Stash Report, Sheep is the Color

I missed the Sunday stash report again this week, but I am keeping track of my fabric.

Used this week:  5.0 (Trent's quilt)
Used Year to Date: 8.5 yards
Added this week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date:  20.375 yards
Net ADDED:  11.875 yards

This year I'm participating in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  Last month's color was blue, and I did a good job of making blue blocks.  This month, 'sheep: brown with pink accents' is the color.  I don't have any two color blocks planned for this challenge, and I don't have many brown scraps, so I improvised.  I made both brown and pink string blocks.  I was scraping the bottom of the scrap bag to come up with suitable brown scraps.  I don't want to cut into my fat quarters for this project.

Linking up:  http://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2016/02/scraphappy-saturday-hot-cocoa.html

Trent's Bargello Quilt

I finished the top of Trent's graduation quilt today.  I'm very pleased it is done early as I hate to sew under pressure.  I still have to get it longarmed and bound, but I've got about 4 months to do that.

This quilt is 88" x 70 1/2".  I am used to working in bright colors, and most of my quilts are scrappy.  This is a nice change from my usual style.  I didn't use a pattern for this quilt, but I've made another quilt with a bargello border, so I knew it wouldn't be hard.  

If you have ever thought of making a bargello quilt, there are many tutorials online, and it isn't hard, especially if you have a design wall.  For the record, I used 11 colors and bought 3/4 of a yard of each color, which was plenty for Trent's quilt with about 5 inches of each left over.  If you cut everything perfectly, 1/2 yard of each color would be enough.  I like to have a little more for safety.

Linking up: http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2016/02/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-little-bit-of.html

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2016/02/pixie-basket.html

ICQC Peacock

The next step in my crazy quilting class was to stitch a mixed technique motif.  I chose to do a peacock using the Pam Kellogg tutorial.  http://kittyandmedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/07/pams-peacock-tutorial-for-crazy.html

This was so much fun to do, I'd like to make another!  But how many peacocks does one crazy quilt need?

Trent's Quilt/Stash Reort

Trent's quilt is on my design wall this week.  I've finished 3 of the big sections.  One more to go, and I've got a good start on that one.

We are having snow/sleet/freezing rain today, so I'm going to stay in and sew. I missed the stash report yesterday.  Here my numbers:

Used this week:  3.5
Used Year to Date: 0 yards
Added this week: 4.0 yards (pillowcases, fat quarter sale)
Added Year to Date:  20.375 yards
Net ADDED:  16.875 yards

Linking up:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2016/02/15/design-wall-february-15-2016/

ICQC Dragon

My next task in ICQC was to create an embroidery motif that takes a simple design and turns it into more of a story by adding to the design.  I started with a simple line drawing of a dragon that I found by googling 'line drawings of dragons'.  My first idea was to embroider a dragon fighting a knight. I can't draw very well, though, and all the knights I found online were too detailed to embroider and get the task finished in a reasonable amount of time.  My next idea was to have the dragon flying over a castle since castles are made of simple shapes I can draw.  After my embroidery of the dragon was almost done, I changed my mind and  turned him into a dragon guarding his hoard.

It was fun going through my beads and deciding which to use on this piece, but the actual embroidery of the dragon took almost a week.  If I hadn't decided to use two strands of silk and a lazy daisy chain on the wings, it would have taken two and a half weeks.  I need to find some better way to fill big spaces with color.  Maybe paint pens or applique next time.  But since this is a surface embroidery class, this dragon needed to be stitched.

Pillowcases and More

First finishes of the year:  three pillowcases.

The two Valentine ones are for my boys, and the Peanuts pillowcase is a birthday gift for my friend's mom.

I also completed two house blocks for the Neighborhood Block Party.

Participants make  12 1/2 inch square house blocks, send them to Irene, and then a random number generator chooses who will receive all of the house blocks.  She is also collecting house blocks for a charity quilt.  There is still time to join in if you want to make a block.
http://muchashilachas.blogspot.com/2016/01/neighborhood-party-2016.html

To see some of the blocks:
http://www.mysismademe.blogspot.com/2016/01/neighborhood-block-party-linkup.html

ICQC, Beach Ball or Pumpkin?

The next task in my crazy quilting class was to create a basic surface embroidery motif.  I wanted to find something Halloween-themed, but I found that most of the vintage patterns online were either too detailed for a small space or too cutesy for me.  I ended up embroidering a pumpkin, but by using 6 colors, it ended up looking more like a beach ball than a pumpkin.  The addition of tendrils helped, but it needed something more.  That's when I decided to turn my beach ball into a jack-o-lantern.  The addition of a face takes some of the attention away from my unfortunate color choices.

Linking up:  http://www.supermomnocape.com/2016/02/08/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-44/