Stash report, Week 1

I am starting my second year of a no buy fabric diet. I did not buy much fabric last year but I also did not get much finished or used up. This will be a better year for using my stash. I have been looking at my scraps and can see a distinct pattern forming. I have what I call my ugly fabric that has been cut into 2.5" strips and now are sub cut into squares. This is fabric from my dark, country phase. It won't seem so ugly when it has been cut into much smaller pieces. Bigger pieces of my ugly fabric will work wonders as pieced backs.

I am using my bright, happy scraps to make baby quilts for our guild's charity project, Kid's Komforts. I want to make one quilt a month. I have decided on the pattern and I need 504 blocks to make 12 quilts.

I have decided that I will not count fabric in my totals until the project is completed finished. So this week's numbers are really good.

Used this Week:  0 yards
Used year to Date:  0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Used for 2014:  0 yards

Please check out Patchwork Times  to see how everyone else is fairing this early in the year.

In stitches,
Judy

Progress

 

I spent several hours last night going through my fabric stash. I had two tall space bags with fabric in them. I am thinking I will have to change my plans for 2014 just a little bit. I think I will be doing a few string quilts as there is a lot of strings all over the sewing room. I also found a quantity of pieces of yardage. Any where from a 1/2 yard pieces to pieces that are several yards.  It seems that I will have lots of fabric selections to chose from during my no buy fabric diet!! There is still a bit that needs to be done.

Time to get ready to start another day at work. Then I can come back and play with fabric after my shift.

In stitches,
Judy

Busy times

This is what I did on my day off yesterday! I put together two of the six chairs I bought for my dining room. I am not sure if the rest will be done any time soon. I am not expecting any guests over Christmas.

My shopping is finished. Well kind of. The stuff Christmas is done. The stuff for the kids has to be sent to Brooklyn but they will not be home for Christmas, so I am not mailing to Brooklyn until after the first. I still have some sewing to do for Elly.

I am going to start sorting my scraps. I have bunches of scraps and lots of ideas on what to do with them. I just need to get started. I am trying to get my plans for 2014 set up. I am still on that ever familiar no buy fabric diet. I think of it as an adventure to use my stash to make quilts.

In stitches,
Judy

Saturday

This is the view off of my meager deck. It is pretty to look at. I am thankful that I do not have to go out and drive in it as I work from home. I would like to say I have gotten bunches of sewing done and I have. But not that I can show you. It was not Christmas sewing. I just did not take pictures. It was a cover to for a chair so that Elly can sit in a chair for a meal when there is no high chair available. They are spending Christmas in India and might not have a high chair to use. I am currently converting a hand puppet into a golf club cover. No pictures of that either.

I have three large boxes with my new dining room chairs in them. They need to be assembled but there is not much time to do that right now. I have been doing some cooking and I like that.  After the first of the year, I want to tackle my basement and donate stuff to Goodwill. There are things in boxes that I know I don't need and there is stuff I have under my basement stairs that I have been saving for my daughter in law's sister. She is now back in India and I am sure she does not want it anymore. I will take pictures and text them to my daughter in law and see if there is anything that needs to be saved.

I have been thinking about what kind of projects I want to start in 2014. I have also been thinking about the projects that I need to finish in 2014. Once I have a handle on the list I will share it here.

This is how I spent my time at Thanksgiving! It was such a joy to have them for a short visit. So glad there is Skype!!

In stitches,
Judy

Baby quilt update

I would like to say the baby quilt is all done and the baby next door is enjoying the quilt but that would be a lie. I have never had so much trouble making a quilt. I have sewn several blocks wrong and have become great friends with my seam ripper. So now the blocks are all done and I am ready to assemble the top. I originally decided on purple cornerstones. Can you obnoxious. I made a quick trip to Joann's last night and now I am on track again.

I ordered dining chairs from Amazon and it looks like they will be here in time for Thanksgiving. I won't be hosting the dinner here but it would be nice to have chairs that are not broken when we eat our other meals. I have been cleaning and decluttering a bit. I am on schedule for the arrival of my family from Brooklyn, including my grand dog, Frankie. Should be a wonderful visit all around.

 I need to get a few more things done before I start work in an hour. The sewing for today is to make new covers for my throw pillows on the sofa. I am using my brown and teal quilt and the orange plaid homespun covers will clash. And after that it will be working on the baby quilt.

In stitches,
Judy

Slow Saturday

Work is slow today. They offered overtime and several people took the company up on their offer. Now there is almost nothing for us regular Saturday people to do. So I am moving my sewing machine out of the dining room and into the living room next to my desk. I am going to use my time wisely and work on the baby quilt. Napping is not an option.

I got to Skype with Elly last night. She was a cranky baby. She missed her nap in the afternoon and that power nap at dinner time was not a good idea. Showed her the fabric I have for her pants and nightgown. She was not impressed but her mom liked them.

In stitches,
Judy

It's a numbers game!!

