Organize Your Stash Progress

Before:

After:

I decided that I was going to clean out that mess on the left side of the sewing room closet today. (When I get something in my head, it won't go away until I do it...or buy it ) There were some items on the top shelf that didn't belong in the sewing room so that went and I placed the kits up on that shelf. I think it looks much better. Now I just need to get busy and make some of those tops. This came at a good time because I'm going on a quilt shop hop this weekend...not that I'm looking for anything in particular, just wanna check out what's new. Going through these bags and boxes reminded me of how much I already have.

I'm off to make more progress!

Design Wall - 9/27

It's been a pretty darn good birthday!!! We got all of the races in yesterday so I have all day to sew. So far I've completed a bag (see previous post) and the rest of the Alpha Buddies blocks. Next up are the setting triangles.

I Finally Made a Bag!!!

Finally, I can check another goal off my "To-Do 2009" list. I had wanted to make a bag for the longest time but was a little intimidated. I decided it was time to just give it a whirl. It only took 3 FQs so it wasn't like I was going to ruin a bunch of fabric if it didn't turn out. I like the front, but the back I'm not too crazy about. The main thing is that it's a finish! It's been a while since I've had one of those.

Show Your Stash

Judy has challenged those who read her blog to show pictures of their stash (as it is right now, without "cleaning" up first. The goal is to take pictures again in January to show how/if your stash has changed (i.e., more organized, show reduction in stash). So, shall we start?

Here is the right side of the closet in my sewing room. On top of the bins is yardage that's more than 5 yards. There is one row of bins on the bottom that didn't get in the picture. Sadly in front of them is a pile of fabric that won't fit in the bins. There is some room for more yellow and purples.


Under the sewing table...overflow fabric, fat quarter bundles and a tub with fabric. I'd like to get this cleaned out and in the closet or the cabinet by the end of next year.

Cabinet with more yardage. It's organized by color but not folded nicely.

On the left are wire bins with fat quarters, jelly rolls, acrylic templates and some patterns. On the right - four colored boxes to hold BOMs/current projects. The white tower is for scraps (cut to size) which I haven't really gotten to yet so it's pretty much empty.

Here is the left side of the closet...kits and projects waiting to be worked on. This one makes me cringe. It's one of my goals for the rest of this year and next year. Eventually I'd like to use this side for the fat quarter or scrap tower.

Here is my every growing pile of tops waiting to be quilted. This is stored in my bedroom which is where my quilting frame is.

More overflow fabric in my bedroom closet. The top left bin is leftovers from my Third Weekend in October quilt. The two bins underneath are full of fabric. The top right bins are for Eleanor Burns' Grandmother's Garden quilt. The red bin is full of scraps that need to be cut down to usable sizes. There is another long, narrow bin underneath that has Halloween fabrics.

So that's what my current stash looks like. Are you brave enough to show blogland YOUR stash?!?!

Week #39 Stash Report

Another goose egg this week. Nothing in, nothing out. I'm still working on the Alpha Buddies blocks. Although I'm thinking of making the poochie bag today from Happy Zombie's blog. (It would fulfill one of my goals for the year!!!)

Here are my numbers to date:

• Fabric Added: 0 yards
• Fabric Added to Date: 105.5 yards
• Fabric Used: 0 yards
• Fabric Used to Date (goal 150): 123.5 yards
• Net Used: 18.00 yards

My goal for the week is to continue working on Alpha Buddies. Next weekend is a shop hop of 11 quilt shops. I know I won't get to them all but hope to get to most of them. I'll try to behave, but not promises.

Long Day Ahead

The worst case scenario for the races happened last night. Four of the eight divisions got their heat races in when the sky opened up and it poured for two hours. Since it still was early they had hoped to be able to get the track worked up and still get some racing in but it didn't happen. So now today we have to "squeeze" in the rest of the heat races, plus the B-mains and A-mains. We're short-handed until later tonight, plus there is a chance of rain today. It's not going to be a fun. If we can't get everything in today, we'll have to finish tomorrow. I do NOT want to work on my birthday!

But I'm leaving in a little bit to go to the local quilt show to have a little bit of fun today before I have to deal with the chaos.

If you're still with me, thanks for reading my rant. I'm off to the quilt show.

Zoey the Kid

Here's a picture of Miss Zoey. It's kind of difficult to get good pictures of her because when you're around her she's constantly in motion. She's very sweet. We still have to keep her separate from Buddy and Roxie though. Roxie still is pretty territorial. Buddy is really good with her though.

Here is Buddy and Zoey grazing. Buddy is hooked up to a rope because otherwise he would be eating my shrubs or trees. Zoey is loose because she just runs back and forth between Buddy and Roxie.

Secret Project

I've secretly been teaching myself how to knit. At first I didn't even let hubby know in case I couldn't figure it out. When he did see me knitting, he's like what are you doing? Then he said, "Why?" See if I knit HIM anything!

After starting over several times practicing the knit and purl stitches, this is what I've accomplished to date. It's suppose to be a hat (eventually). I didn't do the ribbing part though because I wanted to just work on making each row the same stitch until I felt comfortable. Now I'm starting to "slip" a stitch. Nothing too exciting. There are a couple spots where there is a hole probably from a stitch falling off the needle, but it's alright for my first project.

My goal is to eventually make a sweater for myself.

Design Wall - 9/24

It doesn't look like much, but a third of the Alpha Buddies blocks are done. Another third is sewn together, they just need to be squared up.

These are fun to work on. I love the bright colors!

Week #38 Stash Report

I cut 1.5 yards so far on Alpha Buddies, but bought 1.5 yard for my next project (Miss Rosie's Sweet Escape) pattern. So it's a wash again this week, which I'll take. I also bought a couple other patterns that I didn't find at the quilt show.

