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!