Week #17 Stash Report

Wow, its been a year since I started stashbusting. Silly me started my first report the Sunday after coming back from Paducah. It'll be interesting to compare my numbers for the rest of the year. Hopefully I can behave the rest of the year.

This week I didn't buy any fabric. I used 2.75 yards to finish cutting for the Double Dip... project.
Here are my numbers to date:

• Fabric Added: 0 yards
• Fabric Added to Date: 57.50 yards
• Fabric Used: 2.75 yards
• Fabric Used to Date (goal 150): 83.50 yards
• Net Used: 26.00 yards

I'm not making too many goals for this coming week, but I'd like to finish another Patchwork Party block and get over half of the Double Dip... blocks done. As much as I'd like to work more on sewing stuff, I do have other priorities now so I'll take what I can.

Today I weighed in and I've lost 2 lbs and 2-1/2 inches in my waist since the 15th. I have at least 8 lbs to lose by mid-July when I go back to the doctor.

It's Friday!!!

This week sure has flown by. I actually got to work in my sewing room yesterday. I finished cutting for Double Dip of Mint Chocolate. Then I started cutting the Patchwork Party Moonlight Reflections block. I am waiting for one more block and the finishing kit to arrive yet and then I'll have everything for the top. I've gotten behind on my BOM blocks and Patchwork Party blocks so I will try to get a couple done this weekend.

The exercising has been going well. I've lost an inch in my waist already. I try to walk between 1-3 miles each day. After I get up in the morning I try to do some cardio. Yesterday after we ate, hubby and I went into town and shot some hoops. My legs are a little sore today from jumping.

This weekend I hope to get a lot accomplished since hubby will be working. It's suppose to be rainy out all weekend so perfect weather for sewing.

1. Finish Moonlight Reflections block.
2. Start piecing DDoMC.
3. Finish graded assignment due on Wednesday.
4. Finish brochure from SIL.
5. Work on Apple Cider Medallion block.
6. Watch The Day the Earth Stood Still.
7. Start quilting Snapshots in Pink?

Time Flies

Today is our 14th wedding anniversary. It seems just like yesterday.

Our wedding wouldn't be complete without a picture of our dog, Gracie. My in-laws went and picked her up after the ceremony so we could get a picture with her. Gracie was a "hand me down" from them and lived to be 14 years old. She was my first Samoyed.

Week #16 Stash Report

I may as well get my Chicago quilt show purchases out of the way right off the bat. I think I did pretty good considering the gazillion vendors that were there. I didn't buy any FQs or yardage for my stash, just two kits. The first kit is Alpha Buddies (3.5 yds) which I had seen in a magazine and thought it was adorable. The other kit is Convoy (8 yds) which is in Buggy Barn's new book Those Crazy Kids. I had bought the book last year. My nephew will love this quilt. Then I got a frosted donut with pre-wound bobbins in it which I'm going to use for doing applique. An applique stilleto and the P3 DVD which shows different techniques on applique. (I have several applique projects that I really need to get working on and I'm not very good at applique if it's not fusible.) Two books, Bargello Quilts and Eleanor Burns' new book Night and Day. The last item is a bunny pattern since I really don't have too many holiday wallhangings. So I only added 11.5 yards to my stash.

I started cutting Double Dip of Mint Chocolate last weekend so I'm going to record 1 yard for the background fabric.

Here are my numbers to date:

• Fabric Added: 11.5 yards
• Fabric Added to Date: 57.50 yards
• Fabric Used: 1 yards
• Fabric Used to Date (goal 150): 80.75 yards
• Net Used: 23.25 yards

I still used more fabric than I've bought!!!

I had a lot of fun at the show. It was a very long day though. I can't imagine being a vendor who had 2 more days to go. The only hangup was with the buses. They apparently changed their system and only let a couple buses up to the Rosemont at a time to load and unload. It took us at least 1/2 hour to unload and over an hour for our bus to pick us up.

Yesterday we decided to go to The Fox Valley Running Company in Appleton to buy a good pair of walking shoes for me since I'll be walking almost every day. Hubby had already been there last year to get running shoes. They are very nice. Since it was my first time they put me on a treadmill and video how I walk. My foot turns in slightly when I walk so they pulled out some shoes that had support on the inside of the shoe. I tried on four different pair before deciding.

