Monday, April 26, 2010

Design Wall Monday

I don't really have anything on my design wall because I'm working on quilting a couple of completed tops and I have an embroidery order to do. I have five woven blankets (all similar to the one below), on to which I need to embroider the word "Mother." I don't have to have them done until next week but I want to get them done tonight or tomorrow so I can deliver them.



Hopefully, I'll have some fun stuff to show next week.

Check out what everyone else is working on by going to Judy L.'s Patchwork Times.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Stash Report - Week 17

As I posted yesterday, actually early this morning, I was able to get to some quilting projects this past week, so I have some decent numbers to report. YEAH!!

Check out my previous post to see a picture of my latest Twister wallhanging. I really like how it turned out and I can't wait to finish the one with the pinwheels in the border!

Here's the report:
Fabric Used This Week: 6.249 yards

Fabric Used to Date: 115.290 yards

Fabric Added This Week: 0.00 yards

Fabric Added to Date: 68.5 yards

Net Fabric Used for 2010: 46.790yards

Check out how the rest of the Stash Busters are doing on JudyL's Patchwork Times!

What Day is It?

I realize that this post is not a Stash Report or a Design Wall Monday, so you may be wondering why I'm posting. Well, I have a few minutes and I've been looking at my pictures so I thought I'd share! Also, I did promise to post more frequently this year and I know I've been slacking.

First, I've been playing with the Twister quilt again and I made a two-color wallhanging version that used the "waste" fabric as a border.



I also added a plain outside border that I quilted very densely. It was fun to just play and not worry too much about how it would turn out. I've decided that I need to just "wing it" more when it comes to my quilting. I've always been pretty rigid with what I do - overall meander or more often than not, complete the top and put it away until I decide how to quilt it! Of course, that means years can go by before they get quilted and that is just wrong on so many levels!

I have another twister project that is ready to quilt. Remember those cool cats panels I showed on my design wall last Monday? Well, I was going to use them for two Quilts for Kids, but I started playing and decided to make twister blocks as the border. It was fun to figure out how to do this and I'll post the completed project when it is quilted, which will be soon - I promise. I might still use this quilt for charity, but I'm not sure. If I don't, I'll make another one to send.

I finished up some bindings and then I pulled some fabric for a new project. My quilting life has been pretty good the last week or so!

Looking through my pictures, I found a couple of cute ones of Quinn. (I know, I'm Grandma and I think they're all cute.) Here's one of Jack and Quinn at Christmas sharing a special "reindeer antler" moment. Aren't they cute?



And finally, here's Quinn showing me what a big girl she is and how much she LOVES to drink orange juice.



I bet you guys can't wait for the next baby to be born so there are even more baby pictures!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Design Wall Monday

While pawing through my stash yesterday looking for a suitable bright white tone on tone fabric to use with my blue and green Twister wallhanging, I happened upon a couple of cute cat panels by Loralie Designs called Cool Cats. The date on the panel is 2005 - YIKES!!! - so I guess it's time to use it.



I'm cutting out the blocks and since there are 15 blocks per panel, I'll be able to make two quilts that will be donated to Quilts for Kids. I think one set of blocks will be pieced together with black sashing and colored cornerstones, and I'm toying with the idea of adding borders to each of the others to make them log cabin blocks. I'll make my final decision after I've cut apart both panels and check out my stash for coordinating fabrics.

By the way, I DID find a white fabric to use for the Twister quilt and that's all quilted and ready for binding. I'll post a picture of the finished quilt soon.

Check out what others have on their design walls today by going to Judy L.'s Patchwork Times.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Stash Report - Weeks 13, 14, 15 and 16

Can you believe it? I'm actually posting a stash report, and I broke the 100 yard mark on fabric used to date!

I feel like I should have bought less and used more over the past four weeks, but when I divide the numbers over the four weeks, I guess I didn't do too badly. I know why I think I used more fabric. Three memory/T-shirt quilts are figured in this report and if you have ever made one of these quilts, you know that the fabric used is NOT from stash, except maybe backings and bindings (and borders if you add them). Now don't get me wrong, I'm not whining about not using much stash. I'm just saying that it seems like I used more and I figured out why.

