Sunday Stash and QOV Flimsy

This was a productive week for me.  I finished quilting the QOV quilt from last month and started hand stitching the binding down today while the snow was coming down.  It was so beautiful.  Lots of large, fluffy, wet snow clouds.


I searched through my stash and came up with the perfect binding fabric. This is not a good picture, but it's red, white and blue stripes.  I'll get a better picture when the the binding is finished.

Because I wanted to get my design wall cleared a little, I finished the Twin Sisters blocks and added sashings and cornerstones.  Now I have a small baby quilt top ready for quilting.  It measures 36" x 43" which is smaller than I normally make, but this was just an excuse to play with this block.  Thanks Sharon, it was fun and turned out real cute, I think.

On Wednesday, we presented 5 quilts to veterans who have served in Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan. Some brought their family to be a part of the presentation too. One young man (the 2nd picture) had served 3 tours and is now a recruiter for the Air Force in a city near St. Charles.  He was so honored by the gift of a quilt.  He had never heard of the Quilts of Valor organization, and could not believe we would make him one not even knowing him.  I missed getting a picture of one veteran.

I also took time to finish this QoV with the addition of a few borders to make it larger and made with a pillowcase and binding to match. It will now be ready for the group to hand quilt.  The center is an embroidery that we have used on Honor Flight quilts too. You can see it bigger if you click on the 2nd picture.

Home of the Free because of the Brave

Stash Report as of 3/11/18

Fabric bought - 0
Fabric received-  .25 yd. - won a fat qtr. at guild mtg.

Fabric used this week - 8.87 yds
Fabric used in 2018 - 21.495  yds

Linking up with
Quilt, Paint, Create
Slow Sunday Stitching
Life in Pieces
Design Wall Monday

Stash Report - Week 51

My posting of the stash report has been non-existent for a while, but today I am bringing it up-to-date to catch up.  Since returning from the International Quilt Show in Houston in November, I have not added to my stash, but I have finished a couple quilts that have not been counted.   I mailed 4 quilts this week as Christmas gifts, and put on a binding and hanging sleeves on two that were finished earlier in the year, so they will be ready for our guild quilt show in March, 2016. That helped my usage for the year a little bit more.  I may not reach my goal of 200 yards used in 2015, but at least my stash has not grown by leaps and bounds this year. I soon may be able to organize it better to use it more quickly--then I'll have room for more new fabric!

This was one of the small baby quilts that was sent to a friend's first granddaughter in Colorado.

Stash Report 

Fabric Used - 4.5 yds  

Fabric Added - 0 yds

YTD Used  - 119.33 yds

YTD Added -  6.5 yds   

Net Stash Used - 112.58 yds

This brings me up-to-date so far, but I hope to use a few more yards before the end of the year. I'm still working on a few small Christmas gifts.

Stop on by Judy's Patchwork Times to see what others have finished up this week.

OTN and This and That - Feb. 27, 2015

I didn't quite finish my pair of socks, but it has been a good week, and there are still a couple days to go before the week is official over, right?

My blue variegated socks are over half finished and I'm anxious to get them off the needles so I can start another pair from a different angle -- toe up.

Here's the reason I did not finish my socks.   I saw a review of this book online and it sounded so good, I reserved a copy from the library.  If you like to travel and enjoy wild and funny adventures, this book will do the trick, all from your own living room. It is a story of unusual experiences for a family in Maine (with 2 teenagers), who decide to take a 6 month vacation volunteering across the globe.  They venture to Costa Rica, India, Thailand and other exotic locations. Their experiences and the people they encounter will entertain and amaze you.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book so much that my knitting and quilting took a back seat until I finished it. 

Last week when I posted about my finished baby quilt, I originally forgot to post a picture. Now it is really finished. Here is a completed picture of the baby quilt with the binding all hand stitched down. 

Take a few minutes and stop over to Judy's Patchwork Times and see what other goodies are on the needles this week.  There are sure to be lots to inspire you.  Also linking up with Michelle's Let's Make Baby Quilts. 

A Finish and Fabric Report, Week 8

This week was pretty productive in the sewing room.  I finished the pillowcases that I had cut the tops and accent strips for last week plus one additional one to go with a quilt I'm giving to a friend.  They went from this

Tops and Accents selected

Pinned into sausages ready to sew

Finished - 7 pillowcases

I'm keeping up with trying to finished one UFO each month, Finally quilted this red, white and blue baby quilt that was started in 2013.  It's been waiting for it's turn on the quilting pile. Actually, it's not quite finished since I am working on the binding today, my slow stitching Sunday.

 Updated to add picture that I forgot.  Oops.

All of this to say, that my numbers got a big boost in the 'used' column this week.  Yipee!

