Saturday, January 1, 2011

2010 Projects in Review...

I saw on Amy's Passions where Amy posted a review in pictures of the quilts she finished last year.  I didn't finish nearly as many as she did, but I thought it would be nice to have one spot where I could see everything I accomplished.  So here's my 2010 review...



 These last 4 are all tops that haven't been quilted yet.
  • 'Greta' with Maison de Garance
  • Man Cave
  • Owl Charity Quilt
  • Nestled in the Branches II - also made a larger version

And finally, there are the 12 Camelot Snowman wall hangings I made for my mom - one for each month.

So not too bad for the year.  I forgot how many quilts I had actually completed and looking back on them has been fun.  I don't expect to get as many done this year although it would be nice if I did.  So what are your plans for 2011?

Until later...

"Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."
Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

Friday, December 31, 2010

Last stash report of 2010...

December 24 - 31, 2010

This is stash report # 52.  The last one for this year.  When I look back on them, I'm definitely glad I kept track.  I know I would have purchased more fabric and probably have used less if I hadn't.  I can honestly say I'm surprised at how much I still ended up buying and am even more surprised at how much I really did use.  It was an eye opener.  I've been thinking about my goals for this new year, but before I share them, I want to finish this last report.

I hinted at it last week, but I really fell of the wagon this week.  Not only did I fall of the wagon, but it must have been backed up to a steep cliff and I tumbled over that one as well.  This must be the largest amount of fabric intake for me this whole year.  Fortunately almost all of it was a gift from one person or another.  Some in the form of gift certificates that I wasted no time in spending.  I was really trying to squeeze it all in this year so I can start fresh in 2011.  I ended up adding 63.5 yards to my stash this week!  Wow!  I would have expected it to look like a mountain of fabric, but it really doesn't.  Here's how it broke down...

The Fat Quarter Shop had the 12 Days of Christmas sales leading up to Christmas Day and Mr. Quilting Bug let me order those items I wanted as part of my Christmas present.  First off, I got 6 yards of this beautiful metallic batik at half price.


I don't have a purpose in mind for it yet, but there's enough here for borders on a large quilt or as a backing.  I also got 7 jelly rolls from them on Christmas Eve - 3 Maison de Garance, 3 Lumiere de Noel and 1 Breakfast at Tiffany's.


I would love to make a quilt for our King size bed using the Maison de Garance and the Lumiere de Noel jelly rolls.  I bought 3 of each because I figured that would be plenty for such large quilts.


I also got a gift certificate there from my brother and I used it to purchase 15 yards of Moda Bella Solids in Snow.  This is a great staple to have in my stash for all types of projects and I know I'll love having it on hand.

My sweet mother-in-law gave me a gift certificate to JoAnn's and I used it to supplement my stash with other basics.  I bought 7.75 yards each of Kona Cotton in White, Black and Bone.  I've already washed and pressed all of this fabric and have it sitting on bolts in my sewing room.


And that ladies and gentlemen is basically what 63.5 yards of fabric looks like - minus the picture of the Snow Bella Solid because that hasn't come in yet.

Now comes the part where I have to admit that I used no fabric this week.  I had hoped to have another quilt quilted by today, but it just didn't happen.

So my totals for 2010 are:
Purchased-this-week: 63.5 yards
Used-this-week: 0 yards
Purchased-to-date: 316.5 yards
Used-to-date: 434.75 yards
Net used: 118.25 yards

Boy, this week really killed my net used totals for the year.  But that's OK.  Tomorrow wipes the slate clean again.  I have some new goals for my stash in 2011.
  1. Buy no more than 150 yards of fabric the whole year.  This equates to 12.5 yards each month and would be less than half the amount of fabric I bought in 2010.  
  2. Concentrate almost exclusively on my UFO's, starting out with those that are already kitted.  If I do that, then my first goal should be pretty easy because the quilt kits contain all the fabric to make the quilt except for the backing.  
  3. Get these quilts quilted!  I have far too many quilt tops waiting to be turned into finished quilts.  
  4. Whenever the need arises, drop everything and make a prayer quilt.  It's important to have priorities and God's calling is the highest.
  5. I'd also like to make several quilts for charity whether for woman's shelters, orphanages or soldiers.  Wherever there's a need.   But I plan to use the fabric in my stash for the bulk of these.
I have some more specific goals on some of these things, but figure this is enough detail for here.  I'm not setting a goal for how much fabric I want to use, because that number's not really that important to me.  It'll sure be interesting to see how this next year turns out.

