Building a Bookcase

I'm still working on my Doom quilt.  This week I got the shelves, bottom, and sides of the bookcase done.

I'm still using my cell phone to take pictures, so they aren't great quality.  I was planning to do a flat top on the bookcase.  But to me, a flat surface cries out for clutter, so I've been making stuff to go on the top of the bookcase.

 

Two of the book titles are a dedication to the quilt recipient (Congratulations to Kathyrn, UVA grad and Harry Potter Expert  May2013) This way I won't have to make a separate label for the back. The other book is Self-Defensive Spellwork.

Felix Felicis (liquid luck) and a Howler (which took almost 2 hours to  make). 

Scabbers the Rat aka Peter Pettigrew.

To see more design walls: http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/03/25/design-wall/

One Block Left

I have one more block to make for my Project of Doom Quilt.  Here's what it looks like now:

I know it's a fuzzy picture.  I'm still having to use my phone camera, and my design wall is a floor, so it is hard to get a good shot.  Still, you can see my progress.  I keep moving the blocks around, trying to get a good color balance, minimizing seams coming together  and making sure the objects that are leaning have something to lean against.  I wish I could just sit in a chair today and finish the embroidery for the final block, but that's not going to happen. 

To see more design walls:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/03/18/design-wall-march-18-2013/

Stash Report, 3 blocks to go

I bought fabric this week to finish the Project of Doom Quilt.  I found a brown Grunge Basics fabric that looks likes the finish on old wood furniture.  I also bought a Stonehenge fabric that looks like a stone wall.  I think these will be perfect for a bookcase in Hogwarts.  I bought more fabric than I technically need so I won't have to piece the borders, and I will probably be able to use some of it  on the back of the quilt.  I also bought one $2 remnant. 

Used This Week: 0 yards

Used Year to Date: 28.75yards

Added this week: 6.25  yards

Added year to date: 33.25 yards

Net Added:  4.5  yards

 

And I'm back in Net Added territory.   But I went to 3 quilt stores this week, and only bought one remnant that was an impulse buy.  A minor victory for me.

 

I completed one block this week. 

 

 

Moste Potient Potions, Magical Drafts and Potions, Enchantment in Baking

 

My camera is STILL missing!!! I've been looking for it all week. 

 

I have 3 more book blocks to go.  I've pretty much stopped following the Project of Doom pattern because it is difficult for to get keep all the titles lined up straight when there are several paper pieced books in a row.  All I need are 3 simple blocks of books.  That means 12-18 titles to embroider.  UGH!  I want to get this finished soon!

To see more Stash Reports: http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/03/17/stash-report-week-11-2013/

Doom Block Alterations

 I completed 2 more Doom blocks this week.  Both of these had extensive (by my standards) paper piecing.  I changed the toad block so that he is sitting on 3 books instead of two.

 

I substituted the potions bottles for the Hogwarts crest in the next block.

 

 

My camera is still missing, so I used my phone to take these pictures.  They seem a little blurry to me but better than no pictures at all.

 

Five blocks to go!

 

Stash Report

I used 10 yards this week thanks to the donation quilt mentioned in my last post.  My camera is still AWOL, so no pictures today.

 The fabric I added was 3 fat quarters for the Project of Doom Quilt, and  2 1/4 yards of 60 inch wide corduroy for a backing.  Using a JoAnn's coupon, it only cost me $6 for the whole piece of corduroy.  I couldn't pass it up, even though I am not sure which quilt I will use it for.  It used to be easy to find 60 inch wide corduroy, but most corduroy seems to be just 45 inches wide now. That extra 15 inches makes a big difference in how many yards are needed for a backing, so I try to buy 60 inch wide corduroy whenever I can find it. 

 

Used This Week: 10 yards

Used Year to Date: 28.75yards

Added this week: 3  yards

Added year to date: 27 yards

Net Used: 1.75  yards

 

I am FINALLY into net used instead of net added territory!

 

For more stash reports:   http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/03/10/stash-report-week-10-2013/

Letting it Go

I have many quilts that I've pieced, but they aren't quilted.  I am not interested in learning how to quilt on my home machine.  I make mostly big quilts, and I think quilting them would be an exercise in frustration for me.  I have a limited amount of time to sew, and I want to spend it making tops.  But I can't afford to have them all longarmed, so they sit, sometimes for years, until I come up with the money to get them quilted for myself or decide to give them as a gift.

Last week I decided to let one of them go.  The fabric for this quilt was an impulse buy. A couple of years ago,   I found a bunch of Fig Tree Quilt's Dandelion Girl on sale for $6 a yard.  I loved the soft colors, so I bought enough to make a quilt and some pillow cases.  These fabrics are some of the silkiest cottons I've ever used. 

I got the quilt made, and it has been sitting, waiting to be long armed for a few years.  I finally decided that I don't like quilt enough to pay to have it quilted.  I got it out today, and realized that it is too 'sweet' for me.  I'm sending the top, backing, binding and 2 matching pillow cases to a an organization that makes quilt for charity (estimate 10 yards in to total).  http://www.thegladechurch.org/info/quilt

Even though I didn't like this quilt enough to keep it, it was worthwhile for me to make it. This quilt taught me that I am a scrap quilter.   I learned that I won't be happy with a quilt that only uses fabric from one fabric line.  I like quirky, scrappy quilts the most. 

Somehow I've misplaced the camera, so I can't post pictures of the quilt I dontated.  I'm afraid I sent it off in the box with the quilt. Sarah said she would check the box  when it arrives and let me know if I sent the camera along with the quilt. I misplace things like scissors and keys on a daily basis.   When the camera  turns up, I'll post a picture of this quilt.

*** Update***
I heard from Sarah yesterday.  The box with my quilt arrived, but there was no camera in the box.  Which means the camera is still somewhere in my house.  I've looked all over, but I'm afraid I may have to do a multi-day clean up to find it.  Here's a link to Sarah's blog where she posted a picture of the quilt I sent.
  http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2013/03/whats-cookin-at-sweatshop.html

Doom Update, Seven to Go

I skipped posting my Project of Doom progress last week because I didn't have any new blocks completely done.  Embroidering the book titles is slowing me down again.   Here's what I have so far:

12 Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches, Modern Magical History

Quidditch Teams of Britain and Ireland, Voyages With Vampires, Flesh-Eating Trees of the World

From Egg to Inferno: A Dragon Keeper's Guide, Basic Hexes for the Busy and Vexed, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Quidditch Through the Ages, A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration, Saucy Tricks for Tricky Sorts, Common Magical Ailments and Afflictions

 

 

Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy, Magical Theory, Break with a Banshee, Charm Your Own Cheese

 

I also skipped a stash report this week because I have nothing used and nothing added.  This is my second week with nothing added.  I feel like I'm getting my fabric buying under control now. 

To see more design walls :http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/03/04/design-wall-march-4-2013/