Week #5 Stash Report

This week I did order 6 yards of fabric that was on sale. It will be used in future QOVs so I feel it was a good purchase. Today my February FQ bundle came which adds 3 yards for a total of 9 yards added this week.

I used 6.25 yards for borders, backing and binding on the Not So Top Secret QOV project.

My numbers to date:

• Fabric Added: 9 yards
• Fabric Added to Date: 19 yards
• Fabric Used: 6.25 yards
• Fabric Used to Date: 32.25 yards
• Net Used: 13.25 yards

Since it's the beginning of a new month, I will be working on a stash project this week. I haven't completely decided yet, but I may work on making a top from the Square Dance book. Or I may make a disappearing 9 patch top.

Finish #4

Not So Top Secret QOV is now complete!!! This month has been a great beginning to 2009. This was the fastest project (start to finish) that I've done. I've pieced plenty of tops quicker but then they usually sit and wait to be quilted.

I finished Apple Cider Medallion BOM block #2 this morning and cut some of the PPS08 strips into rectanges for the inner border. I also started on the test sawtooth star for a group QOV that I'm making blocks for, but I cut the flying geese triangles the wrong size so I'll have to start over.

Tomorrow I have to go to the dog show in the morning but hope to get back early enough to do something quilty before the Super Bowl festivities start.

It's 5:00 Somewhere!!!

Thank goodness it's Friday! This has been a long week. It's either feast (beginning of the week) or famine (end of the week) at work. I don't like it when it's slow. The time goes slow, and I keep thinking about all the other productive things I could be doing, like sewing!!!

I took some PTO time yesterday afternoon and got the binding machine sewn to the front of the Not So Top Secret project. I started hand sewing to the back but then started getting a headache so I stopped.

Tomorrow hubby is working, and I hope to get lots accomplished in the sewing room, like:

1. Work on sawtooth stars for group QOV.
2. Continue working on binding NSTS.
3. Make Apple Cider Medallion Block #2.
4. Work on cutting PPS08 inner border strips into rectangles.

I've been thinking about PPS08 and Heritage lying in various stages in the sewing room. Normally I don't have a problem with this, but for whatever reason it's been bugging me lately, probably because they both take up a lot of room. So February I'm going to concentrate on getting PPS08 and Heritage made into tops. I also want to make a tote bag. I've been putting it off to work on other stuff, but I'm just gonna do it!

Wednesday Check-in

I sure am glad I started the month strong because my sewing has been almost non-existent. The only time I get to sew is when I get to leave work early and the weekends when hubby works. Speaking of leaving work early, yesterday was one of those days. I worked on quilting the Not So Top Secret QOV top which is about three-fourths done before I had to leave for the basketball game. Hopefully I can finish up the quilting tonight and start on the binding tomorrow.

Monday night I also finished sewing the inner border strips for PPS08. The picture below is what it will look like when I get it finished. I have a lot more to do.

I hope to get a bunch of sewing in this weekend but Sunday I may have to go to a dog show. MIL has been having problems with her knees and she doesn't know if she'll be able to show both Saturday and Sunday. I hope I don't have to because I get so nervous/worked up that I get sick. I like working in the background/under the radar.

For A Good Cause

I shouldn't have looked at my email this morning. Maybe if I would have waited the sale fabric would have all been gone. LOL Kimberly at Fat Quarter Shop sent an email that the rest of the American Primer yardage was on sale while supplies lasted. I ordered 3 yards each of two different fabrics which I'll use for backgrounds on future QOVs. Since they'll be used for a good cause, I'm not going to stress over it, but darn I was really hoping I could go another week without buying fabric!

Week 4 Stash Report

Unfortunately, I didn't get much sewing in this week. Sunday I quilted and bound Santa's Got the Goods and started the Not So Top Secret QOV top which used 4.5 yards. When I've gotten the chance to sew, I've continued on the QOV top. Yesterday I finally got the blocks sewn into a top. I still need to add borders which I'll cut today for next week's numbers.

I bought some books/patterns this week, but NO FABRIC!

My numbers to date:

• Fabric Added: 0 yards
• Fabric Added to Date: 10 yards
• Fabric Used: 4.5 yards
• Fabric Used to Date: 26 yards
• Net Used: 16 yards

I'm happy with my numbers so far. I would like to have more fabric used but my full-time job keeps getting in the way. ;0)

Week 5 is another quilting week. I'm hoping to get the Not So Top Secret top quilted. I'm also thinking about sending Tilt-A-Whirl to Alycia after I get it quilted too. It's not R/W/B but I think it would still work.

WIP Wednesday

Sewing? What's that? This week has just been crazy...at work and home. I did manage to work a little bit on the Not So Top Secret QOV last night. I'm hoping to get back in the sewing room tomorrow after work. Otherwise over the weekend for sure!

