It's Another Sunday Update!!

I know, I know... Its been a LONG time! No excuses, just life! At present, I am playing nurse, chauffeur, cook and house keeper to family members who needed help after surgery. All of that doesn't leave too much extra time. I did manage to take a walk the other night and capture the photo above.

I have been mostly working on my hand projects. For the Joseph's Coat applique quilt, I cut out the remainder of the background squares then made up groups of 'melons' for each so that I don't end up with duplicates in one block. I have completed 26 blocks to date and continue to work on them whenever I get a chance in the evenings.

I have also done a few more pieces for my 'Many Stars' EPP project using 60 degree diamonds. That one continues to be a slow work in progress.

STASH REPORT for Week 43 
Used fabric for a few more melons needed for the Joseph's Coat and I cut 20 more background pieces.

Used this week: 1.9 M
Used Year to Date: 37.06 M
Added this week: 0 M
Added Year to Date: 26.72 M
Net used for 2010: 10.34 M

Be sure to check Judy's blog to see all the other stash reports this week!

Catching up

I have not been in the sewing room now for almost a month and has been well over a month since my last post! I had such great plans for quilts that I was starting...  I started sewing the "Between Charming Friends" quilt. I know - everyone else who was doing them are long finished but I like the quilt and had a charm pack to use. It's still in the same state on the wall as it was a month ago.

Start of Between Charming Friends quilt

Instead, I have been working on bookkeeping for my daughter's business. They had a major fire in their building and need everything caught up for insurance. The end is getting close now so hopefully, I'll be able to get back to doing some "FUN" stuff soon!

Update on my Stash Report....

Used this week: .65 M
Used Year to Date: 35.16 M
Added this week: .25 M
Added Year to Date: 23.47 M
Net used for 2010: 8.44 M

New Quilter

It's Sunday again! I've been busy this week helping my Grand-daughter Leah (16) make a quilt. She is doing great and I'm so proud of her! Because of her quilt, I haven't had much opportunity to work on any of my projects but that's ok. I'll have lots of time after she goes home next weekend to do any sewing I want. I'm sure going to miss having her around. I'm planning to do a post with pictures and daily progress of her first quilt.

This week, the purchases I made were for her quilt. Most everything came from my stash until she decided she wanted purple setting blocks and I just didn't have enough of any one on hand. She also found a neat black & white print to use in her quilt. I'm hoping that we can find something in my stash to use to piece the back yet too.

STASH REPORT for Week #32

Used this week: 5.6 M
Used Year to Date: 34.51 M
Added this week: 3.0 M
Added Year to Date: 26.47 M
Net used for 2010: 8.04 M

Check Judy's blog for all the stash reports this week.

Quilt Two-step

This past week I decided to use up a charm pack that I have had around here for a long time. I had been admiring all the "Between Charming Friends" quilts that were done and decided that one of those would be great for using up the charm pack of 'Midas Touch' by Ro Gregg for Northcott that I had. When I looked at the instructions, I realized I needed two charm packs... I figured I would never be able to find another charm pack the same as it is a few years old already.  Scrap plan #1 for now and move on to plan #2.

Plan #2 was to join in on the "Charm Quilt-along" on Freckled Whimsey. I have 3 charm packs of L'Amour by Sandy Gervais for Moda that I'd "won" on ebay and had no idea what I was going to make with them. This quilt-along is perfect! All I needed was some background fabric so, off I went to the quilt store.
When I walked in and started looking around, I spyed some charm packs and... GUESS WHAT? There was a single charm pack sitting there of Midas Touch! Of course I bought it and decided to go back to plan #1, the Between Charming Friends quilt. I couldn't remember how much background I needed exactly but picked up 2.5 meters. I rushed home and began cutting.

I cut a whole bunch of 5" squares for the first step, or so I thought. When I checked the instructions on Charming Chatter to find out how many I needed, I discovered that I was cutting for the plan #2 quilt on Freckled Whimsey and NOT for the plan #1 Between Charming Friends quilt. OK then... rather than waste all of that cut background, it looks like I'm going to be doing both. Thankfully, the antique white background I bought works well with both sets of charm squares. I ran back to the store and picked up some more of the same fabric so I'd have enough to do both quilts.

I cut up all the Midas Touch squares and realized I was 2 squares short. I found some black with a gold metallic swirl pattern and cut 2 charms from that. Phew! Thank goodness for stash!  I've sewed the 12 four-patch blocks required and got the strips joined for the 16 patch blocks.

Thats when I decided I needed the design wall to lay these blocks out so I can get good balance. Problem is... my double four-patch is still not all put together and is still on the wall.

 

OK, so I stop everything in order to sew the double four-patch quilt top together to free up the design wall. I had sewn all the vertical rows together when I had to stop for the night.

