Sunday, January 19, 2014

Stash Report Week 3

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 0 yards
Added this Week: 2 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Used for 2014:-2 yards


It seems I am not getting anywhere on my stash busting but am sewing alot!  Working on magazine blocks, Bonnie's Celtic Solstice, JUQ Mystery and cutting projects for this coming weekend's Retreat. I am so looking forward to getting away, massages, challenge project, food wine and a quilt store is even coming to us. 
Second "kit" almost finished cutting, just the background to do. Hummingbird by Darlene Zimmerman.
We lost our LQS about 3 years ago and the nearest is about 40 miles, so it is always a planned trip. The area where we are going has also lost 2 shops in the last year so this will be our only shot at fabric/supplies shopping for the weekend. I do shopping online now and never thought I would do it that way. I love to touch the fabric and have it talk to me!

It was a fun week though, I got this: Best darn Bloody Mary mix I have tasted.
and this: a reproduction of a game I had as a kid, my sisters and I played constantly. I have never told them but I used to rig it so I never got the "dud" for a date. Pays to be the older sister. 
And this: I have been wanting this for along time and am loving it. Just started working with it and will take awhile to really produce something. Oh my, the possibilities! Thanks DH, you are the best! Oh yeah, he also got me a subscription to my favorite magazine "Quiltmaker". Talk about enabling but serioulsy he is the best for his support of this obsession.
In case you were wondering why I got all of this (and more) in one week, it was my birthday! I have the best family and friends, seriously...

I thought I should also take a hand project with me for the weekend so I started cutting my wool kit.
It never crossed my mind when I picked it about how many pieces I would have to cut for the hydrangea petals and they are small. Mission accomplished.

Don't stop here, go check out what others are doing to Stash Bust at Patchwork Times.

"Traveling Stash Box Winner"
And last, but by no means least, the (by the flip of the coin) Winner is: Denise
The Traveling Stash Box has left the building and it is going to Denise of Count it*all* Joy, I hope you enjoy it and keep it traveling safely.

As Always,

Deb




Sunday, January 12, 2014

Stash Report Week 2 AND Traveling Stash


***Check out the last of this post for your chance to have the Traveling Stash***

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 0 yards
Added this Week: 2 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Used for 2014:-2 yards


The year is starting out in the negative just as the temperatures have!

Bought 2 yards this week to fill out stash for a retreat project. The blue and the green. The picture color is off but the blue is shaded and picks up the existing blues and the green picks up the stems and leaves in the light green. A cover quilt has not excited me in a long time and I am thinking this will not be the only one I do. Now I need to get it cut. Do you always cut your retreat projects ahead of time?
Celtic Solstice Update
Now this is not whining or complaining, okay, maybe it is. how can you make 24 of this blocks and meticulously check each one, put the row together and THEN find your mistake?  It is now fixed and the afternoon project will be assembling the top. Borders are cut and the Tri-Recs units done unless I decide to do the half blocks to complete the pattern(and make it a little larger).
I work with Seniors and they are so sweet. This a a gift I got from one of my favorite people, Georgia, always thinks of things to brighten your day. It is from her personal stash and was published in 1984. It has some awesome blocks in it, although they are from the days before rotary cutting I will be anxious to update them to a new format. Thanks!
Working on Pat Sloan's Globetrotter and calling mine "Globetrotter in History". This is the center block complete.
And Aurifil's BOM, using all the quilting, sewing themed fabrics I have collected. It is also on Pat Sloan's page.
Years ago, when it was the rage in the 80's, I hooked rugs and it was the only time I have worked with wool. We had a trunk show from Pine Needles Quilt Shop in Rochester, MN with Kathy and Katie, Mother and Daughter team showing us the most beautiful projects. I had to buy a little something and thought this would be perfect as we move toward spring.

TRAVELING STASH BOX
And finally, the Traveling Stash Box arrived from Dee Dee and here is what it contained.
Here is what I kept:
Sherbet Pips Mini Charms, thread, a book of doodles for FMQ and 5 FQ's
Here is what I added:
1 1/2 yards Easter Egg fabric, Twice as Nice by Kim Carr, a Vintage Car panel, 10 FQ's , 5 Apple Jack Mini Charms, 2 spools Essentials thread, a 'Lil Twister, and a vintage Thimbleberries Tin(kit inside). 
If you would like this Traveling Stash box to visit you, just leave me a comment by Thursday, January 17th at noon(CST) and it will be in the mail to you! The only rule you must know upfront is that you need to have an active blog to be able to pass it on. There is a page of explanation included in the box so you will know what to do when you receive it. This box has been traveling since 2011. Pass it on!

Now make sure you check out the others stash busting moves at Patchwork Times.

As Always,

Deb








Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Progress CS


Linking up with Bonnie at Quiltville to see everyone's work.

2 days off and you would think I could have gotten more done. Progress is slow and it doesn't help when you have to unsew...

4 rows complete but not pressed and then I laid the 5th row down, oops, need to start picking.
The good news is I have pieced the inner border and did the Tri Recs as a leader/Ender so those are ready to go.

...and in between when I could not see the pattern anymore I worked on this:
Another mystery at JUQ Facebook page

...and if that was not enough I joined Pat Sloan over at her Facebook page for 2 more. Globetrotting and the Aurifil BOM. My favorite threads!!!!

Can we say obsessed? All of this projects are using only stash....not sure I should be proud of that or not.

Back to work on the project before me!

As Always,

Deb




Sunday, January 5, 2014

Stash Report Week 1

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Used for 2014: 0 yards


Starting fresh, nothing to report so far but lots going on. This has sure been a great way to really think about how large and unused my stash is. I am again going to stick to a no buy self-imposed guideline. I know there will be things that I need but I am not going to buy without a purpose. 

I have made an investment though. I have wanted this for several years and kept watching for it to be on sale.....does not happen. So the next best thing was to wait until I could gather as much as possible "Quilter's Cash at MSQ. I looked every morning and TA-DA, it finally happened, I could get 10% and I pushed that button fast. Free shipping and a free Clover seam ripper (my absolute favorite) were also the bonuses.
I have been playing with it for a few days now and I am going to enjoy this.

Celtic Solstice has been revealed and I am in love with it. Here is my progress so far, all 24 A Blocks are complete and all components of Block B with 10 of 25 complete. Even though I trimmed and sized all the blocks, I am having a few issues with matching but in the end, with the busy pattern and after it is quilted, I don't believe you will see them. I will get it assembled today and tomorrow as I don't have to work on Monday. The Governor has declared all Minnesota Public Schools closed because of the cold weather. This has not happened for over 20 years. 

I counted the tops I have to quilt and bind.....18!
That is the goal this year, to keep doing what I am doing and complete those this year so there are no UFO's hanging around. 

Here is what January looks like:
1. Finish Celtic Solstice, completely
2. Work on Mystery quilt at Just Us Quilters
3. Do step #16 on BOM at Just Us Quilters
4. Finish 2 UFO's, have not decided which 2 but 2 small items. 
5. Retreat last weekend of January, complete one top there and start another.
6. Secret project - needs to be at the magazine by February 20th.

All reasonable goals....now let's see if I can concentrate enough and not get distracted!

The other news, I won a Traveling Stash Box from Dee Dee's Quilts, it is on the way to me and you will also have a chance at it! Watch for more details!

Let's all check out what the other's are doing at Patchwork Times! You should consider linking up!

As Always,

Deb