What a great Christmas!

We had the most wonderful Christmas . . . all of our children were here! Olivia and Nick were here with their new twin girls and Aaron and Erica announced they'll be welcoming their first child in June! Fernando and I are so excited with this news that we are ready to burst. I can only imagine how excited Erica's parents are! It was a short, but hectic 5 days - and I have lived to tell about it, but barely . . . exhaustion has now set in and all I want to do is sleep.

Stash Report - Week 52

Well, guess this is the last report for 2009.  Nothing has changed for the past week either, so my report stays the same at:

Fabric in this week: 0.000 yards
Total fabric in YTD: 178.987 yards

Fabric used this week: 0.000 yards
Total fabric used YTD: 180.832 yards

Net YTD: 1.845 yards

So click on over to JudyL's Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing with their Stash Reports!

Last customer quilt done!

Just finished quilting the last of Linda's Christmas gift quilts.  Of course, I saved my personal favorite for last!  I wanted the Daisies Galore pantograph, but haven't received it yet, so I decided to try to do it freehand.  Prior to this attempt, I used another pantograph which will remain un-named because I sucked at it and had to tear it out.  It was not the fault of the panto, it was, well, I think it's a pattern better suited to being stitched by a computer.  I was so unhappy with it.  Then I ran out of the black binding and then I realized that perhaps I was supposed to be binding it in red - oh, for the love of God, this quilt is gonna kill me yet!  So I ended up using both the black and the red as binding - I hope that Carey likes it . . .

Design Wall Monday!

Well, my design wall is full of the previous 2 steps of Bonnie Hunter's Carolina Christmas Mystery, so I have had to create another flat surface - for this I went to the garage and found a piece of foam insulation and I'm using that since there is not a surface in my sewing room that is cleared . . .  it is becoming increasingly more and more difficult to find an area to use my rotary cutter!  May have to do something about this after the first of the year!

Week 51 Stash Report

Edited to add photo:

The above picture is one of the main reasons why I need to Stashbust . . . Fabric from 1987?!?!   This is bad on so many levels . . .


Well, I had another good week of no incoming activity, so my report is the same as last week as I plug along on Bonnie Hunter's Carolina Christmas Mystery! 
      Fabric in this week: 0.000 yards
      Total fabric in YTD: 178.987 yards


      Fabric used this week: 0.000 yards
      Total fabric used YTD: 180.832 yards


      Net YTD: 1.845 yards

So click on over to JudyL's Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing with their Stash Reports!

Carolina Christmas Progress

Well, I have just completed Step No 2 in the Carolina Christmas Mystery!  I am so ready to begin Step No 3.  I am curious as to exactly how many pieces this quilt will contain . . . so far, I think I counted 904 pieces, and that's just through Step No 2 !

Design Wall Monday!

Before I get hate mail - here is the disclaimer . . . below is a picture of Step One of Bonnie Hunter's Carolina Christmas Mystery Quilt in progress!  If you are working on this Mystery Quilt, do not scroll down or read any further.

I chose my fabrics for this quilt over the weekend from my Christmas Stash.  I do not have a Christmas Quilt in my collection, do any of you?  I started cutting and stitching  on this late last night - I need 192 of these twosies!  I had wanted to use one fabric for the background, but it is going to have to be scrappy because I do not have enough yardage of one fabric for the entire quilt.  Anyways, I am really excited to work more on this, but I do have a customer quilt that I need to get on the frame .  .  .

Week 50 Stash Report

Only 2 more reports to go.  I sure hope I can stay on the positive side of busting . . . this week I got a little piecing done (2 BOM blocks), 2 pillowcases that I made from Girl Scout cookie fabric - these were fun, I've never done them before, but they are quick and easy, AND I picked out the fabric for Bonnie Hunter's Carolina Christmas!  It's going to be done in all Christmas fabrics with the exception of the background.  I have not begun to cut it out yet, because I still have one more quilt to put on the frame . . .  So, here is my report:

Fabric in this week:    0.000 yards

Total fabric in YTD: 178.987 yards


Fabric used this week:   13.750 yards
Total fabric used YTD: 180.832 yards


Net YTD: 1.845 yards - Yeah, I am in the positive!

So click on over to JudyL's Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing with their Stash Reports!

Photo Quilt Done!

Well, Linda's Photo Quilt is done!  Now I have just one more to do before Christmas for her and I'm done for the holidays - unless of course I decide to work on something of my own!  Bonnie Hunter's Carolina Christmas Mystery is calling my name, but I haven't even picked out any fabrics for it yet . . .