Does anyone else work like this?? or is it just me? Always seems to be three steps forward and two back.


STASH REPORT for Week #31
Somehow I've confused things and missed week #30 altogether but, there were no changes to report anyways.

Used this week: 9.05 M
Used Year to Date: 28.91 M
Added this week: 6.4 M
Added Year to Date: 23.47 M
Net used for 2010: 5.44 M

Check Judy's blog for all the stash reports this week.

Lost & Still Not Found

Since I have never showed this project, I'm presenting it today. This was a kit I purchased a few years back and finished all the hand appliqué and stitching on it in about July of 2008. It seems now though, I have misplaced it somewhere plus I couldn't find the finished picture either. This next one shows the appliqué partially done...

I'm going to have to go digging in some boxes downstairs to see if its down there somewhere! Hmmm, maybe I'll find the other missing pillow too. Does anyone else loose stuff like I do??

Hope everyone is having a great Sunday and a wonderful summer. I don't have much to update on the stash today. The past week has been a total wash as far as getting any quilting done. It's just been too hot!

STASH REPORT for Week #29
Used this week: 0 M
Used Year to Date: 19.86M
Added this week: 0 M
Added Year to Date: 17.07M
Net used for 2010: 2.79M

Check all the stash reports on Judy's blog.

Sunday.... Again!

Do weeks pass more quickly in summer? I've managed to catch up a little with Hazel's Diary Quilt-along finishing block 6 and 7 plus the last 6 alternate blocks. I'm not sure I like my fabric choices for Block 7 (on the right). I may end up re-making that one at the end when I see what fabric I have left over.




Then,  Block 1 has been bugging me since I made it so, I decided to try fixing it. I took it apart and re-oriented the yellow and teal. Now I like it more!! See original here.



STASH REPORT for Week #29
Used this week: 1.2 M
Used Year to Date: 19.86M
Added this week: 0 M
Added Year to Date: 17.07M
Net used for 2010: 2.79M

Read everyones reports on Judy's blog.

Even Small Steps Forward Is Progress!

A little bit of sewing has been happening here and I do mean a little! I needed a clothespin bag and, instead of being patient and waiting to find the one I really wanted to do (see my previous post), I just went ahead and created a utility version. This is my new clothespin bag! Nothing too fancy, just used a fat quarter and some bias tape I'd had sitting around for a long time.

Two more blocks for Joseph's Coat were appliquéd this week bringing my total to 19 now. My hopes of doing 3 or 4 blocks a week have not materialized. Since I had to use 2 different background fabrics, I need to figure out what backgrounds I still need to cut and out of which fabric before I start assembling my first two rows. The last thing I want is to have to take them apart again...

Block 5 for the Hazels Diary was completed. Now I am only 3 behind...

My oldest grandson (13) is staying with me for a few weeks and I'm doing my best to try to keep him busy. That means doing things like cleaning out the garage and doing some repair work around the house instead of sewing. He's already washed both the car and truck twice by hand just for something to do!  Wonder if he'd like to learn to quilt??

STASH REPORT for Week #27

Used this week: .36 M
Used Year to Date: 18.66M
Added this week: 0 M
Added Year to Date: 17.07M
Net used for 2010: 1.59M

Flooding, Scraps & Stash

I live in the area of Southern Alberta where there is a lot of flooding happening right now. Its not a good situation for many people. I am fortunate enough to live on higher ground and shouldn't experience any problems. There is a news story about it HERE on CTV News Calgary for today and yesterday. Just click the play button on the video player that comes up. I'm not sure how long they keep their top stories but would think several days.

I decided to do some organizing this week of all my scraps... not that I really have all that many, but I thought they should be sorted out a la Bonnie Hunter. I have one of those four drawer plastic organizer thingies so figured that would work. When I pulled out my pathetic pile of scraps, I discovered that I wouldn't even come close to filling those drawers, even the shallower ones. Guess I need to make more quilts to create more scraps?? I will probably just use the video organizer boxes that I have been storing the unorganized scraps in. I'll divide them up into size categories and mark the boxes. Maybe one day I'll have enough to do something with...

I did find  LOTS of those 'bonus' triangles that I'd saved so, during my TV time, I'm sorting those into sizes so I can hopefully create something - perhaps a pinwheel quilt. One may be a mini as the triangles will make 1" blocks. Why on earth do I feel compelled to save these bits of fabric? Most people throw away a lot bigger pieces than these! Perhaps it was from the early lessons I learned from my parents:

 Waste Not, Want Not

 OR

Use it Up,

Wear it Out,

Make it Do or

Do Without 

Stash Report for Week 25

Yikes, almost to the half-way point of the year! Nothing used or purchased again this week. Haven't done well on the PhD (UFO) finishing front either as I've only done 2 of the 6 I had wanted to finish by the end of June. I did manage to finish one more block for my Joseph's Coat project but all of those fabrics have been counted already.

