Working on the Stash

I spent a couple of hours in the sewing room tonight and the only progress I have made is the fact there is NO fabric living in my pantry!!! That is a good thing. I have at least six bins that will need to be cut and sorted the quiltville way with Bonnie Hunter. I have fabric set aside to make Christmas table runners for my sisters. (Shhhh!! Karen this is a secret) and fabric to make a teddy bear quilt. I found the fabric from my first trip to New York and the pattern for the wall hanging I want to make. I found lots of other things I had forgotten about. I am not organized by a long shot but I am getting there. It is a long process but it will be worth it when I am finished. I know I will be more productive once the room is straightened up. Once I am completely finished with the room I will post pictures.

Here is a quilt from my past. I made this quilt for my Nick, when he was on his 8th grade class trip. I am thinking it is about 14 yrs old. It went to college and is now living in New York City and I got to use it while I was visiting earlier this month.

In stitches,
Judy

Design Wall Monday

Guess what I found in my sewing room? It is a sampler quilt from my EQ group from my old guild about 10 years ago. I need to put it on my bed and see what I need to add in the way of borders to make it fit my bed. I even found the fabric that goes with this project. Now I need to find some time to sew. I am looking at old magazines at work during my lunch and making more plans.

Stop in and visit with Judy L and see what others are doing with their design walls.


In stitches,
Judy

Stash Report

Wow, it's the end of March and I am stll in the black but barely. I have several projects started but until I finish them completely I am not subtracting that from my stash. An incentive to get things done. Talk at work is there will be mandatory overtime starting this week. I am thinking about stopping at the office today and get a jump on the overtime. We have turnaround times to meet and there was a lot of stuff left last night that was not done. This is going to cut into my sewing time but will add $$'s to my new car fund. My car had lukewarm heat this winter and I would love to have good heat for the next winter in Ohio.

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 13.875 yards
Added this Week: 7.0 yards
Added Year to Date: 14.25 yards
Net Used for 2010: .375 yards
 
Stop in at Judy's to see how everyone else is doing the last Sunday of March!!!!
 
In stitches,
 
Judy
 
 

Mother Nature Is Listening

It snowed last night and Mother Nature listened to me. I asked at the beginning of winter for snow just on the grass and not on the roads or sidewalks and I got that this morning. Of course, it the end of March and the beginning of Spring. Oh well!!!
I must tell you about my friend, Jennifer, from work, And thank her for recapturing my quilting spirit. She had quilted in the past and life came along and  took her away from quilting. She's back. I have been lending her my quilt magazines to get her going, gave her some 2.5" strips, and I give her something new it day to investigate. Today it is half square triangles made from Thangles. It is refreshing to see the excitement in her eyes with every new thing I throw her way. I remember why I started quilting and why I will continue to quilt.


In stitches,

Judy

Spring is Here

Spring is here and the weather is changing and it staying lighter longer in the evenings. All good things. I have seem to have been vistited by the fabric fairy and I have been buying fabric like crazy. I was out on Saturday and bought fabric for the quilt in the previous entry. Soft, baby colors that remind me of Spring. Last night I stopped at JoAnn's to pick up a container to put cookies in and I peeked at the calico wall. Bad idea. I now have enough fabric to make another baby quilt in blue springlike colors. I need to stop at the grocery after work tonight, good thing they don't sell fabric.

In stitches,

Judy

Design in my Mind

I have been toying with a quilt block in my mind for almost a week. I was able to get it paper this morning at work and tonight it has taken a life of it's own on EQ5.  I went out on Saturday and bought yardage to make this quilt. I picked soft baby colors. But I picked bold colors for the mock up.

In stitches,

Judy

It's Design Time

Every time I woke up last night a quilt block greeted me. It is a safe bet that it is time to get it on paper. I think it is going to be my next masterpiece. I hope there is fabric in the stash to create it. If not, I may take myself to the fabric store before work. I have a gift card that I could use to me started. It is a shame it's so early that nothing is open. Take deep breaths and relax, everything will work out.

