15 Minutes and Stash Report Sunday 11/18/18

This is the time of year when my stash busting efforts tend to run into trouble. There seems to be so much going on that cuts into quilting time, plus there are too many fabric sales trying to entice me to buy. I haven't given in to the sales yet, but that may change at any time! For the past week I can report 3/8 yard used on five additional blocks for one of my rainbow samplers (see the blocks in yesterday's post.) 

2018 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                       .375 yards

Used year to date:                72.125 yards
Added last week:                        0.0 yards

Added year to date:                 34.75 yards
Net used year to date:       37.375 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us keep track of how many days each week we are able to spend at least 15 minutes quilting. After three weeks in a row of 6 out of 7 days, I managed to find time to quilt every day again this week. I'm discovering that having a project prepped for hand stitching on the morning train makes a big difference--that way if there are other things going on in the evening, I've already gotten in my stitching time. 

15 Minute Challenge:  
11/11 - 11/17         7 of 7 days
2018 Total      312 of 321 days

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

Julie in GA

A Few More Rainbow Blocks

One of my quilting projects for the past week was to play with the sampler blocks that we have been making all year for the Squared Away BOM as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Along with those blocks, I have also been making extra blocks using the patterns from the 2017 Patchwork Quilt Along at the Fat Quarter Shop. Both sets of blocks are based on a 5x5 grid, so they fit together perfectly!

I made a new version of the Squared Away block from January, using a lighter blue that works much better with the grey background. The yellow and red blocks were made from the Fat Quarter Shop patterns.

The next step will be putting all of the blocks up on the wall together to figure out a layout. I have over 50 blocks, 7.5" finished size. That would be enough for a large throw quilt, but I think I will make a smaller throw plus a baby quilt instead. I'm looking forward to trying out different block settings.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! over 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

15 Minutes and Stash Report Sunday 11/11/18

It was a good week for stash usage, and there were no new additions to the stash. I made two more Flying Dutchman/Dutchman's Puzzle blocks to add to the blocks shown in Monday's post. I also pieced the back to go with the first Scraptastic Stars top.

Flying Dutchman/Dutchman's Puzzle variations
8" blocks

2018 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                    2.75 yards

Used year to date:               71.75 yards
Added last week:                    0.0 yards

Added year to date:             34.75 yards
Net used year to date:       37.0 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us keep track of how many days each week we are able to spend at least 15 minutes quilting. I had another week with 6 out of 7 days. 

15 Minute Challenge:  
11/4 - 11/10          6 of 7 days
2018 Total      305 of 314 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate, and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces. I'm also linking up with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework.

Julie in GA

Flying Dutchman Blocks

Over the weekend I pulled out some blocks that were started about a year ago.   These are a group of blocks that I started making last fall when my musician husband was playing in the orchestra for a production of the opera "The Flying Dutchman."  Dutchman's Puzzle or Flying Dutchman are two of the names used for some of these block patterns.

Dutchman's Puzzle/Flying Dutchman block variations

The blocks in the top and bottom rows finish at 8", and the middle row has 12" blocks. I have no specific plan for where I'm going with these blocks or how big a quilt they will become. For now I'm just enjoying playing with the colors and different pattern variations. I love the spinning motion in these designs!

One of the blocks was made twice because the first attempt (on the left) was spinning in the opposite direction of all the other blocks. Naturally, it was one of the most difficult blocks of the whole group. Those little flying geese at the center measure only 1" x 2"!

I'm linking up to Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt, and Moving It Forward at Em's Scrapbag. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

15 Minutes and Stash Report Sunday 11/4/18

My stash numbers are slowly inching along, with no huge changes in either usage or additions. There was no new fabric added this week, and one yard was used for the sashing and cornerstones on my first Scraptastic Stars quilt top, which you can see in yesterday's post. It doesn't seem likely that I will reach my goal of using at least 100 yards from my stash this year, but at least the net result is in the black. I just have to show some restraint when all of the Black Friday and end of the year sales get going.

2018 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                      1.0 yards

Used year to date:                69.0 yards
Added last week:                    0.0 yards

Added year to date:             34.75 yards
Net used year to date:       34.25 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us keep track of how many days each week we are able to spend at least 15 minutes quilting. Once again, I went 6 out of 7 days during the week. The day I missed was because we went to a concert in the evening, and I didn't think to get any quilting done earlier in the day. My totals are still very good.