Used this week: 0 M
Used Year to Date: 18.3M
Added this week: 0 M
Added Year to Date: 17.07M
Net used for 2010: 1.23 M

Have a look at how everyone else is doing with their stash reports on Judy's blog.

Sunday Confessions

Somehow, two weeks has gone by since my last post! Not sure where all the time runs off to... sure would be nice to find a whole lake full of it and dip some back out. I love this picture. I took it in BC near Chilliwack during an off-road adventure several years ago. Doesn't that log just look like a sculpture of an animal?

I've been sewing Klosje blocks by hand in the evenings these past two weeks. There are another 13 done which makes my total now 27. At a finished size of 3 1/4" each,  I'm going to need quite a few of them to make anything. Guess I should decide how big a quilt I really want! Something is saying.... wall hanging.

There are two other hand projects that I have been neglecting - Joseph's Coat and Diamond Stars as nothing has been done lately on either of these. I'm going to aim toward getting another 3 or 4 JC blocks appliquéd this coming week. So far, 16 of  the 48 needed are done.

My Stash Report for Week 24
The net amounts have not unchanged from my last report on May 30th. I suppose nothing new purchased can be seen as a good thing!

Used this week: 0 M
Used Year to Date: 18.3M
Added this week: 0 M
Added Year to Date: 17.07M
Net used for 2010: 1.23 M

Check out everyone's reports on Judy's blog.

Not sure anyone is really interested in all of this but, the accountability is good for me! It is, hopefully, how I will stop creating more half-done projects. Your comments are a big help to me as well! *hugs*

Last Sunday of May 2010

Wow... Can't believe that it's almost the end of May already.

I have been knitting a bit again this week. I made this dishcloth from a pattern I found by Dave at Criminy Jickets. I was a bit disappointed after it was done, but not because of the pattern. There were some knots in the ball of cotton I used and it seems that, each time I came to a knot, it was a different dye lot. I didn't notice the differences until it was done. Why do yarn companies do that?? Also, I found the cast on edge to be not so nice. I later found an alternate way to begin this pattern at Tinker Tots. I'm going to try it again with this alternate start.

My evenings watching television have produced 4 more blocks for my Joseph's Coat quilt.

Most of my hand stitching time has been spent making Klosjes, 14 of them so far.  Each block finishes at 3 inches. I have another 30 or so cut out and ready to sew once I get the match points marked on them all.

It seems that this week, I am sitting perilously close to the brink of going into the 'gain' side of stash usage, or should I say stash gainage? Not only that, but I am way behind on my PhD's for the challenge. Fabric in those is already counted as used unless I need to add something like borders to one of the UFO's so, finishes don't count towards the stash report totals.

I've been in a bit of a slump here again. Some days, it is difficult for me do accomplish anything as I seem to have no drive to do much at all. The past week has mostly been dreary and dark accompanied by lots of rain. All I know is, I could REALLY use a good dose of HAPPY!

My fabric purchase this was 4 M of plain white for backgrounds plus 4 FQ's of mottled brights. Perhaps I need a cheery quilt to work on? Or, maybe the purchase was just to get that bit of a 'fabric happy' when you are in a quilt store looking at all the wonderful things they have there. I know my purchase will not be a waste as it will be used at some time.

I've been looking at a lot of simple quilts using just plain white muslin as a background and then cheerful bright colors in squares or zig-zags etc. Here are links to a few I really like:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/redpepperquilts/3648528058/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theblueberrymoon/4214469628/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67604797@N00/4362916659/ 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67604797@N00/4231949740/ 


I know I shouldn't be thinking about starting something else when I have so much not finished. Not sure how others manage to keep themselves on one project until it is completely done...



WEEK 22 STASH REPORT
Used this week: .5 M (for Klosjes)
Used Year to Date: 18.3M
Added this week: 5 M
Added Year to Date: 17.07M
Net used for 2010: 1.23 M

The Latest Virus

Klosje Fever started in Holland where many have been afflicted over the years. It seems that now, due to the internet, it is spreading swiftly throughout the world. I have seen reports of the fever affecting those in all parts of  Europe, Austrailia, United States and Canada.

Many seem to be affected more on one particular day known as Zaterdag in Dutch. On this day, people, the majority of whom seem to be women, are compelled to devote their day to making Klosjes. The effect of Klosje Fever causes you to forget all your promises and resolutions about starting new things. Your fingers begin to itch. You find yourself digging through your supplies and, before you know it, you have one in your hands. One Klosje leads to another and another.

