arrived this week.  The first was a belated birthday gift from Leona!

A cute FQ and a pattern - love this pattern company, Villa Rose Designs, very simple and quick.

The second was from the Scrappy Trip Along Flickr Swap.  So, I counted the fabric "out" and now I count it back "in" - all 3 yards of it.

I was so anxious to see the goodies that I sorted them loosely by color and put them in my bins. That's what happens when one is in house-cleaning mode!

I love this swap because you sign up in yard increments.  However, the 2.5" strips must be the equivalent of one yard and do not have to be all the same fabric.  It's a very nice way to share some duplicate FQs or some leftover scraps that you can't stand to see after using them in 3 or 4 projects!

Another reason I sorted the strips so quickly was to see if there were any colors that might work in Bonnie Hunter's new mystery quilt, Celtic Solstice.  She released her color pallet this week.

Bonnie is providing yardage requirements for 2 sizes - WooHoo!  After finishing almost 4 queen size quilts this year, I don't think I can look at another large project!

Quilty friend Elise is going to do this one with me - yeah!

I've only given my shelves a cursory look but I know this:  when it comes to gathering 2.25 yards of orange/pumpkin scraps from my stash, or that much of any particular shade of color except maybe blue - well, it won't be happening.

See, I only think I have a lot of fabric until I start to do a Bonnie Hunter quilt, then I know I'm way out stashed by so many quilters!  And, Elise is one of them!

Still in the black, barely!!!

Used this week: 0
Used YTD: 110.088
Added this week:3
Gifted this week: 0.25
Added YTD: 103.5
Net used YTD: 6.338

Check out some more stash reports at Judy's Patchwork Times.

Have a great week!

Moving in the right direction (stash report week 42)

It took about two weeks to gather the motivation to get the backing put together for Easy Street and get it to a long-armer from my guild. Since I no longer delay the gratification of counting fabric "out" until the binding is on, these numbers thrill me and put the "used" numbers back in the black - WooHoo!!

Like many quilters I consider patterns as a guideline, my Easy Street easily covered my queen size without the two borders that Bonnie used.  So, I put on narrow side borders and wider top/bottom borders to make it rectangular rather than square, measuring 91x95.  It took 8.33 yds to back it and 10.41 yds of scraps for the front (8.33x1.25).  That's 18.74 yds total - and I double checked my math b/c that is a crazy amount of fabric!

12.5x16.5 unfinished

Yesterday was our quilty friends sew day.  What a great day we had - good food - good conversation - good laughs.  

After working on borders and backing, I needed a small project.  I had been using the HSTs in this pattern as leader/enders while I worked on Easy Street.  Today I put them all together - love it!

At retreat one year ago I put this UFO top into sections.  Then, I had holiday projects to finish and never got back to it.  (Be Merry by BitsnPieces)

The hang up was the checkerboard border.  After doing Easy Street, I've learned to just buck up and stitch!  So, that's what I did yesterday.  I haven't counted to see how many more I need.  Then there's the inner border to figure but maybe I can get the top together by the holidays.


Back in the black!!!

Used this week: 18.74
Used YTD: 110.088
Added this week: 0
Gifted this week: 0
Added YTD: 100.25
Net used YTD: 9.838

Check out some more stash reports at Judy's Patchwork Times.

Have a great week!

Stash Report Week 40

Amazingly, I've gotten some sewing done despite being a tad under the weather, sinusitis and such.  Today is the first day I've worn jeans in months!  I love putting on jeans for the first time in the fall.


A few days ago I decided to sit and pin my BOM blocks.  There were two waiting for attention and I didn't want to fall behind.

Stitching 32 curved blocks, 16 squares per block, might make one think that they'd get better with practice.  It made me impatient, apparently.  For the first time there are actual pleats in my seams.  Oh well - they're done!





I finally started putting my second Pineapple Blossom blocks together and decided to use muslin sashing and cornerstones.  I had asked for help at our last sew day with the setting but I didn't have any sashing cut then.  The more I looked at what I had on the design wall, the more I felt I had to do something else.

The jelly roll fabrics just didn't have enough contrast to make this pattern sing, so all the pretty florals just jumbled together.  Splitting them up and adding a solid seemed to help.  Plus, it makes it a bit larger.  I may have it in one piece for next week's report.


Finally, feeling a bit better, I got the border on Easy Street.  I'm just using one border rather than the two that Bonnie put in the pattern.  My top is plenty big enough without a border for a queen size bed.

The quilt is square so I added a narrow border on the sides and a wider border on the top and bottom.  It's not a huge difference but it helps a bit with the overhang on the bottom.  I hope to get the backing together and get it to a long armer from my guild, whose services I've not used before, so that I can check it off this year's UFO list.

This was Bonnie Hunter's 2012 mystery quilt and its pattern will be in her next book.  If you are interested, she plans to release the color scheme for this year's mystery this month.

Used this week: 0
Used YTD: 91.348
Added this week: 0
Gifted this week: 0
Added YTD: 100.25
Net used YTD: -8.902

Check out some more stash reports at Judy's Patchwork Times.

Have a great week!