Scream House

I finally finished the cross stitching on  Just Nan's Scream House today. It is cloudy out, so these aren't the best pictures.

I had a difficult time with the stitching since the linen was limp.  I do a lot of stitching in-hand without a hoop, but this was so limp I had to use a q-snap, and there wasn't a lot of margin to snap it on.  I wish the linen had been 2 inches wider!

 I still have a little beading to do on it and need to do a lot of mindless back stitching around each piece.  Then comes the construction, which I've heard is complicated.  But the good news is I could very well have it done by Halloween this year.  It has been a long time since I've had a cross stitch finish.

Linking up: http://www.supermomnocape.com/2016/04/11/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-53/

Stash Report, Rainbow Scrap Challenge

Yesterday I worked on my rainbow scrap challenge.  This month's color is Monarch (orange with black highlights).  I made 15 string blocks, but I have enough orange strings left to easily make 15 more.

I also made one orange inverted star.

Here are all of my inverted star blocks so far:

  



Used this week: 4.75 yards  (PoD backing, fat quarter lotto)
Used Year to Date: 32.5 yards
Added this week: 2 yards  (pillowcase, panel)
Added Year to Date:  34.375 yards
Net ADDED:   1.875 yards

Linking up: http://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2016/04/scraphappy-saturday-oranges-on-parade.html
http://www.patchworktimes.com/2016/04/10/stash-report-april-10-2026/

Rulers and Books, April Goals

I don't have a lot of quilting gadgets except for rulers.  I have a lot of rulers.  I believe in spending money on tools that make my cutting more accurate.  That allows my blocks to go together better, and I have to do less fudging.  It occurred to me the other day that it is kind of wasteful to buy a ruler and use it only once.  So now I'm going to try and make sure I use each of my specialty rulers in at least three quilts. I used Jaybird Quilts Hex N More and Side Kick rulers  when I made Gravity.

And I'm using them again in Daybreak.

I want to pick out and plan another Jaybird quilt pattern that uses these rulers. I want to go though all of my rulers, decide which ones are underutilized and make a plan of how to get them back into circulation.

Another of my long term goals is to look at my quilt books.  I shouldn't need to buy quilt books any time soon.  I have lots of them taking up space, and I haven't used most of them.  My new goal:  don't buy a quilt book unless I plan to make 3 of the quilts in that book.  The loophole?  Books that are gifts don't count, just the books I buy myself.  Also, if I choose to buy a quilt book, I'm going to try and find it used first.

As far as March's goals:

1.  Bind Wild and Goosey:  Done!
  
2.  Get POD2 ready for the longarmer: Done!

3.  Do the last two clues on Bricks, Steppingstones and Cobblestones:  Did the second to the last row and decided that was enough.  Done!

4.  Put the borders on Allietare:  Done!

5.  Finish the cross stitching on Scream House:  Not done.  I ran out of floss and had to order more online.  I've only a few more hours to go, Hope I can get it done before the next crazy quilting class starts this month.

6.  Keep up with Stars Around the Corner Clues:  Done!

7.  Continue to participate in Rainbow Scrap Challenge: Done!

So for April, I want to:
1. Sign up for next Crazy Quilting class and begin that stitching.
2.Bind Trents quilt.
3. Bind Amanda's quilt.
4. Finish Daybreak top
5. Evaluate rulers, books and think about a plan for them
6. Keep up with Stars Around the Corner Clues.
7. Continue to participate in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge
8. Pull out a UFO and make some progress.
9. Get red and white quilt to longarmer.
10.  Finish the cross stitching on Scream House.

Linking up:
http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/p/lets-bee-social.html

Stash Report, Daybreak on Design Wall

We were out of town this weekend, so I missed the Sunday stash report this week.

Used this week: 2.0 yards (Christmas pillowcases)
Used Year to Date: 27.75 yards
Added this week: 2 yards (backing for red and white quilt)
Added Year to Date:  32.375 yards
Net ADDED:   4.625 yards

I've done a little sewing on Daybreak.  This is a Jaybird Quilts pattern, and it is going together very well.  I like Julie's clear cutting and sewing directions.  I am pressing seams so the side and nesting them instead of  pressing open as she suggests.  The blocks are going together fine that way; it just takes me a little more time to figure out which direction to press each seam.

Linking up: http://www.patchworktimes.com/2016/04/04/design-wall-april-4-2016/

Flowers

The daffodils have been beautiful this year.  The weather conditions must have been perfect for them. I have about 12 different varieties in my yard.  They are the perfect bulb for my yard because the rabbits, squirrels and deer leave them alone.

The red buds been pretty too.  This is one of my favorite trees.

The azaleas are starting to bloom now too. I think I want to plant some more azaleas this fall.  

Right now I'm waiting on the irises.  Several of the short ones have purple buds on them.  One actually bloomed last week, but it was short lived, and I missed getting a picture of it.  The columbine is popping up all over, and I've seen a few buds on those plants.  

Stash Report, Design Wall, Bradford Pear Snow

I missed stash report Sunday, but I have both added and used fabric.

Used this week: 3.5 
Used Year to Date: 25.75 yar
Added this week: 5 yards (red and white fabric)
Added Year to Date:  30.375 yards
Net ADDED: 4.625  yards

I spent yesterday cutting out my next quilt.  I'm using the left over Day Sail fat quarters from Henrique's quilt and added some fat quarters from Promenade Hazel by Cluck Cluck Sew.  I was surprised by how similar the colors are.  I still have to buy the background and cut it, but I put the fabric up on my design wall to play.

Off topic, the pear tree in the middle of the cul de sac is snowing petals today.  The petals are blowing all over and drift in the gutters.

Linking up: http://www.patchworktimes.com/2016/03/28/design-wall-march-28-2016/#comments

RSC, Crocus is the Color

This month's color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is purple with yellow accents.  I've made two inverted star blocks:

And 15 purple string blocks:

I still have a lot of purple scraps left, so I may get a few more done this month.

Linking up: http://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2016/03/last-purple-saturday.html

http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2016/03/i-may-have-scrap-problem-but-at-least.html