Stash Report 9/30/12

Alan was over for the weekend, so no sewing got done. His brother, Will, came too.  Haven't heard from Cassandra - maybe she's away from the computer.  I'll give her a little bit more time before I draw again for the Miniature to Masterpiece book.  In the meantime, this week's book giveaway is on  - ends Wednesday evening. The book is called Woven  Quilted. Go here to read about it and enter.   My destashing this week worked out to a bit more than last week, LOL.  I made another VA quilt. That used up 2 yards.  I worked on several blocks and used up about a FQ.  Then I culled fabric with Alan's help and found 3 1/2 yards more for the Thrifty Corner. Here are my numbers:
Used/Donated last week:    5.5 yards
Used/Donated YTD:     144.69 yards
Added/Bought last week:    0.0 yards
Added/Bought YTD:       35.54 yards
------------------------------
Net Decrease YTD:     109.15 yards.

So how's your destashing going?   I'm linking over to Judy's Patchwork Times.  Be sure to visit to see what others have done.


Applique Thursday Giveaway Sept 27, 2012

Didn't get much done on my blocks:
You can see I'm still working on two methods on these leaves.  We'll see.  Life was a full plate of other stuff.  Besides kids, I had to stop and make a sample for an applique demo lesson.  I liked it so much I think I'll make a wall hanging out of these.  Here is the first Fassett Strawberry:


Thank you to all who commented or submitted a link for last week's giveaway.  I really enjoyed them and they saved my sanity on some days. Our winner for last week was Cassandra. Congrats, Cassandra - I've sent you an email.

This week's giveaway is

click on photo to enlarge and read

To win this copy, all you need to do is comment or link to have a chance for it to be yours. Or do both and have two chances. Submissions end Wednesday night. Use the blue link below. And remember, it doesn't have to be applique - I love all sorts of eye candy.

PS: I'm linking to Melissa's TNT as new to me is doing a demo. Go see what a neat binding tutorial she has for us. Her button is on the right sidebar.  And I'm also linking to Barbara's NewFO Challenge - those are always fun to see what quilters have started.

One of Four

I have long been an admirer of Ruth McDowell's work since I saw a wall hanging of a spear of asparagus that someone made using her pattern.  I now have all her books and I've decided that I need to start trying to make practice quilts in that manner.  Her method of piecing involves freezer paper - much like Cynthia England's.  I can't call it paper piecing in a sense because you are not sewing through the paper but next to it.  And I've had some experience doing that when I quilt my quilt tops.  So, from her book Piecing Workshop ( and not her first book either) - here is my first of four pieces that will eventually be one wall hanging - sort of in the old style of potholder block quilts.  Here is Autumn:
Ruth's is around 6x9 but I made it 8 1/2" x 11 to qualify for my guild's challenge for Journal quilts.  Here is what I wrote about it for the journal entry:
"My favorite season approaches.  The relentless heat of summer turns our world from green to yellow, even brown, and waits exhausted for the first cold night.  Then the chilly air works its magic. Nature bursts into the many colors of autumn.  Caught in the kalaidoscope of change, I hardly notice the first grip of winter approaching." 

I'm linking this to Esther's WOW, Connie's FMQ by the River,  and Fabric Tuesday.  You'll find their links on the right side bar.  Enjoy!

Design Wall Monday 9/24/12

On my design wall is the 4th VA lap quilt. They don't want them bigger than 36 x45.  It's just laid down for now.  Some of the blocks are sewn together - this started as a tube quilt.  But I had to insert the fussy cut wilderness block so some seams are not there and some have been ripped.  What do you think?  The lighting isn't too good.  You'll need to click on the photo to enlarge it.

I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times and Lyn's Boms Away.  Don't forget the book giveaway is still on - click here to see it.  What 's on your design wall?

Stash Report 9/23/12

First, the book giveaway for this week ends Wednesday, midnight. The book is Minuatures to Masterpiece by Nancy Srebro-Johnson. The quilt on the cover measures only 20 1/4" square!  You can see it here and still comment or link for a chance at the giveaway.

Second - I  bound my other two VA wheelchair quilts. This has been a long time in getting done (January is when I think I started). They measure 36 by 44, and here they are folded and ready to hand in at the next guild meeting. 


