Sunday Stash Report, Week 7

Nothing in this week (but I am expecting a box from Hillbilly Tonya any time now), but some good numbers out.

 

 On Super Bowl Sunday, Quiltbug.com posted a mystery quilt that should have been done in a day, but it took my friend Kim and I two Sundays to make two 50"x50" flimsies (I guess we should have taken more time to do the precutting!)

 

I donated the fabric to the cause, I've had this from one of the Thangles kit I've had for about 5 years old, and I'll never use it for what it was intended for.  I also gave Kim enough to do the backing as well, for a total of 7 metres out of my stash. (I still have tons left!) I'll count my backing once it's done, and I plan on gifting this to a friend who just bought a new home.  

The mystery quilt pattern included a flange - it looks a lot like the faux piping on my last finish and this next one!

Tetris is completely finished!  

I am in love with this faux-piped binding! (Check this post here for links to the tutorial)  I used varying shades of turquoise in an ombre effect.  Binding doesn't use a lot of fabric, but it's still 0.3 metres out.

 

I also made a couple of gifts - a Lazy Gal Wallet for a good friend:

 

Of course, with a little something in it!

And I had the kidlets overnight to give the mommies and daddies a night off.  I made them "Hugs" for Valentine's Day.

These are wheat bags, about 7" in height and weight, perfect for the times when Gramma can't be there and they need a hug.

And a little piece of my heart inside!  I made the bag itself from remnants of a table protector, vinyl-side out (for easy cleaning) with a minkee cover that has an envelope closure for easy removal and washing.  The kids loved them!  0.4 metres out for all the little gifts.

This is what my living room looked like this morning - they had to make a gorilla nest after watching National Geographic!

Of course, the chief inspector had to make sure they didn't leave any goodies behind!

I've managed to draft one of the panels for a Sochi-styled patchwork.  

Due to the number of partial seams required, I leaning towards foundation-piecing.  Wish me luck!

Added this Week: 0 metres

 Added Year to Date: 27.5 metres 

Destashed this Week: 7.7 metres

 Destashed year to Date: 17.05 metres

 Added for 2014: 10.45 metres

Total spent  YTD $35 = $1.27 cents/metre

Sunday Stash Report 2014, Week 6

 

Nothing in, nothing out the last few weeks so I saved it for today!

 

I'm not just buying, I'm finishing!

 

 

I finished the mini within a week of completing the flimsy.  It is simply quilted with a stich-in-the-ditch on the seams and a straight-stitch through the pieced blocks.  I'm uncertain if I will quilt in the plain blocks, I'm liking the simplicity of the background to the busyness of the blocks.

 

 

I tried something new with the binding - it is a faux-piped binding made with this tutorial I found here.  I love how it turned out and will definitely use it again!

 

It finished at 18.5 x 24", and I will be entering it in my guild's Modern Mini Challenge at the Creative Stitches show in Abbotsford next month.  Backing and binding used 0.35 metre.

 

 

 

If I get this next one bound (I have a month!), I'll enter it as well.  It will just barely squeak by as a mini at 36" x 36".

 

 

TETRIS  - pattern by Melissa Cory of Happy Quilting.

 

I tried something new with the quilting, a large swirl.  It's not quite free-motion quilting, I did use a walking foot quite successfully.  There is actually no puckers on the back!

 

 

I used a turquoise thread to match the minky backing and so it would show up on the black , and will bind it with the dotty material with a turquoise piping.

 

 

I had never counted the top out (I wonder how many other projects have been finished and not counted?) so this amounts to 2.75 metres out without the binding.

 

I picked up a little fabric this week, the binding for Tetris and some more white for Celtic Solstice and two just because. 4 metres in at a cost of $30 (the apples for I-spy quilts and the lime green were just $4/metre).

 

And remember, this little bundle I gave to my friend?

 

 

Well, she doesn't save scraps so she gave me back what she didn't use, and more - so 2 metres back in!  This is what I've been cutting down and using for Boxy Stars.

 

 

I've never get rid of my scraps at this rate!  We actually work well as a stash-team, I hang onto the scraps and when she needs some, say for a Bonnie Hunter mystery, we go through them at my house. It's a great method and gives us both great variety.

 

Added this Week: 6 metres

 Added Year to Date: 27.5 metres 

 

Destashed this Week: 3.1metres

 Destashed year to Date: 9.35 metres

 Added for 2014: 18.15 metres

Total spent  YTD $35 = $1.27 cents/metre

I've decided to track my spending as well, as this year I'm more about staying on budget, rather than restricting my stash. I'm all about bargains and so far, I have spent just over a $1 a yard! Check out my other Sunday Stash reports to see how I've done it.

Linking to Judy's Sunday Stash reports at Patchwork Times.

 

UFO Sunday, Week One, Part Two

I'm baaaaack!  Since it was Sunday, and I posted early, I thought I would add today's accomplishment!

Tetris - Blocks put together and ready for borders!

The design is by Melissa of Happy Quilting.  Her version was made with 5-inch squares, but I decided to use what I had on hand from my charm packs, and made mine with 2 1/2 inch squares.  It measures 24 1/2" x 36 1/2" right now, and it is the perfect size for a playpen or stroller.  It will make a great baby boy quilt for any upcoming babies, or I can use it here at the house for the grandbabies.

This one didn't actually make the UFO list, but because it was covering my ironing board, I decided to finish it rather than put it aside.  I'm going to put a black border on it, perhaps two but I'm decided.  I'll let it percolate a bit.  It will now go on the list - hopefully temporarily.

I pulled another UFO out, Vintage Valentine. 

 I started this project about 4 years ago, and started doing the machine applique but I didn't like it.  After a good look at it today, I realized it was because I didn't like the buttonhole stitch I was using and the delicacy of the design needed a fine satin stitch instead.

It's really obvious in this block and it was at this point when I put it aside.  I have done the red and pink on three blocks at this point, so I brought it upstairs to 'frog' out the old.

While I was digging around, I found another UFO that never made it past the 'buy the fabric' stage.  The fabric is an old Debbie Mumm line, Noah's Ark.  I envisoned a nice crib quilt for a boy but could never settle on a design.  I think there is enough fabric to make two, including backings!  I going to choose a Bonnie Hunter pattern, like Princess Crown or something similar and use it as a Leader & Ender project after I finish the Thangles quilt.

Thanks again, Leah, for giving me the push I need to get some of this fabric out of here!

You know you are addicted to starting new projects when...

When you finally cut out one project (from a kit you've had for at least 4 years)...

so you can use the leftovers to start another!

I've started making Tetris blocks, joining Melissa of Happy Quilting's "Tetris Quilt-Along"!  I love quilt-alongs, I actually have managed to finish a few quilt tops and even my Orca Bay quilt thanks to the motivation of having a set schedule.

Tonight, I watched the rebroadcast of the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics (Go, Canada!) and pieced together my blocks for Weeks One and Two.  I'm using a mix of solids, marbles and prints. So far, each "brick" is different, even if it is in the same colour category.  I decided on a black square to represent the "holes" where the Tetris blocks don't fill in.  (Not my idea, I saw a few examples on Melissa's linky.  I'm also making mine using 2 1/2" squares, not 5", so I could make use of those great leftovers.  This may end up being a mini-quilt at 24" x 36", or if I enjoy it enough, I'll keep going!

So here is my block for Week 1:

And Week Two:

Melissa has some great prizes, too, so visit her quilt-along page to join in!