Week 3 Stash Report

Used this week: 6.5 yards
Used YTD: 5.5 yards

Added this week: 0 yards
Added YTD: 0 yards

Net: -6.5

Linking up to Judy at Patchwork Times

Been working on a few things.....

A quilt for my granddaughter and fabric usage!

I am doing these as a Leader/Ender project as per Quiltville's Bonnie Hunter and actually have 24 made, all different, but not set and have not bought a thing for them....all from scraps except for the black. I was watching the Granny Square progress on many sites and liked them but they just did not sing to me. It finally struck me that I did not remember them as others were making them, with a white background. It needed black. All the ones in my family were done with black. Ta-Da, now I could do some!

and finally...a little quilt kit that I picked up at my guild. Can't remember the woman's name but she had put these little quilts, all precut into a small sack with the pattern. This one is called Hotdish. It's about 14" square. I call mine Minnesota Hotdish, 'cause ya sure, ya betcha, that's what we call them here!

Very cold here today,  about 3 F and not supposed to get much warmer! Lucy did her business very quickly this morning and gave me the "look" when she came in. Now we have to snuggle.....

The plan is to sew today with QuiltCam and tomorrow (no work)! Putting a chicken in the crockpot so the house will smell great and I don't have to be putzing with cooking!

As Always,

Deb

Workin' Wednesday

It was a wonderful birthday. Cards, calls and even a party! My dear SIL, I can say that now, had us over for dinner. I walked in and saw this

Her Mom, Joan, made it and to skip ahead a bit, it was DELICIOUS!

Wonderful dinner of Beef Stroganoff and homemade bread, wonderful company and a lively game of "May I?", does not get much better. Food, friends and fun.

....and there were even presents!

I have my grandmother's Singer Featherweight. It was made the same month and year I was born. I was the first one to put a scratch on it when I was nine. I went into her apartment (in our house) and used it when she was at work to sew Barbie doll clothes. I was tired of sewing them by hand and had watched her intently as she sewed. I could do that. What I did not know is that you don't ever sew over the pins. It was a small scratch but nevertheless, a scratch. I tried everything my nine year old brain could come up with to make it go away, including spitting on it. It didn't. I put the machine away and left. The next time she used it, of course, she saw it. I lied. They let me keep up the lie for about a week. I finally broke down and admitted it and cried and cried and cried.

Anywhoo, when I got the machine years after her death, it smelled. Mildew. I could not get the smell out of the case (I know ways to now) and ended up throwing the case. Now that is something I regret because it was perfect except for the odor. My SIL surprised me with a reproduction case! Is she not beautiful? At least I can keep one of my prized possessions protected a little more. And she still sews a perfect seam.

As if that was not enough to make me weepy, out came this.

I don't know about you but a gift of a quilt from one quilter to another is just the best!

The quiltmaker,(cakemaker extrordinaire), Mother B.

To have people that love you and think of you this much is to be truly blessed.

As Always,

Deb

Week 2 Stash Report

Used this week: 0 yards
Used YTD: 0 yards

Added this week: 0 yards
Added YTD: 0 yards

Net: 0

Lots of things in progress....but it is my birthday today so I am going to go celebrate!

We are going to my SIL's and I DO NOT TRUST HER!  She is also a quilter and way too much like me. I am afraid of what will happen when I get there. She had the Grinch over for Christmas if that gives you a clue.

One of my projects for my January pillow swap is this. It is about 1/2 complete. More embroidery to do and assembling it.

I'll let you know what she has done to me.....

As Always,

Deb

Workin' Wednesday

Easy Street lost it's #1 position this week. I got this far and cannot stitch on it until Saturday. My DH always says nice and kind things about what I make but when he saw this he asked if this one was going to live here. That is high praise for the man of few words. So maybe it will, it certainly will be big enough for our bed.

Just too much going on. 2 swaps (one completed and ready to mail), Guild meeting where we are starting a 4 month Round Robin and starting to get the business taxes ready to go.

Here is the block to start my Round Robin, I think. I have already made 3 blocks but these are colors I never use and submitting this one would take me "outside the box".

My other swap has eluded me since I first joined. It is a pillow cover swap and my swapee likes greens and browns. I have been debating whether to go modern or keep it traditional. I think what I have come up with will be the best of both worlds. My inspiration fabrics......

but making yo-yos from them and using ribbons and adding embroidery, should be fun.

My potholder swap contents are:

I have been hoarding this chicken/sunflower fabric for a long time. I love it and then I read my swapees bio and I knew where it was meant to be. I am also sending her the extra fabric so she can coordinate another item if she would like.  The bonus is that it is out of my stash!

And finally this came off the design wall so Easy Street could go up.

I held my own mini retreat last Saturday. The last three rows are complete so they just have to sewn together. I had a jelly roll that I had bought in Boston last year and some black I picked up several months ago. I do not remember where I saw the inspiration for this but thought it could not be that difficult and just started cutting. Everything is cut 2 1/2" and I kept laying it out until it worked. I used every single bit of batik in the place and maybe a piece or two that looked batik. A girl has to do what she can to "make it work" as Tim Gunn would say.

Now I have amazed my self by blogging twice this week. I need to go recover.

As Always,

Deb

Starting the Year

I am, I am, I am going to be a regular blogger. It is not that I do not accomplish things. I do. I just don't blog and am intent on correcting that in 2013. I am also going to measure what goes in and out by linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times every Sunday for a Stash Report.

Used this week: 0 yards
Used YTD: 0 yards

Added this week: 0 yards
Added YTD: 0 yards

Net: 0

Now how interesting is that? There are several things in the works,

Easy Street - Mystery Quilt from Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville and I have 1/4 of the quilt top assembled. Trying to do a row a day.

......and

using 2 inch scraps.

Stay tuned and see if I can keep this up! I don't make resolutions but I do pick a word for the year and this year it is

JOY

and as far as quilting goes, nothing gives me more joy than finishing a quilt and gifting it to someone special! So look for lots of finishes this year.

As Always,

Deb

The Layout

This is what I have settled one after much angst.  Now to the sashing. I did mark each one so I would not "forget"! I loved this pattern by Camille Rosekelley and will use it again but be warned if you use directional fabrics you will have to make some adjustments. Each color is cut from one fat quarter and it is efficient, no leftovers. I was fortunate I had some extra of the directionals.

As Always,

Deb

Minnesota Quilt Show

I must think differently than most quilt judges.  The quilts I loved and admired were not the winners. I realize that my taste runs pretty much traditional and those were the quilts I loved. I can also step outside the box. There are quilts that I admire and although they will never be on my "bucket" list, I still very much appreciate them and their makers.

There were 30 Sylvia's Bridal Samplers, these are 2 of my favorites! I'm sorry I forgot to get the names of these talented people....I get better as I go along.

I only went one day this year. I did not feel the need to go again....I had not signed up for any classes and the only one I was interested in was Darlene Zimmerman's and I just did not want to spend another whole day for just one session.

There was a Minnesota Challenge......

Awesomely beautiful!












....and the hand quilting just took my breath away!

and last but not least, my purchases

Some simple quilts by Thimbleberries, Graphic Mixx by  Terry Atkinson (one of my favorite designers) and her Hot Stuff pattern, 30's fabric by Darlene Zimmerman, Country Crossing by Michele Crawford, Caddy Pad by Sisters' Common Thread, Favorite Things skirt and some wonderful variegated neutral quilting thread!

So I guess I better get to work!

As Always,

Deb