Stash Report, Books & Baby quilts

It's been a couple weeks since I've reported any stash usage (because I haven't used any!) but I have been busy on another goal for the year.  Same numbers from two weeks ago.
Fabric Added- 0
Fabric Used  - 0
YTD Added - 73.95 yds
YTD Used - 65.54 yds
Still in the hole - 8.3 yds.

In my defense as to why I haven't moved any stash, I have been reading some long awaited books that friends have recommended.  Two of my recent reads were so enjoyable I didn't get anything else done. I would highly recommend them to everyone, and especially those that like historical romances.   The first was Promise Me This, by Cathy Gohlke. This starts out with the preparation and maiden voyage of the Titanic.  It follows several memorable characters through the voyage and through WWI.  Cathy is a prize winning author and does extensive research into the backgrounds of the settings and historical facts of the times for the development of her characters and their stories.  I didn't want this one to end. She has a new one out called Band of Sisters .  It's next on my list. A short synopsis can be seen HERE for both of these books.

Since I hate to do only one thing at a time, I got the next book from the library as an audio book so I could keep quilting customer quilts while listening.  It was Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford.  This is a story about an American born Chinese boy and an American born Japanese girl who find themselves in the same American school in Seattle in the early 1940s during WWII.  Their struggles to overcome the bitter feelings of a Chinese father toward all things Japanese and how these two young kids still manage to share a bond with each other will keep your attention.   Here are a couple reviews:

“A tender and satisfying novel set in a time and a place lost forever, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet gives us a glimpse of the damage that is caused by war--not the sweeping damage of the battlefield, but the cold, cruel damage to the hearts and humanity of individual people. Especially relevant in today's world, this is a beautifully written book that will make you think. And, more importantly, it will make you feel." 
-- Garth Stein, New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain

"Set during one of the most conflicted and volatile times in American history, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is an extraordinary story of commitment and enduring hope. In Henry and Keiko, Jamie Ford has created an unforgettable duo whose story teaches us of the power of forgiveness and the human heart."

Now it's time to get back to the sewing room.  I find it hard to balance my love of reading with that of quilting.  But I have some deadlines looming ahead and I must put down the books and get to work in the sewing room.

Also, during the last couple weeks I quilted some baby quilts for a friend that will be used for her church bazaar.  No fancy quilting but the fabrics were so cute.  Some little ones will love cuddling up with them.

Made with Minkee and flannel

Made with sock monkey fabric

Elephants and giraffes

Elephants and giraffes with stripe border.

Hope you all have a great week.  Check out what others did with their stashes at Judy's. 

I'm also linking up to Michelle's Romantic Tangle for Let's Make Baby Quilts. 

Stash Report - Week 28

I finally have some good numbers to report.  At this week's retreat I finished putting all the rows of my Easy Steet together and adding the first inner border; completed a baby quilt top; my UFO string quilt and made some progress on the borders of the liturgical quilt.  I also gave some fabric to a friend to help her finish a child's quilt.  All-in-all I am happy with what I accomplished in the stashbusting area. I still haven't broken even with the starting point in January, but getting real close!

Used this Week: 6.43 yards
Used year to Date: 65.54 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date:  73.95 yards
Net Added in 2013:  8.3 yards
Check at Judy's. to see what others have accomplished with their stashes.

Back from Retreat with almost finished projects

Hi all.  I just got back from a fun sewing retreat with some good friends and even though I didn't get a quilt totally finished, I do have several tops done and made great progress on several others.

The first "almost finished" is a baby quilt that was started in June at another retreat.  This quilt was started from a few of the blocks given to me from Janet.  She had them leftover from a baby quilt that she was making.

Remember these string blocks? They were started a few years ago as leader/ender blocks and they worked well to use up partially filled bobbins and for stress-free sewing when I'm too tired to use my brain to think, but want to sew anyway. 

This is what they look like now. I finished putting them together and the top is ready to be quilted. 

I also made good progress on my Easy Street and the liturgical quilt.  I'm linking up with Michelle's Romantic Tangle.  Take a look there to see what others are working on.

Stash Report - Week 27

I know this is late, but it is still Sunday here, so I'm getting in under the wire.  This was a slow week for fabric usage, but I hope to correct that in the coming week.  It's retreat time and I have 3 or 4 projects packed to work on.  I'm taking mostly UFOs to sew on, so hopefully I'll get a top finished -- that is if we don't laugh, talk and eat so much that I don't have time for sewing.!

Fabric Added - 0
Fabric Added YTD - 73.95 yards
Fabric Used - 1.5 yds (gave away)
Fabric Used - YTD -  59.21 yards
Net Added in 2013 - 14.74 yds

I'm still working on getting back to even.  Maybe next week will do it (if I finish something big). lol

More reports can be seen on Patchwork Times.

Vintage Aprons

At our Bits 'n Pieces Guild meeting last week, we had a program on "Vintage Aprons, Voices of the Past." in conjunction with our annual salad supper.  The speaker shared her knowledge of aprons and their place in history and how the particular times infuenced the style and wearing of aprons. We saw examples from the 1900s through the 1970s into the 1980's.

The fabrics used for aprons ranged from plain muslin to silks, elegant laces, linen and there were even those that were crocheted and you pinned them to your dress.   I didn't get good pictures of some of the oldest ones and a few that were downright ugly, but here are a few of the aprons we saw.

This was one of the older ones -  fine linen with beautiful hand embroidery over it.  It slipped over your head and covered the back as well.  There was a picot edge on the zig zagged bottom edge and around the neckline.   You sure wouldn't want to drip anything on this exquistely made apron. This probably would have been used for serving the meal, not for the preparation of it.

This half apron was sewn in 3 separate sections with only the rickrack between and holding each piece to the other one. It had a lovely embroidered design on the middle section that was very beautifully done by an accomplished seamtress.

This cute number had rickrack trim and an additional ruffle added to the bottom and it covered your clothing all the way to the hem.

Another darling half apron with gingham trim.  Check out the cute pocket shaped like a tea kettle.

A gingham yoke and trim with beautiful embroidered flowers, kept this lady's dress totally covered & clean--the skirt wrapped around to the back.

The lady who made this apron must have been a garmet maker.  It had as much detail as a dress or jumpter -- a big square collar (front and back) with added ruffle, scalopped hemline, cute cutouts on pockets and at the neckline, and completely it covered your dress tying in the back with a big bow.

This was a half apron made with ladies hankies and lace trim.

This maker had a good sense of humor.  She was prim and proper on the outside, but if she wanted, she could spice things up a bit.

 Here's one was made from a pair of recycled jeans with an added checked petticoat looking ruffle added to the bottom. 

Our fashion show was set to music too -- changing with the time period.  When we got to the Roaring 20's, I half expected to see the model break into dancing the Charleston.! lol

It was a very entertaining evening with lots of interesting facts and information about how aprons came to be and were used and how they changed with the thinking of the times.  The models were provided with appropriate accessories to show off their aprons.  The last two aprons were for men  and the ladies came out with mustaches and funny sayings on their aprons.  I would love to show their pictures, but I haven't cleared it with them yet, so I'll resist showing them.  You'll just have to use your imagination.