Stash Report for this week

All of my quilting time this week has been spent on finishing more blocks for my Joseph's Coat quilt. All of the fabric I used has already been reported. The picture above is a few of my finished blocks laid out to show how they will (eventually) look when they're all joined together.

Due to the sudden arrival of warm weather here, I have been spending much of my time getting lawns done and flowerbeds ready for planting. It's hard to believe that two weeks ago, we had some major snow and now today it is 25C, flowers and trees are blooming! Both of my neighbors are already running their air conditioning units. I've enjoyed sitting outside in the evening this week working on my applique for my Joseph's Coat.

My projects to finish for the PhD Challenge are falling behind. In order to meet the number I committed to, I will need to do at least 2 this month and 2 in June. I'm not sure if that is possible but will hopefully I can find a bit more time now to work on those.

My Pink Lemonade quilt is still hanging on the design wall. How long does it take for a project to switch from being a WIP (Work In Progress) to a PhD (Project half Done) to a UFO (Un-Finished Object)?? Is there a guideline somewhere? I've also fallen behind by two whole blocks on the Hazels Diary Quilt-along. I guess I'd better get off of here and go work on something!


WEEK 20 Stash Report
Used this week: 0 M
Used Year to Date: 17.55 M
Added this week: 0 M
Added Year to Date: 12.07 M
Net used for 2010: 5.48 M

Check out how everyone else is doing with their stash busting efforts on Judy's blog.

Sunday Stash 'n Stuff

It's been almost two weeks since my last post and Easter has come and gone. The blocks for my pink and yellow quilt are still on the design wall in the guest room and I am still moving a few around. My only excuse for not posting is that I have not been doing anything in the way of quilting. It seems that my body has decided to ache non-stop for the past week, joints swollen etc. so it was difficult to get enthused about much of anything.

I did manage to pick up some knitting (as it doesn't require using tiny needles and thread) and, even though it was a little uncomfortable, managed to finish the second slipper to a pair that has been sitting around here for well over a year. Just as I was completing it, I discovered I had missed a portion of the instructions but, it looks like I did the same thing on the first one too so I am going to just leave it. I'm hoping they will fit someone. They are called Sasquatch Booties and I'm sure that kids will really like them.

Then, I finished knitting a cotton dishcloth that was half-done and started another with a pattern I created. My granddaughter Leah (14) has started knitting and now wants to make a blanket. I thought it might be a good idea for her to practice the stitches used in the pattern she picked, so I made up a dishcloth pattern using those same stitches. I decided I'd best make one from my instructions to be sure I had things right before I gave it to her! If anyone else would like to test-knit one, let me know!! Just remember that I am NOT a professional pattern writer and any input would be appreciated.


Week 14 & 15 STASH Report

Used this week: 0 M
Used Year to Date: 16.75 M
Added this week: 0 M
Added Year to Date: 7.90 M
Net used for 2010: 8.85 M

Be sure to check out how everyone else has done this week with their stash use on Judy's blog.

Finishes this week - 1 pair knit slippers, 1 knit cotton dishcloth.
Starts this week - 1 pink knit dishcloth

Pink & Yellow quilt AGAIN

I am still fretting over the placement of blocks in my Pink and Yellow (Disaster) quilt because of the difference in value of the fabrics.

There are many ways to think about laying it out. As it is now, I have the lightest fabrics at the top and getting darker as you get to the bottom. Now, I am wondering if I should try putting the lightest fabrics in the center with the darker around the outer edges... OR I could use a diagonal idea with the colors and start with the lightest at the top left gradating to the darkest on the bottom right. OR, on the same diagonal idea, have the lights and darks of each color going the opposite direction.... **sigh**

Any suggestions are MORE than welcomed!!
 

Sunday Stash Report

It has been a hard week for the stash. There has been a small amount going out but more coming in this week.

I have been working on getting petals prepared so I can continue to work on my Joseph's Coat project. I think I have finally mastered getting the points sharp with the freezer paper and starch. Now I just need to lay them all out and pin them to the background so I can continue to applique by hand.