Quilting is a numbers game. And I think my math is rusty! I decided I needed 20 blocks for the baby quilt I am working on. I cut enough pieces to make 21 blocks because I am using 7 different pink prints and I would end up with one extra block. That is doable. I ended up cutting more background squares. That is fine. I trimmed them all last night and pressed them. That is when I found out I actually had 8 different pink prints. Now I will have 4 extra blocks. I guess  I will be making another pink baby quilt in my future. Oh well!

After work, I will start assembling the blocks and hopefully get to quilt it soon. I should have something show you tonight.

In stitches,
Judy

Slow and Steady

I had such high expectations of getting this baby quilt done quickly. Not quite happening that way. I am going back to the sewing room tonight to work on it again. With a little miscalculation, I have already made a second trip to Hobby Lobby to get more background fabric.

I have spoke with Tania and got measurements for Elly's pants. I am excited to start on Erin's refurbished bunny. Tania thinks it would be nice for all of them to have matching night clothes for a Christmas card. She needs to decide soon. Thinking about sending her and my son to JoAnn's the day after Thanksgiving while I am working to get the fabric. We shall see. Or we can go after I get off work.

I have decided my door decor for December, a quilted wreath from bow tie blocks. I have found a pattern for January/winter. Mittens!! I like it when I have ideas dancing in my mind. Just keep working out of my stash.

In stitches,
Judy

Cutting and sewing

I have spent most of today cutting and getting ready to sew. I have to decided to skip my guild meeting tonight and stay home to sew on the baby quilt. I read the newsletter and there is no program or speaker tonight, just sewing room sale. For $5 you can set up your wares for sale. I have enough wares now and am on a no buy diet except for certain projects. If I stay home, I cannot get into trouble.

I had to go out and buy some pink background fabric this morning. My quest sounds like the three bears. The first background was too light, the second background was too dark and the third background is just right. I have a good audio book on my Kindle Fire and I am ready to go. I have no pictures to share now but check back tomorrow. I hope to have the top ready for machine quilting!

In stitches,
Judy

Sunday stuff

It has gotten a bit chilly in this part of Ohio and that makes me want to layer a quilt and do some hand quilting. I have a flannel top that is pieced and a pieced flannel back that needs to be pin pasted. I have decided to use crochet thread for the quilting and use a big stitch.

And then again, I am okay with starting something new. I have decided what I want to do for my door for December. A bow tie wreath. And it will come from my stash. So that is a good thing. I have not been buying fabric unless absolutely necessary. It is such fun to shop from my stash.

I am starting to look towards to 2014 and trying to decide what projects I need to finish and want projects to start. I am thinking about putting a quilt in my floor frame and quilting it during the winter. I have several quilts ready for hand quilting.

Just as everyone's weekend is winding down, mine is just starting. I am normally off on Sundays and Tuesdays, but this week I took off Monday. Three days off!! I have done the mundane stuff today. Laundry and grocery shopping. I did make a stop at JoAnn's for some flannel to back the baby quilt that I am getting ready to cut out. I am pretty sure that I will be able to finish it by the end of Tuesday. It goes next door for the new baby girl. 

In stitches,
Judy

Happy Friday!!

I had such plans for my day today, but the wind storm we experienced in my part of Ohio last night changed my plans. My power went out last night right before midnight. I was able to find my flashlight with its very weak batteries and my battery operated radio. Note to self, time to get more batteries just in case. Power came back on at noon. I ended up missing about two hours of work and had to take a drive around the neighborhood to recharge my phone. But all is well and I am back at work and lost nothing in my frig to spoilage. 

 I was able to hang my new fall wall hanging on my front door and I think it looks pretty good. I call it Ticker Tape Fall. Linking up with Finish it up Friday

In stitches,
Judy

October

 

 
It is hard to believe that we are saying good bye to yet another month. I feel like I have accomplished much this month. I embellished three turtle costumes for the dogs up the street, I made 18 dog scarves, the costumes for the kids, and the wall hanging that is going on my front door in the morning. This week has been the only week I have not worked any overtime.

I have already decided on my November projects. I want to make a Christmas wall hanging for the front door, pants for Elly, start refurbishment of Erin's bunny for Christmas, the baby quilt for the new baby next door. And cleaning of the house in anticipation of company at Thanksgiving. I will probably squeeze in some overtime into the mix.

In stitches,
Judy

Happy Monday!!

Weekends are never long enough especially when you only get one day. I did not get any where near the sewing machine but had a wonderful time with my mom, two of my sisters, my brother in law and a nephew. We all went to mom's for lunch. Two kinds of homemade soup, bread, salad and homemade cookies.

I do have big sewing plans for this week. I have to start my fall wall hanging for my front door. I only have a few days before the Halloween wall hanging needs to be put away for another year. I also have to take in my sister's dress. She has lost some weight since I finished it and now it is too big. And I have fabric to make a baby quilt for the new baby next door. And of course, I have a little bit of sewing to do for Elly. It is getting cold and she needs new corduroy pants.

