Stitching and DeStashing--Week 13, 2020

The emphasis has been on destashing this week, and I have higher numbers to report than any previous stash report. The secret is to give it away! I'm counting that as "used" since the fabric is now out of my stash. I offered three "orphans" for adoption, and they were all shipped out yesterday, plus a fabric gift to a blogging friend. The total given away was 30.5 yards!

There was also some actual fabric usage this week. I used 1/4 yard to make the Scrappy Bear Paw block that I shared in yesterday's post, and I also used 3 yards to make 24 face masks for a local healthcare group.

2020 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                          33.75 yards

Used year to date:                      43.75 yards

Added last week:                          2.75 yards

Added year to date:                      2.75 yards

Net used year to date               41.0 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us tracking how many days each week we get in at least 15 minutes of quilting time. I continue to spend most of each day in my sewing room. Whether I am making face masks or working on quilts, I love the joy and the distraction of the creative process.

15 Minute Challenge:  

3/22 - 3/28                 7 of 7 days

2020 Total               85 of 88 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces. Many thanks to Donna and to Kate for continuing to host these link-ups!

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 13, 2020

It seemed like I would have endless amounts of time for quilting this week, but the majority of my time in the sewing room was spent making face masks. Since the theater where I work is closed down, management wanted to find some kind of work we could do at home. I was so glad when they arranged for us to make these masks--a great way to take advantage of our skills and do something really helpful. 

This lovely rainbow collection, perfect for today's Rainbow Scrap Challenge post, all came from my fabric stash. I finished 24 of these and have about 20 more cut out.

This is the first dozen made with the fabric supplied from work. I found out that it is possible to cut pieces for 96 masks from a 10-yard bolt of fabric, and I have finished 84 of them.

I did find some time to work on one of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects. This is my teal and turquoise Scrappy Bear Paw block, made from 2.5" squares for a block that finishes at 14".

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. I hope you are all staying well and getting lots of quilting done!

Julie in GA

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 12, 2020

My big plans to be super-productive during the time at home lately haven't gone as expected so far, but I am making a little progress. I spent a few days going through my UFOs and project leftovers, which lead to three offerings posted for the Spring 2020 Orphan Adoption Event at Quilting is more fun than Housework. You can check out the three blog posts sharing my "orphans" HERE, HERE and HERE.

There will be big changes to the stash report once the orphans are shipped away. One of them is a box of 2" strips that weighs 5 pounds. A conservative estimate of the yardage is 3 yards per pound, although I've seen some people go as high as 4 yards. Shipping out that 5 pounds of fabric will mean a 15-20 yard reduction to my stash!

The only change to my stash report for the past week was the first addition for the year. I won this beautiful jelly roll from Bea at beaquilter.com. She had giveaways for several prizes as part of her "Dust Off an Old Book" blog hop, and I was one of the lucky winners. Thanks, Bea!

2020 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                              0.0 yards

Used year to date:                        10.0 yards

Added last week:                          2.75 yards

Added year to date:                      2.75 yards

Net used year to date               7.25 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us tracking how many days each week we get in at least 15 minutes of quilting time. I have been spending many hours every day in my quilting room. I am so grateful that I have this wonderful creative outlet to help me stay grounded and calm.

15 Minute Challenge:  

3/15 - 3/21                 7 of 7 days

2020 Total               78 of 81 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces. Many thanks to Donna and to Kate for continuing to host these link-ups!

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 12, 2020

The fact that our assigned color for March at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is teal/turquoise has motivated me to resume working on my Frolic quilt. This was the 2019 Bonnie Hunter mystery, and mine has plenty of turquoise and aqua in it.

There are four partial blocks left to be made for the top and bottom edges, then I can sew them all together. My photo is also missing the black cornerstones where the pieced sashing meets up. Bonnie's design had 25 full blocks, but I decided to stop at 13.

Making those last few blocks is my top goal for today's International Quilting Day, and I might even start joining them together. I've been seeing all sorts of new quilt-alongs and mystery quilts starting up this week. I'm trying to resist starting anything new, but then again, I think we all deserve a treat in these trying times.

For those who haven't heard, this weekend is the Spring 2020 Quilty Orphan Adoption Event at Quilting is more fun than Housework. Twice a year Cynthia hosts this event, giving quilters a chance to pass along some of their UFOs to someone else who will love and finish them. I have three "orphans" up for adoption--you can read about them HERE and HERE and HERE. The Rainbow Scrap Challenge folks may remember the watercolor blocks I was making a couple years ago, which eventually became the quilt shown below. My third adoption offering is a box full of strips leftover from making that quilt--check it out!

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. I hope you are all staying well and getting lots of quilting done!

