Stash Report Sunday and 15 Minutes to Stitch

Kate over at Life in Pieces has been reporting on her efforts to stitch for 15 minutes every day. She had previously hosted the 15 Minute Challenge, and that really motivated me to make time for at least a little time spent quilting every day. Very often, that 15 minutes turns into 30 minutes or an hour. 

I have managed to get my 15 minutes or more every day so far in November. Unfortunately, I don't seem to have a lot to show for it, but I know I am making progress on a few different projects.

As for my stash report, this is the first week in quite awhile that shows more fabric added than fabric used. I had ordered a piece of fabric from Joann's for a Christmas gift, and since I was already paying for shipping, decided to add another fabric I've had my eye on. Unfortunately, the gift fabric was out of stock, but I do have this lovely print to add to my stash. I'm going to take a look at how well it works with my Rainbow LeMoyne blocks.

Fabric used was 1/4 yard for more Tell It to the Stars border blocks. I think I have 14 more of those blocks to make.


Used this week:                             .25 yards

Used year to date:                   115.875 yards

Stashed this week:                        2  yards

Stashed year to date:               103.0 yards 

Net year to date:                      12.875 yards used  


Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times. Also check out Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch link-up at Life in Pieces.

Julie in GA

Scraptastic Tuesday (a day late)

It isn't Tuesday anymore, but I still have time to link up to Scraptastic Tuesday, hosted by Leanne at she can quilt and by Nicky at Mrs. Sew and Sow.

Most of my quilting time lately has been spent on my Scrap Hexie Stars and Snowflakes project. I haven't been able to do much machine sewing, but I can usually do some hand stitching of hexies on my commute to work in the mornings. I have finished making all of the stars and snowflakes, and now I am concentrating on adding black-on-white background hexies around all of the large stars, like on the green and brown stars below.

I am so excited to check out all of the other posts for Scraptastic Tuesday! You can visit Leanne and Nicky's blogs to see plenty of scrappy goodness!

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 11/10/14

I am still struggling with the border blocks for the Tell It to the Stars mystery quilt. I finished up twelve blocks on Saturday, but it took lots of un-sewing and trimming to get them to finish at the right size. If you zoom in on the photo, you will see straight pins in several blocks. The pins are marking where my blocks are a little small, but I should be able to make up for that when I join the blocks together.

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times where you can see all sorts of amazing quilting inspiration! 

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 11/9/14

There was a small amount of fabric used this week and no additions to the stash. I spent very little time quilting, but I did finish 12 border blocks for the Tell It to the Stars mystery quilt. These blocks are proving to be much more challenging than I expected. I still need to make 22 more blocks.

Used this week:                             .375 yards
Used year to date:                   115.625 yards

Stashed this week:                        0  yards

Stashed year to date:               101.0 yards 

Net year to date:                      14.625 yards used  


Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA

Scraphappy Saturday 11/8/14

There is very little progress to show on my Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects today. I have barely touched my sewing machine this week, so no new Rainbow LeMoyne stars yet. I did manage to baste some background hexies and get them sewn to the light blue hexie snowflake that had been made early this year.

Maybe I will have more to show next Saturday. I hope to do some cleaning up in the sewing room today, which should make it easier to be productive in the days ahead.

Check out this week's Rainbow Scrap Challenge posts--lots of amazingly beautiful rainbow projects to inspire you!  

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 11/3/14

I was looking forward to showing a batch of border blocks for Judy L's Tell It to the Stars mystery quilt, but my design wall is completely empty. I thought I had figured out a clever way to piece the blocks that would eliminate some of the seams, but it isn't working out very well. I spent a good part of the weekend starting to make the blocks, but they are not coming out the right size.

The block at the top left was taken apart and re-trimmed, finally getting it to be the correct size. The other two blocks still need to be fixed, as well as the other half dozen or so that are partially together. At the right you can see the way I cut the pieces for this block. Silly me, to think I could improve on Judy's pattern!

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times where you can see all sorts of amazing quilting inspiration! 

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 11/2/14

For the first time in about six weeks, I have an addition to my stash to report, and I couldn't be happier! Back in mid-October, hand-dyer extraordinaire Vicki Welsh of Field Trips in Fiber had a giveaway each day for a week. I was the very lucky winner of the final day's prize, which was 6 gradient pieces, 1/2 yard each. I think it was meant to be because Vicki drew the names of the winners on my birthday. Look at all the gorgeous colors!