I have been working on a paper lined, hand pieced Grandmother's Flower Garden variation for more years that I can remember. I started it while I was married for the intention of using it on our king sized waterbed. I am now divorced and have gotten a smaller bed but it is no closer to being done. I drag it out once a year and work on it. But I have a huge amount of the flowers already put together and I am going to use them for another project. I am thinking tablerunner. And I am thinking that it would make a good entry for the Fair. Last time I entered a tablerunner in the Fair, I decided on Christmas and so did most everyone else. Easter won that year. This one will be different and I am hoping will catch the judge's eye.  That is another project bouncing around in the brain trying to get out. There is at least one more idea up there involving wood, modge podge, fabric and a sharpie maker. It will have to stay up there for another week or so. If it turns out it will make an appearance here.

Today and next Saturday will be my last two Saturdays to work. The staffing issues have been worked out and I am keeping the shift I have. Monday thru Friday no weekends. Off at 4:30 and there is daylight now to play in. I will take my tablerunner to amuse myself and my cutting stuff to work on the stack of fabric odd fabric that needs to be cut down to strips for other projects. There is a gal at work just getting back into quilting after several years away from it. I have offered her fabric from my stash and her reply was only if you have extras. I have fabric in my pantry now. Not much food on the shelves but three rubbermaid boxes of fabric. I can cut at my desk and leave her some fabric as a surprise for Monday on her desk.

I am going to cook this weekend. I am going to make another batch of  Spaghetti Sauce. I pop everything in my small crockpot and in a few hours it is done. And I am thinking about cabbage and sausage in the big crockpot. And a batch of Peanut Butter Blossom cookies for a gal at work who is leaving. Her last day is Thursday so I have a little bit of time.

Monday my sister and I were out wandering the countryside in her new Jeep. Hi Karen!! And taking pictures of the unusual and the interesting. Much easier than taking pictures of humans. I keep cutting off the tops of people's head. I thought the way the moss was growing in the this creek bed was interesting and I had Karen stop in the middle of the road so I could take a picture. It was nice to see green in a rather gray and dreary day. Reminds us that Spring is coming!!! Happy Spring everyone.

In stitches,

Judy

Art quilts

Almost a year ago my sister challenged me to do an "Art Quilt". Not that is something that is way out of my comfort zone. But never one to back down from a challenge, I did an art quilt. Above is my rendition of an art quilt. It started out as a Forest Gump challenge at our guild, the box of chocolate thing with various pieces of fabric and trim and we could add our own fabric to it. Then I used bleach and common household items to lift the color out of the black fabric, I used lots of beads including hand beading my fringe. And you know, that after I finished the quilt I was hooked.

So I found this book months ago at Michael's and with my bonus money from work I bought it last night. I am excited about trying some of the techniques in this book. You will hear more about those experiences in later posts.

I have a basket with ivy in it on my front door and I try and change it seasonally or for the holidays. Last night I picked up some spring flowers and arranged them this morning, We have been told that spring starts tomorrow and that we should have snow showers on Monday. This is spring in Ohio and it is not unexpected.

Hope everyone does some sewing this weekend and enjoys the first day of spring!!!

In stitches,

Judy

I saw the sun!!!

We have turned the corner here in southern Ohio. Winter is a thing of the past!! Hopefully, no more snow!! Spring is coming slowly and it is bringing the sun back to my neighborhood. That is lovely.

I still have not done any sewing. Things are crazy at work. More training, new hours, shift bids, seniority!! Today I will get my new hours, hoping the for my current hours to stay the same. We shall see.

Don't forget to wear green in honor of St. Patrick's Day. I am going to be sporting my green earrings at work today. I do not own anything green except fabric and that would make an interesting fashion statement at work today!

In stitches,

Judy

Stash Report

Stash report better late than never. I am still adjusting to life. Work has been crazy with training and lots of off phone work. I have not been sewing or quilting. Not a good thing. I need to be working with fabric and soon. Tonight is Quilted Chaos meeting. I will be doing a little bit of hand quilting while I am there.Check out what everyone else has been up to at  Judy L's.

Used this week: .25 yd
Used year to date: 11.875 yds
Added this week: 1.5 yds
Added year to date: 7.25 yds.

Not too shabby for the first 3 months of the year. But room for improvement.

