Stash Report, Getting Organized

I completed a quilt top this week and rushed it off to the longarmers without measuring it, so I'll have to report the yards used when it gets back.  I'm guessing about 5, but I want to be sure.  I am sure about how many I bought this week: 3 yards to use as backing.

Used This Week: 0 yards

Used Year to Date: 28.75yards

Added this week: 3  yards

Added year to date: 36.25 yards

Net Added:  7.5 yards

 

I should break even or be in net used territory when the quilt comes back from the longarmer. To see more stash reports: http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/03/31/stash-report-week-13-2013/

 

I spent yesterday evening trying to bring order to my sewing space, hoping I'd find my lost camera under a pile of scraps.  No such luck.  But I am feeling a little more organized and ready to start sewing again.  I did find one little book 'The Encyclopedia of Toadstools' that didn't make it into my P of D quilt.  I saved it, but I'm not sure what I'll do with it now.  Here's what it looked like before I worked on it:

 

After:

 

 

 

 

 

Project of Doom Top and PoD Quilt for Charity

Regular readers of my blog are probably sick to death of hearing about this quilt.  My goal was to finish the top and get it to the longarmer before spring break. I put the final border on it today and plan to take it to the longarmer this afternoon after I iron the backing.  Lots of happy dancing here!!!

There are so many things I would change about this quilt if I did it again: different  fabrics, motif placement, even the way I paper pieced the books. But I really don't see myself doing this again. And if I ever do make this quilt again, I will give myself more than 3 months to do it in.

 The last week has been a sweat shop around here, trying to finish the quilt.  The rest of my house is a mess, and my sewing space is littered with paper shreds, fabric scraps and threads.  Paper piecing, at least the way I do it, is a very messy, time consuming technique. I should probably take a class to learn how to be more efficient.  I feel like I waste a lot of fabric paper piecing.

But the good news is it is done, with enough time to spare that I shouldn't have to rush the binding.  The quilt needs to be done in time for a May graduation.

I want to encourage you to think about making just one of these blocks and sending it to Jennifer Ofenstein.  She is the creator of this free pattern and is coordinating a Project of Doom quilt for charity.  The book blocks are super simple, and if you've never paper pieced before, they are great ones to try.  I learned how to paper piece from a you tube video, so you know it can't be that hard.  Here's a link to her blog post with the project details: http://www.fandominstitches.com/2013/03/project-of-doom-block-drive.html

 The good news:  book titles are optional, so if you aren't up for all that handwork, don't worry about it. Making a block or two would be a good way for you to stick your toe in the water and see if The Project of Doom quilt is for you. 

March Ornament

I've let my cross stitching slide this month because I 've been doing so much quilting.  Last night I stayed up late to finish my March ornament.  This is a small ornament, but there is a lot of over-one stitching.  For you young cross stitchers, I suggest you do your over-one stitching before you are 45.  Even with magnification, I can't see the way I used to, and I need A LOT more light than before.

 

 

Again, I'm missing my camera, so my picture isn't great.  This is Jeannette Douglas Designs' 2010 Stamp ornament. 

 

http://stitchinglotus.ca/2013/03/ornament-sal-march-check-in/

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!