Vicki Welsh gradients

Fortunately, I used up enough fabric this week to offset the addition of the gradients. I used 1.5 yards on the Fall Spinners blocks that I showed on Design Wall Monday,  1.75 yards making blue and yellow Quarter Log Cabin blocks, and 3/8 yard on background hexagons for my Scrap Hexie Stars and Snowflakes.

Used this week:                           3.625 yards
Used year to date:                   115.25 yards

Stashed this week:                      3.0  yards

Stashed year to date:               101.0 yards 

Net year to date:                      14.25 yards used  


Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA

15 Minutes to Stitch--2nd half of October

It's time to report in for Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch link-up. The goal is to find at least 15 minutes, hopefully even more, every day for quilting and keep making progress on our quilt projects.

I did very well in the second half of October, managing to do some quilting every single day except one. That one day was my birthday, and I was just too busy having fun (and working) to do any quilting. I think I get a pass for that day, right?

Unfortunately, I don't feel like I made much significant progress on any of my projects in October. I have one little quilt top done that needs to be layered, pinned and quilted before Thanksgiving. A couple of other projects have all or most of the blocks made, but I need to figure out how I want to set them together and what to do about borders. Making a decision has been difficult lately, but I really want to get these quilt tops finished.

Check out Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch post at Life in Pieces to see how she and others are finding time for quilting. 


Julie in GA

Scraphappy Saturday in November

Here is a very rare thing for me, two blog posts in the same day. Every month I post a list of quilting goals for the next month, plus review how I did on last month's goals. I meant to get the October/November post written in advance and posted last night, but that just didn't happen. If you are interested, you can read that HERE.

It is a wild and windy day here in Georgia, definitely feeling like fall. As we go speeding toward the end of the year, it is time to work on wrapping up some ongoing projects. I have been making LeMoyne Stars all year for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. This month's color is light blue, but I think I will switch over to light neutrals instead to round out my color palette.

I showed a photo of my 12" LeMoyne stars last week (see them HERE.) I have decided to go ahead with the plan to make 12 blocks. I made a scrappy brown star last weekend, and will work on a tan/beige one next. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions on a twelfth color to use. I think I will make it in white/cream/very pale prints with the black background.

My other rainbow project has been the Hexie Stars and Snowflakes, which I started in August of 2013. I spent October adding background to my black and brown blocks, plus I put together a leftover purple snowflake. I will continue to add background to the stars each month, still following the assigned rainbow color when possible.

Check out this week's Rainbow Scrap Challenge posts--lots of amazingly beautiful rainbow projects to inspire you!  

Julie in GA

November quilting goals & October results

Most of the time, my monthly goal setting really helps keep me on track with my quilting projects, but that was not the case in October. I just couldn't seem to work up much enthusiasm for a couple of these projects, leaving them totally untouched. Maybe November will be better!

OCTOBER GOALS
1. My October goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes is to finish the binding on another quilt. This time it is my Dancing Stars quilt, which was my 2013 project for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  Nothing done.

     
2.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in October's color.  Made nine 6" stars and two 12" stars in blacks, greys and browns.

3.  Scrap Hexies--make hexie star & snowflakes. I have been adding background hexies to the stars and snowflakes that were made last year.

4.  Make 10-20 Autumn Leaves blocks to make this UFO bigger. Nothing done.

5.  Make at least 30 blocks as part of the 350 Blocks Project  Made 67 blocks
6.  Spend at least 15 minutes each day quilting--cutting, sewing, designing, etc. Done 30 out of 31 days (every day except my birthday!)

NOVEMBER GOALS
1. My November goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes is to quilt and bind the "Surrounded  by Love" baby quilt. We will be seeing our niece and her husband (the parents-to-be) at Thanksgiving, and I would love to give them the quilt in person. Baby girl is due in January.

     
2.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in November's color.  
3.  Scrap Hexies--continue adding background to hexie stars & snowflakes.
4.  Tell It to the Stars--make November's blocks for the pieced border
5.  Make at least 30 blocks as part of the 350 Blocks Project
6.  Spend at least 15 minutes each day quilting--cutting, sewing, designing, etc.

There you have it, my quilting plans and goals for November and my results from October. Watch for the next update at the end of November.

Julie in GA