Julie in GA

Orphan Adoption #3--March 2020

This is my third and final post for the Spring 2020 Quilty Orphan Adoption Event hosted by Cyndi at Quilting is more fun than Housework. You can read more about the event and my first offering, a fat quarter bundle, in THIS POST. My second orphan, the parts to make a Double Wedding Ring, is in THIS POST.

Orphan #3 is a box stuffed full of 2" strips of a huge variety of fabrics, mostly floral prints from the late 1990's. When I stacked them together, they nearly filled the lid of a printer paper box.

Here are some photos of a limited number of the fabrics, moving from the darkest group to the lightest. There are many more fabrics in every group.

You may be wondering what you could make with all these fabrics. Here's where it all started for me. At a quilt guild meeting in 1997, our speaker was Deanna Spingola, author of Strip-Pieced Watercolor Magic and More Strip-Pieced Watercolor Magic. (Both books are still available on Amazon and other sources.) She inspired me to give watercolor quilts a try.

I went a little crazy buying multicolor prints for these projects. I made two watercolor quilt tops the following year, one small (27" square) and one larger (55" square.) Neither one ever got quilted. I especially like the wreath of flowers effect in the first piece.

"Calvary" from Strip-Pieced Watercolor Magic
by Deanna Spingola, 27" x 27"

variation on "Cosmic Energy" 55" x 55"
from Strip-Pieced Watercolor Magic by Deanna Spingola

After making those two quilt tops, there were still enough 2" strips left to fill three shoe boxes. Those boxes of strips moved with me several times and didn't see the light of day again until April, 2017. That is when I pulled them out for the multicolor month at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I used them to make the blocks for this quilt top, which I gave away in the Fall 2017 Orphan Adoption.

Pattern is "Tranquil Treasures" by Evelyn Sloppy from her book Strips and Strings - 16 Sparkling Quilts. 

This collection of 2" watercolor strips adds up to 5 pounds of fabric and almost completely fills a medium size Priority Mail box. I've also included some strip-pieced panels that I believe were leftover from the "Calvary" watercolor quilt. Each panel measures approximately 9" x 14". That might be enough for you to reproduce my "Calvary" quilt yourself.

I will ship to the winner anywhere in the U.S. only. One warning--there may be a delay in getting these in the mail. Don't count on receiving your "orphan" immediately. 

Leave a comment to let me know if you would like to adopt this orphan project. Shipping in the U.S. only. Please be sure to include your email address so I can contact the winner. I will choose a random winner next Wednesday, March 25th. Get your comment in by noon EDT that day. Be sure to check out the rest of the quilty orphans over at Quilting is more fun than Housework. 


Julie in GA

Orphan Adoption #2--March 2020

This is my second post for the Spring 2020 Quilty Orphan Adoption Event hosted by Cyndi at Quilting is more fun than Housework. You can read more about the event and my other offering in THIS POST.

I've known for months that I needed to put my Double Wedding Ring UFO up for adoption. This project was started in 1999! That was about 4 years after I had started quilting. I had very ambitious plans to make a bed-sized quilt, but stalled out before long, and this project has followed me around ever since.

When I put some of the already-pieced sections up on the wall for photos, I remembered why I was so excited about this project way back when. This classic design is tricky to piece, but it has such a wonderful look to it! My plan was to make the rings with darker colors around the outsides and lighter inside.

My starting point was this book. I am not including my copy in the adoption, but there are plenty of copies available on-line. I will include a copy of the pattern that I drafted, which you can use to make templates if you need to cut more pieces.

Here's what you will receive as part of this "orphan" package:

One almost-completed ring with muslin center

Already pieced arcs: approximately 64 darker and 20 lighter 

Muslin pieces for rings: 20 centers and 44 sides
I will also include extra of the same muslin

Lots of extra pieces for making more arcs

These pieces go at the ends of the arcs

I will ship to the winner anywhere in the U.S. only. One warning--there may be a delay in getting these in the mail. Don't count on receiving your "orphan" immediately. 

Leave a comment to let me know if you would like to adopt this orphan project. Shipping in the U.S. only. Please be sure to include your email address so I can contact the winner. I will choose a random winner next Wednesday, March 25th. Get your comment in by noon EDT that day. Be sure to check out the rest of the quilty orphans over at Quilting is more fun than Housework. 

Julie in GA

Orphan Adoption #1--March, 2020

Spending my days at home this week has meant lots of time spent in the sewing room. One of my main quilting goals this spring has been to go through the boxes and piles all over the place and sort out some things I can let go. The timing worked out well, because it is time for the Spring 2020 Quilty Orphan Adoption Event! 

Twice a year, Cyndi at Quilting is more fun than Housework hosts this event to help us clear out some of the old projects that we will never finish. It's the perfect opportunity to pass along your orphan blocks/projects to someone else who will love and finish them!

I have multiple offerings up for adoption this year, and I am going to list them each in a separate post. That makes it easier for me to keep track of who is interested in which item. My other posts can be viewed HERE and HERE.

