Stash report Sunday - Jan 31st

Nothing in, nothing out.

What a whirl- whirl of activity this week! My little peanut turned 1 year old this week and the days have been spent getting ready for the birthday party today. I only got as far as choosing a pattern for my next project, a valentine's Day themed table runner. Fabric were selected as well but could not find the time to cut it, much less get started. It should be back to normal around here by tomorrow. I miss my sewing machine.
Happy Birthday, peanut!.

Indecision - What a killer!

Last Week's Quiltathon was a success, by Sunday night I had finished two UFO's, my Jacob's Ladder which was free motion quilted on my Janome MC6500P sewing machine,

and the blue baby quilt. Both quilted, bound and on their way to the washer and dryer.

My intentions were to get one older project finish and I would give myself permission to start something new, no brainer right? Time for the next project, woohoooo!, After days of considering patterns and fabrics, I can't make up my mind on what I want to start!!! I have stacks of books, magazines, printouts from the internet, a gazillion tutorials and patterns bookmarked, purchased patterns, borrowed patterns and a 1,000 GB folder of saved inspirational quilt pictures on my laptop. Of course,I wanted to get started before Sunday so I would have cut fabric and report it on Stash report Sunday , but nooooo, I can't make up my mind.

As of this morning and after reading a couple of quilting blogs, I have narrowed down my options to either a Christmas or valentine's theme, that would make me early for next Christmas and maybe just in time for Valentines. Still.... Can't choose what pattern or block to make, Why can't I decide??? I am committed to at least make my selection no later than this evening. Indecision WILL not kill my momentum and enthusiasm. Something will be started to work on during the week. Take that, you stupid indecision!

All of that just to say I have nothing to report : -). Jeezzzzz!!!

Stash Report Sunday

An unexpected over-night house guest has me sitting on my bed, hand sewing the binding on my scrappy baby quilt, not a bad thing but I'm very anxious to get going with the quilting on my Jacob's ladder top. Unfortunately, the sewing machine is on the dinning room table, the guest is still sleeping on my couch and breakfast has to be served. Bummer. My spirits are soaring anyway, I've accomplished more this week than I have in the last several weeks combined, this is good, actually very good. Here are my numbers:

Fabric added this week: 0 yards
Fabric added YTD: 32 yards
Fabric used this week: Approximately 13 yards
Fabric used YTD: 25 yards
Net used for 2010: -7 yards

Not only have I used a nice amount of fabric, I'm so close to having a finish project, today may be the day. Wohooooo!

Quiltathon Saturday

I'm so happy to be quilting along with Judy and other bloggers, it has been a productive and fun day. So far, I free motion quilted this 42" scrappy top that I put together back in July of last year . The meandering was easy and fun, I'm just a little rusty, it's been a while sine I free motion quilted last. The backing is a cute precious moments flannel, this will be perfect for a new baby boy. I know three expecting women so I'm hoping at least one of the new babies is a boy. Here's a little close up of the quilting, a little jerky but I love the texture and feel of it. The plan is to make the binding and sew it on while at Ann's, I'm going to her place for more playing, I mean quilting, it is so much more enjoyable with good company.

An even closer picture. :-)

My Jacob's Ladder top has been prepared for quilting as well and I'm ambitiously wanting to get it quilted today or at least by tomorrow. The picture below shows the two thread colors I plan to use.

I'm feeling a little disappointed that I didn't make it to the Road to California show this year, this will be the second year I miss it, however, getting some old project done and spending time with friends makes up for it. Seeing other quilters work today will also make up for it.

Stash Report - Jan 10th 2010

Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Used this Week: 12 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 32 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date: 12 yards
Net Used for 2010: -20 yards

I'm so excited and proud of myself, I started the New Year's Eve Mystery and kept at it! I changed the design by adding sashing, just to make the top a little bigger (finished at 82" x 95") and to avoid matching all the seams ;-). Today I'll rummage the stash to find a suitable border fabric, there are some leftover pieces from the main fabrics but none big enough for a 4 to 6 inch border. I intent to use the scraps and make a table runner and/or a pillow, my goal is keep the scraps accumulation at a minimum.

On the stash starting numbers, technically, half of the purchases were made the last week of 2009 and the top was started on Jan 31st as well, but I figure the exact dates are not important as long as I'm honest (with myself) about the amounts of fabric that are being purchased and used.

I've also kept knitting and I'm on my second scarf, a few more inches to go and it will be done. I'll try to have pictures ready next time I post.

Well, that's all for today, gotta get to the fabric auditions but not before stopping by Judy's blog to find out what over quilters have been up to this week.

Fresh Start - Stash Report

I lost track of the stash report a few months ago and do not know what my ending numbers are, I do know 2009 was not such a productive year on the quilting front as it could of been, but 2010 promises to be better. There's lots of inspiration and support on blogland, with this amazing group's influence and challenge, I'll continue to keep working on using my stash, be more selective on my purchases and work on projects I really enjoy.

Speaking of joy, I was very excited to participate on Ann Smith's New Year's Eve mystery, I had selected my fabrics in early December and was eager to get started. There were, however, some "forgotten" blocks from last summer's mystery hanging around in a pizza box, how could I start a new mystery when the previous one was still unfinished? I challenged myself to finish the summer mystery or I wouldn't start the new one. Here is the finished top Here it is with borders on, it is big about 85" x 104" and I love it! The best part? I could now start on the new mystery!

I made over 600 of these half square triangles, somehow my math failed me and I was short a few, had to piece scraps of the brown fabric to complete my planned blocks. (I later found the stack of "unmade" patches under the sewing machine).

Here is what a few blocks look like:

And a set of 9 blocks.

The design is beautiful and I'm very pleased with it. Managed to complete 42 blocks and will be putting them together this coming week.

As for the stash report, I did buy fabric yesterday, there was a clearance sale and scored 6 yards of 110" backing fabric for $3.00 a yard, couldn't pass it up. I'm giving myself this week to get a good tracking system established, I should have my starting numbers by next weekend. In the meantime, I'll be working on my mystery blocks and have them become a wonderful quilt top.