Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2019

I'm joining something new (to me) this year! I love rainbow-themed quilting and have a number of scrappy projects on the go. I'm going to join the Rainbow Scrap Challenge hosted by soscrappy and make some progress on these UFOs this year.

From her page:
Each month I will announce a color.  Your job is to use your scraps to make something.  A block, a few blocks, a small project, an entire quilt.  The details are all us to you.  Hopefully, by the end of the year, you will have enough blocks for a quilt, or a finished project or two. 10 Colors for 2019 in no special order: red, orange, yellow, green, aqua, dark blue, light blue, purple, pink, brown or black.

These are the projects I'll be working on:

Crumb blocks - these use up my smallest bits and pieces:

I plan to use these to make a sewing machine cover using the original polyester dust cover as a pattern (and base). I'll have to take some measurements and plot how many more I need to make of each colour.

String blocks:

I have a few different projects on the go that need string blocks. This one was made for Bonnie Hunters' Zuckerwatte pattern, found in her first String Fling book. You can see all the quilts here - I have several on my to-do list. I'm going to do this in all the colours, in a variety of sizes ranging from 3 1/2" to  8 1/2" - if I don't have a quilt in mind quite yet for a particular colour, I'll make them in the largest size, because I can always cut them down. I use old telephone books as a base for sizing.

Boxy Stars:

Another Bonnie Hunter pattern - this one can be found on her Free Patterns page (she is such a generous lady):

I started this one simply to use up some of my many 2 1/2" strips.

Maverick Stars:

Another freebie from Bonnie, these are great for using up those little leftover triangles.

I'm going to do some with light backgrounds and others with the colour as the background. I think is going to be so much fun to look at when it is done. 

I know I have many more UFOS that could also fit into the Rainbow Challenge, but these four will make a good start and conceivable be finished this year as well!

I also found out how to backup my blog today! After six years of blogging, I would hate to lose it all. Here a screen shot of where to go in blogger from your design page (follow the yellow highlighter!) 

Linking up to the RSC2019 for the first time! If you are a first-time visitor, my name is Terri and I live on the beautiful West Coast of Canada, about 2 1/2 hours north of Seattle, WA. I still work full-time (about 4 years before my planned retirement), raised my 2 daughters as a single parent and now have 3 beautiful grandchildren that live on the same street as I do. My blog name reflects the fact that I am the queen of UFOs (50 at last count) and the "all-knowing goddess of everything" according to one of my friends - my mind is full of Useless Bits of Information (UBIs)! Looking forward to seeing what everybody else is up to!

Snow weekend! Sunday Stash Report, Week 6

Nothing in, nothing out makes for a boring report but there has been sewing going on. It has been snowing steadily since Friday afternoon, and as of this morning we officially had 77 cm (30 in), with more on the way. What better way than to spend the time sewing!

I've been slowly plugging away at my En Provence blocks, and being distracted by requests for more insulin pump bands, fixing stuffed animals, making Valentines placemats and sewing with my grandson!

Alex and I have been working on and off on his dinosaur for almost a year now. I only worked on it when he could help and stopped when he lost attention. He has learned how to use a pattern, cut it out, sew on the machine, do the running stitch and the whip stitch and stuff the pieces. This weekend was the final stuffing and adding the details, such as the spots!

Voila! Snaggles is finished!

He sewed every one of these spots himself!  It is wonderful to see his patience grow and learn to problem-solve without getting frustrated like he did in the beginning.

He is so proud of himself!  (Brr, he makes me cold just looking at him! This is one hot-blooded kid).  He is wearing his new insulin pump band as well.  Love this kid!

Pattern for the dinosaur is Menagerie by Lier at ikatbag.comikatbag.com. 19 stuffies from one basic pattern - it is full of ideas and very well-written.

Tomorrow has been declared a snow day - good thing, because I can't find my car!

Since I never counted in the fabric for the stuffies, and the insulin pump bands are recycled from old T-shirts, I didn't have anything to count out. Next week will definitely be different!