Numbers for Week 8

Fabric Added - 0

Fabric Used -  7.71 yd - pillowcases, plus backing and binding on baby quilt

Fabric Added YTD - 0

Fabric Used YTD - 23.71 yds

Net used in 2015 - 23.71 yds

Check out more reports over at Judy's Patchwork Times. 

Finished Baby Quilt and Stash Report #38

I haven't posted my stash report for a couple of weeks because I had not used anything until now.  I finished the baseball baby quilt that I purchased fabrics for at Paducah.  It is finished and was presented to Connor at his "Sip and See" party.  He was never out of someone's arms all through the party.

He was such a good baby and every woman there held him and passed him around like a sack of potatoes but he didn't cry or fuss one time.  He finally went to sleep while being held and I caught this picture with his great grandmother (my aunt) holding him and the quilt in the background.

Stash numbers (for 2 weeks)

Fabric Added - 1 yd

Fabric Used - 5.5 yds

Year to date Added - 27.5 yds

Year to Date Used - 28.22 yds

Net Used for 2014 - 1.72 in the black

I'm linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times.  Stop by and check on what others did this week.

Scrap Happy Saturday -Pink and Finishes

Today is Scrappy Saturday over at So Scrappy for February's Pink Challenge and I finished my block earlier this month.  It was fun, but I found out my pink scraps were very limited.

After digging around in my messy sewing room looking in boxes, bags and finally on my shelves, I came up with enough pink scraps to finish my Soul Searching block for February.  I did use a few of them more than once, but that's what using scraps is all about.  I didn't have to buy any, so my stash must be dwindling, right?   (Right, you can hardly notice any gone at all, to be honest).

Since we've had so much snow and cold weather these last few weeks, I've gotten some needed quilting finished.  Here are a couple quilts I did for friends.

Catus Wreath

This lady prefers very limited quilting and usually says just a little "stitch it in the ditch".  I did that, but it needed a lot more because of all the open white areas. She likes very poofy, not flat quilts.  Most people would have wanted more quilting since it looks like it's not quite finished, but she was very happy with the results, and that's what is most important - to please the customer.  Different strokes for different folks, as the saying goes.

On the patchwork that circles the center of the quilt, I put a very simple vine with leaves keeping with the Fall theme.

The next one is a baby quilt using scraps and two simple blocks - trees and houses.  This was so cute with the striped binding and a polka dot backing.
Edited to add information on pattern name and the book it was in.

"It Takes a Village" - from the book Cuddle Me Quick

That's all for now.  I'm linking up with So Scrappy, so go on over and see all the other Pink blocks that people are working on this month.

Finishes and Stash Report - Nov. 17, 2013

This week has been productive for finishing some small projects and getting my numbers back going the right way.  Last week on my trip to Missouri Star Quilt Co. I added to my stash with a few purchases; well that layer cake as been turned into a finished quilt for a relative who was recently diagnosed with brain cancer.  All it needs is a label and to be delivered.

The collection is T.W.Roses by Free Spirit 

It's quilted with Double Rose Vines since there were roses on many of the fabrics. 

This helped to reduce my stash by 7+ yards.

My next finish is the baby quilt challenge by one of my guilds.  If you remember, we got a bit of fabric in a brown bag and had to make a baby quilt from it.  My bag contained a fat quarter of the little Chinese dolls.  I  pieced together the top at a retreat in September, and now it's quilted, labeled, washed and ready to go to a child who needs a portable hug. It was a challenge to find colors that went with that fabric and still look cute. Fabric was counted back in Sept. when the top was finished.

This was a good quilt to practice free motion quilting.  I changed thread to match the color sections (so my mistakes would not be seen as easily) and it was fun coming up with what to quilt in each of the bands. I need much more practice to keep my designs consistent, but hopefully a small child won't notice too much where I wobbled and got off track! :)

The designs from the back.

I also finished piecing another baby quilt with embroidered kitties on the blocks. Hope to get it quilted soon.  AND, the liturgical quilt is finished too.  I have to take some pictures to show you.  I'm so glad it's done except for the binding and sleeve to hang it with.

Now for my numbers:

Fabric Added this week - zero

Fabric Added YTD - 93.84 yds.

Fabric Used this week - 8 yards

Fabric Used YTD - 95.61 yds

Net Used in 2013 - 1.77 in the black!!

I'm linking up with Patchwork Times and Let's Make Baby Quilts.

Get It Done -Results for August and new for September

Since I was a bit over confident in making out and finishing my August Get It Done goals, I'm being a little less aggressive in setting goals for September.  What I didn't finish on August's list, I'll roll over to September.  Here was my progress on August goals.

