Stash Report and Stitching Time 6/11/2023

My sewing room has been a very busy place this week. One big project that got finished was the piecing for the quilt backing I made as part of the blog hop for Kelly Young's upcoming book Perfectly Pieced Quilt Backs. I can't show you my finished quilt back yet, but here's a look at my fabrics.

I also finished adding the borders to the Stars Galore quilt top that I shared in last week's post, but I haven't taken any photos of the completed top yet. I do have this photo of a smaller quilt top made from charm squares.

Charm 9-Patch top, 40.5" x 54"

This top started as a group of 9-patch blocks that I received as part of a guild challenge. My original plan was to add sashing to the blocks, (see that plan HERE.) However, I decided to omit the sashing in order to end up with a quilt top that will fit on a single width of backing fabric. Now I just need to get it layered and quilted. 

My main project for the last couple of days has been washing and pressing my collection of solid fat quarters. All through 2022, I belonged to the solids club at Fat Quarter Shop. Each month I received a packet with 12 FQs of solids, with the colors based on that month's birthstone. 12 months of 12 FQs adds up to 144 pieces of fabric, all sitting together in a bin. This week I decided it was time to do something with them! I washed them in groups of light, medium, or dark, and have been trimming off the frayed edges and pressing them up. This is the result.

I'm planning to use some of these in a new mystery project. I hope to finalize my color palette today, then start cutting and piecing blocks.

For the second week in a row, the stash report doesn't show any changes over the past week. The fabrics in the Stars Galore quilt and the Charm 9-Patch didn't come from my stash, and none of my other projects are ready to be counted.

2023 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                          0.0 yards

Used year to date:                 46.625 yards

Added last week:                         0.0 yards

Added year to date:                49.625 yards

Net stashed in 2023                 3.0 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 definitely got well over 15 minutes every day this week!

15 Minute Challenge for 2023: 

6/4 - 6/10             7 of 7 days

2023 Total      151 of 161 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

Scrappy Stitching and a Stash Report

There has been lots of scrappy sewing happening in my sewing room this week. I've spent most of the past few days working on "Stars Galore," a very scrappy quilt made from charm squares. This is part of a project by the Common Threads Quilters Guild and the Sharpsburg Piecemakers, with the finished quilts going to a program for homeless veterans. The center is all together and just needs a border added.

There are lots of fun fabrics in this quilt. My favorite is a circus print, which fits in with my past few weeks of working on a stage production of Water for Elephants. You can see one of the costumes I worked on in THIS POST.

The stash report doesn't show any changes over the past week. None of the fabrics in the Stars Galore quilt came from my stash, and none of my other projects are ready to be counted.

2023 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                          0.0 yards

Used year to date:                 46.625 yards

Added last week:                         0.0 yards

Added year to date:                49.625 yards

Net stashed in 2023                 3.0 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 this week, but more than made up for it over the last few days, spending several hours each day on the vet's quilt.

15 Minute Challenge for 2023: 

5/28 - 6/3             6 of 7 days

2023 Total      144 of 154 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 my scrappy Stars Galore quilt with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework.

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Hands 2 Help 2023

This is the final week for the 2023 Hands 2 Help Challenge, which means it is time for everyone to share photos of their finished quilts!

Hands 2 Help is a comfort quilt challenge that was started by Sarah, who blogs at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. Quilters from all over the U.S. and other countries make and donate comfort quilts, either to the organizations chosen for the challenge or they can donate locally. 2023 was the thirteenth year of the Hands 2 Help Challenge, and several thousand quilts have been donated through the years. My first year to join the challenge was 2013, although I haven't participated every year.

My H2H quilt for this year is one that I call "Pretty in Purple." It is my first-ever reversible quilt, with a nine-patch and half-square triangle design on one side. The other side features purple four-patches.

The finished size of this quilt was 36" x 48" before washing. The quilt has been donated to the local Department of Family and Children Services through our quilt guild. I am certain there will be a child who is crazy about purple and will love this quilt.