It seems that I have also been afflicted by Klosje Fever. Those cute little Klosjes find their way into your brain, your heart and very quickly, your hands. Before I knew it, I too was spending my Saturday working on them.

For more information regarding Klosjes, go to  Valentina's Corner.

My stash report for Week 21:

Used this week: .25 M (for Klosjes)
Used Year to Date: 17.8 M
Added this week: 0 M
Added Year to Date: 12.07M
Net used for 2010: 5.73 M

Check Judy's blog to see what everyone else has reported this week.

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.

Mother's Day Stash Report

Another week has slipped away somehow.  Thanks to the generosity of my sister, my special little companion dog was able to have some much needed surgery this week so I have been playing nurse to her. She's feeling a lot better by today and almost back to her 'normal' self - doing her best at bossing me around.

While she was at the Vet's, I was able to spend about 4 hours in one of my favorite places - Deanna's Quilted Garden in Brooks, AB. Although Deanna was not in, Shirley kept me company between the many customers as I worked on my Joseph's Coat blocks in the classroom. Most of those customers wandered back to chat with me and find out what I was doing. It was great to visit in person with other quilters again!
Of course, when you are in a quilt store for numerous hours, it's pretty hard to leave without buying anything! I did my best to resist but still ended up with a couple of FQ's and a few other smaller remnants that I thought would go well into either my Joseph's Coat or my Diamond Stars paper pieced project. Somehow, just bringing those little bits of fabric home prolongs the feeling of the wonderful day I had on Monday.


WEEK 19 STASH REPORT

Used this week: 0 M
Used Year to Date: 17.55 M
Added this week: 1.17 M
Added Year to Date: 12.07 M
Net used for 2010: 5.48 M 

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

Sunday Stash Update and Fun on the Farm

Just in case all you really want to know is how I'm doing in my efforts at stash reduction, here is my report that covers three weeks this time. (I'll explain how that happened again farther down for those who might be interested...)

Unfortunately, not a lot of stitching has been happening. I've done a few more blocks for the Joseph's Coat quilt but still have lots to do. I have 14 of the 48 done now and have another 8 blocks prepared so I can continue on. My progress is really slow but at least it's progress!

Week 16, 17 & 18 STASH Report

Used this week: .8 M
Used Year to Date: 17.55 M
Added this week: 3 M
Added Year to Date: 10.90 M
Net used for 2010: 6.55 M

Not a lot compared to some others but I am happy with what I am using up and enjoying my (slow) progress on my projects!

Check out what everyone else has done this week at Judy's site.

NOW... about the last few weeks....   
My sister had asked me several weeks ago if I would be able to come to her home to care for her husband while she attended a conference. I was more than happy to do that. I was to be there on Thursday... BUT, on Monday, this area of Southern Alberta was hit with a huge snow storm.

There was more than a foot of really heavy, wet snow and then the wind picked up. The result was many downed power lines and even power poles that were snapped right off at the ground. Most of this devastation happened within 10 miles of where my sister and her husband live in a rural area. As a result, they were without power starting late Monday. When I arrived on Thursday, there was still no power. Since my brother-in-law is on oxygen all the time, they had a generator set up to run the oxygen machine and the furnace fan. Even though the furnace is gas (propane actually), it needs electricity for the fan to work or you still don't get heat.

She also has 3 deep freezes and, of course the fridge in the kitchen. Too many items to have plugged into the generator simultaneously. As a result, I was continually changing what was plugged in to try to keep everything cold or frozen.... and, at the same time... hauling gas to keep the generator going. It was very hard work until the power finally came back on late Saturday.

My sister also had another commitment this weekend so I've been here again since Wednesday. Fortunately, there is power although there was yet ANOTHER snow storm in Southern Alberta! Luckily, the worst missed us here and we mostly just experienced very strong winds (up to 90 km) and rain with a bit of intermittent sleet. I think we are getting March weather in April and May this year. Last week, everyone was out cutting lawns and doing yard work.... gotta love it!

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

Sunday Stash Report

I did a fair bit of catching up this week. Just this morning I finished Block 4 of the Hazel's Diary Quiltalong mystery. I had more trouble with this block than the first 3. The center part just seemed too small so the block doesn't look as square as it should. But, I really like how its turning out overall with the bright colors against the black background I'm using. I think I might be the only one working with a black background. Check out the Hazel's Diary Flickr Group for more photos from others doing this project.

Here are my first 4 blocks.

To see what else I did this week, check my previous post.

WEEK 13 STASH REPORT

All fabric used this week went into the melons (petals) for my Joseph's Coat quilt.

Used this week:               .50 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.