I hope everyone else is getting more sewing time in than I am.

Finish #3!!!

Hot Diggity Dog!!! Amazing what I can do when I set my mind to it and get (gentle) nudges from others. Here are my two assistants posing with my third finish....Santa's Got the Goods. This was from a kit I bought last year from Fabric.com. There was suppose to be another border, but I didn't like how it looked so I left it off.


Thanks to May & Kris for having the One Project A Month challenge and Jen & Jill for their Waun-A-Quilt challenge. Now, to decide which top to load on the frame next since next week is a "Quilting" week.

Sidetracked

Is it just me or are there other quilters out there who get sidetracked? I did get Santa's Got the Goods quilted and binding sewn to the front. Then I took a break and found myself reading some blogs which caused me to get sidetracked. Several bloggers have posted that they're going to work on QOV (Quilts of Valor...quilts for soldiers) tops tomorrow in honor of Martin Luther King Jr Day.

Since I have to work tomorrow I decided I would start on it today. I'm making Alycia's "Not so Top Secret" pattern. I have everything cut and almost half of the strips sewn together. When I finish I'm going to send it to Alycia who started a challenge last year to deliver 400 quilts to wounded soldiers near her. She currently has just over 300 quilts donated by various quilters across the country. Recently she posted that there are now close to 700 soldiers that could use quilts. So, not wanting to disappoint, I decided to join in and help out. Let No Soldier Be Forgotten!!!

On another note, I forgot to post earlier about our trip home from the basketball game last night. We had just gotten onto the highway and were passing a car when I could see something in the headlights of the car we were passing. At first I thought it was a goose. Then I realized what it was.....

An owl came swooping down to get some roadkill just along the road towards the median. Hubby moved over to the right just enough that he missed it (and the car next to us). Man was that a get your heart pumping moment. I don't know why the owl decided at THAT moment to swoop down but it was almost his last.

Week 3 Stash Report

It was a fairly productive week. I finished All Star Kids, the rest of the Happy Blocks, and Block Party blocks. Also, started paper-piecing Diamond Jubilee and cutting the setting fabric for Patchwork Party Summer '08 (PPS08). My total fabric usage for the week was 6 yards. Although I tried being good, I bought an "all or none" Fresh Squeezed fabric that I plan to use for a border or backing with that collection's FQ bundle. Technically this is the first "purchase" of the year as the other fabric in my added total was ordered last year. I'm still in the "black" for net usage.

My numbers to date:

• Fabric Added: 4 yards
• Fabric Added to Date: 10 yards
• Fabric Used: 6 yards
• Fabric Used to Date: 21.5 yards
• Net Used: +11.5 yards

Week 4 is "anything" week for me so I can work on whatever I want. Today I'm going to finish loading Santa's Got the Goods on the frame and get it quilted. I also will probably work more on the setting and borders for PPS08.

I'm happy with my progress so far this year. Although I know I won't be able to keep up with quilting/finishing 2-3 tops each month, I'm at least starting to enjoy doing the quilting.

Temps are Back to "Normal"

The temperature is finally back above zero (degrees F)!!! We're supposedly going to get 2-4 inches of snow today but I'll take that over the arctic temps we've had the last couple of days.

Yesterday I started loading Santa's Got the Goods on the frame. Also cut pieces to make the last five Happy Blocks which I finished piecing this morning. In a little bit I'm going to the post office to send the Happy Blocks and the Block Party blocks off to their respective homes. When I get home I'll sew for a bit.

Later this afternoon we're going into town and we'll drop off Rambling Rose by hubby's aunt's house. Then off to watch the girl's basketball game that was cancelled last night.

Tomorrow I'll be quilting Santa's Got the Goods.

Not Your Grandmother's Feathers!

I've been wanting to take some classes on quilting so I could "graduate" from just doing simple meanders or pantographs. Yesterday I received an email from Hinterberg Design saying they're having a Quilting Expo on Valentine's Day in West Bend! I was so excited, but which one to choose? There was one on templates and another on feathers, both scheduled at the same time. I chose Not Your Grandmother's Feathers since I did try to do feathers once and failed miserably. (I'm glad I didn't wait, there is only one more spot open!) I'm really looking forward to going.

You can find information on this class and the other one offered at http://www.hinterberg.com/valentinesevent.aspx.

Finish #2

I have my second finish within a week! Work was slow today so I came home early and decided to quilt All Star Kids. I practiced doing stars, swirls, hearts, dwirling throughout. Since it's late, I'll post a picture tomorrow.

I think I'll load Santa's Got the Goods on the frame next.

Wednesday WIP & Freezing Temps

Here are some pictures of the Block Party blocks I made for Kathy (Anvil), Shirley (Waterwheel variation) and Jennifer (Posey Chain). The third picture is the first Apple Cider Medallion BOM block.