After that we ran over to the track for practice. Hubby took a couple laps, then the neighbor did since they're taking turns driving this year. It's definitely going to seem weird not scoring at any of the tracks this year. But then we can go watch sprint car races, go to Brewers games on the weekend, or just stay home. We stayed at practice for a couple hours and then headed down to Dodge County Fairgrounds to watch the first sprint car races of the year. The heat races were pretty boring, just single file but by the feature there was some passing.

Today we have my nephew's 2nd birthday party. His birthday is actually on Wednesday, along with our (hubby and me) 14th wedding anniversary. My how time flies!

I'm Drawing A Blank

How's that for the subject? I have no idea what to title this blog. It hasn't been the best week. I'm really hoping that tomorrow our luck will turn around.

I have no sewing news to report. Monday we went to the Brewers game. They were leading going into the 3rd and losing by the time they were up to bat again. It was a good game. Unlike most people (especially pitchers), I like seeing runs on the board....as long as their on the BREWERS' side.

Yesterday I had to give blood and then meet with the doctor to discuss my results. My glucose results were not good. Basically if I don't lower my carbs and exercise every day, I'll be a diabetic within the next couple of years. I do pretty good during the "nice" weather months but once the days are shorter and it gets cold, I more or less hibernate. So I need to come up with a plan in the next couple of months on how I'm going to be active during the winter. After work I walked 3 miles which is a good start I think. I really need to find some good exercises for my abs....ya got any suggestions?!?!? I'd love to hear them. I had thought about doing a reward thing, but realistically they don't work for me. I'd buy the item regardless. So I think my health alone will have to be my motivation. I have to do another blood test in 3 months so I'm hoping to have lost 10 (or more) lbs by then.

Tonight we have our friend's funeral. I think there will be a lot of people there. Hopefully everything goes alright. There has been some friction between his wife and the stepkids.

Sorry for making this such a depressing post.

Now for the fun stuff......tomorrow is the quilt show. That's why I said I hope tomorrow is the turn around to our "unlucky" streak the last two weeks. With everything else going on the last couple of days, I haven't even had time to think about what to take along on the bus. Guess I'll be up early tomorrow morning!

Goodbye Friend

We lost a very dear friend, Wayne "the Weiner" Goetsch, yesterday at the young age of 69.

Hubby was his neighbor when he was little and his #1 race fan. Several years ago he asked hubby to race one of his cars. It was like a dream come true. We had a blast. Thank you for all the memories! You will be missed!

Nature's Chorus Shoebox & Visitors

Here is the current status of Nature's Chorus Shoebox. The blocks are sewn into vertical rows (or columns if you like). I see I didn't do the best job spreading alike fabric out. Oh well. When I get done with this top, I'll start on Double Dip of Mint Chocolate which I was suppose to have started before this one. I knew this would go together quickly, and I wanted to be able to report a bigger bust this week.....with the quilt show coming up and all. One of these days I'm going to have to do a quilting marathon because the tops are really starting to add up.

Yesterday afternoon I heard Gooser honking at something, which usually means the duck is flying around or someone/thing is in the yard. I looked around to see where she was. This is what I found. The duck must have made some friends when he goes off flying. A pair of mallards came to visit and say "Hi".

Afterwards hubby filled up her pool with fresh water. She had a blast cleaning herself, flipping out splashing water on herself. As if the bath wasn't good enough, she also loved seeing the fresh grass that was growing up underneath where the pool had been. As you can tell, the grass still isn't green here.

Week #15 Stash Report

I had a pretty good sewing week. I added the borders to finish the mystery quilt top. Friday I started cutting up one of my monthly FQ bundles (Nature's Chorus) to make the strips below. The pattern is Shoebox from the book Time Out Quilts.

I have a list of items to look for at the quilt show. I'm hoping to stick to it, but we're going to be there for a long time so anything could happen. I wonder if they'll let us go back to the bus throughout the day to drop off our bags? Do I dare take stuff back to my seat and leave them unattended? Fabric can cause people to do some crazy things ya know! LOL I'm really looking forward to going. I'm going to have fun and not worry about anything that might jump into my arms and wants to come home with me.