Linking up with:

Hands 2 Help Challenge at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA 

Stash Report & Stitching Time 5/28/2023

It's hard to believe that it is almost the end of May already. This month has absolutely flown by! For me I guess that's mostly because my schedule has been so much busier since I've been working a few days a week. I'm about ready to get back to full-time retirement!

I did manage to get a fair amount of quilting done this week, despite the work schedule. Most of my recent projects were shared in yesterday's post. There was one more addition later yesterday, a placemat that had been pieced many years ago. I found more of the veggie fabric for the back and got it quilted up.

The total yardage used for the week added up to 2.125 yards. That includes all of the projects in yesterday's post, plus the placemat shown above. No new fabric was added to the stash this week.

2023 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                       2.125 yards

Used year to date:                 46.625 yards

Added last week:                         0.0 yards

Added year to date:                49.625 yards

Net stashed in 2023                  3.0 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've been more deliberate about having projects ready to go when I have some time available, and that has made it possible to get in some stitching time every day this week.

15 Minute Challenge for 2023: 

5/21 - 5/27           7 of 7 days

2023 Total      138 of 147 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

Scrappy Orange Projects

This turned out to be a good week for getting caught up on my projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. The first thing I did was make three orange Jabberwocky blocks.

Jabberwocky, blocks finish at 10.25"

pattern by Judy Martin in The Block Book

After those were done, I added the rest of the colors to the design wall. I like how they look together, but they definitely need some sashing to separate the blocks a bit.

The next RSC project to be completed was the Rail Fence blocks. Each month, these start out as my leader/ender project, but late in the month I power through whatever is left in order to get them done. I ended up with 48 orange blocks this month.

After that, I concentrated on the RSC/ABC Table Scraps Challenge. I have been making at least one placemat every month for this challenge. My scrappy orange version started with a stack of extra pieces from the Rail Fence blocks. They were joined into a panel, then additional strips were added to each side until it was big enough for a placemat, about 13" x 18".

Be sure to check out all of the wonderful scrappy projects at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge every Saturday, and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. I'm also linking up with the ABC Table Scraps Challenge at The Joyful Quilter.

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

To-Do Tuesday 5/23/2023

I'm continuing to squeeze in quilting time between working a few days this week. It's making me really appreciate retirement and the freedom to quilt as much as I wish. Here are the results from my last to-do list, plus a new list for the week ahead. The To-Do Tuesday link-up is hosted by Carol at Quilt Schmilt: For the Love of Fabric.

Having a short list for the past week worked out well, with all three items getting finished.

To-Do List for 5/16 - 5/22/2023

1. Ring Around the Stars--finish hanging sleeve and label for exhibit   ✔done

This has been finished and the quilt delivered to the exhibit location.

2. Prep for wallet class at quilt guild  ✔done

We had a great class on Thursday, and I was able to finish my Diva wallet by the end of the class. I'm planning to make a few more to be sold at the guild's Christmas market.

3. Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 1st set of orange blocks  ✔done

I finished two orange 16-Patch Stars blocks, shown here with the purple blocks from April.

Once again, the list is a short one to fit with my busy week. I'm looking forward to a three-day holiday weekend!

To-Do List for 5/23 - 5/29/2023

1. Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make orange Jabberwocky blocks

2. Rainbow Scrap Challenge--finish orange Rail Fence blocks

3. ABC Table Scraps Challenge--make orange placemat

4. Wash new fabrics

That will be enough to keep me busy for the week ahead. I'll report on my progress next Tuesday, and post a new set of goals too. I'm linking up with other To-Do Tuesday lists at Quilt Schmilt.

 

Happy quilting!

Julie in GA 

Keeping Busy

It was another very busy week, including three days spent working at the Alliance costume shop, plus a guild meeting and workshop one other day. Thank goodness for my guy's support and willingness to take care of things like grocery shopping while I've been away. I'm combining my usual Saturday and Sunday blog posts into this single post today.

