Stash Report and Stitching Time 5/14/2023

First and foremost, Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. I'm so thankful that I was able to spend several days with my mother just recently. Love you, Mom!

It has been a busy week filled with appointments and getting our lives back in order after our recent travels, plus I worked two days at the end of the week. The Alliance Theatre, my former employer, is producing a new musical based on the book Water for Elephants. That means all sorts of fancy circus costumes, and I was happy to be back there helping out. 

Check out the flame designs on the sleeves, shoulders and bottom edges of the jacket in the photo above. I'm in the process of hand stitching gold trim next to the all of the flames like in the photo below. That's how I spent my Saturday afternoon, and it will continue for a couple more days.

There was a little bit of movement in the stash, despite the limited time for quilting. I used 1/2 yard to finish the two purple placemats, shared HERE, 1/2 yard for the first block in a new BOM (read more HERE), and 1/2 yard for a finished Hawaiian applique block, shared in the same post as the BOM. Total used 1.5 yards, and no new fabric added to the stash.

2023 STASH TOTALS

Used last two weeks:                 1.50 yards

Used year to date:                 43.375 yards

Added last two weeks:                 0.0 yards

Added year to date:                49.625 yards

Net stashed in 2023               6.25 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. It has been tough getting back to my regular routine of quilting, and my sewing room is an absolute disaster area. I did manage to get in some stitching time on 6 out of 7 days this week.

15 Minute Challenge for 2023: 

5/7 - 5/13           6 of 7 days

2023 Total      124 of 133 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch Challenge at Life in Pieces. 

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

To-Do Tuesday 11/2/2021

It is Tuesday and time for another Tuesday To-Do list. Today we will review how I did with my last to-do list. then come up with a new list for the week ahead. The Tuesday To-Do List link-up is hosted by Linda at Texas Quilt Gal.

I've been rather unfocused with my quilting projects and didn't finish everything on last week's list. However, I am very glad to have one major project, the Scrooge coat, completed!

To-Do List for 10/26 - 11/1

1. RWB Rectangles--take photos of quilt top, write blog post    1/2 done

I got the photos taken, but haven't written my blog post yet

2. Hearts Applique--make at least one block per week   ✔done

I finished one more orange block plus one bright green heart. Here are all of my orange blocks together.

3. Bowties 365--start joining blocks     not done

4. Scrooge coat--FINISH!   ✔done

It feels so good to have this costume project finished! I got the coat done and delivered last week, and dress rehearsals will start in a couple of days. The front is pinned closed in the photo because someone else was going to finish the buttons and buttonholes. Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to see any details in photos of black wool!

5. Figure out a new leader/ender project (to replace the bowties)   ✔done

I'm going to continue with the bowties because I need to add more colors to the mix for my 4" blocks.

I'm having a hard time dealing the fact that it is already November! I don't have any firm plans to make Christmas gifts, but I better figure it out soon or nothing will get done in time. Until that plan comes together, I will continue with my ongoing projects.

To-Do List for 11/2 - 11/8

1. RWB Rectangles--write blog post    

2. Hearts Applique--make at least one block per week   

3. Bowties 365--make one bowtie block per day

4. Sew Colorful Stars--make pieced sashing units, start joining blocks

I'll report on my progress and post a new set of goals next Tuesday. I'm linking up with other To-Do Tuesday lists at Texas Quilt Gal.

Julie in GA  

To-Do Tuesday 9/28/2021

Another Tuesday? How can it be Tuesday again already?! The weeks sure do go by quickly. It's time to see how I did with last week's to-do list. then come up with a new list for the week ahead. The Tuesday To-Do List link-up is hosted by Linda at Texas Quilt Gal.

I got through more of my list than expected last week, so I'm taking that as a success!

To-Do List for 9/21 - 9/27

1. Bowties 365--make one Bowtie block each day  ✔done

I finished my Bowtie blocks a little early this month, finishing the last batch for my total of 30 blocks in September. You can see them all in Saturday's post, or there's a different layout of them in Sunday's post.

2. Hearts Applique--make at least one block  not done

3. Sew Colorful Stars--make orange block  not done

4. Volcano 9-Patch--take photos, write blog post  ✔done

You can see the finished quilt in this post.

5. Scrooge coat--make progress   ✔done and ready to fit

I've been including this Scrooge coat on my to-do list for several weeks. I think it's finally time to show what I've been talking about.

For over 40 years, I worked in theater making costumes, up until my retirement in 2020. My most recent employer, the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta stages a production of A Christmas Carol every year. They had been planning to mount a new version of the show in 2020--new script, new casting, new sets and costumes. Of course, that didn't happen, so the new production was postponed until this year. 

Over the years, I made all sorts of costumes, both men's and women's. One of my specialties became tailoring. I was asked to make a coat for Scrooge in the new Christmas Carol, and that is what I have been working on lately. It is finally all together and ready for one last fitting. Unfortunately, it is very hard to see any details in my photos of this black wool coat, but here it is! The large white stitches on the front are just basting that is holding the layers together.

Scrooge coat--front

Scrooge coat--back

6. Denim shirt--finish   ✔done?

Instead of completing the denim shirt that I showed last week, I cut out and stitched another shirt. It is a blue stripe, and I finished it yesterday!

7. RWB Rectangles--cut pieces for more blocks

I cut pieces for many more blocks, and I got 10 blue blocks stitched. You can see them in yesterday's post.

To-Do List for 9/28 - 10/4

I know that the next week is going to be a busy one, so I'm shortening the list to a more reasonable number of goals.

1. Bowties 365--make one Bowtie block each day

2. Hearts Applique--make at least one block

3. RWB Rectangles--make more blocks

I'll report on my progress and post a new set of goals next Tuesday. I'm linking up with other To-Do Tuesday lists at Texas Quilt Gal.

Julie in GA  

Pretty Purples

There hasn't been much progress on my purple quilt blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this week. I've made very little progress on my hexies, but hope to get more done next week. I did manage to finish two more purple LeMoyne Star blocks.

One reason that I haven't had much time to quilt is because of a special costume project that I am doing. I am making 12 fancy brocade vests with collars. Last night I worked on these two, which just happen to both be purple (although the colors look a little more blue in my photo.)

Check out the Rainbow Scrap Challenge posts every Saturday to see how others are using up their scraps. So many beautiful projects! 

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 3/4/13

My design wall didn't change at all this week, but I do have one new thing to show. I didn't have much time for quilting in the past week because I was too busy trying to finish making a pair of breeches for a show.  Besides making costumes all day at work, sometimes I agree to do extra projects on the side, and this was one of those. I am very glad to have them done and look forward to shipping them off tomorrow.

  

As usual, I will be linking up to Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday.  Check out all the great inspiration there. 

Julie