Stash Report - Week 29

Wheweee!!

I noticed last summer - the heat really affects me in my middle years.  It makes me so cranky.  I get so tired of being so sticky, so wet, and so overheated - ugghh!!

The hot weather doesn't seem to bother the butterflies.

That translates to:

By the time I am done doing all those things I have to do - out the door walking the dog by 6:30AM, getting the boys out of the house, running errands with a preschooler in tow, and all that kitchen stuff (which I really dislike), cleaning, laundry - uggh!!  I've had it!!

I want to curl up with a book and sleep a million years!!

In other words - I just don't feel like sewing - anything - by hand, by machine.  I'm too pooped to sew a seam.  Sew, my UFOs are still UFOs - waiting for inspiration to hit.

Aahhh (deep exhale)!  Now, all that said, I actually have a project to sew this week.  One day this week we will be meeting my sister-in-law and her family who will be a couple hours away while her husband is on a business trip.  I have two doll quilts for my niece but nothing for my nephew.  Sew, I picked up some soccer fabric at Joann's to make him a pillowcase.

Thought I would get to that today, but we decided to be gluttons for punishment and do one last outdoor activity before the heat advisories kick in.  We went to the World Bird Sanctuary, which is in a heavily wooded area very near our home, the shade did not help - not today.  DS enjoyed seeing the birds fly in the show!  We did too. This raven closed the show and is named Lenore.



Last night was Sew Down at my LQS.  I was so tired!  The only thing I did was cut and piece my Civil War blocks for my monthly guild meeting. They are my first basket blocks.

Then I squared up a few of my 9 patch blocks, ate some chocolate chip cookies, sewed a few honey bun strips together, and ate some brownies before I threw in the towel and came home early.

This week's numbers:
Used this Week: 0
Used year to Date: 41.5
Added this Week:  1.25
Added Year to Date:  74.925
Net Used for 2011:   -33.425

Head over to Judy's blog for more stash busting reports. Have a great week!!

Embroidery blocks

Greetings!

Here is my second block in the Clover & Violet embroidery QAL.

I tried embroidery about 5 years ago with a little kits from Michael's.  All I had to do was furnish the needles.  It came with good directions. It just didn't hold my interest.

Now, years later, I like combining the embroidery handwork, not the machine kind that my mom keeps trying to get me into, and quilting.  WooHoo!

Off the wagon -- again (Stash report week 28)

Glad I took this pic, as the flowers are fading by now.

 HOWDY!

My LQS had a big sale this weekend and, of course, I had to buy something.  I tried to remember that quote.  You know, 

 A bargain ain't a bargain unless it's something you need.

~Sidney Carroll

Here's the damage:

A scrap bag with almost 2 yds - at least 1.5 yds of large scraps.  Like I need more scraps!!

Now, I must admit, I was coveting this batik that is new to the shop.  It must be a Hoffman but I truly did not notice. The rings are so intricate! 
I had a coupon for 40% off so I got 2 yards.

The fabric on the right was on the $1.99 shelf.  Just one yard - no plan - don't need it - hhmmm - should have remembered that quote!

This horse print was also on the $1.99 shelf.  DS was with me and latched onto it.  Sew, he will have one more pillowcase!

He also had to get some FQs.  Luckily, theses were buy get, get one free.

Here's a couple 1/2 yd (BOGO) cuts and a charm pack of Kansas Troubles marked down to $5. Sew, I did a bit of damage - no more fabric this month, or maybe even next!

I've gotten a teensy bit done this week.  I have two hexies ready to mail off to Australia for the Inchy  Hexagon Flower Swap.  I will show them to you once they arrive so I don't ruin the surprise.

Here are the last two sections of my first ever BOM from a LQS.  Now, I need to get the backing and batting cut to size and get quilting so DH and I can use this quilt this winter.  Maybe that will keep me out of the shops!

This quilt should will measure approx 90x100, sew I will be using the Marti Michell machine quilting in sections method (this post).  Sorry the pics are so dark but my sewing space in the basement on the other side of the room from the patio door.

This week's numbers:
Used this Week: 0
Used year to Date: 41.5
Added this Week: 7
Added Year to Date:  73.675
Net Used for 2011:   -32.175

Head over to Judy's blog for more stash busting reports. Have a great week!!

