Sunday, February 28, 2010

Stash Report - Weeks 7, 8 + 9

Well, I don't forsee anymore travel in the near future, at least until April, so hopefully I will be able to get back on track with my quilting!  The past couple of weeks have been brutal and I am still trying to catch up on my rest.  I am also babysitting the grandgirls since their Dad found a job, so that has cut in to my productivity too - alright, enough excuses . . . my Stash Report remains the same from several weeks ago when I fell off the no-buy wagon!

Fabric in: 0 yards
Total fabric in YTD: 38.166 yards

Fabric used: 0 yards
Total fabric used YTD: 30.125 yards

Net YTD: -8.041 yards

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

Monday, February 22, 2010

What a trip!

OMG - our hotel room this morning was like a scene from the movie Home Alone . . . we were instructed by my son to be in the lobby with our bags at 5:45 a.m.    At 5:48 a.m. my brother-in-law burst into the bedroom and said "are we gonna make it?" ---- we are at this point already 3 minutes late. I am in a panic. Then my cell phone went off with a text from my son that he had forgotten to print the boarding passes and had to return home for them - thank GOD for that one as it bought us some extra time. None of us showered, didn't have time to change Sophia's diaper, opened the refrigerator to get her medication only to find that several cans of Diet Coke had exploded - can it get worse? At 6 a.m. my son came up to the room to help us with all the luggage and Sophia - it seemed like an eternity, but we were on the road by 6:15 and then we got caught in traffic - I was a wreck as I still had to check Sophia's carseat and my luggage, not to mention the fact that I do not know where I am going in this airport (Dulles) and the people there are not very helpful. There was a long, long, line at security, and we still didn't know what gate we were going to! We finally made it through security and we all were running (I felt like OJ Simpson) - made it just in time as the plane was already being boarded! I lucked out BIG TIME as it was not a full flight and so Sophia got her own seat and did not have to sit on my lap! THE END

Monday, February 8, 2010

Design Wall Monday!

It's Design Wall Monday and all I have to show right now is the pieced border that I am working on for Carolina Christmas.  One side done, 3 more to go!  Check out what everyone else has on their Design Wall at JudyL's Patchwork Times.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Weeks 5 + 6 Stash Reports

Well, last week I was on a Quilting Retreat down in Amish Country and we had such a good time!  It was just what I needed after being sick since Christmas.  I feel so much better now and my quilting mojo has returned!  We visited several quilt shops while enroute to the Quilting Condo, one of which I had never been to before called Pine Tree Fabric.  It was an Amish Quilt Shop complete with wood burning stove and gas lights!  The fabric prices are incredible - Fat Quarters for $1.69 (and these were not second run or closeout fabric!).  I can hardly wait to go again, but that will not be until after I am out of this hole I have created for myself . . .

Fabric in: 28.916 yards
Total fabric in YTD: 38.166 yards

Fabric used: 18.625 yards
Total fabric used YTD: 30.125 yards

Net YTD:  -8.041 yards

Be sure to check out how everyone else is doing with their Stash Reports at JudyL's blog Patchwork Times!



Thursday, February 4, 2010

2 Quilts off the frame . . .

Just finished the second quilt and ready to load the third! 

This first quilt belongs to my friend Carolyn.  I've had this quilt for several months but was unsure of what to quilt it with, not to mention the fact that I didn't feel my experience was quite up to par, so it sat, and it sat, and then finally I felt I could handle it, loaded it, and quilted it with the pantograph Plumage by Jodi Beamish.  I am really pleased with how this one turned out.
















Next up is a quilt that belongs to my friend Jean and actually, the blocks were pieced by Carolyn!  Jean pieced the blocks into rows and is going to gift her daughter with this lap quilt for her birthday.  I used a really pretty thread Superior King Tut in various shades of green.  Unlike other quilts I've done, I used the same color thread on the crème colored backing too!  Usually, I match the thread to the backing.  I quilted this one with Jodi Beamish's pantograph Plumage too!

Monday, February 1, 2010

I'm back!

About an hour ago, I  returned from a very productive weekend Quilting Retreat!  Below are some rough pictures (taken with my cell phone) of what I accomplished . . .
This is a top that I brought with me.  Judy Laquidara over at Patchwork Times posted this FREE quilt pattern named Big Star and I made it from my stash!  I applied the 2 borders for finish #1

This quilt pattern was published in Quiltmaker magazine Jul/Aug '09  as a 3 part Mystery Quilt by Bonnie Hunter.  The name of the pattern is called Christmas Lights, but I did not use Christmas fabrics, just random fabrics from my stash!  I applied the 3 borders for finish #2!     This was a no stress weekend, hence block 2 on the right side of the quilt . . . yup, it's in there sideways where it will stay!  Oh well!

This quilt top is the result of a Disappearing 9-Patch block swap!  I pieced 99 of the 100 blocks into rows for finish #3!  Block 100 will be used as a label on the back. I am debating now whether or not to add border/s . . . any thoughts, anyone? 

Lastly, this is another of Bonnie Hunter's brainstorms.  Bonnie posted this quilt named Carolina Christmas on her blog as a mystery quilt the day after Thanksgiving 2009.  I am a little late for Christmas 2009, but it'll be completed for Christmas 2010.  I pieced all of the blocks into rows at the retreat and began sewing the pieced borders (not pictured)

Lastly, I wanted you all to know that we ate well!  Sunday, we never even left the condo.  We dined on alphabet tater tots, drank pepsi and munched on candy!   There wasn't an evening that we went to bed before 3:30 a.m. . . .

I'm on my way out the door . . .

Edited to add:  Somehow on Friday morning in my mad dash for the door, I neglected to post this . . .

I'm on the way out the door to a Quilting Retreat with Donna and Joanne.  Linda's Quilting Condo features all the amenities of home: refrigerator, microwave, washer, dryer, PLUS, basic supplies for the Quilter, like cutting mats, irons and ironing boards, secretarial chairs, individual tables on which to place your machine, individual Ott Lights, and much more. All this located in Berlin, Ohio within walking distance to 3 quilt shops! (I am having heart palpitations as I type this)