I got a good deal on 3 charm packs. I figure that is about 2 meters of fabric. Please correct me if I'm way off.

I needed a border fabric to go on the Pink & Yellow quilt and wandered into the quilt store. I saw a fabric on the sale rack I felt would work well AND, it was 40% off!! I didn't have the quilt top with me because its still not all sewn together. I do have all of the blocks done though.. So, I took a chance that it would work and bought it.

After getting it home and looking at it with the blocks on the design wall, I am not so sure anymore. I probably should have waited until I had the top sewn together so I could take it along to audition borders with it. Oh well... I do really love the fabric.  If its not used for this particular quilt, it will get used at some point in time. I may even have to plan a quilt especially to use this print. Do you ever buy fabric because you think it will work for a project you are doing??

WEEK 9 STASH REPORT


Used this week: 2.4 M
Used Year to Date: 14 M
Added this week: 4.5 M
Added Year to Date: 7.9 M
Net used for 2010: 6.1 M

I'm loosing ground on my "net used" for the year so I need to get busy doing something! Don't forget to check out all the other reports on Judy's Blog

Results of Friday Night Sew-In

Last night was the February Friday Night Sew-In hosted by Handmade by Heidi.

I worked for a little while on my P&Y Disaster quilt although, I am starting to like the way it is coming out now as compared to how it looked the first time around. Check this post to see how it looked before I took all 72 of the blocks I had completed apart again to re-sew. I know I will be much happier with it now. I may even need to change the name of it...

When it started getting a little later in the evening, I switched to working on a hand paper piecing project that has been going on since at least the beginning of my blog. I talked about it way back here but haven't mentioned it since. That was two years ago and this little project has helped me through some difficult times. It seems to be becoming my therapy quilt.

Hope everyone else enjoyed their time on Friday night!!

Update

Thought a post on the continuing saga of the Yellow & Pink Double Four Patch might be in order. There is not a lot to show but I have managed to sew a few of the blocks together again! Here is a shot of them on my design wall. I think I am going to like this "less scrappy" look better as the chains in the blocks will be more defined.

I have totally neglected my Joseph's Coat blocks. I have just 4 done so I have a loooong way to go yet. I need to take some time to prepare the applique pieces so I can easily pick up a block to work on in the evening while watching TV. I find the task of turning all those little seam allowances on the little melons quite arduous especially the points on the ends! Those points give me no end of trouble.

I'm still bogged down most of the time with year-end books. Its turning out to be a larger task than I had thought it would be.  I will be REALLY glad when this task is behind me so I can get back to doing some FUN things!

Winter Storm

Today will be a good day to stay inside where it is warm as we are experiencing a winter snow storm. It is quite the change after 3 weeks of above freezing temperatures which had melted any snow we had previously.

I have finally finished taking apart all of the pink and yellow quilt. I will spend the day putting blocks back together with closer attention to contrast in fabrics and also making each block from only 3 fabrics to get a more cohesive look.

Working on my PhD's

Myra at Tactile Pleasures is hosting a PhD Challenge! What is a PhD?? It is a Project Half Done that needs to be completed. I have LOTS of those!! In an effort to play along and get something accomplished for myself at the same time, I have decided to join in with all the others who are joining this challenge. I am going to set a certain time either daily or weekly that I will spend on PhD's.


Now, I'm not sure if this pink and yellow disaster I was working on is a PhD yet or if it is still my current project but, I have decided that the blocks are all to be unsewn and then remade paying closer attention to the contrast within each block. What a lot of work but... I am stubborn and determined. It would be easier to scrap it all and start again but... thats where my frugal nature kicks in. Worked all afternoon yesterday and managed to get 15 of the 72 blocks unsewn. It better be worth it....