Yesterday I was able to do a little catching up on my Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilts. I finished cutting the pieces needed for my Rail Fence blocks, which have become my current leader/ender project. I also put together two 16-Patch Stars blocks in orange, our color for May.

Before putting them away in the bin with the previous blocks, I pulled out the two purple blocks from April to get a combined shot. My blocks are being made with 3.5" squares and will finish at 12".

The guild workshop was a fun one where we learned how to make the Diva wallet. It's hard to get good photos of mine with all the black fabrics, plus I keep getting reflections of light off the metal frame at the ends. The wallet has six card pockets on the left, two full-width open pockets, plus a zipper pocket. The hardest part of making this was putting in those teensy little screws to hold the metal frame on the wallet. 

The most important project of the week was stitching the hanging sleeve and label on my Ring Around the Stars quilt before turning it in for an exhibit. That was another errand my sweet husband took care of while I was working, dropping off my quilt. If you are in the Atlanta area, you can see all the quilts from the East Cobb Quilt Guild's "Ruby, Ruby" challenge at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center from May 25th to July 1st.

The stash report for the week shows just over a yard total used for my various projects and no new fabric added.

2023 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                       1.125 yards

Used year to date:                   44.50 yards

Added last week:                         0.0 yards

Added year to date:                49.625 yards

Net stashed in 2023             5.125 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've made it a point to do some hand stitching during the morning train commute on the days that I've been working in order to keep up with my daily quilting time.

15 Minute Challenge for 2023: 

5/14 - 5/20           7 of 7 days

2023 Total      131 of 140 days

You can see many more wonderful scrappy projects at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge every Saturday, and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. 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 5/16/2023

The past week has included cataract surgery for my guy, plus I have been working several days. All of these things have really cut into my quilting time, and the results on the to-do list reflect that. Here are the results from my last to-do list, plus a new list for the week ahead. The To-Do Tuesday link-up is hosted by Carol at Quilt Schmilt: For the Love of Fabric.

I finished three of the items on my last list, made progress on one more, and didn't touch the other. I'm down to wire on a couple of these now.

To-Do List for 5/9 - 5/15/23

1. Ring Around the Stars--add hanging sleeve and label for exhibit  3/4 done

2. Purple placemats--quilt/finish    ✔done

The two placemats are finished and ready to be donated to Meals on Wheels.

3. National Quilt Museum BOM--make 1st block   ✔done

I had a great time making this block!

4. Prep for wallet class at quilt guild   not done

5. Rainbow Scrap Challenge--start 1st set of orange blocks  ✔done

I pulled out orange squares and strips for my 16-Patch Stars blocks, but haven't stitched anything yet.

I am keeping the to-do list for the next week very short because I expect to continue working several days in the coming week. The first two items both need to get done today, and after that I can relax a bit more.

To-Do List for 5/16 - 5/22/2023

1. Ring Around the Stars--finish hanging sleeve and label for exhibit

2. Prep for wallet class at quilt guild

3. Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 1st set of orange blocks

That will be enough to keep me busy for the week ahead. I'll report on my progress next Tuesday, and post a new set of goals too. I'm linking up with other To-Do Tuesday lists at Quilt Schmilt.

 

Happy quilting!

Julie in GA 

Design Wall Monday 5/15/2023

After finishing up a Hawaiian applique block a few days ago, I went on a hunt for the rest of the Hawaiian blocks that were hiding away in my sewing room. Here are all of the finished blocks up on the design wall together.

There's also one more block that is cut out and basted to the background, but the stitching is barely started. I added that to the wall and tried out an on-point setting. I like the balance of colors in this version, but it means I would have to finish that last block!

Here is the unfinished block alone. Only a very small portion at the upper left has been appliqued.

An even closer view of that block gives a better look at how the Hawaiian applique is done. The blue fabric was folded into 1/8's and cut out, similar to the way you cut paper snowflakes. Then it was unfolded and basted down to the background fabric. All of the cut edges get turned under approximately 1/8" and stitched down to the background. 

Check out what other quilters are working on this week at Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and at Monday Musings at Songbird Designs. 

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA 

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