In stitches,

Judy

New York

I went to New York City to celebrate my birthday with my son and daughter in law. It was wonderful. The weather was nice and sunny. We did a lot of walking, eating, and visiting. I cooked on Friday night for them and a friend of theirs. We rented a zipcar and drove north along the Hudson River and stopped in Cold Springs, New York for dinner at Cathryn's Tuscan Grill. The food there was awesome and the town was quaint with lots of antique shops.

We went to only one quilt shop while I was there. The City Quilter was a shop we visited the last time I was in the city. I was on a mission. I was looking for a few more 30's prints for my Feed Sack quilt. I found 6 pieces for the quilt. I got them in 1/4 yd pieces and they are already cut up for the quilt.

I have not done much quilting since I have gotten back. I am getting ready to leave for work. I am working all day and will take my Olympic project along in case we are not busy. I would like to get that finished. I am going to stop at the quilt shop on the way to work and pick up a pattern that will use up lots of my scraps. Yeah!!!

Tomorrow I am walking with my mom and sister if the weather allows. Then I am going to my other sister's house to spend the night and part of the next day together. We are both off on Monday. Then I will be going to my Quilted Chaos meeting. It is my small quilt group.

Hello

I have not fallen off the face of the earth like some people have thought. I am home from my trip to New York City and I am still unwinding. I did go to work today but this evening I did nothing. And it felt good. It is now time for bed!!

I have lots to share from my trip including pictures. And I will update my blog tomorrow.

In stitches,

Judy

I am a Great Aunt

My niece had her baby early this morning. Hello to Madeline Elizabeth. She was born at 1:39 this morning just two days before my birthday!!! I still have to make the baby layettes for the older sisters. I will get right on that once I get back from my trip. I will package them up and mail them to each sister. Everyone likes getting mail.

Speaking of mail I got my prize from Bobbi for the Friday night Sew In. It came yesterday and I will post pictures after my trip, I have already packed my camera. I think I have every thing for my trip. My son called earlier and reminded not to eat a dinner while I am at the airport as my daughter in law is cooking for us. I am getting to airport around 3PM and even for me would be too early for dinner. I am allowed a snack though. I am taking a graham cracker parrillo protein bar . These bars are yummy and  will keep you full and does not mess with my blood sugar.

In stitches,

Judy

Tomorrow is Travel Day

I ended up coming home from work after 34 minutes with some stomach issues. I need to be fresh for my trip tomorrow. I was able to do two loads of laundry. I am not packed yet but I want to make sure that my clothes are dry. I do have a dryer but the door is bent and if I lean a trash can up against the door and tape it with duck tape I can use it. I needed to use today for sockes and underwear. Every thing else gets hung up on a line in my basement.  I am taking a few groceries and a couple of recipes because I will be cooking while I am up there. I called the quilt shop we visited last year and they are still open and we might go and visit it. I am looking for a few more 30's prints for my Feed Sack quilt.

I have no idea what the plans will be while I am there but I am packing for any scenario. The umbrella is coming along with my Yak Traxs . But the big ugly clunky boots are staying home!!! I will be taking a couple of trashy romance novels, a book on tape from a friend, some music and my portable cd player. No high class electronics for this gal.

I will take lots of pictures and update all of you when I get back.

In stitches,

Judy

Quilting with a purpose

Besides being addicted to fabric and quilting I like to enter my quilted items in the local county fair. So March is when I pull out my fair book from last year to see what I can make to fit the catergories that are listed in the book. This year it will be a machine pieced, machine quilted bed quilt, something hand pieced and hand quilted, a new wall hanging, a Christmas item of some sort, a tablerunner (not Christmas---learned my lesson the first year I did the fair. Everyone did Christmas and Easter won!!!) So if I am going to be quilting I might as well quilt with a purpose. And I am going to try use just my stash. We shall see.

In stitches,

Judy

Design Wall Monday

There was a song we used to sing as children about the "lonely little petunia in an onion patch". This is what my lone block on my design wall must feel like. I made the first of 72 blocks for my Scrap Basket Spectacular pattern called Feed Sack this morning before I went to work. It was quick and easy but I need to cut the rest of my strips the desired sizes which I will do after I finish this post. Check in at Judy L's to see what every one else is working on.

In stitches,

Judy