Getting into my stash

As you can tell from posts over the last few months, I have really been into using fabric out of my stash.  I've shown you pictures of how I have it organized, by color and all folded nicely.  Need a reminder? ...

By collection

By color

I love walking into my quilting room and seeing these nice neat little stacks.  Somehow my stacks have grown ... even though I haven't added any fabric.  I think when I was over in the cottage, I was able to spread out more.  I had some cabinets and a shelving unit in addition to a bookcase full of fabric.  Now I just have the bookcase ... it is making me get organized and pare down ... that is good.

I have told you I am a saver of scraps, but I take my scraps and cut them into strips ... from 1" to 3 1/2" and then put these strips in bins

Obviously just a picture of the strips, but the bins are full and overflowing

See?  Clearly a strip quilt or something is in order!  I brought this subject up, because my theme for the year is managing my stash ... using my stash, what is a stash?!  If you have quilted for any length of time, then you have collected fabric.  But like everyone, when I'm trying to create a quilt, it is so much easier (and more fun) to just buy new fabric.  Who wants to use that old stuff that maybe I'm not as much in love with as when I first bought?  And it's so much easier to make a quilt out of a line of fabric than actually having to dig and think about what I have.  If you've been paying attention, you have noticed in my blog over several months, that I've been focusing on this idea.  My goal for this year is really getting serious about getting into my stash and using all those fabrics I keep passing over.  We've all done it, and you know what I'm talking about.

A couple months ago in preparation for a new class I'm going to be teaching this year at the store, I made a table runner out of my stash.  I loved what came out of the creation ...

I started with picking five fabrics ... I didn't really know in what direction I was heading.  I picked a couple of greens, a couple reds and a yellow.  I really wanted to use this yellow because I thought it made everything pop.

 

Then I added a couple more greens to give it some depth and difference.  I picked several neutrals; I wanted some interest in the difference in colors ... not just all one shade.

 

This is what I came up with!  I thought it best to design a pattern that everyone could make instead of just talking about their stash.  But this has been on the schedule now for two months, and not a lot of interest.  So I'm going to refocus my energies on really using the stash.  The class is going to focus on bringing stash to class, talking about what to do with it, and giving you lots of encouragement and ideas.  My class is the last Friday of the month from 10 to 1.  I am so excited about this whole concept and I want to get everyone else excited about it too!

 

When I put the runner together, I did not have enough lights to balance out the color, but I went with it anyway.  My original thought was "oh no, there are too many of the dark neutrals and I can't leave it like that."  But then I remembered that this was not about perfection and what it should be ... it is driven by what I had to work with.  You know what?  I love this little quilt!  It is so darn cute and fun. 

After I got it all together, I was trying to pick out a binding.  I didn't want to use the red that was already in the quilt, I just thought it was a little too blah ... I thought about using a scrappy binding, but it didn't thrill me.  I had this windowpane red fabric that I had not used a lot of in the quilt and I knew that would be dynamite as the binding!  It sure is and I love it.  What I've realized lately is that it is really nice to have some kind of a nice geometric print as the binding.  I used to stay away from those because I thought it was too distracting and that the print would not align correctly.  I have changed my tune there ... I don't care if it is not perfect ... it's not supposed to be, it is just supposed to catch your eye ... and this one surely does.

I hope you will play along with me here and dip into your stash and start creating and using what you have. This venture has really made me think twice about purchasing new fabric ... I keep telling myself  "oh, I can't buy new fabric.  I keep talking about using what I have - I cannot post that I bought new!"  So you all didn't even know it, but you're keeping me on track!  Ha, ha

Dip into your stash ... start with a small project to get your feet wet.  Find a block that you like and make a few of them.  This block was set on point because it really made it stand out even more.  But you don't need to do that; just make a few blocks, add a border or two, and step back and admire what you created!  This little venture helped me use about 3 1/2 yds of fabric.  So there you go!  Please let me know what you're working on and what you create.  I would love pictures and also your permission to share it here and get all of us going in the right direction. 

As I've said before ... the more fabric we can use, the more excuse we have for adding to it to deplete our losses!

Stash Report - Week 8

Whoops .. forgot to post this yesterday!  No sewing this week, but I am starting to feel the itch of not piecing ... so I have big plans for later in the week.  Tune in to hold me to it in next week's stash report!

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 27 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 2 1/4 yards
Net Used for 2014: 24 3/4 yards

Have a great week!

