It's A Mystery

I've been working on two mysteries this week.  Summer Stars on Fawn Lake (SSFL) started the tenth.  I had a difficult time working though the clues, and I'm not really sure why.  My prefered quilting instructions show pictures of blocks with dimensions (ala Bonnie Hunter).  This time the instructions were a lot of words with descriptions of the units, and I spent a lot of time figuring out exactly what to sew together.  Eventually, with the help of someone who posted their blocks online, I figured out what in the world I was supposed to make.  But by then I had made 7 extra blocks that may have to be taken apart.  I'll worry about the unsewing next month!

I have also been working on On Ringo Lake.  I am afraid to take it off my design wall because it would be so easy to mix up the direction of the sashing.  In fact, I found an error 2 days ago that I have decided to leave in.  I want this quilt done!!!!

It is snowing here now, and I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon sewing.

Stash Report:
Used this week: 2.5 yards (given to Brenda)
Used year to date: 0 yards
Added this week: 4.5 ( 10 $1 FQs and 2 pillow case kits)
Added year to date: 2 yards
Net Added: 2 yards

On Ringo Lake, A Work in Progress

I've decided to quit whining about On Ringo Lake and just keep sewing.  Today I worked on it most of the afternoon and got this far:

This week I want to get the setting triangles made and sewn into the rows.  The week after that, I want to get the quilt sewn together.  I'm off from work tomorrow, but I also have to do mundane things like take the dog to the vet and clean the house.  I hope to finish the cutting for the setting triangles tomorrow too.  

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2018/01/mystery-monday-link-up-part-6-7-8-9.html

Christopher's Stocking, Cross Stitching Finish

In August I started working on a Christmas stocking for a friend of mine.  She had already made stockings for her oldest 2 children but had stalled on the one for her youngest.  I offered to finished the cross stitching. https://sewingoutofmycomfortzone.blogspot.com/2017/08/christophers-stocking.html

Last night I got all the stitching done:

This is Robert's Stocking by Shepherd's Bush.

I am waiting for the embellishments for it.  There are little charms on the santa and the deer and some silk ribbon, that I'm now comfortable working with thanks to the online class I took last year.  It didn't get done in time for Christmas, but at least he will have a stocking in 2018!

On Ringo Lake: After the Reveal

I really enjoy Bonnie Hunter's mysteries from the day after Thanksgiving until the reveal on New Year's Day.  After the reveal, the quilt feels like work.  So many clues so quickly, and it is hard to keep up.  I know it isn't a race, but after the reveal, I feel like I lose the connection to all the quilters working on the mystery, and it becomes a solo activity which isn't as much fun to me. 

So I've been WORKING on On Ringo Lake this week, not enjoying the process.  Here are my completed blocks:

I've also started putting the blocks together with sashing.  The quilt is set on point, but I am less likely to turn the sashing strips the wrong way if I set it on the straight right now.

With my bad attitude, it might be better for me to put On Ringo Lake away for a while! Luckily, Charlotte Hawke's mystery starts the 10th, so I'll get my fix of group sewing.  

On Ringo Lake, Clue 5

By using snippets of time the last four days, I've managed to get Clue 5 of On Ringo Lake done.  Here are my units:

Linking up: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2017/12/mystery-tuesday-link-up-part-5.html

Final Stash Report and Quilts Finished in 2017

2017 was a big year for me as far as stash acquisition. I added 255.25 yards this year, an all time high.  My stash usage was also at at all time high, 155.75 yards, thanks to the many quilt finishes I have had. For the past 5 years, my goal was always to use more fabric than I bought.  I didn't always reach my goal, but I was at least trying.

2016  20.875 yards added
2015   6.357 yards used
2014   2.5 yards added
2013   9.5 yards added
2012   20.25 yards used

This year, I wasn't even trying.  For the most part, I bought what I wanted when I wanted.  I have plans for most of it, but not all of it.  In 2018, I'm hoping to rein it in a little and use up more of what I bought this year. I won't need to be as frugal as I was in the past since I'm working a little,  but I don't have as much time to sew as I used to either.  

I have one quilt at the longarmer's and eleven in my closet waiting to be quilted, so I almost met one of my goals this year:  to have no more than 10 unquilted tops in my closet.  Four of the tops I got rid of were donated to charity, unquilted.

I ought to go through my sewing room, take inventory of my unfinished tops and set a UFO goal. I know I have fabric for 4 OBWs.  One of them should be done in January.  One of them has been cut, and the other two are waiting.  I have three Bonnie Hunter scrap quilts in progress, enough string blocks for a top, a paper pieced project, 2 more graduation quilts to make and give by May.  I have also started a block a day quilt, which I abandoned in March of last year.  There is a shop challenge that I need to have pieced and quilted by April.  I have a hunter's star quilt, barely started. I have 2 Charlotte Hawk's mystery quilts in progress:  one is just waiting for a border and one is in pieces.  I have a new Dresden quilt ruler that I'm dying to try too.  Enough to keep me busy in 2018!

I completed fourteen quilts this year!

Thimbleberries (Given to my sister Karen):

Project of Doom 3:

Talkin' Turkey:

O Canada (A wedding gift):

Janie's Dogs (this quilt is shown unquilted, because I neglected to get a picture of the completed quilt):

Allietare:

Stars Around the Corner (Given to my cousin, Sarah):

Goose In the Puddle:

En Provence (Given to my sister Martha):

Rolling Waves (Given to my sister Julie):

Shaggy OBW (Given to Sandra, my bunko buddy):

Arrow Point Path:

Here Comes the Sun (A Christmas gift for Nicole, my nephew's fiance):

Urban Nine Patch:

Linking up: http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2017/12/a-sew-together-bag-for-emily.html

P.S.  I added 11 more yards of fabric a couple of days ago, and I need to get it in the last 2017 report, so I can start 2018 with a clean slate. ( Mind games.)  So my updated numbers are  265.25 yards added and 155.75 yards used for a final total of 109.5 yards added.  I feel like I'm making a confession! 

Pillowcases

I've made a little progress on my to do list:  three pillowcases.  One of these is a gift, two of them are to wrap other gifts.  This one is for my friend's mom.  I've made her a Peanuts pillowcase almost every Christmas for the last 5 years.  She will be going into assisted living right after Christmas, and I hope this will brighten up her room and give her something to talk about with the other residents she meets.

The Grinch pillowcases will be used to wrap next year's gifts.  I wasn't sure they would be finished in time, so I've already wrapped all my gifts for this year.

Stash Report:
Used this week: 3.5 yards
Used year to date:155.75 yards
Added this week:  7.5 yards (backing, pillowcase fabric, store challenge)
Added year to date: 255.25 yards
Net Added: 99.5 yards