Tomorrow it's suppose to be very cold, high of 0 degrees with -40 wind chill (they cancelled school for tomorrow in the entire area) so tonight we rounded up the birds and put them in the dog x-pen. We caught one goose and put it in the pen and the other two walked into the garage. Thankfully the duck (who isn't clipped) decided to follow them. It's a little snug, but they'll be warm. Here they are all tucked in for the night.

Gratitudes

It's been a stressful last couple of days, so I thought I should think of thinks I'm greatful for rather than dwell on the negative.

I'm thankful:

• My brother wasn't hurt when he hit black ice with his truck (and put it on its side) yesterday.
• My husband made it home safely (after driving 3 hrs in the snow) from skiing yesterday.
• My friends who are always there for me.
• I have a job (as trying as it is at times), that pays our bills and "fun" stuff.
• The co-workers who appreciate the effort I put into the work I do for them.
• I don't live in Alaska where it's -80 wind chill. (Here it's only -20 to -35).
• Conversation hearts candy (one of my "weaknesses").

January Quiltathon Day 2

Today was a bust. I was going to work on the Cider Apple Medallion BOM blocks but then realized it uses a template set I don't have. They have now been ordered.

Then I searched for the two missing magazines for Diamond Jubilee. I eventually found them but it took a while. From there I started arranging the fabrics I collected with the pattern pieces I had already cut out. Realized I didn't have all of the fabrics like I had thought so I went stash shopping and found fabrics that would work. All I really did today was work on two of the blocks (AB & AC) and one was just cutting the design out, no paper-piecing. Also took a trip to Wally World and watched The Women and Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian which I rented the other day.

Oh well. Tomorrow hopefully will be more productive, but I'm not sure how much energy I'll have when I get home from work. I expect it to be pretty busy.

I'm waiting for the lasagna to finish in the oven and then we'll be eating supper. Yum!

Week 2 Stash Report

It was a great week! I finished my first quilt for the year and didn't buy any fabric. I was tempted to buy some Animas (Jackie Robinson) patterns that were on sale but decided I have enough patterns to keep me busy right now. I also thought about buying Moda's new Tradition (Collection for a Cause) fabric line. I like the fabric and the proceeds go to Unicef, but I'm just not sure what I'd do with them so for now I'll hold off.

For the good part, I used 8 yards this week....4 yards for backing and binding on Rambling Rose, 0.5 yards for block party blocks, and gifted 3.5 yards to my niece.

My numbers to date:

• Fabric Added: 0 yards
• Fabric Added to Date: 6 yards
• Fabric Used: 8 yards
• Fabric Used to Date: 15.5 yards
• Net Used: +9.5 yards

Week 3 begins today so going with my plan, this week I'll work on a project on my current or waiting line lists. First I'm going to work on the first two blocks for Apple Cider Medallion since they came yesterday and Jennifer's block party blocks, and then start on Diamond Jubilee. This project was in the Quilts in Style magazines in 2006 so it's been waiting a while for me to start. I was going through all of the stuff I have for it and realized that two of the magazines are MIA. I know I have them but the question is where?!?! I'm guessing they're in the closet somewhere, but I guess I should find them first. So that's my week at a glance.

It's suppose to get bitterly cold this week. Hubby is trying to figure how to get the geese and duck into a pen in the garage. The geese shouldn't be too difficult because they can't fly, but the duck can.

Stay warm!!

Rambling Rose is DONE!!!

Since I was so close to being finished, I just had to keep going. And now it's DONE! My first finish of the year!!!


I apologize for the crappy picture, but there was no one to hold it for me so this will have to do until I can get a better picture.




Rambling Rose Meets Jamestown - Marti Michell Block of the Month project 2007-2008

January Quiltathon - Saturday Progress

I've been a busy little bee this morning. I made Kathy's two Block Party blocks and tore apart the "kit/PIGs" side of the closet to find the materials for Diamond Jubilee. Of course it was at the very bottom. I have about another 40 inches of binding to hand sew on Rambling Rose. I need to take a break because my eyes are bugging out and my arm kinda hurts. After my break I'll work on cutting fabric for Jennifer's two Block Party blocks. If there is time before I need to leave for the bball game, I will work more on the binding. For sure tomorrow it will be done!!

Quiltathon Weekend Goals

It's Quiltathon Weekend!!! Here is what I hope to get done:

• Work on binding Rambling Rose
• Make Jennifer's two Block Party blocks
• Make Kathy's two Block Party blocks
• "Shop" my stash for fabric that I don't want and gift it to my niece
• Work on more Happy Blocks
• Load Santa's Got the Goods on quilting frame

I've rented The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and The Women watch while I binding on Saturday. Movies that hubby wouldn't find very interesting.

Quilting is Done!