This week was spent finishing quilts for which I had already counted the yardage in my SR. I put together a charity quilt with St. Ann's flannel, so that doesn't count. I worked on my applique, but that was too miniscule to count.   Even the binding on the two VA quilts was only the back brought forward, so 0 yardage there.   Here are my numbers:
Used/Donated last week: 0.0 yards
Used/Donated YTD: 139.19 yards
Added/Bought last week: 0.0 yards
Added/Bought YTD: 35.54 yards
------------------------------
Net Decrease YTD: 103.65 yards.
How are you doing on you destashing? I'm hoping you did better than I did! I didn't dare open my fabric coffins - maybe this week.    I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times.  Go on over and see how others are doing.

Applique Thursday & Giveaway 9/20/12

At last! A little bit of applique done.  Have 5 more leafs to prep and then I'll be able to sit and stitch them down. I'm trying a variation of the raw edge - not sure I should mix the two methods in one block, but we'll see. What are you working on?  I'd love to see what you're up to. 

And the winner of last week's book is Paula!  I'll send her an email tomorrow.  I have another book to giveaway.  This one is an oldie, but goodie.  Are there any miniature quilt lovers out there?  It's also great for learning precision piecing.  I'm guessing our Billie must have apprenticed with Nancy as her piecing is fabulous already. 

Here it is:



To win this copy, all you need to do is comment or link to have a chance for it to be yours. Or do both and have two chances. Submissions end Wednesday night. Use the blue link below. And remember, it doesn't have to be applique - I love all sorts of eye candy.


I'm linking to Melissa Try New Things linky - go on over and see what others are trying.

Fabric Tuesday Wow

I've been working on quilting 20 squares in a 72 x 90 quilt for my daughter in law since January.  Participating in the 2012 FMQ Challenge and the FMQ Project has given me the patterns to use in the square.  Well, DDIL's birthday has come around and I finished it , handed it off to my Mom, she bound it and we gave it to her last Sunday.  This is the biggest quilt I've quilted on my domestic sewing machine.


Close-up of quilted squares

Thank you Leah Day, Becky Goldsmith and others for the inspiration to try this.
I'm linking to the FMQ Project, the 2012 FMQ Challenge, Connie's FreeMotionby the River, and Esther's WOW. Go see all the goodies there.

Design Wall Monday 9/17/12

Up on my design wall is another Christmas Log Cabin block to make four done - not sewn together.  Not sure yet how I'm going to lay these. Only 21 to go:
I'm linking up to Judy's Patchwork Times and Lyn's Bom's Away. Go on over and see all the eye candy there.  And don't forget my book giveaway is still on till Wednesday. Go here to enter.

Stash Report 9/16/12

First, the book giveaway for this week ends Wednesday, midnight. The book is a different Quilt the Seasons - learn a technique with each project, and there's 24 of them! You can see it here.  Lyn, I'm mailing the one you won last week Monday.

Second - I finally bound my first VA wheelchair quilt.  This has been a long time in getting done (January is when I think I started it). Measures 36 by 44, and here it is folded and ready to hand in at the guild meeting next Tuesday.
Thirdly, did a little more culling and used a 1/4 yard to bind the above quilt, so I used/donated 6.5 yards this past week for my destashing.  Here are my numbers:
Used/Donated last week:    6.5 yards
Used/Donated YTD:    139.19 yards
Added/Bought last week: 0.0   yards
Added/Bought YTD:     35.54 yards
------------------------------
Net Decrease YTD:    103.65 yards.
 
How are you doing on you destashing? I've reached my goal of 100 for the year!  Yeah, but it's not the way I wanted to do it - with most of it donated.  However, progress is progress - there's a tiny bit of free space showning in my stash bookcase.  Maybe I'll get to free some fabric from their box coffins - LOL.  Who knows what treasures I have.
 
Lastly, I'm linking with Judy at Patchwork Times.  Go see how others are doing with their destash.

And the Winner is

Lyn in Colorado Springs! Congratulations, Lyn - it will give you something to browse in between starting school and unpacking. Thanks to all who participated. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to respond to all your comments - still so busy. And I hope you'll consider the new giveaway. Just go to the post previous to this one to see that book. I just noticed that the books have the same title to a point - both are Quilting the Seasons - LOL. But they're different books by different authors.

Look forward to seeing your eye candy!