The first "orphan" available for adoption is a bundle of fat quarters that I received in a giveaway a couple years ago. There are 27 FQs from the fabric line "First of Infinity" by Lecien. The fabrics have a beautiful feel, but the prints just aren't my style.

I will ship to the winner anywhere in the U.S. only. One warning--there may be a delay in getting these in the mail. Don't count on receiving your "orphan" immediately. 

Leave a comment to let me know if you would like to adopt this orphan project. Shipping in the U.S. only. Please be sure to include your email address so I can contact the winner. I will choose a random winner next Wednesday, March 25th. Get your comment in by noon EDT that day. Be sure to check out the rest of the quilty orphans over at Quilting is more fun than Housework. 

Julie in GA

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 11, 2020

I thought there would be lots of quilting happening while I have been at home trying to avoid the coronavirus, but not much has happened yet. Mostly I have been concentrating on trying to dig through the overwhelming piles of fabrics, UFOs, sample blocks, magazines, patterns, etc., that have taken over my sewing room. I'm making progress, but it has been slow.

No change to the stash over the past week--nothing in or out. When I get to the point of sorting through my fabric shelves, I hope to talk myself into purging some of the pieces that have been hanging around for decades. It would be great to clear some space, but I find it almost impossible to give up fabric, even the old stuff.

2020 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                             0.0 yards

Used year to date:                        10.0 yards

Added last week:                            0.0 yards

Added year to date:                        0.0 yards

Net used year to date               10.0 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us tracking how many days each week we get in at least 15 minutes of quilting time. I missed one day last week, but my total is still in good shape.

15 Minute Challenge:  

3/8 - 3/14                   6 of 7 days

2020 Total               71 of 74 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces. Many thanks to Donna and to Kate for continuing to host these link-ups!

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 11, 2020

It has been a tough week for quilting, mostly because of all the distractions with the news about the coronavirus. Friday was my first day to stay at home, and I had plans for great productivity, but it was still hard to concentrate. I'm hoping to be able to relax a little and do some serious sewing in the days ahead.

I did manage to make my first batch of teal and turquoise Square Dance blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. For this month I am combining my teal/turquoise scraps with light blues. 

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. I hope you are all staying well and getting lots of quilting done!

Julie in GA

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 10, 2020

It's time for another weekly stash report, and my streak of no additions to the stash continues! It must be the overwhelming disarray all over the sewing room that helps me realize that I don't need more fabric right now. Of course that could change in a second if I run across a fantastic sale!

My usage for the week was 3/4 yard for the latest batch of Square Dance blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

2020 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                             .75 yards

Used year to date:                        10.0 yards

Added last week:                            0.0 yards

Added year to date:                        0.0 yards

Net used year to date               10.0 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us tracking how many days each week we get in at least 15 minutes of quilting time. I had a good work with quilting time every single day! Most of that time was spent pulling fabrics together for my next set of Square Dance blocks.

15 Minute Challenge:  

3/1 - 3/7                     7 of 7 days

2020 Total               65 of 67 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces. Many thanks to Donna and to Kate for continuing to host these link-ups!

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 10, 2020

I haven't been linking up posts with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge as frequently this year, but that is mostly because I don't seem to have as much to share. I am working on two new projects for the RSC, plus have carried over the Orange Peel blocks from last year.

My new Square Dance project has blocks that are very easy to make, but it takes me several days to get enough pieces together for all the blocks I want to make each month. I'm planning my quilt to run in a rainbow gradation of colors, and every block includes the color of the month and one of the colors that will be next to it. For instance, last month's color was orange, and I made blocks with orange and yellow, but I still have half my orange squares in reserve. When our chosen color is red, I will use the rest of the oranges with red squares, like the blocks shown here.

Here is my selection of teal, turquoise, and aqua squares. Half of them will be combined with blues for this month, and the rest will be used during the green month. 

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 9, 2020

The Saturday Sampler blocks that I showed in last Sunday's post have since been turned into a completed quilt top, which I shared on Friday. Finishing that top used 2.25 yard for the sashing, setting triangles and borders. It ended up becoming a bright, cheery little quilt, and it's a good size for a child.

Saturday Sampler quilt top
50" x 63"

2020 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                            2.25 yards

Used year to date:                        9.25 yards

Added last week:                            0.0 yards

Added year to date:                        0.0 yards

Net used year to date               9.25 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us tracking how many days each week we get in at least 15 minutes of quilting time. I spent plenty of time last week finishing the Saturday Sampler quilt top, but missed one day at the end of the week.

15 Minute Challenge:  

2/16 - 2/22                6 of 7 days

2020 Total               58 of 60 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces. Many thanks to Donna and to Kate for continuing to host these link-ups!

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA