Stash Report February 8, 2015

To say that this year, I've started slow would be an understatement.  I've been feeling behind since January 1st.  Not a good way to start a year.  I think I might need an attitude adjustment here, which I didn't even realize until I typed the words

Really how can I be behind at the beginning? I think there may be physics involved there, so I'll just settle for a slow start and a long list.  Come to think of it, that is the norm around here.

While I did really good the last 100 days of 2014 only buying fabric that would be used right away, I have done a bit of stash enhancement this year.

I needed sashing for my 2in wonder blocks (Growing up odd) and some neutrals for my soap quilt. Then visiting quilt shops in Tulsa with my sister added a few yards to the mix. Oh there was that backing fabric for a couple of QOV's yet to be finished.

[caption id="attachment_2896" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Growing Up Odd Blocks[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2897" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Growing Up Odd Blocks[/caption]

 

Which leads me to the other side of the stash report.  I've been in my sewing room three times in this year.  (Vacation in January is hard on fabric usage)  Twice to clean up from my Oct-Dec sewing deadlines and one day to do some sewing (3 pillowcases).  This month will be better I promise.

Added since last report: 41 Yards
Added this Year: 41 Yards
Used since last report: 3 Yards
Used this Year: 3 Yards
Net Used this Year: -38 Yards

So there it is 38 yards in the negative, and I'm OK with that. :)

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday Dec 29, 2014

I do so love Monday evenings when I can visit everyone's design wall and be inspired.

On the design wall are my finished blocks from the Road to Oklahoma Shop Hop.

[caption id="attachment_2889" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Road to Oklahoma[/caption]

My sister did this shop hop that lasted for the month of June.  She went to all 25 shops.  It took every weekend and a couple of Fridays too.

She picked up a two block kits at each shop and surprised me with a set when I visited in July.  We decided we could each pick a block a month and have our own "Block of the Month" club.

Of course with my crazy busy fall season I fell behind. I only have four to do to be caught up.  I will be caught up by January 1st.  Honest!

For more design walls head over to Judy at Patchwork Times

Stash Report Week 52, 2014

This week was spent adding and subtracting.  I admit for the past month (maybe a little longer) the fabric receipts and cutting log have piled up.  It's kinda like doing your taxes, you know you need a better shoe box system but you just want to cut into the beautiful fabric and sew it up.  So you end up like me.  Setting in front of the adding machine on Christmas Day tallying the fabric numbers and remembering all the fun you had sewing.

I'm counting out several quilts this week.  Some are in their new homes and some decided to remain at home.

Mr. Bill claimed the Black and Red Cats.  The Christmas quilt will grace the guest room next year.

[gallery ids="2873,2874,2862"]

 

I also get to count out  the Christmas quilts I wrote about here.

[gallery ids="2867,2864,2865"]

One nice thing about procrastinating is the out going numbers really add up. :)

Added since last report: 12 Yards
Added this Year: 152.75 Yards
Used since last report: 40.25 Yards
Used this Year: 234.75 Yards
Net Used this Year:  82.00 Yards

I'm thrilled with using 82 yards this year.  I stopped adding to the stash in September, only buying what I needed to finish a project for the last 100 days of this year.  I even made it through a vacation with out buying fabric.  Look out January!!!

I'm looking forward to more usage in 2015.  I'm joining Michelle's Challenge to make baby quilts.  My goal is twelve baby quilts next year

I'm also planning twelve Quilts Of Valor next year.

I may even finish up some of the quilts on my UFO list.

So there will be fabric used in the New Year.

This has been such a useful tool for me.  So I will continue to track my usage next year.

Thank You to Judy for having the stash report it helps keep me on track.

 

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

Last Friday Finish 2014

I sure hope everyone had a nice Christmas and is ready to take on the New Year.

I really didn't just finish these quilts but they are with their new owners so I can post them now.

First up is a 25 patch Christmas quilt.  This came about after my Halloween quilt.  I wanted one for Christmas and of course I wanted it quick so I used 2.5 in strips and squares for variety..

[caption id="attachment_2862" align="aligncenter" width="296"] Christmas 2014[/caption]

I'm also in love with the back of this one too.

[caption id="attachment_2863" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Christmas 2014 Back[/caption]

 

Then quilts for two nephews.  One lives on the east coast and one in the middle of the country.  I chose sashing and borders to reflect the area they live in. I used Bonnie Hunter's Dancing Nine Patch pattern.  I added a row on one quilt for my older, taller nephew.  I like this pattern and can see using it again.

[caption id="attachment_2867" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Coastal Blue Waters[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2868" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Coastal Blue Waters[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2865" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Blue Prairie Skies[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2866" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Blue Prairie Skies[/caption]

 

Then for my niece I went just a tad on the wild side.