Applique Thursday Giveaway 9/13/12

Tomorrow is my busy Thursday for the month, so I'm posting this early.  And I'll pick a winner tomorrow as the giveway ends near midnight tonight.  Alas, not much time to work on anything other than St. Ann's, so no progress on my two applique blocks, but I did get my guild block done which will be handed in next Tuesday, and yes, it has applique.  Here is my BOM block - Benedict Castle - one of Riverside's landmarks:

It still needs to sewn down and  a little embroidery.  I'll be using it as part of my demo on raw applique.

The giveaway book this week does have some very nice applique in it.  I like that each project teaches the reader a different skill.  I've used it several times but on projects I had ongoing, not on the ones offered.

So, who wants it? To win this copy, all you need to do is comment or link to have a chance for it to be yours. Or do both and have two chances. Submissions end Wednesday night. Use the blue link below the photo.   And remember, it doesn't have to be applique - I love all sorts of eye candy.





Stash Report 9/9/12

One thing about being so busy with family - no time to buy fabric as I hardly have time on the computer.  But there is a book giveaway going - Quilting the Seasons with Pat Sloan - ends Wednesday, the 12th at midnight.  So go on over if you'd like this great book.

Did have a few minutes to further cull from my stash - pulled a yard for the back of my latest charity quilt, a few pieces for the two applique blocks I'm working on, and 10 yards to donate to the Thrifty Corner at our guild meeting.  Here are my numbers:
Used/Donated last week: 11.25 yards
Used/Donated YTD:      132.69 yards
Added/Bought last week:    0.0  yards
Added/Bought YTD:       35.54  yards
------------------------------
Net Decrease YTD: 97.15 yards.   Not my favorite way to reach 100 yards, but realistic. How are you doing? Head on over to Judy's Stash Report to see how others did.

Applique Thursday Giveaway 9/6/12

Just a little more done on that block.  I did also start my forget me not block from Esther. I so miss myquilting time.  This week I will have been 5 days with major commitments that take most of my days.  At least I know this too will pass...

Congrats to Karen M - she won last week's book giveaway and it's already on its way to her.  Here's this week's offering:
I love Pat's body of work - I'm just now not into folk art at this time.  I have others I will keep.  So, who wants it? To win this copy, all you need to do is comment or link any kind of eye candy to have a chance for it to be yours. Or do both and have two chances. Submissions end Wednesday night. Use the blue link below the photo.




Design Wall Monday 9/3/12

First, Happy Labor Day!  Hope you are resting and doing something fun.

Secondly, my book giveaway is still going on. Go here to win this Terry Atkinson book.

Third, I made my first Stars and Stripes Sampler block as chosen by Judy:
You can go to Judy's blog to see her new project based on a Fons and Porter book.

Lastly here is the flimsy to my latest charity quilt.  I call it my "squarish I spy".  All from leftover 5"squares using a disappearing nine patch.

What's on your design wall?  You can see more of what quilters are up to at Judy's Patchwork Times.

Stash Report 9/2/12

First don't forget the book giveaway going on til Wednesday, midnight: click here.

Second, thanks to all who sent condolences. They are appreciated. Yesterday before I went off to help at Duarte, I spent a couple of hours straightening my sewing room to some degree. All items boxed and off the floor and for the most part somewhat organized. Nothing like the finality of death to make one realize we only have so much time, and limited sewing time at that - so time to get realistic of what one can accomplish.  So today I took one of those near 100 wips and made a potholder. 

This was a leftover salvaged block from an old quilt bought at a yard sale and refurbished. Have one block left, so I'll probably make another potholder.  All I had to do was sandwich it with some thermadore(?) and another layer of batting, a backing and bind.

And thirdly, while organizing I culled 26 yards to donate to our guild's thrifty corner, and used a 1/4 yard on the two applique blocks I'm making.  Here are my numbers:
Used/Donated last week: 26.25 yards
Used/Donated YTD:    121.44 yards
Added/Bought last week: 0.0yards
Added/Bought YTD:    35.54 yards
------------------------------
Net Decrease YTD: 85.94yards     How are you doing? Head on over to Judy's Stash Report to see how others did.

SAHRR Round 5 and 6

  Ready to show rounds 5 and 6. Actually, the prompt for 5 was make 4 of something. So I chose four patch, and actually since that made my q...