August Goals
1. Quilt String quilt - Done
2. Piece blocks for Autumn Plume - not done
3. Finish Easy Street top - needs 1 more border
4. Get liturgical quilt done - nope, did work on it though
5. Quilt RWB baby quilt - not done

Now for September Goals
1. Put binding on String quilt
2. Piece blocks for Autumn Plume
3. Work on applique on liturgical quilt
4. Quilt RWB baby quilt
5. Piece 20 QOV flag blocks for Alycia's block drive - New goal added to the rollovers.  It has a deadline, so I know this will get finished.

I have much more success with my goals when they involve other people.  When they are just for my benefit, I tend to procrastinate more often and they get done when they get done.  I guess because there is no penalty if they don't get finished. When others are expecting an end result, we don't want to disappoint.  Oh well, que sera sera.

You can see what what others are working on for their September goals over at Patchwork Times.

UFOs for August

I have listed my goals for August in an earlier post, but they did not include pictures nor did I specify which were UFOs.  Since I signed up to participate in "Nothing But UFOs in 2013 Challenge", here are 3 UFOs that I hope to finish in August.

The first is my string quilt.  It was started at least 3 years ago as a leader/ender project.

The 2nd is Bonnie Hunter's  Easy Street.  I still need 1 more border and then to quilt and bind it.

The 3rd  is the red, white and blue baby quilt that just needs quilting and binding.

Updated with the correct picture.  Those tiny thumbnail photos start to look too much alike when you do this at 1:00 am!.  Sorry. 

I hope to get more things done in the month, but I will concentrate on these.    I'm linking up with Carrie of A Passion for Applique.  Hop on over there so see what others are working on in August.   

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.

Design Wall Monday - 6/24/13

It's been a very long time since I've posted what's on my design wall and that's because it was still Easy Street.  Well, it is now off the wall and onto my sewing cabinet waiting for me to finish up the rows.  In it's place, I've put back one of my other projects and a new FO for June, a red and blue baby quilt.

A new friend at retreat gave me some leftover blocks from her baby quilt , so I'm going to make one too. They are very easy blocks and a good way to use up scraps.

And this is all I've gotten done on the church liturgical quilt that I started last fall.  I've added the leading to all the pieced blocks.  Now the task comes to design the applique cross and heart for the middle section.  Hopefully I will get more time to get this going.

To see what is on other design walls this morning, jump on over to Patchwork Times.  

Hope everyone has a good week. 

Stash Report Week 25

My how times flies.  It seems like months since I've posted anything on my blog, but it's only been 2 weeks.  I've been busy with lots of miscellaneous things -- cooking, cleaning and going to weddings, and shopping.  But I did find time to go on a retreat! (smile).  All work and no play makes for a crabby lady. Now to confess show my new stash enhancements.

Fabric Used - pieced lots of scraps into string blocks
Fabric Used YTD - 57.71 yds
Fabric Added - 2 yds
Fabric Added YTD - 73.95 yd
Fabric stash enhanced for 2013 - 16.24 yds.

The cause for my fabric additions--our guild has a challenge to make a baby quilt using fabric in a brown paper bag, chosen sight unseen.  I got a cute Asian print fat quarter to work with.  Nothing in my stash goes with it, so I HAD to go shopping, right?! :)  I found a couple of candidates for borders or some other idea.  I saw the orange plaid first and thought it would work, then a couple days later spotted the grey and/turquoise plaid from Riley Blake's "Life in the Jungle" collection   Now since I don't have a clue what pattern I'll come up with, it's anybodies guess as to which I'll use or maybe an entirely different one, yet to be discovered. 

This is exactly how my stash has grown over the years.  Those indecisions on what looks best, so you  get both.

To see what others have been up to stop on by Judy's.

Stash Report Week 13

Here we are at another Sunday and stash reporting. I've been busy sewing, quilting and getting ready for Spring planting.  My stash got a little boost from a friend that was cleaning out her fabric, and I had to be polite and take some off her hands, right??  After all, what are friends for! :)

Do you remember that little bundle of fat quarters I received to make a baby quilt called "Playing Tag", well I finally got time to put it together.  It was an easy pattern, but the cutting directions were a bit unclear and there was an minor error in the instructions.  The top is finished and hopefully some little one will enjoy playing with all the "tags" on the blocks.  I'll get it quilted tomorrow, I hope.

Here's my week's results.
Fabric Added - 2.5 yds
Fabric Used- 1 yd
YTD fabric added - 6 yds
YTD fabric Used - 19.848 yds.




The colors are more true to the fabrics on the left.  I lost my "real" camera and had to use my cell phone which does not take good pictures. Hope to correct that soon.  Head on over to Judy's and see more  reports.