Only Six Left

... Six quilts left that is it!  I mean six customer quilts.  We won't talk about how many of mine need to be quilted.  They are not even in the count!

This quilt I have had since last May and another great friend was very patient!  It was from a string quilt class that I taught.  I love this quilt ... It is a great way to use up your scraps.  In my stash I have strips cut from 1" to 3 1/2"; when my bins are full it is time to do something with them. My bins are full, so I think it is time for a string quilt!

 

I did a close together stipple because I love the way the design looks on a busy quilt like this.  It just gives it so much texture.

I used Omni thread in top and bottom in a gold color.  It really popped on the darker colors.  One of my longarm teachers told me when you're not sure of a color thread to use, try gold.

Next was this adorable baby quilt.  I have decided that minkee and flannel are my two favorite backings!!  When you quilt over them, the fabric just soaks up the stitches and it looks beautiful!  It also really feels good when you're quilting on it as well.

 

I did a curly swirl with a heart thrown in here and there.  Omni thread in top and bottom in Baby Pink.

This quilt is so cute ... I love the pink and brown, and with the minkee on the back, I want to curl up with it!

 

And look who is the cutest valentine ...

She just started walking this weekend and she is so proud of herself!

Stash Report - Week 7

Got into my sewing room this week and tried to get some organization going on ... Made three backs for tops that are in line to be quilted ... Some day!  At least I got into that stash!

Used this Week: 6 2/3 yards
Used year to Date: 27 yards
Added this Week: 1/4 yards
Added Year to Date: 2 1/4 yards
Net Used for 2014: 24 3/4 yards

Keeping Busy

Trying to work through my stack of quilts to be done and catch up.  This quilt was fun and special to do as it was for a friend's grandson.  He is a sweet little boy and I am in love with his spirit!  For some reason he reminds me of my son when he was little.  They both wear glasses and that may be what triggered that comparison ... Can I tell you how impossible it was to keep glasses on a 3 year old, and how many times we had to enlist the help of his angels to help him find the glasses?  Haha ... The second day he had them he left them on the ground and stepped on them!

This is such a simple pattern, but more appealing because of that.  I can just imagine it on my little friend's bed.

I just did a more open meander.  A boy's quilt getting a lot of wear and tear needs a design that is sturdy.

I used Omni thread in top and bobbin in the color, Flax.  

Look at how cute her back is!  It took a little math to start the quilting far enough down so there was the same amount of fabric at the top and at the bottom, centering the back just so.

It was a delight to quilt this, imagining how special it is going to be to for a very wonderful boy!

Stash Report - Week 6

I decided to make my granddaughter a quilt for Valentine's day so I got to use quite a bit of my stash ... Yes!!

Used this Week: 6 yards
Used year to Date: 20 1/3 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 2 yards
Net Used for 2014: 18 1/3 yards

Life and such

After a slow start, I have had a busy and productive week.  I have been having some personal challenges, and along with being sick and having to stop and slow down, I have been struggling.  I tell you this not for sympathy ... Here, on my blog, you will find the person I am in real life.  I think it is important to share joys and challenges ... It let's us all know that both sides of the coin are real and happen to everyone.

I just had to pick myself up every day and push to do one thing.  Before I knew it it was Friday and I had accomplished so much!  Monday I quilted a friend's quilt I have had for too long!

I was having some trouble getting my thread tension to cooperate.  I even placed a call to "my people."  He suggested maybe the thread was bad in that particular spot.  I had another cone in the same color thank goodness and wala! ... No trouble!  These are the times that having a machine is not fun!  I just want it to work as it is supposed to and I don't want to have to be a repair person! Waa, waa!!  These are the things I never thought about before I bought my machine.  If you are really in the market for a longarm, do your research, test several, and find a longarmer and watch all that goes into loading a quilt, care of the machine, and the whole process.  It is NOT as easy or quick as I once thought!

I did something called dwirling where you echo the previous line, throwing in curves and designs to give interest.  It is really a fun free motion design.  I used Omni in top and bobbin in one of my favorite colors ... Bronco.

Sorry for the lighting in these pictures ... It was late afternoon and I couldn't get away from the glare.  It was a fun little quilt to work on and I truly thank my friend for being so patient.  I have the best quilting friends, and customers ... I really do!!  Let me say with all my complaining that I feel truly blessed to be able to have this business I run out of my home, making my own hours, and having such flexibility.  It is hard work for sure, but the joy I receive from working on other people's masterpieces is something I can't quite explain.