Short Sunday post (stash report week 27)

Oak Leaf Hydrangeas are quite common here

 Greetings, Everyone!

Since this is my 3rd post since last Sunday, there's not much to add.  You pretty much know what I've been doing all week on my stay-cation.  I made a new bag (this post), basted a bunch of hexies (this post), and did a bit of herb harvesting and gardening (this post).

Yesterday DS attended his first birthday party of one of his school friends at a local park.  The heat index hit 109 degrees here yesterday.  Of course, the kids didn't notice but we were quite wilted after those 2 hours.

I did go to my LQS to get some fabric for the Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap, of which I am a new member.  My partner wants pink floral petals.  Guess what I do not have in my stash -- any pink floral.  So, I bought 3- 1/8 yd cuts, 2 florals and 1 polka dot for me.

I made an organizer for my bag.  Very, very simple - the fastest thing I've made in ages!  I used some scraps and this tutorial.  Need a tutorial?  Check out Hundreds of Sewing Links at Yarn or Fabric - great variety.

When we picked up DS we stopped for about 20 minutes at Angie's Nine Patch in Effingham, IL, for the first time.  Loads of fabric that I successfully resisted.  However, they had all sorts of embroidery and crochet supplies that I could use in the Clover & Violet Embroidery 101 QAL.

My block 1 isn't finished yet and block 2 was released this week.

I bought one perle cotton ball and some of those little boards for winding floss on.  I'm sure there's someplace in the metro area that sells perle cotton but I haven't located one yet.  So, I've been using what I can find at Joann's, where there isn't much choice.

Now I can keep some of my perle cotton and DS's floss from tangling.  Because...as soon as I start stitching, he wants to "sew," too.







Sew...here are the numbers:

This week's numbers:
Used this Week: 1.5
Used year to Date: 41.5
Added this Week:  0.375
Added Year to Date:  66.675
Net Used for 2011:   -25.175

Head over to Judy's blog for more stash busting reports.

Garden stuff

Here are the asiatics and orientals living together in the hillside garden.

While DS was gone, I worked on the herbs, since I was on vacation from most housework and cooking.  The closest I got was making 2 batches of classic basil pesto. No pics of that.

The oregano needed trimming so I cut leaves and bagged up 4 small lunch bags.

I do not have a dehydrator.  I've tried using the oven - do you know how long that takes?  I can't leave the house with the gas oven going.

I've tried hanging the stems upside donw in our basement.  Dust is a problem - it's hard to get dust off fried herbs - yuck!

So, I use the brown paper bags for lunches and fill them about 1/4 full, tape the tops shut, and lay them on their sides with the leaves, hopefully, evenly distributed.  Every few days I turn them over and shake them up.

Here's the mint.  It grows on the south side of the house next to the foundation.

Not much else grows over there.  The oregano did at one time til the mint took over.  Both are quite hardy perennials, handy for erosion control.

I have 2 tomato plants in pots on the deck.  I noticed that one was being eaten by something. Then, while harvesting the basil, also in pots on the deck, I noticed some droppings.

Didn't expect to see droppings, huh?  Yeah, of that I get pics!

Then later I saw some where I had swept ...  hmmmm... the culprit is still here!

HORNWORMS!!  YUCK!!!  AS you can see, this one has had his fill of leaves and has moved on to the fruitt!  Hopefully, DS can help me inspect the plants to see if there are more.  The counts is at 5 so far.

Vacation is over

Some Oriental lilies in the backyard.

 Yes, DS is home! We did a day trip to pick him up yesterday. Papa handed us a CD of photos so I will pick a few to share over the summer.  He is still in bed atm as Papa and Grammy let him stay up late.  He was at full speed until we got home last night.  Wheww!  Wonder how long it will take to get him back to routine.


All that time in the car was productive.  Lots of hexies basted.  Usually I just baste and sew one together all at one time but I knew I needed something for this road trip.
 

As you can see, these are all polka dots, the theme I finally decided upon.  Now I am trying to decide what to do with them - how to set them together. 


For example, do I do a traditional Grandmother's Flower Garden and start making lots of white hexies, or do I do applique and make each flower into a flower with a stem and leaf?  HHHmmmm....decisions, decisions.  Since I have two done so far, guess I have sometime, don't I?

Let's say "so long" with a look at one of the many Asisatic lilies in the back yard.