Here are my numbers to date:

• Fabric Added: 0 yards
• Fabric Added to Date: 46 yards
• Fabric Used: 5 yards
• Fabric Used to Date (goal 150): 79.75 yards
• Net Used: 33.75 yards

Goals for the week:

• Work on class assignment
• Finish Nature's Chorus Shoebox top
• Work on another Patchwork Party block
• Go to Brewers game!!!
• Dr. appt/bloodwork :0(
• Go to Chicago quilt show!!!

Here is Ta Dah!, another Patchwork Party block, which I made this week also. I'm not counting these in my totals.

Drats!

Well, the Brewers game didn't go as well as I'd hoped it would. I was happy that they scored as many runs as they did but the pitching definitely needs to improve. The better team won today.

I decided to use a random number generator to decide on the project I'm going to start next. It chose the Double Dip pattern from the Quilt Cravings book by The Gathering Place. This will use up more of my stash...woohoo!!!

Mark your calendar....next Tuesday (April 14) the new season of Deadliest Catch begins.

Mystery Quilt

Here is a picture of the mystery quilt top without borders. I finished adding the borders on tonight, but didn't get a picture. The pattern is in the book Mystery Quilts by Rita Fishel.




I'm trying to decide what I should start next (feel free to comment since I'm undecided and eventually will make them ALL).

1. Teal/Brown/Cream top which would use stash. The pattern is Double Dip from the book Quilt Cravings.
2. A Haunting We Will Go - Halloween wallhanging from a magazine last year.
3. Portobello Market - from the fabric collection last year
4. Sherbet Stars - Buggy Barn kit

Tomorrow - Brewers vs. Giants!!! I can't wait! I hope to leave work early so I can watch it on TV. A week from today we'll be at Miller Park.

Week #14 Stash Report

My stash report is pretty boring this week. Since I worked so much I had limited sewing time. No stash out. My monthly FQ bundle (Aviary) came which was 3 yards. I have the mystery blocks sewn into rows. I will hopefully finish the top soon.

My numbers to date:

• Fabric Added: 3 yards
• Fabric Added to Date: 46 yards
• Fabric Used: 0 yards
• Fabric Used to Date: 74.75 yards
• Net Used: 28.75 yards

Goals for the week:

• Finish homework & quiz TODAY!!!
• Finish sewing rows together on mystery quilt
• Work on next Patchwork Party block
• Watch or listen to Brewers games!!!
• Work on Apple Cider Medallion block

Weekend Goals

This morning we'll be going to Sam's Club because we're suppose to have another snow storm tomorrow. When we get back I must work on finishing my homework assignment and quiz for my class.

I'm hoping to get the mystery quilt top completed for sure this weekend. Then I'll work on the Apple Cider Medallion block.

Sad Day on the Farm

It was a sad day here yesterday. Thursday night two of our geese were killed by coyotes. Normally the geese and duck stay close to the house overnight, but the last two years during spring they have been sleeping in the field (about 500 ft from the house) where water builds up from the snow melting.

Hubby noticed that the duck was with Gooser which was odd because he never left Pip Squeak's side (the African, or tan one below). It was odd but they had some little love affair going on. So hubby looked for them for over 2 hours (they can cover a lot of ground in a short period of time). He finally went over near the water hole and found feathers and blood from Pip Squeak on one side of the water hole and Crabby's body (without head & neck) on the opposite side. You could see all the coyote prints in the mud. When those hunters told us in January about all the coyotes in the area, I had a feeling something like this would happen.

Hubby is pretty bummed out because Pip Squeak was his favorite. She would honk when you called her. She was probably 5-6 years old. He was hoping she'd be around for several more years. Crabby was only 2 years old. Gooser is the oldest at about 6-7 years.

I didn't sleep very good last night worrying that Gooser and/or the duck would go back out there after dark. Thankfully they're both still here this morning. Hopefully it'll stay that way.

Catching Up

The work madness is starting to finally slow down for the week. I haven't had any ambition to sew after working 10 hour days until today. I started piecing the mystery quilt blocks together. Hopefully I can get the top done this weekend. I also have a lot of emails and blogs to catch up on.

I can't believe it's already April, but I'm glad it is because April means it's time for BASEBALL!!! We have tickets for the Brewers vs. Reds in two weeks. I can't wait! I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll have a good year. I'm concerned about all of the "injuries" during spring training, but hopefully that will all be behind them once the regular season starts.

I also am getting very excited about going to the Chicago quilt show! It'll be here before I know it!