Added this week: 0 metres

Added this year: 19.8metres

Used this week: 0.00 metres

Used this year: 1.00 metres

Added/Used this year: 18.8 metres

Linking to Patchwork Times Sunday Stash Report

Sunday Stash Report, Week #21 - Major changes coming

Another week without a finish, but progress was made on the Super Mario quilt. 

 At least I didn't add to the stash.

 

Added this Week: 0 metres

 Added Year to Date: 64.1 metres 

 

Destashed this Week: 0 metres

 Destashed year to Date: 22.55 metres

 Added for 2014: 41.55 metres

 

Total spent  YTD $294.20 = $4.59/metre

 

 

I did some string blocks for future quilts, I want to make Zuckerwatte by Bonnie Hunter.  This one will probably be gifted to Zoey - she loves purple and pink.

 

(and a blue one for fun)

 

I've also been making Boxy Stars, a free pattern from Bonnie as well.  These are perfect for using up those 2 1/2" strips that have been accumulating.

 

 

Then I tried a few using 2" strips!  I love little blocks and think these would be perfect for a baby quilt.

 

I put the larger ones beside them for comparison - they are so cute!!

 

In case you aren't familiar with Bonnie, check her out on the Quilt Show from the Quilt Show.  Today is the last day you can view it for free, if you don't have a paid subscription.  For details how to view it, click this link to Bonnie's website.  It is a great introduction to Bonnie and her method of using every bit of stash.

 

I have an even bigger project looming in the next year. My daughter and I have been talking, and we have decided to convert my home to an up-and-down duplex, and her family is going to move into the basement.  They want a place with a yard for a garden (currently they are living in a townhouse about a block away) but with house prices here on the West Coast of BC so high, it could never be in their budget.  I was talking about downsizing and eliminating yard work, but really hated the idea of sharing walls with a neighbour and leaving the wonderful area I live in.  It seemed to be a perfect solution to our needs to combine households.  Of course, now that means I have to condense 2000 sq feet of living into about 1200, and they have to condense 1600 into 1000.  Some renovations are required as well.

 

I'll be moving the contents of my sewing room, my scrapbooking room  (I'm also a Close to My Heart consultant) and my spare room into what is now the grandkids bedroom.  That's 520 sq feet that is going into a room of 144 sq feet (12x12). 

 

This weekend I started decluttering - the new quilt cave is almost empty and ready for paint.  I'm thinking a nice Caribbean blue for the walls.  I'm stuck with the pink carpet (mainly for noise reduction as my daughter and her husband's bedroom will be below, and it's a thick carpet with top-of-the-line underlay) but most of the time I probably won't see it anyway!   ;o)

 

 

Now what do I do with the kids toys?

 

Sunday Stash Report, Week #18 - Getting back to the Sewing Room!

It's been a long month, with a lot going on.  But now that income tax season is over, I'm heading back to the sewing room right after I post this.  Can you believe I haven't even unpacked after my wonderful guild's sew-in with the Happy Zombie?  I'll be posting more about that this week, but you can click here to see what I have already said.

 

One benefit of not sewing, I haven't been shopping either.  Well, not completely true - on the one of two days I did sew (at the sew-in), I picked up a couple of half-metre pieces of Wee Wonder.

 

 

 

Added this Week: 1 metres

 Added Year to Date: 64.1 metres 

 

Destashed this Week: 0 metres

 Destashed year to Date: 22.55 metres

 Added for 2014: 41.55 metres

 

Total spent  YTD $294.20 = $4.59/metre

 

The other day I sewed wasn't even for me.  I helped my daughter make a sun-sail for her new deck (pictures to come!) She drafted the pattern and we had it cut out and finished in just one night.  It's a triangular sail made with Sunbrella fabric and measured about 10' x 14'.  We had a great time doing it, and she is going to help me create patterns for some of my original designs!  Monica (Happy Zombie) suggested I do that starting with this:

 

 

 

 

Nothing like having a renowned fabric and pattern designer inspire you!

