Forgot to show this!

Here is a photo of my completely finished Star Table Topper. It was an online project offered by CD Designs. This project was completed ENTIRELY by hand. I blogged here about the troubles I had when I was trying to hand quilt. I guess my stitching did improve through the project as I can see a real difference in the first quilting stitches to the last. I also stopped breaking needles quite as often!

  

Not much sewing or quilting happening here this week. I have been too busy doing year-end books to have the time or energy for much else. Hopefully, I will be all caught up and finished by next week!

Week 5 Stash Report

Used this week: 0 M
Used Year to Date: 10.1 M
Added this week: 0 M
Added Year to Date: .9 M
Net used for 2010: 9.2 M

Just Another Sunday

I seem to remember that line from a song but I don't remember the actual song. I think it was a female singer..  Anyone remember??

Here is my finish for this week, all quilted and bound!! It's the Framed Four Patch Table Runner and is my second finish for the PhD challenge. I just did stitch in the ditch by machine to quilt it so it went quickly. I pieced the backing to give it a bit more interest.

Week 4 STASH REPORT

Used this week: .75 M
Used Year to Date: 10.1 M
Added this week: 0 M
Added Year to Date: .9 M
Net used for 2010: 9.2 M

Be sure to go to Judy's site and check out how everyone else is doing this week with their stash busting efforts. Also, if anyone would like a copy of the spreadsheet I use (it keeps track of totals automatically), please let me know. I'd be happy to share it with you.

My Friday Night Sew-In

I started doing laundry late last night... Now, what does that have to do with the Friday Night Sew-In?? Well, this is why.

I had started sewing this purse together a while back and made a total mess of joining the back section which has 3 pockets on the inside. I got the pockets in upside-down. So, I began the night by doing some un-sewing. (It seems I am doing that a lot lately.) Then, I managed to get it put back together again, added the handles and closing tab. I figured it wouldn't take long to snip the seams as its just a small purse.... OK so, 2 hours later it was all sniped. I threw it in the washer with some jeans and started my second project.

This table runner (on left) had been laid out a while back onto the back of a flannel-backed vinyl tablecloth. It had been rolled up and put away. I got it out and transferred it to my design wall. Of course, I couldn't just leave it the way it had been. I started messing around with the layout and settled on this which I like a bit more. Becasue of different lighting condition, the colors look slightly different. The color on the left are closer to the true colors. This was a charm set but I must have tossed the band telling me the line of fabric. (I still might play with this new lay-out a little since seeing here. Might need to balance out the dark browns more from one end to the other.)

Ran downstairs and put purse (and jeans) in the dryer. By then it was midnight. Where did the time go?

Hope you had as much fun as I did with your Friday Night Sew-In!!

Finish #1 for the challenge!

This was a hand applique class taught by Doreen, a member of our local guild, Prairie Rose Quilters. Once the center was finished, I added borders with Cathedral Window miters. I wanted to hand quilt this piece in order to learn the process a bit better. This is the second item that I have hand quilted. I finished it with a zippered back so it can be used either as a pillow or as a wall hanging. This is my first finish for Finn's New Years Eve Challenge!

   

My first hand quilted project was this table runner which I made last summer (pre-blog). It is actually a "Quilt as you sew" project but, after it was sewn, I felt it needed something more. I adapted a stencil I had for the border and the triangles, then did some straight lines. It proved to be a great portable learning project during my recovery from hip surgery. My hope is to be able to do more hand quilting as I find it very soothing.