Pink & Yellow Disappointment OR The Importance of Contrast

Finally, I decided that enough is enough. I NEED a design wall. Off I went to our local fabric store and there I found some 274cm wide flannel in a natural color. Knowing I wanted to mount the flannel directly to the wall above my sewing machine, I needed only 1.6 M to do the job. I straightened both ends of the cuts and hemmed all sides. With help from a friend, we pulled all the stuff away from the wall and stapled the flannel to the wall under my magazine shelf. FINALLY, I have a design wall!!!! It cost me all of  $15.00.

First things up on the wall are the blocks for my pink and yellow quilt. Well, a bit more than half of them. I knew my wall would not have enough room to accommodate a full size quilt all at once. BUT, seeing those blocks up there... I am feeling quite disappointed with this quilt. The inspiration for doing this design and color choice came from Hanne's Quilt Corner and a quilt she made . I loved her quilt the moment I saw it!

When I made my first 4 blocks, I had used just two fabrics for each block. I decided I wanted it to be more scrappy (like Hanne's) so I took those apart then went right ahead and made ALL the blocks mixing up all the fabrics. When I look at it on the wall now, it looks like a scrambled mess to me. The chains through the blocks are not showing up because of the lack of contrast in the blocks. MAJOR disappointment. I am thinking now I should have gone with the original blocks using 2 fabrics per block and making sure there was a good contrast between the colors in each block. I am unsure now if I even want to finish this quilt. Picking out 72 blocks would be a HUGE task but, it would be one way to salvage this mess.

Stash Report for Week 2

Used this week: 0 M (Not counting the fabric to make my design wall)
Used Year to Date: 8.25 M
Added this week: 0 M (Again, not counting the fabric for my design wall)
Added Year to Date: .9 M
Net used for 2010: 7.35 M

Stash Report - Week 1

Thought that this might be a good way for me to audit the fabric ins and outs here at my house. Here is my first ever Stash Report:

Used this week: 8.25 M

Used Year to Date: 8.25 M

Added this week: .9 M

Added Year to Date: .9 M

Net used for 2010: 7.35 M

One of the quilts that are using up this fabric is a pink and yellow Double Four Patch quilt for my guest bed. I saw this color combination a while back and have wanted to do a quilt ever since! It just happens to be perfect for the guest bed as it has a yellow bed skirt. Since this bed is rather tall, I had to add an extra bit across the bottom to lengthen it. I had just a little of the fabric left to use in the quilt so hopefully it will all co-ordinate. Sure can't look any worse than that old comforter that is on there right now!


The rest of the fabric is for the mystery quilt-along called Hazels Diary.  I've had this butterfly print sitting around for a few years already. Originally, it was supposed to be used in a challenge quilt for our local guild. Think it may be a bit late to enter?

Preparing for the New Year

Thought that it may be a good idea to join in with Shelly at Prairie Moon Quilts in her "Final Countdown" to the end of the year. She will be setting out a task for us each day until the last day of the year. Of course, there is a prize for doing all five tasks which is a bonus!

I have already completed the first two tasks. Day one was to finish sewing a binding on a quilt. I didn't have anything in the works to the point of doing a binding so, instead I decided to make sure that any tops I have done have the bindings cut and stored with the top so that I don't use the fabric for something else. Since I usually do cut the binding right away, this didn't take very long and I spent some time tidying up the sewing room.

I also started to pull out some fabric for a new quilt I want to make for on my guest bed. I saw a quilt I loved on Hanne's Quilt Corner and decided it was just what I wanted to do. I pulled out all the pink and yellow fabrics I could find to audition for the new quilt. I think its going to be a good quilt to work on because of the happy colors.

Day two task was to put away any stray fabric. Since I had already done a tidy-up yesterday, I didn't have a lot to put away other than what I rejected for the new quilt. I spent a few hours ironing fabrics and cutting for the quilt. Then, I sewed up four blocks just to see how they looked!

I went back and looked at the pattern on Mary's blog and saw that she did her red and cream Double Four Patch all scrappy. Now I am wondering if I should just mix up all my fabrics for a scrappier look or if I should just continue going on the way I have started? What do you think?