 

 

 

Sunday Stash Report, Week 16

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I posted a blog post.  That's the longest I've gone since I started blogging 3 or 4 years ago.  One thing I've discovered, blogging gives me motivation to sew, then I have something to write about, even if no one reads my posts.

Only one small purchase in all this time, 1 metre representing two cloth books that I'll make for Christmas presents.

Added this Week: 1 metres

 Added Year to Date: 63.1 metres 

Destashed this Week: 0 metres

 Destashed year to Date: 22.55 metres

 Added for 2014: 40.55 metres

Total spent  YTD $284.20 = $4.76/metre

It's been a busy month - our guild was featured at the Creative Stitches show this year, I was only able to volunteer one day because of work, but it was a long day!

Then we had a special sew-in with a very special visitor!  Ron Swanson dropped by, along with his maker, Monica Solorio-Snow aka the Happy Zombie!

This quilt made the rounds a while back, and even visited the set of Parks & Recreation - you just have to read Monica's description of that for a hilarious belly laugh!

Monica is a great lady, and a lot of fun!  I was lucky enough to sit across from her during the sew-in and get to know her better.  I was even inspired to pull out a test block that I did based on one of her designs (Funky Wrench - a free tutorial here) and start a new project.

I got eight of these 6" (finished) blocks done - all are made with 5" charm squares with grey backgrounds (Bella grey and feather).  I want to pick up some charcoal and finish a few more for a cute baby quilt.

I've also been busy in the garden.  We've had a later spring then usual, so I'm late getting my early plants in, but last weekend was so beautiful I was able to some done.  Daisy enjoyed the sun as well!

And yesterday, we went to one of the local farms for an Easter egg hunt and see the baby animals.  

Zoey - 34 months old

Alex - 5 1/2 years

We had dinner last night, so it's a quiet day today for me.  Taxes, some scrapbooking and maybe some sewing tonight!

Happy Easter to all - hope your day is wonderful, whether you spend it with your church, family or by yourself.

Sunday Stash Report, Week 12 - Happy Birthday to Me!

 

It arrived!  My big box (actually 2) arrived from Ozark Fabrics!  34 yards of goodness, purchased for between $4 - $8 US a yard over the last six months.  Even with the exchange rate and shipping, I averaged a price of $7/m!  Even those most of it was paid for in 2013, I'm counting it in my 2014 total spent.

 

 

Jason Yenter - Shangri-La:

 

 

Riley Blake - Chevrons & Houndstooth, along with novelty prints and Stitch prints:

 

 

I might have to start packaging bundles of the novelty prints and selling them off. I have a collection of about 200 or so prints, and I'll never make enough I-spy quilts to use them all.

 

Added this Week: 30.6 metres

 Added Year to Date: 62.1 metres 

Destashed this Week: 0.5 metres

 Destashed year to Date: 22.55 metres

 

 Added for 2014: 39.55 metres

Total spent  YTD $284.20 = $4.58/metre

 

Only one finish in the last three weeks, a small doll quilt for Zoey using the leftovers from my modern rail fence:

 

 

I backed it with minkee and didn't use any batting, and practiced some free-motion quilted loops:

 

 

 

I'm going to use this technique again!

 

Now I'm building a quilt for my great-nephew for his 7th birthday in May!

 

 

I'm using Cut to Pieces tutorial, but I've changed it up a little.  I'm using 2" squares to make 27" blocks, so I only have to make 6 instead of 12.  I'm also not using her technique of a fusible grid, instead I am just pinning all the seams like crazy!  Only 5 more to go!

 

And have hope, my friends and family back east, Spring is on its way.  We have signs of it here on the West Coast.

 

 

 

 

Every day I am reminded once again why I live here.  The best thing of all is that my kids choose to stay here as well, in fact buying homes on the same block that I live. 

 

There also advantages to living north of the 49th parallel - now that the spring solstice has passed, it is light enough to go for walks to the park in the evenings with the kids, their friends and the grandkids!

 

 

  Have a wonderful week, folks, and I hope you will see signs of spring soon as well.

 

 

Sunday Stash Report, Week 1 of 2014!

