Stash Report Week 44, 2011

What a great weekend! I have done really well on getting some fabric cut and I did pretty good on buying in spite of being in Shipshewana for a couple of days!

I got a lot of the pieces cut for my Ohio Star Challenge. (I also got a lot of them sewn, but that is another post!)



And I picked up a couple of backings while I was here. One for Argyle Holiday and one for the bug jar quilt.





And I made great progress on my projects at retreat so I will be able to get some more fabric used up soon!

Fabric added this week: 6.58
Fabric added year-to-date: 125.22

Fabric used this week: 3.57
Fabric used year-to-date:115.57

Net Fabric Used: -9.65

Wrong direction, but all I need to do is get those couple of backings made and they will take care of the amount added this week. :)

Just a tiny bit OCD

I got a comment a couple of weeks ago asking what kind of organization I was going to come up with for this retreat. I didn't plan on coming up with anything new, but I did organize a new project that I started working on now.



I'm working on an Ohio Star challenge and am using 7 gradations of pink to red and black as the background. I have a packet for each of the colors and then 1 packet for the black. And everything fit into one of my ArtBins.

In order to not get the colors mixed up, I am only working on one of the packets at a time and I have already worked through 2 of the baggies. So far, this has been a very good system!

Friday Retreat Progress

Friday morning,  I worked on a couple more Witch blocks. I now have 4 blocks complete and have dubbed the boots the Bitches' Boots. It's very appropriate! Do you see all the detail on the boots?



Next, I sewed up the blocks that I had leftover for the Guild's Raffle Quilt.



I started working on the top stitching on the Doodle Bugs blocks and then we went to dinner at The Blue Gate. I got peanut butter pie to go! A great evening snack!



And I finished all the top stitching before bed!





For those interested in the pattern, here is the book that I am using. Doodle Bugs by Annette Ornelas.

Retreat progress

I'm at retreat!! The drive was relatively uneventful except for the nagging misting rain and kick up from the trucks that inevitably prevented any safe passing. Ugh!

I have already hit Yoder's and Lolly's and picked up a fabric for Argyle Holiday's backing and scoped out backings for the bug jar quilt and the Doodlebugs. This of course means another trip before Sunday morning. :)

After shopping, I got busy on my Which Witch blocks and did a zig zag around all the purple pieces. And I started the stitching around the boots. Here is my first block done!



I have one more finished - just 34 more blocks to do!

Tomorrow, I am going to put the witches away and start on something else. :)

Tiny Tuesday - 10/25

No new blocks this week, but here are all the blocks I have done so far. They look pretty cute!



Anyone else have tiny blocks to share?

Three more days

I have 3 more days until retreat! I'm not ready.... Not really close at all.

I have 3 more days and 4 more nights (counting tonight) to get ready. And there is only a couple of more hours to work tonight.

Today, I made a casserole and a pot of chili that will take care of lunches and dinners for the week. And I finished the cleaning on the condo which is awesome! And I started laundry and have made great progress on that.

What I still need to do is make my list of things to take so that I don't forget anything. Remember last year when I forgot quite a few important things? That won't happen this year!

I think that I have narrowed down the list of things that I want to take to work on, but that could change in the next few days. I also have to make a list of quilt top sizes in case I find good fabric for backings. And I have an order from my niece for a cow quilt that I need to see if I can find the fabric for.

The next few days should go fast at work with it being the end of the month. I also have to work in a dentist appointment and another trip to the car dealership. Ugh on the dealership!!

I am hoping to get another quilt cut out this week before heading to retreat so that I have something new to sew on. And since my time is short, I will probably pass on sewing a Midget block this week, but I will make up for it at retreat, I'm sure.

Right now, I am planning on taking the following to work on:

1. Doodlebugs - the car quilt for my nephew
2. Moon Pie - Leader/Ender
3. Which Witches - I need to finish the satin stitch on the purple and black pieces
4. Ohio Star for a challenge - this is what needs to be cut out
5. 4Patches4Hope
6. Raffle quilt blocks
7. Midget blocks - just next 2

I can't wait!!! Off to work on prepping! :)

Stash Report Week 43, 2011

Nothing in this week, but a tiny bit used.

I finished up the next set of 5 midget blocks with this one, so I can count the fabric used. I also checked and I hadn't counted the fabric for the previous 5 so I am counting that now, too.



And some fabric used for binding on this charity quilt.



It's great to have gotten these things done this week!