Here are my numbers to date:

• Fabric Added: 1.5 yards
• Fabric Added to Date: 105.5 yards
• Fabric Used: 1.5 yards
• Fabric Used to Date (goal 150): 123.5 yards
• Net Used: 18.00 yards

My goal for the week is to finish cutting fabric for Alpha Buddies and start piecing blocks. I'd also like to go to the local quilt show next weekend but it will depend on how much sleep I get. I have to work at the races Friday night and Saturday. Friday night usually gets pretty late (or should I say early...as in Saturday morning) because the guys who make the feature have to re-draw and they take forever to show up....so it's usually around 1 a.m. before I get home. The races usually start early afternoon on Saturday so that doesn't leave me with a lot of extra time.

Alpha Buddies

It was a busy week so this morning was the first I saw the sewing room. I'm starting on making Alpha Buddies. I bought this at the Chicago Quilt show earlier this year. It should go together pretty quickly. Then we'll see how much free time I have as October will require lots of overtime at work. I'd really like to start quilting on these tops that keep accumulating. Or I may work on one of my other BOMs.

You can get the pattern free at Andover Fabrics.

Apple Cider Medallion BOM #9

Block #9 is complete and for now I'm caught up (with this BOM). I'm trying to decide what to work on next...a fall table runner or the Alpha Buddies top.

Apple Cider Medallion BOM Progress

Block #8 is complete. I'll get started on #9 after a little break.

Madison Quilt Show

On Friday I went to the Madison Quilt Show. I met up with Pat from Bell Creek Quilts. It was great to have someone (other than hubby) to check out the quilts with. We both were in awe by the amount of quilting on some of the quilts and we both have similar quilting styles. (Great minds think alike after all.) I only took a couple of pictures because we were busy talking and critiquing the quilts. Here are the few pictures I took....

I absolutely love golden retrievers (don't tell my boys). Some day I'd like to own one.

This is called "Love My Golden" by Valerie Cook of Janesville, WI.

I took a picture of this quilt because I recognized a lot of the items since we went boating on Elkhart Lake this summer.

It's called "The Elkhart Lake Quilt" by Susan Balisterri of Elkhart Lake, WI.

I thought this one was just fun and cute. I love how the curls on the sheep make it look like the wool and look at those sneakers!

It's called "Footloose" by Rachel Wetzler of St. Charles, Illinois.

This one was the most creative. There is a quilt block with at least 26 pieces whose name corresponds with the respective letter of the alphabet. The name of each block is embroidered in the inner border. Look at how she finished the quilt!

It's called "Alpha Block Celebration" by Janet Stone of Overland Park, Kansas.

Then on to my purchases. The Quilt Sampler magazine was the only thing on my "list" that I found at the show. The Gobble Gobble kit I thought was really cute and hadn't seen before (although many vendors had it). I had seen the Back on the Farm BOM by McKenna Ryan. My niece had asked about a goat quilt pattern, so I just bought her the one block for Christmas.

I was a little disappointed, a lot of vendors had reproduction/civil war items or the same Thanksgiving/Halloween items. On the bright side, it helped me not spend a lot. I guess I'll look online for my other items. ;0)

Week #37 Stash Report

I’m glad blogger decided to play nice today. Yesterday I tried several times and I couldn’t even sign in.

On to the report. I used 3 yards for the Disappearing Flower Basket top pictured.

I ended up adding 3 yards for the Gobble Gobble kit I bought. So it was a wash this week.

Here are my numbers to date:

• Fabric Added: 3 yards
• Fabric Added to Date: 104 yards
• Fabric Used: 3 yards
• Fabric Used to Date (goal 150): 122 yards
• Net Used: 18.00 yards

This week I’m going to finish the August Apple Cider BOM block and start on September.

9/11

First and foremost, today is 9/11. Take a moment to remember those who lost their lives and their families. Also remember those past and present serving our country.

I took vacation today so I can go to the Madison Quilt Show. I've got a list which I'm going to try sticking to. Tomorrow I'm going to a Partylite party and Sunday my friend and her husband are going to visit the puppies on their way to the Packers game. The rest of the time I'm planning on being in the sewing room.

Introducing Zoey

Our newest family member. She was born on June 20 and was bought by our friends at the 4-H small animal auction at the fair. (Our friends have a business and buy the animal(s) for PR so then we get the goat. Better for the goat than the other alternative.) The girl who raised her had named her Petunia, but we're changing it to Zoey. She is Roxie's (the goat we got from the auction last year) sister. She is a tiny little thing. I don't remember Roxie being that small when we got her but I'm sure she was. She told me a sob story the majority of the way home. When we were leaving the parking lot you should have seen the people's heads whip around when she started bellaring....sounds just like a child screaming. They probably thought I was murdering her.



Below is a picture of Roxie (right) with Zoey. Roxie isn't too excited to see Zoey (see the hair raised on her back). She tried to ram her a couple times so we'll keep them apart when we're not in the pen with them until they get used to each other. I had thought Buddy would be the bully but I guess Roxie finally has someone smaller than her so she can finally bully someone.

Now we have to decide if we're going to keep Buddy or not. He is really sweet and friendly but man does he cause damage to the trees, even with wire around them.

I'll try to get some better pictures of all of them once hubby gets home from work. It's a little difficult to take pictures, stop Roxie from ramming Zoey, AND stop Buddy from chewing on my pants/shirt at the same time.

Puppy Update - 5-1/2 Weeks

It was FIL's birthday yesterday so we had a little weenie roast/bonfire. Of course while we were there I had to play with the puppies. They had been outside for the majority of the day and all the fresh air made them sleepy.

Poor guy can bearly keep his eyes open.

They are getting very cuddly. Pink girl let you know if she wasn't getting enough attention too!