Sunday Stash Report 2015, Week 34

 

Although it probably wasn't the best timing, I took a week off and went to Alberta! Now that I'm back, I have to put all my efforts into job-hunting once again.  I think it's time to find my bliss...

 

While traveling, I made a few stops to pick up some Row-by-Row patterns:

 

 

From Chinook Fabrics in High River, Alberta

 

   My best friend, Nancy and I have been friends since just after high school and she recently moved back to Alberta from Manitoba, so I couldn't miss the chance to see her again. She is one of those friends that visiting her is just like we last saw each other yesterday, even though it's been about 5 years.

 



 

Of course, you can't just get the free pattern without looking around.  Nancy loves the old school Christmas characters and bought the panel with the idea that I could make her placemats, which I agreed to do. I also picked up 3 fat quarters of the exclusive Row-by-Row fabric, just because I loved the colour.

 

After a stop to visit my new great-niece Eloise in Calgary, I headed back through the Rockies!

 

 

It's hard to take pictures when you are the only one in the car, but I love this shot!

 

from Sugar Pine Quilts in Canmore, AB

 

My niece got married in Canmore a few years ago, so I had to stop back at Sugar Pines Quilts. This shop is known for its landscape kits of local scenery and their Row-To-Row didn't disappoint!  It shows the local mountains, the Three Sisters, and local wildlife!  I had to buy the kit (mainly because I don't want to do that intricate cutting).

 

 

Their other offerings didn't disappoint. Due to getting a layoff notice, I didn't buy as much as I would have liked, but I did get a few neutral fat quarters, some quilt labels (from the new Sweetwater line, Holly's quilt farm) and a bag of scraps for just $5.00 (approx. 1.5 metres).

 

I tried to find the quilt shop in Salmon Arm, but due to get a bulge in my tire and having to stop to get that replaced (ouch), I got all turned around and couldn't find it.  Finally I was on the road again and stopped in Kamloops at Katja's Quilt Shop.

 

I also bought this kit. The colours in the kit are a bit lighter, plus I might add my row-by-row fabric to brighten it up a bit more. 

Katje's the author of the New Hexagon, and is hosting The New Hexagon Millifiore Quilt-a-long.  I didn't realize until I got home that Katje helped me in the store.  I wish I had asked her to autograph my book. I also got 2 metres of Sweetwater's Church Cookbook fabric. 

 

So now that I am home again, I've added up my purchases. 

 

Added: 6.6 metres

Added Year to Date: 26.35 metres 

 

Used/Given away: 0 metres

 

Used/Given away Year to Date: -21.0

 

Added for 2015: 5.35

 

I'm now officially in the red for 2015, but I have plans to start knocking out the Christmas pillowcases this week and those numbers should be back in the positive soon. I also have some projects and patterns mulling in my head that I need to start working on. Remember that bliss I mentioned - I'm really being drawn in that direction.

Yesterday's 15 minutes

I did my mandatory (to me) 15 minutes in the sewing room again yesterday, and it turned into 2 hours.  I grabbed the first thing I saw, and finished up this future cushion cover flimsy:

 

The block started out as "Idaho Square Dance" from Quiltmaker's Addicted to Scraps column (a Bonnie Hunter column) and it just grew to use up the 1/2 pack of a charm pack I received from the quilt guild I belong to. Unfortunately, I don't have any left (unless you count about 5 1" squares in the Omigosh quilt bin), so I'll have to figure out something for the backing.

 

I'm going to quilt it with "organic" straight lines (fancy way of saying I'm not stressing if they aren't straight and evenly-spaced), then I'll finish it up and put it away for a Christmas present.

Sunday Stash Report, Week 31

I went into the sewing room today for 15 minutes and spent over 4 hours in there! Besides doing some cleaning and organizing, I finished a dress for baby Mya:

 

I made it a little shorter, because she is finally crawling!  She's almost 10 months now.

 

 

I added a vintage button from my mom's collection to disguise the fact that I didn't have the neckline even at the back!

 

And although I didn't a picture, my grandson just "had" to have stuffed starfish for his upcoming vacation, so I made two of them (one for my older granddaughter as well) so they could have hugs from Gramma at the cabin!  (Both families are going)

 

So, 1 1/2 metres out!  But....

 

this week's the hens came home to roost.

 

 

 

 

My package arrived from Ozark Fabrics.  The best thing about ordering from Tonya is that she will wait until you have a full envelope or box, and then ship it!  That means I can buy what tickles my fancy, but not pay shipping for every item.  It is a closed group on Facebook, but I highly recommend it for quality fabrics, great prices and a unique shipping method.

 

The bottom fabric is 7 yards of "Color Me" fabric - to make pillowcases for all the boys this Christmas. There was actually enough to make 9, and I only need 7 so I gave enough for 2 to my friend and co-worker. I still have 4 yard of "girl" fabric coming - it was on backorder.

 

The quatrefoil fabrics are for Christmas projects as well.  Good thing I got them now, because I got a layoff notice and I'll be looking for work to start in September.

 

 

I also got these various 1/2 yd and fat quarter pieces, plus my co-worker gave me the Scrabble board fabric!  More Christmas present sewing in my future!

 

So the totals are:

 

Added: 15.75 metres
 

Added Year to Date: 19.75 metres 

 

Used/Given away: 3.0 metres

 

Used/Given away Year to Date: -21.0

 

Added for 2015: -1.25

I'm still in the negative, but barely.  I better start kicking out some more finishes!  I have a ton of quilting to do, and hope to tackle some of those tops this week.

It's been too long...

I've been really slacking off on my blog and also my sewing!  So I'm going to try and get in the sewing room for at least 15 minutes a day, then post about it.  Today, I actually spent a couple of hours in there, cutting down scraps into usable sizes, then made a few Wild 'n Goosey block units and a crumb block. Yay, me!

 

 

5" squares, 2 1/2" strips and blocks, 2"  & 1 1/2" strips and HST in a variety of sizes

 

 

5" strips of novelty prints for I-Spy quilts

 

Colour's not true - it's after 11 p.m.  I love these little 3 1/2" blocks.