Fabric added this week: 0.00
Fabric added year-to-date: 118.64

Fabric used this week: 0.94
Fabric used year-to-date:112.00

Net Fabric Used: -6.64

FNSI Results - 10/21

What a productive night!! I didn't work on the applique that I thought I would, but I got so much done that I will be able to work on the applique this weekend.

To start, I machine stitched the binding down on the last charity quilt I quilted. I did this in the morning before heading to work. And the dogs have tested it so I need to wash it before I turn it in.



Last night, I spent less than 2 hours quilting and finished the quilting on Regina's Blue quilt. I used the Square Spiral panto, a tan variegated King Tut thread in the top and a Bottom Line in the bobbin. I think that the design and thread choice are very sharp on this quilt!







This week, I ordered a couple of replacement parts for the quilt frame to fix the issues that I have been having with the carriage movement on the tracks. They will be here any day now and I am going to wait to load another quilt until I have it all set up. I can't wait to be able to move the machine while following pantos without having it fight me about where it wants to go!

After I was done quilting, I buried the threads on this quilt - marked with the blue painter's tape in case you are wondering - and on the other quilt that I quilted for Regina. Then, I packed up a box to send to her. I'm on my way to drop it at the post office now!

Max thinks I did a great job on the quilting here.

Book Review Thursday - 10/20

This week, I’m back on track with 2 books finished.

The Crossroad by Beverly Lewis is book 2 of the Amish Country Crossroads series (only 2 books in the series and book one is The Postcard). In the first book, New York journalist Philip Bradley finds a postcard when he is staying at a B&B in Lancaster County ran by Rachel Yoder’s family. In this book, the story continues where both Philip and Rachel fight their growing attraction for one another. Rachel fights the powwow doctoring and hexes prevalent in her Amish society and fights to regain her sight.

This was a nice ending to the series and I am glad that Lewis didn’t draw it out into a third book. There was interaction with a Bishop in this book and that scene was interesting.

I think the best thing about this book was that I was able to read it on my Kindle as a loan from the library. Nice!!

I have been cleaning up my DVR and watching the summer series Rizzoli & Isles that is on TNT. It was only fitting that I read the latest Tess Gerritsen novel in the series, The Silent Girl. I watched the season finale of the TV show last weekend and there was a very appropriate product placement of this book on a side table that made me smile!

Detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles report to a murder scene in Boston’s Chinatown – a severed hand is found in an alley and the body is found on the roof above with the head barely hanging on. Very few clues lead the pair to a murder-suicide that occurred 19 years earlier in a neighboring building and a bunch of missing teenage girls.

There is a side story involving a cop on trial for killing a cop killer and the police force is hassling Maura about her evidence that shows the cop is guilty of murder. She has to deal with the cops at scenes ignoring her and being rude because of this. I am thinking that this will come out further in the next book because the result of the trial was not mentioned after the investigation got under way.

This was a solid addition to the series. I enjoy other characters in the books – Frost, Korsack, Jane’s family – because they add a lot to the novels instead of being a distraction. By watching the series and reading one of the books simultaneously, I was able to tell that TNT does an awesome job of relating the energy in the novels onto the small screen. Gerritsen is still one my favorite authors!

Tiny Tuesday - 10/18

Since I didn't get a block done last week, I wanted to have two blocks made this week. Since I am now taking vitamins and have the energy... Mission accomplished!

Block 20 - Circular Saw was a tough one so I made a variation.



Block 21 - Snowball Flower - very fun! I did a satin stitch on the edges of the applique. I didn't use a stabilizer though so it will be a little wavy until I get it pressed now that the stitching is done.



I also spent a bit of time on Sunday printing out blocks 21-25 and pulling fabric for them. I'm ready for next week!



Anyone else making tiny blocks?

Design Wall Monday - 10/17

Lots to show tonight!

I finished the bug jar quilt on Saturday and it is still up on my design wall!





And on Sunday, I finished the binding for the bug jar quilt and a charity quilt. I hope I can get the binding on the charity quilt tonight.



I also finished a couple more take along bags.



I'm happy to be getting these things wrapped up so that I can start working on something new! I have the applique to finish for my Which Witch? wall hangings that I want to work on and the car blocks for another nephew's quilt. There's always so much to do and not enough time!!

Max enjoyed the view out the window this weekend until it was time for a nap. lol

Stash Report Weeks 41-42, 2011

I didn't have anything to report last week, so I passed on my report. But this week.... Whoooo weee!!! :)

I got the borders and binding cut for the Argyle Holiday and got the top assembled.



