Stash Report 8, 2013

There has been sort of a lot of sewing happening here.  Why is it when you have lots to sew you don't have lots of time to go with it.  Last Tuesday I spent the day renting a long arm and got several quilts quilted now I'm working on the binding.

[caption id="attachment_1875" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Long arm rental[/caption]

I also have a few other projects that I'm trying to finish up too.  So while I'm sewing I don't have any fabric to count out yet.

The good news is that there was no fabric coming in this week.

So my numbers stayed the same. Whew!

• Added this week: 17 yds


• Added this year:  87.75 yds


• Used this week:  0  yds


• Used this year: 29.25 yds


• Net 2012  -58.5 yds 

For more stash reports head over to Judy's at Patchwork Times.

Socks Feb 21, 2013

Today's socks were bought on a trip to Alaska.  We've been to Alaska three times. Two full marathons and one half marathon, I think next time we'll skip the marathons and just drive. :) or maybe not.

It's cold here, not as cold as Alaska today but for us it's turn on the electric blanket tonight cold.

 

[caption id="attachment_1867" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Moose Socks[/caption]

I admit I'm going to miss Sock Thursday.  I wear sandals a lot in the summer too, but not when working in the yards.  I'm a feared of them there rattlesnakes and Mr. Bill gets testy when I use the chain saw, or any power tool wearing flip flops.  Go figure!

Thanks to Judy for hosting this link party.  I'll have to dig deep in the sock drawers to find something special for the last post next week.

Design Wall Monday February 18, 2013

The  design wall is empty today. I'm starting a new quilt today.  On my work table I'm pulling fabric for another Easter quilt.



It's going to be a nice little baby quilt when it grows up.

To see whats on other design walls head over to Judy's at Patchwork Times.

Stash Report 7, 2013

I'll just tell you right off ..I bought fabric this week.. 17 yards of it.  Remember that Easter fabric I was having a hard time finding, well not a problem any more.



While the report doesn't show it I really have been sewing.  I'll have three quilts ready to take to my long arm appointment on Tuesday.  I have the binding strips cut and ready to sew together. Maybe I'll get that done before Tuesday.



So here are the numbers for this week

• Added this week: 17 yds


• Added this year:  87.75 yds


• Used this week:  0  yds


• Used this year: 29.25 yds


• Net 2012  -58.5 yds

For more stash reports head over to Judy's at Patchwork Times.

 

Stocking up

Really I'm not talking about fabric, that would be for Sunday's Stash Report.  This is stocking up the wood pile.  Well in reality it's about moving the wood piles.  Over the last few years when there was branches or wood to cut up I would cut it up where it fell.  Clean up the brush and get rid of that, cut the wood to a size I can manage and stack it out of the way.

Lately it's been cold here, yes all the way down in the mid 30's in the morning and some days not even reaching 65 degrees.  Now stop laughing, this is Southern California and when it drops below 70 we tend to panic. :)

So Mr. Bill has been using the fireplace and he decided that it was time to round up all those little piles and bring them up to the house.  Ok no problem there's not that much, shouldn't take to long.

Oh My! I've sure cut up a lot of fire wood, a little at a time.



We had a whole truck load full.  This should keep in in firewood for a season or two.



Disclaimer:  I cut up most of this firewood with my small electric chain saw. It can cut some really good size logs but the big logs in the bottom of the truck Mr Bill did with the big chainsaw.



Now we will gather around the fireplace and be toasty warm.

What I'm Working On Feb 13th

This week I'm working on two St. Patrick Day Quilts.  One on the wall St. Patrick's 1 top is done.  St. Patrick 2 is a disappearing nine patch.  Two rows sewn together so far.  I have rental time on Tuesday for the long arm so I'm working to get everything ready.

[caption id="attachment_1826" align="aligncenter" width="300"] St Patrick's 1[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1835" align="aligncenter" width="300"] St. Patrick's 2[/caption]

 

 

I'm linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.

Design Wall Monday

Today on my design wall for your viewing pleasure is my St. Patricks Day Quilt.  I had enough fabric left that I started another little lap quilt too.  I took this photo last night when I finished it.  It's taken me all day to get time to post it. I might be late for the party but I showed up.

[caption id="attachment_1826" align="aligncenter" width="300"] St Pat's Day Top[/caption]



For more design walls head over to Judy's at Patchwork Times.

Stash Report Week 6, 2013

Stash report time again, so soon!  Man that yardage adds up fast when you get to the checkout.  I pick up some St. Patricks fabric for a little quilt.  The red/white/blue fabrics were 50% off so I pick up some to add to the QOV fabric pile.  I also add some Easter which it sort of being hard to find.



Saturday we went to a big model train show and can you believe that I found the one booth that had fabric.  There were several bolts but since I didn't have anything in mind for it I just pick up a couple of panels, after all I do have train fabric in the stash.