Speaking of joy ... Look who is 11 months old!

Is this not so sweet?  She had fallen asleep in her other grandpa's arms.  I just want to squish and kiss those adorable cheeks and squeeze her!  I hope I get to do that soon!!

Valentine banner - finished project #3

Well here is my third unfinished project of 2014 ... Woo Hoo!

The Valentine wool banner.  I wasn't really liking it ... But then once I put the backing on and blanket stitched around the edge, I do love it.

See the stitching on the scallops .. Wasn't sure about that either, but I like it.

And here it is in the frame!  It's propped up in my sewing studio ... I just have to figure out where I want to hang it.  I have a problem hanging pictures ... I don't know why, I'm afraid of putting it in the wrong spot, and then you have to move it, and then you have a hole in the wall!  Ha ha .... I have issues!

Stash Report - Week 5

I did add a little to my stash this week; a minky backing for a quilt I'm making.  Other than that ... Another week not being at the machine.  :-(. I have higher hopes for this week!

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 14 1/3 yards
Added this Week: 2 yards
Added Year to Date: 2 yards
Net Used for 2014: 12 1/3 yards

Wool bunny - unfinished project #2

Well I am proud to present my second finish of the new year ... A wool bunny

Now remember this was the banner project from last year and I wasn't paying attention when I laid him out.  Please don't tell me he is sitting on the pennies, or that I should have moved them down ... I was not going to undo what I had sewn to correct it and make it perfect.  DESPITE what a couple of my friends said ... Harrumph!!  The drive this year in getting it done is reaching a finish ... It doesn't have to be the same finish you originally had in mind.  Done is better than laying in a box, collecting dust!  I wasn't sure how the banners were finished off, I could see on the pattern they were blanket stitched around the whole thing.  I simply sewed my back right sides together with my front, left a hole for turning the whole thing right side out, clipped my curves before turning, and then blanket stitched around the entire outside.  I really like the way it finished the piece.

Isn't he cute?  Once I figured out how to get the back off this frame I had laying around, I used my 505 basting spray and wrapped the frame back in batting, then sprayed again and wrapped it with a layer of fabric.  I just pinned the banner on, and I will change it out every month.  But I better get busy and get another one finished ... the valentine one is almost done.

Stash Report - Week 4

Oops ... Almost week 5 and I forgot to send this.  Nothing going on here but laying on the couch and some hand sewing.

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 14 1/3 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Used for 2014: 14 1/3 yards

A Day at a Time

Friday I missed my friend's get it done class, and as my headache had finally gone away, I felt like I could do a little hand sewing.  Even though I couldn't be in class, I was with them in spirit ...

Oh how embarrassing ... There is little Todd dog hair stuck to the wool!  Good grief!  This is one of the wool banners The Country Loft did as a block of the month last year.  I wasn't going to do them but then ... When I saw the bunny for the spring I couldn't resist.

I have most of them prepped and ready to be sewn.  This was my first finish ... The one I'm working on next

I didn't pay attention to the directions when I was placing this and wound up with the bottom pieces too close to the bottom.  I haven't figured out how I'm going to solve that yet.  I knew there was no way I was ripping everything off.  I decided not to use them as banners; I'm going to rotate them out in a picture frame.  It will make a great addition to my quilting studio/sewing room.  

I think I'll go look for a frame tomorrow.  I finally feel like I can return to some normal things after Day 7 of my plague!  I have weird leg pains ...  Probably from doing nothing for 6 days.  Things I am tired of:

Television

My couch

My bed

Being alone

Well, I'm never alone ...

Sophie is usually next to me or in my lap, especially if there is a quilt involved.  She loves quilts and is a great comfort.

And then there's ...

Todd .. He never lets me forget he's around ... Seriously does he look starved for attention.  There is never enough for him!

Longarming

Even though I wasn't busy sewing last week, I was busy longarming.  I did two quilts ... Both for the same customer.  She is a special lady and a prolific quilter.  I have quilted more of her quilts than anyone else!  First up was this scrappy quilt ...

I believe this is a pattern by Bomnie Hunter.  Judy used up a lot of her scraps

... The only fabric she purchased was sashing, border, backing and binding.  Way to go in stash busting, Judy'

I used Omni thread in top and bobbin in my favorite color, Bronco. It was free motion with a swirl and a star thrown in.  I really liked the design.

