Stash ENHANCEMENT Report - July 31, 2011

Yesterday I went on the guild bus trip to the Hershey, PA quilt show. Fantastic show (to bad I forgot my camera), wonderful vendors and a great time. The 3 1/2 hour bus ride each way was kind of tiring but still had a wonderful time.

As I expected I did some major stash enhancement at the show. I was specifically looking to add a couple of batik fabrics to my stash and find some nice small prints that would make good borders to some fall table runners.

I ended up getting the batiks, the fall prints, a bright kids print and a FQ packet I couldn't pass up. In addition I purchased two patterns, a spool of bottom line bobbin thread, a couple of quilty cards and a telescoping back scratcher. I definitely helped the economy.

Here is a picture of my "haul" and stats for the week:

Fabric used this week: 3/4 yard
Fabric used YTD: 180 yards
Fabric purchased this week: 9 yards
Fabric purchased YTD: 127.5 yards
Net fabric used in 2011: 52.5 yards

My usage this week was very small. I spent most of the week quilting customer quilts and working on very little of my own projects. Here is a picture of one of the last customer quilts I quilted. This was made by a 14 year old, she did a great job.

and look at this little piece of a quilt, this was the last one on my frame.

Have a wonderful day.

Kathie

Senior Pictures

Well I can cross another item off of our summer "to do" list. Senior pictures were taken last night. Weather cooperated, it was warm but not to hot and the right light for outdoor pictures. I can't wait to see them. Some were taken by an old weathered barn, others by trees and greenery and the ones I think will be my favorites were taken on a dock on the water.

Guess the next biggie will be college applications. At least one of the universities we visited applications go live next week. I am sure I will be "encouraging" Mandy to make an early start on those since there are so many things you have to request (transcripts, letters of recommendations etc.) in addition to the applications, essays and other information.

Accomplished very little in the sewing room yesterday. I got one block cut out for my sampler quilt and the next customer quilt partially loaded on the frame but thats it. Hope to get more accomplished today.

Kathie

UFO of the Month for July

Ok UFO for July is done. All that was still needed this month was binding and a hanging sleeve but just about waited till the end of the month to get it done. This was from a guild workshop where we used Ricky Timms book.

I am back to doing some customer quilts although I don't want to tackle any larger than a large twin/small full sized yet. I wanted to get another charity quilt quilted in between the customer quilt so quilted this bright yellow quilt made by Betty the other day. Just did a meander in bright yellow thread just to get it done but as brite and busy as it is the meander is just fine. Wish I had taken a picture of the backing as it is just as pretty as the front, lots of bright print squares with a few orphan (I guess) blocks tossed in.

Great job Betty.

Another doctors appointment today, a few errands and then hopefully will get the next customer quilt at least loaded but think I am going to take a break today and do some piecing this afternoon.

This evening we will be going to get my daughters senior pictures taken. She is very excited as it is a whole photo shoot done outside. What happened to a few pictures taken in a studio? Big bucks but you are only a senior once!! Guess we did save by not having to buy a class ring, her skin reacts to metal so it just wasn't an option. I think Senior year is going to be VERY expensive.

Kathie

Design Wall Monday - July 25, 2011

Currently on my design wall are Christmas sampler blocks

Two of my friends are in charge of the block of the month at one of the quilt guilds I belong to, so I have been trying to make blocks, turn them in and try to win them. No luck on the winning so far. I also made 4 or 5 months worth and then there were a couple I just didn't want to put the time into making, and other months I just wasn't able to make them for various reasons.

When I made one in the requested colors to turn in I was also making one out of Christmas fabrics and figured by the end of the years worth (August) I would have enough to make a sampler quilt.

In our recent newletter they requested that anyone that had won blocks or made their own bring in their quilt top to the September meeting. Ok, so finally that got me motivated to make a couple more blocks and get these on the design wall. I am going to make three more blocks, then sash and border this for a Christmas lap quilt. Do you think a thin black sashing would look ok?

The other exciting news of the weekend is that we bought a new car on saturday. This is a Hyundai Sonata, which is a nice midsized car so should be good on gas mileage but also big enough that the three of us could take trips in it.

Hope everyone has a wonderful (and hopefully cooler) week.

Kathie

Sunday Stash Report - July 24, 2011

I thought I was going to have nothing to report this week but remembered that I did make one block. Not much but medical issues pretty much took up the week.

Current stats are:

Fabric used this week: .25 yards
Fabric used YTD: 179.25 yards
Fabric purchased this week: 0
Fabric purchased YTD: 188.5
Net fabric used in 2011: 60.75 yards

I am afraid that my report next sunday will definitely show a DROP in the net usage unless I sew like crazy this week. About 30 of us from my quilt guild will be going on a bus trip next saturday to the Hershey PA Quilt Show. Really looking forward to it. There are always fabrics I have not seen before at those that I just HAVE to pick up. With the prices that fabric has gone to I am sure I will be coming home with less yardage than in the past but will still have a few things to "freshen" my stash.

Kathie

Quilty for a Change

Nice to have something quilty to blog about for a change and not just health issues.

I actually have finished a couple of things this week while vegging on the sofa I completed the bindings on this second pink baby quilt

and also the binding on this holly tumbler quilt

and this morning I was able to go downstairs and take the baby duck quilt off the frame that I had quilted on sunday

I try not to spend hours on the computer reading blogs but there are a few that I try and read on a daily basis or at least every few days. One that I especially like is Alycia's blog out in Colorado she does so much QOV charity work. Today my thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family after a the terrible loss of her cousin and three nieces in a freak flash flood earlier this week. I think every one of us tends to take our families for granted so if you are lucky to have yours around give them an extra hug today.

Kathie

Wednesday Update

Had my heart cath done up at the Washington Hospital Center in DC on monday. Was scary and not fun but not to bad. Since no blockages were found they let me go home the same night so now just recooperating from the meds and the trama to my leg where they went in. Good think purple is my favorite color as I am about six different shades!!!

Since I can't do stairs for a couple of days I have been doing some hand work and making progress on bindings. Hopefully I will get a couple of things done so I will be able to post pictures.

Kathie