Design Wall Monday

Well, it's Monday and once again I have another quilt to place on the frame! It's another one of Linda's and it's a picture quilt for one of her daughters.  The brown tone on tone fabric that she's used as a background has some swirled designs on it.  I'd like to use a panto for this, but I need to be at the front of the machine so I don't stitch over the photos, so I am going to attempt to quilt a similar design freehand.  Check back later in the week for the progress on this one!  Go check out what everyone else has on their design walls at JudyL's Patchwork Times!

Week 49 Stash Report

Not too many changes this week to the stash report, but I have resigned myself that I am going to end the year with a negative number, but at least it's a small numer.  I have resolved to do better next year.  It will be challenging to have numbers to compare to and strive to do better than the previous year, so it's a good thing. 
This week I was only able to bust 3 yards for 3 online swaps I participated in.

      Fabric in this week: 0.000 yards
      Total fabric in YTD: 178.987 yards


      Fabric used this week: 3.000 yards
      Total fabric used YTD: 167.082 yards


      Net YTD: -11.905 yards

Check out how everyone else is doing with their Stash Reports at Judy L's Patchwork Times!

2nd Quilt Done!

Well, last night I finished the 2nd of Linda's 4 quilts that need to be quilted before Christmas. I quilted this one with Plumage by Jodi Beamish. I just love feathers and it was relatively easy to do and covered a large area with one pass. I especially love how the rows are serpentine, so it's not a straight horizontal design!

Design Wall Monday

Well, once again it's Design Wall Monday and I have another quilt from Linda ready to go on the frame.  This one is much larger than the last one so I expect it will take me all week to finish with all of life's interrtuptions in our house!  I still have to stitch the binding to the back of the smaller quilt - so much to do, so little time!

Just for fun, I thought I'd post a picture of Waddle our Penguin with the girls!

Check out what everyone else has on their Design Wall at Patchwork Times!

Weeks 47 + 48

Last week we went to Rhode Island to see Olivia, Nick + the newest granddaughters, so there was no activity . . . but I made up for it while being home alone this week.  I have a lot of quilts waiting for their time on the frame before Christmas, so I haven't been doing any piecing, no fabric of mine was used, only customer quilts!  Yesterday, I went to Country Fabrics in Shiloh (the Mennonite Quilt Shop in a gorgeous Barn) and purchased 3 pieces of their close-out fabrics at a mere $3.69 yd.  Believe me when I tell you I practiced restraint!  One of the pictured fabrics is for an Ugly Nickel Swap - that would be the mauve floral - I cannot believe I spent money on that - it truly is ugly.

      Fabric in this week:    5.375 yards
      Total fabric in YTD: 178.987 yards

      Fabric used this week:  0.000 yards
      Total fabric used YTD: 164.082 yards

      Net YTD:  -14.905 yards

I will show some "used" in next weeks report as I have a couple of swaps that I need to finish and get in the mail! 

Check out how everyone else is doing with their stashbusting at Patchwork Times!

We left town . . .

We left town, but we're back home again!  The Saab that my husband bought me for my August birthday in Hawaii has finally arrived here on the mainland, so we went to pick it up.  We also visited our newest granddaughters in Rhode Island too!  Pictured above is Madison holding Clelia and Abigail!  They have gotten so big since we last saw them mid-September.  We arrived late Friday evening and left early Monday morning.  The drive from Ohio wasn't too bad, so I can see myself making this trip again in the near future (and there were several outlet malls I passed along the way there, so if I go next time without my husband, it will take me a day or two to get there instead of 11 hours!)  These are a couple of shots of the Newport Bridge:

Design Wall Monday

I am still swamped with quilting quilts, so my design wall of my piecing will have to wait!  This picture is one of the 6 quilts that need to be quilted.  This one was actually a large wall hanging or table topper.  I used a pantograph called Pansy by Hermione Agee and used a varigated purple Trilobal Polyester thread by Signature.  The next one to go on the frame is the D9P (Disappearing 9-Patch) that I posted a picture of last week.  I couldn't quilt that one because I was waiting on the thread to be shipped.  Well, it's here now, so that will be my project tomorrow!

Week 46 Stash Report

I should have followed Judy's lead, but there was a moment of weakness when I received an email from one of my friends telling me that one of our mutual friends with a quilt shop was going out of business . . . so, without further hesitation, I succumbed and purchased more than I thought it would add up to at $4.50 yd . . .