Until later...

"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God" 
2 Corinthians 9:12 (NIV)

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Mom's last package...

Well, I'm sure it's not the last package I'll ever send her, but it is the last one of this year.  I've managed to send/give her a quilting related package every month this year.  This package includes supplies to finish a couple of things for her.  I traced the last 3 blocks for the Winter Wonderland quilt for her.

Winter Wonderland block 8, 9 and 10
For Christmas, I bought her all the fabric she should need to make the pieced blocks and borders for this quilt too.  All in shades of blue of course.

For this last package, I included block 12 of the Imperial Splendor block of the month.  She's been keeping up with them pretty wall and should be ready to assemble the quilt after making this block.  To that end, I also included the setting kit for the quilt as well as enough fabric for the backing and binding.  It's a pretty generous sized quilt and finishes around 80" x 100" I think.


I also included a book called "Learning to Machine Quilt" by Pat Sloan, a snowman ornament and a photo calendar.  I printed out personal photos for each month and taped them inside.  There's still one more item from last month that I'm trying to finish up and mail to her.  Hopefully, I'll finish it before the start of the new year!

As she finishes up her quilts, I'm sure I'll share the pictures here as I'm just so proud of her and happy that she's taken an interest in quilting too.  I love you Mom!

Until later...

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" 
Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Gabriel's Christmas...

Gabriel somehow fooled Santa into believing she was a good girl this year.  She got a plethora of treats and new squeaky toys, including this cow that has 16 squeakers in it.  Can you say doggie heaven?


Until later...

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones" 
Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Weather delays...

I'm sure I'm not the only one to have their Christmas plans derailed by mother nature this year.  It snowed for the fourth time this month on Christmas Day.  The last time it snowed here on Christmas Day was in 1947 before either myself or Mr. Quilting Bug were even twinkles in our parent's eyes. 


We got 8 inches of snow and our plans to visit my family for Christmas were postponed.  I'll drive down to see them tomorrow, but because of work and other responsibilities the whole family won't be able to get together now.


It's so beautiful when it snows, but I sure hope we don't get a lot more of it this winter.  Is it too early to be looking forward to spring?

Until later...

"A fool gives full vent to his anger.  But a man of understanding controls himself."
Proverbs 29:11

Monday, December 27, 2010

Stitching along...

Between preparing for Christmas and spending time with my family, I've managed to finish another one of the Winter Wonderland blocks.  This is number 5 out of 10.  Half way done now...

Winter Wonderland #5
And during this season of family and togetherness, Gabriel has also been joining in.  Somehow she's talked Mr. Quilting Bug into letting her up on the couch on special nights.

 
Does she look happy or what?

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Stash Report Week #51...

December 17 - 23, 2010

Only one more of these to go for the year!  I've been thinking about goals for my stash busting next year.  I'll try to finalize them in the next week and post them so you can hold me accountable!

I bought no fabric this week.  OK, that's not strictly the truth.  I did buy some as a gift from Mr. Quilting Bug, but it hasn't come in yet and I'm not going to count it until it does.  So for this week, the purchase total is 0.  But next week, watch out!

As for what I've used, I'm in the process of quilting a quilt, but it's not done yet.  I also wrapped up 14.25 yards of fabric and gave it to my mom.  She wants to make the Camelot snowman wall hangings for each of her brothers and sisters next year and I pulled out fabric from my stash that will work as borders for these.  Of course, she has 10 siblings so it might take her a while.

So...
Purchased-this-week: 0 yards
Used-this-week: 14.25 yards
Purchased-to-date: 253 yards
Used-to-date: 434.75 yards
Net used: 181.75 yards

Just so I can include a picture, here's one of Gabriel on her daddy's lap...


Until later...

"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed" 
Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)