On the fabric I used side I can count a pillowcase and my Snoopy Valentine Quilt.  I count my fabric when the quilt/project   is complete.  I have one quilt at the quilter and I'm planning on have three ready when I have my long arm rental time later this month so my numbers could improve if I stay out of the stores.

[caption id="attachment_1810" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Finished[/caption]

Here are my numbers:

• Added this week: 20.50 yds


• Added this year:  70.75 yds


• Used this week:  5.50 yds


• Used this year: 29.25 yds


• Net 2012  -41.50 yds

For more stash reports head over to Judy's at Patchwork Times

A Friday Finish: Valentine

My first Friday Finish of the New Year, just in time for Valentine's Day.

I quilted this on my home sewing machine.  I am in total awe of anyone who quilts anything bigger then a placemat on their home machine.

[caption id="attachment_1806" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Peanuts Valentine[/caption]

First I had to clean off my cutting table (2 hours) Next lay out all the layers with no wrinkles (another 2 hours). Pin baste all the layers (are you kidding me) I don't have one of those stick thingies so I used the edge of my seam ripper (2 hours).  Then over to the machine I go, oh wait I have to totally clean off the sewing table to make room and..I'm suppose to get all this under that and not shift any of the layers, maybe I should have used more pins, no not going back to that.   I used was the wavy stitch on my machine with a walking foot. (another billion hours).

[caption id="attachment_1807" align="aligncenter" width="300"] pin baste[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1808" align="aligncenter" width="300"] At the machine[/caption]

 

Whew finely done!  Take it all out, shake it out and turn it around and WHAT!! the corner got folded up and quilted.  Oh my what to do.  Undo it and redo that line...I don't think so...my quit just got shorter.

[caption id="attachment_1809" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Oh Man! Really![/caption]

I'll be rethinking this quilting on my machine. I know with practice it gets easier, but I think I'll just plan my rental times on the long arm better.

[caption id="attachment_1810" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Finished[/caption]

And that's the story of my biggest attempt at quilting on my home machine. I'm so glad it's Friday and I have a finish.

This pattern is from Mary Quilts it's a great pattern for large prints that you don't want to cut up.  Except of course the part I cut off the bottom.

I'm linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Crazy Mom Quilts go there to see more (less dramatic) finishes.

I love Friday evenings after dinner when I get to cruise through all the beautiful quilt finishes in blogland

Socks Feb 7, 2013

It's show us your socks day at Patchwork Times.  Today I'm wearing one of my many many pair of Valentine socks.  Because this pair is all about the cuff I had to take one off for the photo.  Let me tell you that tile floor was cold!!

[caption id="attachment_1801" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Valentine Socks[/caption]

For more socks head over to Patchwork Times and check out the talented ladies who knit their socks!

Stash Report Week 5, 2013

Well at least I'm moving in the right direction, climbing my way out of the red zone.  If I can finish up a few things I'll be able to finish this month in the black.  Of course that means I also have to stay away from the fabric stores, in person and on line. :)

I added 8 yards of this wonderful purple buffalo plaid for the back of the two memory quilts so that was a quick in/out .  That extra yard was pink hearts.  Now I knew I had some, but darn if I could find it.  After looking and looking a quick trip to the store and I was back at it.  As soon as I cut it and started sewing, what should come strolling in to the sewing room but the very fabric I'd been searching for everywhere! Ok, I move a pile and there it was.  Fabric is really good a hiding in my house.

On the used side, there were more pillowcases (in the mail) binding for the quilts.  I'm just thrilled to have numbers going out this week.

• Added this week: 9 yds


• Added this year:  50.25 yds


• Used this week:  15.5 yds


• Used this year: 23.75 yds


• Net 2012  -26.5 yds  

For more stash reports head over to Judy's at Patchwork Times

January 2013 NewFO

I did a really good job of starting quilts this past January.  Three new quilts started this past month.

1.  Christmas Quilt :  This was on my NewFo list for this year. I started working on this as a take along project to Quilt Club on Thursday nights but I wasn't getting much done.  Now it is leader/ender project setting beside my small machine and I've been seeing some progress.

[caption id="attachment_1790" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Christmas Quilt[/caption]

 

2.  New Year Day Quilt of Valor:  I started it on New Year Day.  I have the center completed and I'm working on the borders now.

[caption id="attachment_1789" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Quilt of Valor[/caption]

3.  Cowboy Tumbler:  When I had my GO Cutter out at the first of the month I cut up some tumblers from my cowboy scraps.  I've started sewing them together but I it's heavy on the red fabrics so I need to get my cutter out again and cut more color.

[caption id="attachment_1788" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Tumblers[/caption]

Ok, so that's what I started and didn't finish, but I did finish a few things too.

Started and finished two memory quilts, a couple of Valentine table runners and seven pillowcases.

That's what I started in January, lets see what I come up with in February.

I'm linking up with Barbara at Cat Patches for NewFo