Fabric in this week: 17.333 yards
Total fabric in YTD: 173.612 yards

Fabric out this week: 0 yards
Total fabric out YTD: 164.082 yards

Net -9.53 yards


Be sure to check out where everyone else stands with their stash report at Patchwork Times!
 

Grandma Law

I exercised Grandma Law this evening . . . we had ice cream sundaes for supper.  Oh yea, and we had seconds too!  I just love being a Grandma!

Design Wall Monday

Judy said:  "What’s on your design wall?  Please share . . even if nothing has changed since last week."  Well, you guessed it, nothing has changed since last week because my longarm is backed up with quilts! 

Perhaps I should show the quilt I will load today . . . the quilt below belongs to my friend Linda and it's going to be a Christmas present for someone in her family.  Check back later in the week to see this one finished, quilted and bound!  Check out what everyone else has on their design wall at Patchwork Times!

Week 45 Stash Report

Well, it's been a rather dull and boring week here.  I did visit a quilt shop, but only walked out with a spool of thread!  Mailed out fabric for 3 online swaps, so fabric used wasn't too much, but I am still in the black!  Today my friend PJ and I are going to a hands-on "Handiquilter Event" at Quilt Trends, 2 hours from home!  We are taking a class from 9 am to 4 pm.  The class will cover Pantographs, Groovy Boards, Rulers, Feathers and TNT: Threads, Needles, Tension! We will learn the tricks on the new HQ Avante 18" arm Quilting Machine!  I cannot wait!

Check out how everyone else is doing with their Stash Report at Patchwork Times!

Fabric in this week: 000000 yards
Total fabric in YTD: 156.279 yards

Fabric out this week: 3.166 yards
Total fabric out YTD: 164.082 yards

Net 7.803 yards
.

One down, six to go . . .

One customer quilt quilted, and 6 more to go...  Just got this one off the frame and now I am hand sewing the binding to the back.  It may take awhile as it's 348 inches around, but it's nice to be able to sit and mindlessly do something!  Hope to get another quilt loaded on the frame tonight, but it will take me a while to make a decision which pantograph I will use!

Design Wall Monday Part 2

I wanted to add a couple of pictures . . .
All of those blocks that I have been cutting from my stash are now paying off as all I have to do is go to the box I keep them stored in to pick and choose the colors I need, so my project goes together rather quickly!

Design Wall Monday!

It's Monday again and I have something new on my wall . . . it's called Wedding Rings by Seams & Dreams.  It's a breeze to construct!  I opted for scrappy rings so I could bust some stash.  It will be queen size when I am through and the top will have 4 rings (I've only completed one so far). 

Check out what everyone else has on their Design Wall at Patchwork Times!

Week 44 Stash Report

On Thursday, which by the way is supposed to be my Work on UFO's day, I started a new project. It's a scrappy project from my stash though, and I'm really excited about it. I have all of the pieces cut out for it and I've begun the construction and I'm already a quarter of the way done with the top! I chose not to post any pictures of the project today because I wanted to post it tomorrow for Design Wall Monday!
Hop on over to Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing with their stash busting!


• Fabric in this week: 000000 yards
• Total fabric in YTD: 156.279 yards
•
• Fabric out this week: 18.5 yards
• Total fabric out YTD: 160.916 yards
•
• Net 4.637 yards


Well, I am really pleased that I am finally out of the hole, it's only 4 + yards, but I am no longer in the negative numbers!

Design Wall Monday!

Well, I finally got all the blocks for Bonnie Hunter's Christmas Lights done, now all I need to work on are the borders.  I had hoped to already have the borders on so I could put something else on the wall, but as you can see, that didn't happen - probably because I do not enjoy the whole border process.  I think it's all that math - measuring in 3 places, averaging the 3 measurements, dividing the border and top into fourths - - on no, I am getting a heady ache already!  Speaking of a headache - I just looked at the picture I posted and one of the blocks is on sideways.  Where is my Extra Strength Excedrin?  Oh, and before anyone asks, or suggests to leave it that way - forget about it - I am the Goddess of Anal Retentiveness - it must be corrected.

If you haven't been to Patchwork Times yet, you need to go!  Judy has an ugly project on her design wall . . .

Week 43 - Stash Report

Oh, I am a woman on a mission to get this report out of the hole before the end of the year and to get several projects finished too!  I think that Judy's next QFAH Project just might help me get the numbers into the positive! 