I am happy to say that all of the fabric that I bought while in Utah has been used or "gifted away." I only bought what I knew I needed or planned to give away. That was difficult because I saw LOTS of beautiful fabric that could have easily made itself comfy in my sewing room. (My stash is very friendly and always welcomes new members to join!) Actually, what helped was knowing that I had carry-on luggage only and that I was buying LOTS of thread. Thank goodness we aren't reporting thread/book/pattern purchases. I'm pretty sure that I would never get out of the hole if that was the case!

Here's the report:
Fabric Used This Week: 22.0 yards

Fabric Used to Date: 109.041 yards

Fabric Added This Week: 16.00 yards

Fabric Added to Date: 68.5 yards

Net Fabric Used for 2010: 40.541yards

Check out how the rest of the Stash Busters are doing on JudyL's Patchwork Times!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Design Wall Monday

Well, I missed ANOTHER stash report. Now I have to combine 3 weeks in my next report! I've been keeping track, so at least it will be correct. I just had to play catch-up yesterday after having been gone since Tuesday.

That catch-up did include gathering up a couple of projects for the design wall today, including a Texture Magic Tote Bag that I did not complete while I was at the School of Threadology at Superior Threads in St. George, Utah. Here's the bag. I still have to finish the casing and add the drawstrings.



Below is the beginnings of another Twister quilt. These are so quick and easy to make and I am seriously low on having baby quilts on hand. I picked up the fabric for this while I was in Utah. On Thursday night a group of us went to Quilted Works, a great shop in St. George that stayed open late just for us. They had bags of "end of bolt specials" and I just couldn't resist. I think these fabrics will make a great baby quilt! There is enough of the blue and green fabric left over to add some fun borders to this little quilt.



Check out what others have on their design walls by going to Judy L.'s Patchwork Times blog.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Busy, Busy, Busy

I had every intention of coming home from work and posting pictures of the two quilts I made this weekend for my granddaughter Quinn. Really, I did plan to do that. Well, it's after midnight and I'm just now getting around to it! Better late than never, right?



I guess I have become intrigued with this pattern. I think it's really a cool looking quilt and it really is a quick and deceptively easy pattern. A friend of mine is making one as a raffle quilt for the Breast Cancer 3-Day and it looks great. She's using pinks and greens and I'll post a picture here with the raffle information when she's done with it.

I'm taking a break from getting things ready for my trip to Superior Threads and I may just go to bed and deal with it in the morning. I have to leave by 2:30PM to get to the Cleveland airport, so I do have a bit of time to get things done tomorrow. Anyway, I'm pretty excited about the trip. Check out their website and read about the "School of Threadology." Earlier today, I was telling someone about my trip and realized that to non-sewers/quilter it sounds pretty funky. You should've seen the looks that I got when I said I was flying across the country to learn about thread! I know that you quilters out there get it and that's what matters. I'm sure I'll have pictures to post, but I won't be taking a computer so I won't be able to post until probably Sunday.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Design Wall Monday

There is not a single thing on my design wall today! Yesterday I had two quilts up there but I got ambition and finished them both - layered, quilted and bound! They are bright colored twister quilts - one doll quilt and one twin quilt. They are identical quilts and are for my granddaughter's birthday, along with a new baby doll.

I'm excited that the quilts are done, but now there is nothing to show you. I'll post pictures when I get home from work tonight, or tomorrow morning. I am VERY pleased and think they are adorable.

I've been busy the last couple of weeks and haven't even posted stash reports! What a slacker!!! I've been keeping my records about stash, but when I get a chance to sit down, it's always late and I make the decision to post a combined report the next week. Well, we see how that has worked. I promise to report next Sunday.

I've got a busy week ahead of me. I'm working 'til close tonight and leave tomorrow for St. George, Utah to attend Superior Thread's School of Threadology. That should be a lot of fun and I'm sure I'll learn LOTS!

Check out Judy L.'s Patchwork Times to see what others have on their design walls. I'm sure there will be lots of people that aren't slackers like me, and they'll provide you with TONS of inspiration.