Get it Done

Well, here it is the last day in February and time to take a look at my GID list for February and how did I do?   You can see my specific list for February here.

I finished 3 of the five listed,  made some progress on two and one went untouched.  My Easy Street blocks are all finished, but didn't quite get them all into rows for a completed top.  I finished up my string blocks from January (needed 5 more) and did 10 more for Feb. I'm making 10 string blocks/month.  

Here are my 10 for February.








This is what a stack of 70 string blocks looks like.  With the 10 from above, I'm now at 80 total.  Only 40 more to go for this quilt.  You would think my string bins would be getting somewhat empty, wouldn't you.  Not even close.  I do believe they multiply at night!





Here's my GID list for March

1.       Assemble Easy Street into a top with borders

2.       Cut sashing & cornerstones for Joan’s stars – from Jan.

3.       Quilt 1or 2 QOV

4.       Make 4 pillowcases for St.Louis Children's Hospital

5.       Make 10 more string blocks

6.    Finish prep on applique block

7.    Put together D9P blocks into a top

Check out Judy's GID to see how others did in February.

Week 8 Stash Enhancements

Another week has flown by and it's time to confess  show my stash report.  I did it again -- drove passed the quilt shop having closeout sales and my car headed right into the parking lot!!  I really had no control of it.  I tried to reason that I didn't need any more fabric, but it wouldn't listen.  So I gave in. I may need an intervention when it comes to sales in fabric shops.  Here's what I left the shop with to add to my stash. In all honesty, I hope to be able to use most of these with my Brown Sugar bali pop shown on a previous post.

Here's a few close-up shots

beautiful daisy-like flowers

ginko leaves

And now for the results of all this fun,

Fabric Added this week - 6 yards

Fabric Added YTD - 34.7 yards

Fabric Used this week - .5 - binding on a quilt

Fabric Used YTD - 5.5 yards 

Net used for 2013 - minus 29.2 yds

Just wait, soon I'll be able to add the yardage from Easy Street and head this report in a different direction.  It's getting real close to being a flimsey. Keep watching.

You can check out other stash reports at Judy's.  

QOV finishes and Thanking the Troops

On Monday, President's Day, our QOV group met at Sacred Heart in Troy, MO to hand quilt donated tops.  Here are a few that I took pictures of as they were shown to the group.  We had almost 100 ladies quilting today.

top pieced by Denise M.

I didn't get very good pictures of this one because my battery decided to die after 2 pics. It was quilted in red thread and has eagles and flags on parts of the inner white borders. The white outer top and bottom border is quilted with big block letters USA.  (details can be seen below).

top pieced by Cindy L.

Our organizer told us about a local troop from Farmington, MO who have been in Afghanistan for 9 months doing one of the most dangerous jobs (disarming IEDs).  They will be returning home in May this year and we want to present each member of that unit with a quilt to show them they are appreciated and thank them for their service.  That means we are on a push to get 100 quilts made and quilted so they can presented at a special event when they return home by Memorial Day.

If anyone has any unwanted tops or finished quilts that you don't have a home for and would like to give them to our troops, just let me know.  I have volunteered to quilt some of them on my long arm to accomplish our goal more quickly. We hand quilt over 95% of our quilts, but in this case, we need them completed faster. They should measure close to 60" x 75" give or take a few inches and they can be any color, not necessarily red, white, and blue, as you can see above. All fabrics should be cotton and with no sparkly or metallic fabrics on them.

Design Wall - Feb. 18

I'm still working on Easy Street, but getting closer to the end. My design wall is not big enough to spread this large quilt out fully. All that I have left to make are a few empty spots (B blocks) then I will start sewing the blocks into rows.  My goal is to have the top done by the end of February, complete with borders.   

I had two of these boxes full of the pieces for this quilt.  Now these are the only units left to make those last 7 blocks.  It sure looks like a lot more than 7 blocks, doesn't it?  Sure hope I counted right.   

I am anxious to get this off my design wall and put up something else. Actually I've been working on several other projects while doing Easy Street and they are patiently waiting their turn on the design wall.  