[caption id="attachment_2864" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Wild Child[/caption]

 

I'm thrill with how each one turned out and hope each and every one of them will feel the love when they use them.

I'm whooping it up big time today as I spend the day cleaning up the sewing room and getting it ready for the New Year.

Linking up with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

 

 

 

Stash Report Week 51 2014

Oh dear, it's been a while since my last stash report.  All I can say is Craft Show Season kicked big time followed by Christmas Sewing.  While I still was keeping track of my fabric there was no blogging about it.  I still have notes and receipts  to go over and more yardage to tally but here are my numbers for this week.

Added since last report: 30 Yards
Added this Year: 140.75 Yards
Used since last report: 20.50 Yards
Used this Year: 194.50 Yards
Net Used this Year 53.75 Yards

So far I'm still on the plus side.  Using more fabric than I bought this year was my goal. The truth will come out this week when I total up December's numbers.  The one thing in my favor is that there has be NO caving into the bizillon sale emails I get everyday.

For more stash reports head over to Patchwork Times.  There are some awesome numbers there.

 

Design Wall Monday December 15, 2014

I've finished up Christmas sewing and can get back to finishing up (or starting) projects.

I'm putting up some string QOV blocks that I'd like to get sewn up this week.

[caption id="attachment_2844" align="aligncenter" width="225"] QOV String Blocks[/caption]



 

These little blocks have been leaders/enders for the past year and I was playing with layouts.  Of course I like both so I'm back to making more little Nine Patches.



 

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

Is it Halloween Yet?

I don't know about anybody else but I'm so ready for fall and all that it brings starting with cooler weather.  It's been, shall we say toasty ok so it's be down right stinking HOT !!!  What do you do when it's to hot to do anything...sew little squares together of course.  They are light and small, don't have to have them on your lap, and if you use fall fabric it could feel cooler in the sewing room. Right?

Then when the weather breaks and it's under 100 degrees you have a cute fall/halloween quilt.  See Win Win. :)

So here it is a whole bunch of 2.5 inch squares.

[caption id="attachment_2824" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Hallowenn 16 patch[/caption]

I just love a scrappy quilt. With all that wonderful scrappiness happening on the front I opted for a easy back this time.

[caption id="attachment_2825" align="aligncenter" width="225"] 16 patch rear view[/caption]

I am so whooping it up for this finish and linking up with Sarah at Confession of a Fabric Addict.

Stash Report Week 37, 2014

It would seem that this has turned into a monthly stash report for me.  In true Harriett fashion it's not even a end of month report but mid-month.  :)

It's suppose to be in the 100's today and I'll be working on a Christmas quilt.  Some how that just sounds wrong.  But that what September is like in Southern Calif.

I've been doing well not buying unless I need it for a project.  So my yardage in went right back out.  Love it when that happens. I have three quilts at my quilter so I can count out the tops..

Added since last report: 6 Yards
Added this Year: 110.75 Yards
Used since last report: 21.0 Yards
Used this Year:  174.0 Yards
Net Used this Year 63.25 Yards

Holding fast to being on the positive side. So if you are only interested in fabric you can stop now and head back over to Judy's for more stash reports.

So what else have I been up too:

We lucked into some old iron beds.

[caption id="attachment_2816" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Bring home the beds[/caption]

and I've been sorting them

[caption id="attachment_2818" align="aligncenter" width="225"] sorting beds[/caption]

Then there was a hutch that was just asking for a bit of paint

[caption id="attachment_2819" align="aligncenter" width="225"] painted hutch[/caption]

Some Halloween burlap that became pillows and upholstering for a chair

[caption id="attachment_2815" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Fun Halloween Burlap[/caption]

Oh can't forget a couple of quilts too.

[caption id="attachment_2820" align="aligncenter" width="225"] T-shirt quilt[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2817" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Halloween Quilt #1[/caption]

Have a great week and keep sewing.

H

Stash Report Week 33, 2014

I know it's been a super duper long time since I last posted my stash report.  Vacation and the heat really put a dent in my sewing room time.  Now it's time to get back in there.  I have deadlines and things need to get finished.

Not sewing has also kept me out of some fabric shops, sort of.  I've still used more this year than I've bought and that is a good thing.

 

Added since last report:  3 Yards
Added this Year: 104.75 Yards
Used since last report: 4.25 Yards
Used this Year: 153 Yards
Net Used this Year 48.25 Yards

I'm linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times.  Check out how others are using their stash.

This week has been brought to you by the 2.5in square

This week in my effort to see progress in the sewing room and on my blog I looked to that wonderful two and a half inch square.

What's not to love about the 2.5in square.  They are easy and simple yet demanding and complex.

I chose three projects for summer that would help me cut up my scraps, yet I have been stalled.

One project uses 1.5 in squares, the second uses 2in squares and the third uses 2.5 in squares.