I also cut out 6 take along bags. I only got 4 finished, but I am planning on working on the last two this morning. Here are he 4 that I got done.





Nothing added, but I think that will probably change in Shipshewana. I am going to shop the bargain basement for some backings. :)

AND I remembered yesterday that last year there was a yarn shop that was THISCLOSE to opening so I can't wait to see it this year!

Fabric added this week: 0.00
Fabric added year-to-date: 118.64

Fabric used this week: 4.28
Fabric used year-to-date:111.06

Net Fabric Used: -7.58


I think that I wore the pups out yesterday with all that I did!

Buzzin' Along

Last weekend, I wanted to get so much done, but I ended up sleeping a lot. I was still battling the exhausted feeling on Monday and Tuesday and decided to try taking a multi vitamin and extra vitamin B. I started these on Tuesday and WOW! What a difference! I felt almost perky within an hour or so of taking them.

This morning, I was awake at 6:45 and when sleep didn't return immediately, I got up and started sewing! Completely unheard of for me on a weekend morning when I didn't have a reason to be up before 9.

I had to meet my sister around 10:30 to take care of my youngest nephew for a couple of hours and I watched his soccer game and then took him to Taco Bell, or as he calls it Jingle Bells. He got a trophy, a drink and a gift bag with cookies and Halloween goodies and he was so excited because there was a pencil in the bag!

After swapping Ethan back to my BIL, I went to Meijer for a big sale. I saved almost 50% this trip which is pretty good because I didn't have a coupon for everything and I didn't spend too long preparing the coupons that I did have. But I got some goodies for retreat. Woo hoo!

When I got home, I fully expected to be ready to crash for one of my 2 hour weekend naps, but I wasn't really falling over tired. I was a little wore out, but I put the groceries away and then sewed. Don't get me wrong, I still needed a nap eventually, but it was only one hour! Not sure if it is definitely the vitamins, but as good as I am feeling right now, I am going to keep taking them!

After my nap and an awesome dinner, I put the final stitches in the bug jar quilt top!



Here is a close up of a block and the sashings. I fussy cut the horizontal sashing on the bias so that it would look like a shelf.



I really like how this turned out and I can't wait to get it quilted and wrap a nephew in it!

And now, I think that I am going to work on a couple more bags! It's just fantastic to have the energy to keep training for my quilt retreat that is in less than 2 weeks!!!

Friday Night Sew In next week!

I'm gonna start planning my attack on my To Do list and UFOs for next week's FNSI!!





Go here to sign yourself up!

Book Review Thursday - 10/13

This week, I only managed to finish Fatal by Michael Palmer. I am not sure how I picked this book up because I have never read a Palmer novel before, but it was an OK book and I wouldn’t object to listening to another of Palmer’s novels.

Dr. Matt Rutledge believes that the coal mine in his small WV town is killing the town’s inhabitants. This doesn’t make him very popular with the townspeople who depend on the mine for their livelihood. In Washington DC, Ellen Kroft wants to block a new megavaccine after her granddaughter begins exhibiting signs of severe Autism after getting vaccinated. In Boston, Dr. Nikki Solari investigates the cause of her roommate’s strange behavior in the months leading up to a tragic death. All these stories become intertwined in this medical thriller.

This was an OK book and most of the plot and action is believable, but there comes a point where I thought, “OK, really?” But I did find the parts of the story with the Sloakum brothers amusing.

Mini Finishes

Last night, I finished making 4 take along bags to donate to the Cincinnati Modern Quilt Guild for a sale is being held this weekend.



I was hoping to make 6, but since I slept so much last weekend, 4 was all that I was able to finish.

Fabric busted!! Woo hoo!!

Tiny Tuesday - 10/11

Another week and no new block. I had to get some other sewing done so I had to put off the Midget a couple of days.

Maisy thinks that waiting is OK. :)



Did anyone else get a block made?

Design Wall Monday - 10/10

Great weekend! Even though I did A LOT of sleeping, I still got things done around the house and in the studio.

I finished the SIS top and made the binding. I think that I am going to name this Argyle Holiday.




Friday night, I had my nephew's over and Spencer had fun laying out the bug jar blocks for his quilt.



And Ethan was excited to see some cars for him. He just wanted to take something home with him RIGHTNOW so I will have to get to work on his blocks.

Fantastic news!

These pictures are a little blurry because someone won't sit still!





The first big scratches in over a week!





We are down to just using the anti-inflammatory and a baby aspirin for pain as needed. We are so happy in this house!