15 Minute Challenge:  
10/28 - 11/3          6 of 7 days
2018 Total      299 of 307 days

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

Julie in GA

Scraptastic Stars

The last of the Scraptastic Stars blocks was made in dark greens this week. I have been making these blocks all year as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. This block was made from 2" squares and finishes at 12".

Scraptastic Stars, 12" block
pattern by Melissa Corey

I was so excited to get the last block done and start joining them together. Here is a preview of the blocks joined into three columns with sashing added. These are all of my 12" blocks (the 16" blocks will get joined together later.) What a treat to see them all together in their beautiful scrappiness!

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! over 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

Back Panel for Tell It to the Stars

It has been a month since I shared my Tell It to the Stars quilt top. Last week I started working on the back for this quilt. I didn't have quite enough of the fabric I'm planning to use for the back, but I  had some leftover/extra parts from making the front of the quilt. There were two of the alternate blocks, plus I made four more of those (see them in yesterday's post.) I also had the setting and corner triangles that didn't make the cut for the front of the quilt.

Setting and corner triangles

All of those alternate blocks and setting triangles have been joined together into a long, narrow panel which will run down the center of the quilt back. The photo shows that panel before the final seam was stitched. I knew there was no way I could get a photo of the entire piece all together--it measures about 17.5" x 103".

I need to add a little of the backing fabric at both ends of this panel to make it a bit longer. After that, all that's left is to attach lengths of backing fabric along each side of the panel--then my quilt will have a finished back (hopefully by the end of the week!)

I'm linking up to Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt, and Moving It Forward at Em's Scrapbag. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

15 Minutes and Stash Report Sunday 10/28/18

It didn't seem like I used much fabric this week, but when I went to total up my numbers for the stash report, it came to 1.5 yards used. I consider that a pretty good week! That includes 3/4 yard for the sashing on the Spinning Boxes quilt, shown in yesterday's post, and another 3/4 yard to make four chain blocks for a pieced panel to insert into the backing of the Tell It to the Stars quilt. No new fabric was added this week.

2018 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                    1.50 yards

Used year to date:                68.0 yards
Added last week:                    0.0 yards

Added year to date:             34.75 yards
Net used year to date:       33.25 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us keep track of how many days each week we are able to spend at least 15 minutes quilting, and my total for last week was 6 out of 7. For the first time in several months, my number of quilting days for the week was not a perfect 7 for 7. The last time that happened was in June when we spent a week visiting family in Wisconsin. This time around was another vacation week, but I spent the entire week at home. You might think that would mean more quilting time, but there were too many other things that really needed to get done instead.  

15 Minute Challenge:  
10/21 - 10/27        6 of 7 days
2018 Total      293 of 300 days

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

Julie in GA

Spinning Boxes Progress

The blocks and sashing for my Spinning Boxes quilt have all been joined together. There are three sections, and I am considering doing some kind of quilt-as-you-go method for finishing this quilt. I'm undecided if I will cut the batting and backing along those diagonal splits or leave them whole. Also unsure about how or when to add the border. If anyone has any suggestions, they would be greatly appreciated.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! over 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

15 Minutes and Stash Report Sunday 10/21/18

I had a couple of days off from work at the end of the week, which you might think would mean more time spent in the sewing room. Instead, I was so absorbed by other projects around the house that I didn't do any sewing until late in the day. I did spend at least a little time quilting each night, keeping up my excellent record towards Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces.

15 Minute Challenge:  
10/14 - 10/20        7 of 7 days
2018 Total      287 of 293 days

My quilting time for the week used a total of 1.375 yards. 7/8 yard of that was used on the half block setting triangles for the Spinning Boxes quilt that I shared in yesterday's post. The other 1/2 yard went into six more Dutchman's Puzzle/Flying Dutchman block variations. These are a group of blocks that I started making last fall when my musician husband was playing in the orchestra for a production of the opera "The Flying Dutchman." I suppose I should figure out a plan for these blocks one day soon!

Flying Dutchman variations, 8" blocks

2018 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                  1.375 yards

Used year to date:                66.5 yards

Added last week:                    0.0 yards
Added year to date:             34.75 yards
Net used year to date:       31.75 yards

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

Julie in GA