I was trying to cut them all at the same time and ended up with a mess on my cutting table.

This week I decided to focus on the 2.5in squares.  I'm so glad that I did too.

For the quilt I need 281 sets of 5 matching 2.5in squares, 31 sets of 4 matching 2.5in squares and 31 single 2.5in squares.  Makes a total of 1560 2.5in squares. Of course I'm making it a bit harder by making them all unique sets.  That's a lot of double checking. :0)

When I started cutting on Tuesday afternoon I needed 160 more sets of 5.  All 31 sets of 4 and all 31 singles squares.

[caption id="attachment_2805" align="aligncenter" width="300"] cutting 2.5 in squares[/caption]

This morning I have 240 sets of 5 (need 41), 2 sets of 12 (need 19) and 0 single squares (need 31).

[caption id="attachment_2806" align="aligncenter" width="300"] counting sets[/caption]

I'm very very glad that I focused on just one size this week.  I'm able to see real progress on my summer projects this way.

That's why I'm Whooping it up today and linking with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric addict.

P.S.  Yes I need to clean off my work table, my working space is down to the size of a fat quarter. But we all know how much you can do with a fat quarter.

Stash Report Week 27, 2014

This week just flew by.  I think the second half of the year goes so much faster than the first half, maybe cause it's all down hill. :)

I did a bit of stash enhancement but to balance it out I did some de-stashing too.

On a short little trip to buy fabric for ONE pillowcase 10 yards of fabric found a new home



There is pillowcase fabric and the red in back is for the QOV I'm working on.

[caption id="attachment_2784" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Love these bottle caps[/caption]

Then my sister told me she needed to make baby blankets so this stack of flannel is on it's way to here.



I made a new drag-a-long blanket for my nephew

[caption id="attachment_2785" align="aligncenter" width="300"] new blanket for J[/caption]

Oh and I did make that pillowcase. I decided that it needs a mate so that's on the list for this evening.



So when all  the math is done I still have more fabric going out than in.  Which is a first for me at the half way point.

 

Added this week:  10.25 Yards
Added this Year: 101.75 Yards
Used and donated last week: 31 Yards
Used this Year: 148.75 Yards
Net Used this Year 47 Yards

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

Have a great week and enjoy your summertime.

 

Summer Break Week 2

Week two of summer break and no finishes sure hope it won't be like this all summer.  So just what did get worked on this week?

There was some painting. I changed color in mid painting of the chairs and this is the vintage fabric I'm using on the seats.

[gallery ids="2738,2739,2740,2741,2742"]

We welcomed a new old sewing machine to the fold.  She came with her own cabinet. A singer 201

[gallery ids="2747,2749"]

We did some cleaning out, yes this part of the house still has original 1960's avocado green carpet. This is not the permanent home for the new machine.



I started in on the guest room.  Can you believe there were still Halloween and Christmas pillowcases and table runners on the bed from last fall.  It's no wonder we don't get many guest. I think they're afraid they'll have to sleep on the floor for all the fabric on the bed.  Not really Sister, you can come anytime.



Mr Bill took apart an old pump organ.  Before you feel too bad it was in really bad shape and we saved the good pieces and carved pieces to repurpose.

[gallery columns="2" ids="2743,2744,2745,2746"]

Tuesday was QOV sew day.  We were making string blocks ala Al Lind.  I have a few many to go for my quilt top.  But I sure do like string quilts.  Here is the link to the pattern on the Quilts Of Valor site

This summer I'm trying to get the sewing room back in order and get all the donated scraps under control. Some times I have a hard time cutting up the larger scraps, cause wonder if I need a 4 inch block and I cut it all down to 2.5 in.  Really sometimes I can drive myself crazy.  Well not this summer it's all getting cut down to usable sizes and this fall I'll have a empty "scraps to cut down" bin (or two).

So with that in mind I'm cutting 2.5 in and 1.5 in squares in sets of five.  The 2.5 in for a plus quilt that I'm starting in the fall, as of this morning I only need 100 more sets, no matching sets for this one.  The 1.5in is for nine patch blocks I started last July as my leader/ender and I'm ready to finish it up too....But I need lots more for the layout I'm thinking so it has moved from leader/ender to summer project.

[caption id="attachment_2751" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sweet little 9 patches that will finish at 3in[/caption]

Then there is the 2in quilt.  The one I was going to make one block a day quilt.  Well I'm only 13 days behind.  I'm thinking Wednesday night will be 2in nine patch marathon so I can get a few days ahead. I wrote about it here.

[caption id="attachment_2752" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 2 in quilt[/caption]

So that is how Week 2 went. Not so exciting yet but there's always hope.

Till next week.

 

 

 

Stash Report Week 23, 2014

It's been a while since my last stash report. Let's just say that May was a really long fast month.