• Fabric in this week:    5.75 yards
• Total fabric in YTD: 156.279 yards 
• Fabric out this week: 9.5 yards
• Total fabric busted YTD:  142.416 yards
• Net: -13.863

I fell off the wagon this week when I went on a field trip to Country Fabrics in Shiloh where I found almost 6 yards of great quality fabrics (RJR, Maywood and Marcus Brothers) for $3.69 a yard!

Check out what others Stash Reports look like this week at Patchwork Times!

Blocks Done!

The Christmas Lights blocks are all done now and they're up on the design wall!  My goal is to get the top finished this weekend so I can put something else on the design wall for Monday.  I still have to dig through my stash to find some fabric for the setting triangles and the borders though . . .   

Quilting with Machines!

I am going to Aurora, Ohio this morning to take two longarm classes at Quilting with Machines!  There are going to be vendors there too!  I hope to learn a lot as I have 6 quilts that need to go on the frame after my return, so I am hoping to learn something new that I can try on these quilts.  I am going with my friend PJ and we are both taking the same classes.  PJ just purchased a computer for her longarm so she will be able to use that computer to stitch out intricate designs on her quilts . . . I think I would like that as I am not that creative myself!  Well, I will try to post pictures when I return, later!

Design Wall Monday

Well, it's Monday again, but somehow since Judy started this Design Wall thing, I don't dread Monday's anymore!  I have 17 blocks done of the twenty-five, 12.5 inch, Red & Aqua Disappearing 9-patch blocks for an online swap that's due Nov. 2nd!  My goal is to have them in the mail by this weekend so I can get something different on the design wall for next week ...
Check out what everyone else has on their design wall at Patchwork Times!

Week 42 Stash Report

Well, I didn't think I'd get any sewing done with my daughter, her husband and our new grandbabies here, but I was able to get the backing pieced for Judy L's Stash Project No 2 and I started on the 25 12.5 inch 9-patch blocks for an online swap due before the end of this month!  I am so excited that my net number may be out of the red zone before the end of the year if I can keep up this pace . . .

• Fabric in this week     1 yard
• Total Fabric in YTD  150.529 yards
• Fabric used this week   15.500 yards
• Total Used YTD          132.916 yards
•  
• Net -132.916 yards

Check out how everyone else is doing with their Stash Reports at Patchwork Times!

Design Wall Monday

And I have a finish!  Well, not a done, done, finish, but I do have a complete top!  I didn't think I would ever get all of those outer borders on.  It took me all weekend as I was procrastinating because I don't like to do them!  I am so excited to get this on the longarm, but that won't be until next week though. 

I think I will work on the Christmas Lights Mystery next or some 12.5 inch 9-patches that I have to construct for a disappearing 9-patch swap.  I have to get 25 blocks constructed and quartered and in the mail before the end of the month.  Perhaps I had better work on the swap blocks before I get started again on Christmas Lights . . .

Check out what everyone else has on their Design Wall at Patchwork Times!

Week 41 Stash Report

The numbers are slowly getting better - but slowly!  I was in Amish Country this past week, but practiced restraint and only purchased 2 yards for a border and another .5 yard of some Christmas fabric that I ran short of!  I have been rather productive this week - now if I can just keep it up!

Fabric in this week:     2.5 yards
Fabric in YTD:         149.529 yards

Fabric used this week:      5.625 yards
Fabric used YTD:          117.416 yards

Net:  -32.113 yards


You know, I have been thinking, if I end the year with a negative number, do I have to carry it over when I begin the year with the 2010 Stashbusting Report?  I would much prefer to start again with a clean slate as just the thought of beginning a new year in the negative is rather depressing . . .
Check out what others have been up to with their Stash Reports at Patchwork Times.

Went to Amish Country . . . .

Yesterday I went to Amish Country with my friend Linda.  I am exhausted today.  First we went to Kidron, Ohio to a store called Lehmans, all I can say is WOW!  That is the neatest store I have ever been in, I think I could have spent an entire day in there - it was that incredible.  From there, we went to Mt. Hope where we had lunch at Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen.  There were a lot of Amish in the restaurant and all of their buggy's were parked outside, so I knew the food would be good!  After lunch we went next door to the bulk food store.  Then we went to Berlin and visited 3 quilt shops, a stitchery and several other unique shops.  I was really thankful that the shops closed at 5 pm because exhaustion had set in!  Thanks Linda for a great day!

Nearing top completion

Well, I am a step or two closer to nearing completion!  I may be able to have this on the longarm before the weekend is over!

Hour 9 almost complete!

I'm only 5 blocks short of completing Hour 9 . . . I'm so close, I can taste it!  I am not going to bed tonight until Hour 9 is done!