I'm linking up with Patchwork TImes, so stop over there and check out lots more design walls. 

Stash Report & Batiks

I was looking forward to this week's report because I thought I would have some fabric to put in the USED column.  Well, guess what.   It didn't happen.  Instead, I went shopping again and you can guess which column it went in, right?  When we are having a rash of quilt shops closing in our area, and the sales are 30%-50% off,  it is SO HARD not to buy beautiful fabric whether you need it or not.

These are much prettier in person than on the computer, and they work well with the Brown Sugar Bali Pop I bought last week. My bali pop has blue teals, tans, neutrals, and chocolates in it. This pattern is free on Hoffman's website.

Margarita Sunrise 

Now to face the music for the week. (Still heading in the wrong direction for busting stash).

Fabric Added - 4 yds

Fabric Added YTD - 28.7 yds

Fabric Used - 0

Fabric Used YTD - 5 yds

Net stash - - 23.7 yds

Check at Patchwork Times to see how others did this week. 

What Socks Are You Wearing Today?

Happy Valentine's Day!! to everyone.  Did you celebrate with a special dinner or treat?? Here is what I made for my sweetie.  He loves anything chocolate.  So after he went to bed I baked this double chocolate, chewy brownie shaped like a heart.  It smelled so good I was almost tempted to sample it!

And since this is Show Us Your Socks Day over at Patchwork TImes, these are the socks I'm wearing in honor of Valentine's Day.  Of course they work equally well for Christmas and the Fourth of July. (wink)  The little strip in them is a glittery silver.

Judy is ending this fun at the end of February, but you still have time to show off your socks.  Your can see some other cute socks for the week at Judy's HERE.

Stash Report & Enhancements

I took a friend shopping for some fabric for a special quilt for her, and guess what?? Yes, you guessed it, I ended up with some beautiful fabrics too.   These are all Hoffman batiks and are scheduled for two different projects this year, hopefully.  The Bali Pop was an impulse buy because the colors were yummy as well as the name -brown sugar.  How could you not like them?  I rarely buy prepackaged fabric already cut to use because I'm a pre-wash kind of gal.  Every once in a while a gal has to throw caution to the wind.! :)

With these purchases, my stash report is still heading in the wrong direction.
Fabric Added this week - 6.7 yards
Fabric Added  YTD -  24.7 yards
Fabric used this week - 0
Fabric used YTD - 5 yards
Net used - - 19.7 yds

Maybe I'll get back on track soon with useing my stash, but it sure is fun to buy new fabrics. I'm still working on Easy Street and my string blocks this week, but nothing I can count.

To see what others have been up to this week in their stash busting and enhancement efforts, hop on over at Judy's.

Show Us Your Socks

Today is show us your sock day over at Judy's.   Although most are showing their beautiful hand knitted wool socks, mine are store bought -- until I can learn to knit socks.  Here's today's attire.   My furry little helper is wondering why I'm taking a picture of my feet!  Good question.

To see some beautiful handmade socks, go on over to Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday - Feb. 4

Here's my Design Wall today. I have finished more blocks to Easy Street, but there's not enough room to put them all there since I still have the stainglass window blocks and some charity pinwheel blocks. Those 2 stacks of triangle units near the bottom are all the finished setting and corner triangles for the quilt.  Now if only I had all the A and B blocks finished!

To see other great design walls and more eye candy, check out Judy's Patchwork Times.

Stash Report # 5 and Small Finishes

Here it is Sunday again and time to report what I've used and added to my stash.  I'm happy to say, nothing was added.  I'm working on using all that added stuff from the first week to get me back in the black.  I did finish some pillowcases -- a set for a gift to a friend, and two for the St. Louis Children's Hospital.  My goal is 50 by June.  I think I'm up to 16.  Maybe my goals are a little too steep.  We'll see.

Fabric Added this week - 0

Fabric added YTD - 18 yds

Fabric Used this week - 4 yds

Fabric Used YTD - 5 yds

Net used for 2013 - - 13 yds.

Stop on over at Judy's to see the other stash reports for the week.