I came home early today since I had extra hours worked earlier in the week. So I went right to work on Rambling Rose. And after a total of 10 bobbins, the quilting is done! I cut the binding strips and started sewing them together, but then it was time for supper and spending time with hubby. Tomorrow I will get the binding sewn to the back and start hand sewing it to the back. Finish number 1 will be done soon!!!

Free Online BOM - Anne Sutton

For those of you who may need another project (snicker.....who couldn't right?) to work on, Anne Sutton has a free online BOM on her website. The first block is already up! Enjoy!

Still Quilting

Boy, being back to work sure cuts into my quilting time. Tonight I used 3 more bobbins quilting Rambling Rose. I'm almost three-fourths of the way done. I might be able to finish the quilting tomorrow. (At least I hope so.) If nothing else by the weekend for sure.

On an exciting note, I'm going to the Chicago Quilt show this year! The LQS is organizing a bus trip so I booked my seat yesterday. The past couple years we've gone to a sprint car race that weekend so I couldn't go. This year they moved the races back a couple weeks! WOOHOO!!!!

Gratitudes:

1. DH going back to work on Friday (so I don't have to listen to him whine about being bored)!
2. Able to go to Chicago Quilt Show.
3. Pay day this week!
4. Still no buy!

Quiltathon

This weekend is the first Quiltathon for 2009!!! I can't wait. Hubby will be back to work and I'll be either finishing the quilting on Rambling Rose or sewing down the binding.

Will you be joining us? If so, what will you be working on????

*****
Gratitudes:

1. Sun popping it's head out to say "Hi".
2. It didn't snow yesterday or today.
3. I only gained 2 lbs over the holidays.
4. It's another day closer to the weekend.
5. My quilting frame and Voyager 17 making quilting easier. Compared to trying to stuff it through my regular sewing machine.
6. I've gone 6 days without buying fabric!!

Quilt #1 on the Frame

Yesterday I loaded Rambling Rose on the quilting frame. Look what I saw when I looked out the window! The turkeys were back, but in front of the house. They the time I got downstairs to get the camera, they were almost to the tree line.

Saturday night it rained and then Sunday the temps dropped so everything is ice. This is looking east from the dog kennel. I was so worried about the boys going out on the ice, but they didn't horse around.

Here is Rambling Rose on the frame. It's huge.....like 87 x 108! I think this is the largest top that I've quilted so far. I started quilting it tonight and after emptying 3 bobbins, I'm about 1/4 done. I'll work on it more on Wednesday since we'll be heading to a bball game tomorrow night. See that rubbermaid container underneath the batting? That's full of tops waiting to be quilted, along with some tops on the container and next to it.

Today was my first day back to work since Christmas Eve. It was pretty busy. Tomorrow hopefully will be a little slower.

Week 1 Stash Report

It's a new year and, therefore, the first stashbusting report. I've been pulling fabrics to make the HeartStrings Happy Blocks and while doing that found a bunch of FQs that have been sitting in the closet for several years. I decided to use some of them rather than putting them back in the closet. Plus I started making the block party blocks for our online group. You can see pictures of all three projects here. Used this week - 7.5 yards! A wonderful start for me.

Although I didn't order this week, I did receive some backing fabric that I ordered the day after Christmas and the January FQ bundle also arrived. Added this week - 6 yards. The backing fabric will be used this coming week though so it will be coming right back out!

My numbers to date:

Fabric Added: 6 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 6 yards

Fabric Used: 7.5 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 7.5 yards

Net Used: +1.5 yards

Week 1 Progress

This week I have been focusing on using my stash. Here's what I've been working on the last couple of days.

When I started teaching myself to quilt, I found these KP Kids FQs which have been sitting in the closet ever since. It's not the most exciting top, but it's now a top. I am going to practice quilting stars and loops. I'll donate this to Project Linus or another local charity.
Here is the backing, it has footballs, baseballs, gloves, soccer balls, etc. on them.

These are some of the blocks I've made for HeartStrings.

Next is one of the two Block Party blocks I'm making for an online group. The pattern is Waterwheel Variation from Quilt Blocks Galore.

This is what I saw out of my sewing room window yesterday. I couldn't zoom in enough to get a better picture, but these four turkeys were scavening the corn field for food.

Tomorrow starts Week 2 so I'll focus on quilting a top. I'll start loading Rambling Rose for hubby's aunt.

2009 Challenge

May and Kris have organized a 2009 challenge for any quilters who would like to join. The goal is to finish (at least) one project every month in 2009. Each month if you have a month, your name will be put in to a drawing and one person will receive a prize.

This was an easy decision for me to join since my goal was to finish at least one quilt each month anyway. Last year my goal was to quilt several of my older tops. Although I finished 16 quilts last year, none of them were from that "old top" list. So it will be my goal again this year. Wish me luck!