The next quilt was a pattern and class taught by my friend, Jayne Cartier.  Isn't this such a happy quilt?

While a quilt like this one looks easy, there is a lot involved in matching all those points.  Also making sure your seams are accurate so the sashing meets the block in the right place.  Judy worked really hard to accomplish that and she did a great job! 

I used Signature on top with a prewound Glide bobbin.  The combination worked wonderfully and I had great stitch quality. I did a technique called dwirling ... I start by stitching a line across the quilt and then start echoing the lines, creating curves, dips, and swirls to create interest.  It is one of my most favorite designs to stitch as it goes quickly and never looks the same.

And here my sweet little granddaughter who is 10 months old!  I love this picture because it really shows off her personality.  Have a great week.

Stash Report - Week 2

No sewing went on this last week ...

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 9 1/3 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Used for 2014: 9 1/3 yards

Happy 2014 -- Stash Report Week 1

I know I've been quiet but it's been because I've been busy!  After 6 weeks of doing doing doing, it feels good to give myself permission to sit and do nothing now and then!  My hubby is back at work as he had 2 weeks off for the holidays.  He works for the school district ... Daughter is back to school ... I love having her home and miss her when she leaves.

I wanted to have a great stash report to set my new year right, and here it is:

Yardage In - 0

Yardage Out - 9 1/3 yards

Total - 9 1/3 yd out for the year

I did finish a quilt over the weekend (more on that later), and I used the 9 yards for backing and borders.  I also put some binding on a very old quilt ... That was the third!  Woo Hoo!  How about you all?  I hope you are getting into your quilting rooms and feeding your souls!  Even a mere 20 min counts.  I challenge you to do it for yourself.  Please let me know!

Longarmed yesterday and at it again today.  Trying to STILL catch up.  Good thing I have the best clients in the world!!!

Merry Christmas!

A very Merry, blessed and wonderful Christmas to all of you!  I am enjoying a wonderful day with my family ... last Christmas, my darling son was in Michigan, so it is really special that he is back in San Diego.  Even though fiance and sweet granddaughter Kylee are not here, we facetimed with them this morning and it was so fun to see her enjoying her Christmas presents ... she is almost 10 months old and adorable as ever!  Enjoy your holiday season ... I will be back soon with a stash report update!  The very merriest of Christmas' ... xoxo

 

Merry, merry

Well ... whew ... that is the first word that comes to mind ... whew!  Amongst this season of everything screaming at us to hurry and shop, hurry and bake, hurry and be done, hurry, hurry, hurry ... I am trying NOT to hurry!  I am trying to just listen to the Christmas music I love, enjoy the people that I love, and keep busy ... to keep my mind off of all the things I am supposed to have done by now ... ha ha!

The move into my room continues ... the longarm was taken apart and reassembled last Sunday.  I made myself sick I was so worried about it ... I hired our handyman who I trust and who is wonderful, but still ... not the person that knows the machine.  He did a great job with the help of my hubby and son.  I started quilting on Monday on the machine and there was a big stiff spot and almost a drop, in one section of the machine.  I realized after fighting it for a while, that it was really a simple fix ... the frame wasn't square.  Got out my tools and loosened all the main connections and everything settled.  Felt so proud of myself!  I have since done 5 quilts on it, so I am good to go!  Yes, you read that right ... six quilts in the last week ... no wonder I feel like I'm not getting a lot of Christmas done!

I'll work backwards and show you a few of the quilts ... this beauty is a Kim Diehl pattern that a friend of mine made ... isn't it adorable? 

 I was a little worried about outlining around the applique ... sometimes I don't like the look ... I just don't feel like it blends well.  I decided to go around everything, it was what my friend wanted 

... but there needed something else to give it dimension, so I went in and out of some of the elements highlighting them. 

 I think it gives great texture and my friend loved it!  She is easy to please ... but I love it too ... and I'm not easy to please!  ha ha

I used Omni on top and bottom ... free motion all the way!  I am becoming a huge fan of this thread and I see it edging all the other threads I've used out ... it is very reasonably priced, comes in about 144 colors, and I can use it top and bobbin.  It also stitches beautifully!

Here is an adorable little quilt of another friend ... it was made with those little templates ... I can't remember what they're called. 

