Stash Report 4/22/12

It was a good week for destashing - at least for my goals that is.  I have pulled 4 1/4 yards for two charity quilt backs I have started.  I made a quiltlet (.22 yd )and finished a mug rug (.04 yd).  Now you're probably wondering how I got those numbers in parentheses.  And I have a friend who wants to know how I figure yardage using scraps so here goes.  When I've finished a project [let's use the mug rug as the example] I measure my piece - in this case it was only the backing that I pulled from my stash.  It measured 7.5 inches square.  Now I found how many square inches there are in a yard (using 36 x 42 measurement).  There are 1512 square inches in this yard.  I'm going to use that as my standard yard.  So I multiplied my mug rug backing  7.5 x 7.5 and got 56.25 sq inches.  I divide that by the 1512 and get 0.0372 or 0.04 of a yd.  That quiltlet that I made - it was 18" square.  Doubled the 18 and divided by 1512 to get .22 yds.  Clear as mud?

When I'm making a scrap block, I lay out my scraps and work out how many inches I took out of my stash.  The little I have left is usually too small to go back into the scrap bin (it's not going back into my stash!), so it isn't added back. Take the photo above.  I laid out my scraps and I would roughly be using a rectangle of fabric that measures 11 x 14 or 154 square inches or .10 yd.

Why do I bother - Hey!  Progress is progress  - no matter how tiny a destash - LOL.  Here are my numbers:
Used/Donated this week: 4.51 yards
Used/Donated YTD:      57.56 yards
Added/Bought this week: 0.00 yards
Added/Bought YTD:        21.5 yards
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Net Decrease YTD:         36.06 yards

How are you doing on your destashing? Go on over to Judy's Patchwork Times and see how others are doing.

Favorite Things Friday 4/20/12

One of my favorite things is sharing.  And today I'm sharing two things.  The first is another photo from my kitchen garden.  The roses are glorious and the fragrance (!) - wish you were here to enjoy it with me.  Next to the roses is our pomolo tree which is in full flower -that and the roses makes me think I am in a perfumery.

Secondly, thought you'd like to see what Robin is getting from the giveaway last week.  I had mentioned two books, some fabric, a notion and maybe a finished project.  So here they are.  Each book features a technique I dearly like.  Raw edge applique is so forgiving - I really recommend it if you've always wanted to try applique.  The next book is one where I learned some tricks on doing Quilts as You Go.  Makes finishing quilts so much faster.  The fabric, of course, is from my stash, and in some of my favorite colors.  I hope you like them too, Robin.  The notion is a cute little tin with a measuring tape in it.  Good for your purse, Robin.  And lastly, I finished off my demo applique piece of a few posts ago into a mug rug.  Enjoy, Robin. The box is going in the mail today. And thanks to all who played.  I'll be having another giveaway in May.  Hope you play then, too.

I'm linking this to Shay's Favorite Things Friday.  Go over and see what others are sharing. I'm off for my morning walk.  Happy Friday!

Applique Thursday 4/19/12

I was sorting through a box and came across this:


The label says it's from Lahaina, but I remember I bought it in Molokai when we went there on an Elderhostel trip (excuse me, they're called Road Scholar adventures now).  It was a great trip.  In one of the excusions to a distillery, I bought this kit which is very thorough - even had thread and needle.   Since it's about 6 years old, I'm going to try and finish it by doing a little at a time.  In other words not bury it for another 6 years.  I'm finding I'm not very good at needleturn - I can't seem to get the seam allowance even.  Maybe by just doing more I can correct that.  But then this was way before I learned back basting.  Now with that I've had more success.  Off to work on it.
 
What are you working on - applique or otherwise??  Please link below so we can all see your eye candy.
Thanks ever so much!