 

Thanks to Judy Laquidara of Patchwork Times, I've been tracking my fabric stash in and out for the last two years now, and although I majorly fell of the fabric wagon last year, I feel that it still helped me to finish what I start.

 

2013 – Added 216.75; Used 97; Net -119.75 metres

2012 – Added 104.15; Used 98.3; Net -5.85 metres

 

My used numbers are about the same, and close to my goal of using at least 100 metres each year. It was easier to stick to not adding fabric in 2012, simply because I got laid off in the last four months of the year.  Once I was back at work in early March of 2013, I put in mega hours of overtime (it didn't pay them to lay me off - just sayin'), I didn't get as much sewing done as I would have liked, but was able to enhance my stash with some well-deserved overtime pay.

 

I suffer from a major case of STARTERITIS, so this year's focus will be on finishing some of my many UFOs (my yearly goal), and feeding my desire to start new things by focusing on small projects. 

 

So I feel I'm starting the new year right - with nothing added and a finish!

 

Added: 0 metres

Used: 2 metres

Net Used/Added: 2 metres

 

My first finish of 2014 is my own design:

 

 

I call it my Butler!  I was inspired by the ironing boards on TV tables in blogland, but I wanted mine to be able to hold tools at my side when I sew outside of my home (I go to a friend's often, as she can't easily get out).

 

 

It has 6 pockets, 3 on the front and 3 on the left hand side.

 

 

The right hand side has a snipping bucket, a pincushion and a Velcro strip.  The reverse of the back piece has straps to hold a rotary cutting mat, and serves as a cover for the whole thing when it closed up.

 

 

I added the Velcro strip so that I can add different pockets or bags as I come up with needs.

 

You may see this project again!

 

For more stash reports, be sure to visit Judy's blog for links.

 

 

Sunday Stash Report, Week 47 - 4 weekends left until Christmas

 

Christmas is fast approaching, and for the first time in a long time, I am well on track to being ready!  Today I'll do the cleaning in prep to start decorating, and get the decorations down from the attic and into the basement so I can do a little each night this week.

 

Christmas sewing is almost done - maybe this year, I won't be finishing something on Christmas Eve!

 

The pillowcases are done - all eight of them:

 

 

The top five were finished last week and counted, this week I made two that matched the Easy Street quilt that is off at the long-armer's.

 

 

I like to make matching pillowcases when I gift a quilt - it serves as the wrapping, as well as using up some of the leftover fabric.

 

The last pillowcase is a little different:

 

 

I adapted it from Angela Pingel's Super Mario pattern.  It is for my niece's 6-year-old son, who has discovered video games.  I plan on making the full quilt for his birthday in May, as part of my plan to give everyone in my family a quilt someday.

 

I changed Angela's pattern a little, by using strips of fabric instead of squares, but I also used a quilt-as-you-go method, which made them go a little wonky.  I'll have to rethink my plan for the quilt.

 

In addition to the tote bag I made Zoey yesterday, and the one I made Alex a little while ago (and never counted), this week was another great stash-busting one.

 

Added since my last report: 0.0 metres

Added Year-to-Date: 200.5 metres

 

Used since last report: 5.5 metres

 

Used Year-to-Date: 87 metres

 Net used/Added for 2013: 113.5 metres

 

Only a little planned sewing left, an Advent calendar for Brianna & Ray, a Christmas wall hanging for Sarah and Rob, and some small gifts for friends - I'm thinking snappy pouches for those.  I've gathered a few tutorials I'm contemplating:

 

Snappy Bag (gift card size) from Just Another Hangup

 

Snappy Coin Pouch from SewCanShe

 

or the newest one from SewCanShe

 

Pleated Snappy Coin Pouch

 

If I can sew for an hour a day, I should be able to get all those done before Bonnie Hunter's mystery launches on Friday!

Be sure to check out everyone's stash reports at Judy's site Patchwork Times

 

 

Have a great week!

 

Terri in BC

PS:  The fabrics from my giveaway have been claimed - they will be winging their way to Glenda in Florida along with some more I found, to be used in charity quilts!  Congratulations, Glenda!