During the month of May there was some sewing and some stashing.  I'll just say it's a good thing there isn't an upholstery fabric stash report.  Here are  few of the fabrics acquired in the last month or so.

[caption id="attachment_2699" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Retro Kitchen[/caption]

Love the retro kitchen appliances and I finally settled on fabric for my nephew that is due very very soon.

[caption id="attachment_2698" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Baby Boy[/caption]

 

When all the numbers were tabulated  I was totally surprised.

Added since last report:  26.00 Yards
Added this Year: 91.50 Yards
Used since last report: 18.50 Yards
Used this Year: 92.50 Yards
Net Used this Year 1.00 Yard

I am one yard ahead of the game.   I really thought I'd be back in the red and would have to start digging fast.  :)  If I get some time in the sewing room this week hopefully I can increase my lead.

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

Hands 2 Help Finish 2014

It's time to share my finished quilts for Sarah's Hands 2 Help Challenge. Here they are three quilts for Hurricane Sandy Survivors.   I enjoyed working on these quilts and I'm glad to send them off to new homes. Many Thanks to Sarah for having this challenge as a chance to help just a little bit. I'm linking up with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict for the H2H Big Reveal  

What I'm Working On

Just what am I working on?  Sometimes it's darn hard to tell.  Do you ever get so many project going that you get lost?  Happens to me all the time.

Right now on the design wall are the Gecko blocks ready for sashing and on the table in front is where I'm cutting fabric for my plus quilt.  While I'm cutting 2.5 inch strips from the fabric I might as well cut a 1.5 in strip for my 3 inch 9-patchs and 2 in strips for my growing up odd quilt.

[caption id="attachment_2681" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Gecko blocks[/caption]

I started the 3 inch 9-patchs last July as a leader/ender.  I counted my squares and I only need about 100 more for the quilt floating around in my head. No time limit on these it just happens as I sew other blocks.

[caption id="attachment_2683" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 3 inch 9-patches[/caption]

My 2 inch Growing up Odd quilt  that I promised myself just one block a day, well somedays I'm caught up and other days I'm making two or three blocks. I've yet to be head of the one block a day.

[caption id="attachment_2682" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Growing up odd[/caption]

So mostly this week I'll work on getting all that fabric cut and off the table so I can work on the Gecko blocks again.

What are you working on?  Head over to Judy's at patchwork times and check out more design walls/

 

Orange Butterfly is done

Do you name your quilts? I don't really name my quilts as in writing a name on the label, heck I've only this year started putting a label on most quilts but that's a different story.  What I do is give my quilts a "Working Title", that sounds so Hollywood.

[caption id="attachment_2674" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Orange Butterfly[/caption]

This darling little quilt has been called Orange Butterfly since I started cutting the fabric.  The butterfly flannel fabric jumped into my arms a few months back when we had a cold day here in Southern Ca, I'm thinking it might have been our only cold day since December.  But back to Orange Butterfly.  I wanted to really showcase the butterflies and I wanted quick.  So I used Mary's Quick Strippie pattern, so I got the showcase part, quick, what can I say?  I guess I wanted to keep the butterflies around a bit longer.



This little darling is done and ready to go on to her new home.  For the backing I found a great orange with cream flowers cotton.  I do like backing flannel quilts with cotton, maybe that's just a Southern Ca thing too. I find flannel on flannel to warm for San Diego.



Oh the little bird? I found him at the shop just setting by itself and knew that it was meant to go with this quilt.



I'm linking up with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

 

 

 

Lovely Year of Finishes April Finish

Another down to the wire finish for me this month. Seriously I just finish putting in the last stitches of the binding this morning.

[caption id="attachment_2649" align="aligncenter" width="271"] Tumbler Quilt[/caption]

 

When I started at the first of the month it was mostly just a stack of tumblers.  Then of course I wanted more variety which is the reason it was a UFO in the first place.

[caption id="attachment_2650" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Scrappy Goodness[/caption]

So out came the cutter and a big bag of large size scraps and a mess was made while cutting more.  You know what happen don't you? Yep I still have a stack of tumblers.

[caption id="attachment_2651" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sort of straight line quilting[/caption]

That was my lesson learned with this quilt.  Tumbler quilts are not UFO's they are always quilts in progress that you collect fabric for as you go along.

[caption id="attachment_2653" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Love this piece for the back[/caption]

This is good news cause I don't have to put it on a UFO list and it can live on a shelf out in the open so fabric can be added at anytime and rows can be sewn between other projects.  Win Win.

[caption id="attachment_2654" align="aligncenter" width="300"] loving the scrappy binding[/caption]

I'm so glad that I got this done just in time.:)

Linking up with Fiber of All Sorts for Lovely Year of Finishes