 Again, Omni in top and bottom and free motion.  I love this color Omni thread ... it is called Bronco ... it's a caramel color, lightish brown and blends well with many colors.  I have two cones of the same color I liked it so much!

I also used this color to quilt three memory shirt quilts; a friend of mine has so kindly been making them for months now for a friend of their's that lost her husband.  She made five ... I have quilted four, one more left.  I did not take pictures, as I just felt it wasn't appropriate.  I did a stipple on all of them; she bought minkee (spelling?) for the back and that is quickly becoming my favorite backing to quilt on.  It made me a little nervous at first because it is so stretchy.  But the plushness of it is wonderful!  It just soaks up the stitching and the back looks amazing because you can see all the detail.  It really feels great from the top as I am quilting.

Next up is this adorable quilt for a little boy ... what fun it is to quilt something so cheery and sweet!

  I just did my loopy swirl, going around the animal stitching ... it looks so cute and I'm sure that little person will love it! 

 I used King Tut on top and Glide in the bobbin.

Okay ... off to try and decorate my house ... we do keep everything up through the epiphany, January 6, so I never start too early in the month, but I feel like it's a little later than usual.  Oh well, I should just stop fretting about getting things done on time and realize I am always going to be a little behind!  Ha ha ...

And here is the sweetest thing for me this Christmas season ...

Stash Report

Well ... The longarm is moved so you know what they means ... Another week if no sewing!!  Haha ... I did manage a quilt, so at least I am all in one room now, back in the house.

This is my stash report for the week .. 

Yardage out - 0

Yardage in -  3/4 yd

Net used this year - 10 3/4 yards

 

There was a cute little polka piece of fabric left at the end of the bolt last week while working, so it mis have needed to come home with me.

More pics this week and reports of how my new space is working out!

Painting and moving

What have I been doing the last week?  After we got the granny flat painted and set up for my wonderful son, I had to move most of my crap out of there.  The upstairs of our home has three bedrooms ... son's room, daugther's room and spare room.  I used to have my sewing studio in our spare room ... when I moved into the granny flat, some of the stuff still remained in the spare room ... you know how that goes.  The upstairs looks like a bomb went off ... all of the stuff out of the g.f. went upstairs into the spare room ... well not all of it.  I am moving into my daughter's room, and she'll be moving into my son's room.  So most of her stuff got dumped in the hall upstairs and what wouldn't fit there, in the spare room ... along with the rest of my sewing stuff that came out of the g.f.  I have quite a bit of it in the closet in the new studio space (daughter's former room), but the rest is just in the corner of the spare room.  I won't even take a picture to show you what a disaster it all is. 

Her bedroom was turquoise blue ... she is 19, and I painted it when she was in 6th grade.  I was excited to pick paint colors ... after some severe deliberation, and help from my son, I decided on this wheat color for three of the walls ...

... and I decided to do a fun accent wall.  This is the wall my longarm will go on ... the color is Japanese koi ...

...  doesn't that look fun!  I figure if I really hate it, it's just one wall and I can redo it.  But I'm liking it so far.  Saturday we primed, yesterday we did the first coat, and today I put the second coat on.  My son is at work, so I was on my own.  Can't wait until it fully dries so I can start pushing furniture around and get some of my space set up.  That orange wall may need a third coat ... the guy that helped me at Home Depot warned me of that, but I decided that would be okay.  I bought a quart and I may have enough left for a third coat ... if not, my son taught me a trick ... you just buy a sample for a couple of bucks ... it's in a small jar and probably added to what I already have, enough to do the third coat.  The other great news is that I have about half a gallon left of the wheat, and that will be plenty to do the powder room downstairs ... we won't even talk about how long that has been in a "primed" condition.  Ha!!!

This is my granddaughter's first self-portrait ... Haha!  Isn't that funny ... She was looking at herself as mommy was holding the phone and snapped this picture.  Exactly what I've known all along ... She's a genius!!

Stash report

This is my stash report for the week .. nothing, nothing, nothing!  Ha ha  Well not really, I did acquire a couple pieces of fabric as gifts so here it goes ...

Yardage out - 0

Yardage in -  1 1/4 yards

Net used this year - 11 1/2 yards

 

Now last week I made the pledge to get some sewing done.  Well that hasn't happened ... does it count that I've been in my sewing room?  Close enough!  If it kills me, today I am going to sit and handsew for as long as I can just so I can follow through with my pledge to you!