I am doing very little sewing for Christmas. Elly is not going to be needing a Christmas dress as they will be in India for Christmas and they do not celebrate Christmas in India. I do have to refurbish a stuffed bunny for my friend's daughter. I have what is left of the bunny and picture. Piece of cake. Elly is getting a flannel nightgown.

In stitches,
Judy

Dog Scarves

This week I was finished 18 dog scarves for the dogs up the street. I made three of each fabric. I also finished Halloween costumes for my son and daughter in law. They were mailed on Tuesday and should have arrived in Brooklyn this afternoon. I am hoping for some good pictures this weekend. And as always I did some overtime this week. In fact, when I got booted off the system today and when it came back up it reverted to Central Standard Time. Not a problem but I did work an entire extra hour.

Linking up with Amanda Jean

In stitches,
Judy

All Done!!

I do not have any pictures to share, but my Halloween emergency sewing is complete. I went to JoAnn's last night and bought felt, hair barrettes, glue, and chenille stems. This morning I drafted the letters {HERSHEY'S} cut them out of grey felt and glued them to the brown felt. Sewed the front to the back and now Nick will be a Hershey Bar. I cut out black seeds for Tania to pin to her red dress. She going to be a strawberry. I also fixed a head piece she can clip into her hair. Leaves and a stem. And I made her a collar of leaves. And Elly is going to be a chocolate covered strawberry. I started and finished today. And it has been mailed and will be in Brooklyn by 3pm Friday. The party is on Saturday. I hope to have pictures to post by the weekend.

I have a little bit of sewing yet to do on the 18 dog scarves for my neighbor. Three dogs and six different prints. Halloween, Fall, Flames, Patriotic, Flamingos, and Owls. Such a busy person I am. But I would not change it for the world.

In stitches,
Judy

Life is what happens....

Life is what happens when you make other plans. Right before 11pm, I get a call from my daughter in law with a Halloween emergency. Elly is going a chocolate covered strawberry and her costume is set. My daughter in law wants to be strawberry. She has red dress with needs black seeds, a neck piece of felt leaves and a head piece of felt leaves. My son is going as a hershey  bar. Lots of brown felt and silver felt letters. I am putting all my other sewing on the back burner and Tuesday is my day off and I need to get my supplies and get sewing and gluing. And I need to mail it on Tuesday in order for them to have it for their party on Saturday. Good thing JoAnn's has their felt on sale this flyer. I am being paid by Amazon Gift Cards. I am saving for a second television.

Wish me luck,
Judy

Sunday

It seems as soon as I finish one project another one jumps on my to do list. I have cut out 18 dogs scarves for the dogs up the street. Halloween, fall, patriotic, flame, flamingos, and owls. I have figured out how to finish the golf club cover. I did not get to work on Elly's pants or cut anymore squares.

The newest project will be a baby quilt for the new baby next door. Lilly is her name and her room is barely pink and soft purple. I have decided to use the quilt on the cover. I have made this before as a patriotic quilt for my front door. The background will be soft pink, the flowers will be various pink prints, the corner stones, backing, and binding with be purple.



So I am off to the sewing room/dining room to make scarves and look for my book. Wish me luck!!

In stitches,
 Judy                                                                                                                                                                   

Sunday plans

My weekend has started. I have big plans for my Sunday. I have already been to the grocery store, my dinner is marinating in the refrigerator, and my sewing machine is ready.

I am going to be making scarves for the dogs up the street, make another golf club cover using a Cincinnati Bengal puppet, and start on my fall wall hanging for my front door. I have fabric to cut into 2.5" squares. So much I want to do and so little time. But I have several books on tape and on my Kindle Fire, so I am set.

I also have four pieces of corduroy to make pants for Elly. Just need a measurement for length. Should not take long to put together.


Ghosts made by my niece and nephew.

In stitches,
Judy

Sewing Time

 I have done a little bit of sewing this week. I have embellished turtle costumes for the dogs up the street. They are rescue dogs and will be attending several events this Halloween. With a needle, some thread and some they are now Ninja Turtles. My neighbor will add the weapons.

This is Roxie and she is a puppy and this will be her first Halloween. Her body language suggests that she might not be overjoyed with getting dressed up.

  I have been busy cutting my 2.5" strips into 2.5" squares.  I have several project in mind for those squares. The fabric in this bin is pretty ugly. It is either fabric I bought at one time or another or it is fabric I have inherited from my sister. The ugly stuff will look better in small doses!


Linking up with Amanda Jean

In stitches,
Judy 

Another Finish

I have been a busy girl this week. I have finished yet another project. I am busily cutting up fabric to start several new projects. I think the sewing and quilting bug has attacked me and I am loving it.

  

If it looks familiar it is because I did another one just like this earlier this summer for my sister. I used the leftovers to construct this one for a client. Linking up with Amanda Jean

In stitches, 
Judy