Stash Report Celebration

This is almost as exciting to me as a quilt finish:  I have used 1.875 more yards this year than I have bought!!!  There were times when I didn't think I would ever get there, and I know I will have to be vigilant to stay on this side.  My goal is to use more fabric than I buy this year, and I just might make it. 

Used this week:  7.0 yards
Used year to date:  67.875 yards
Added this week:  0
Added year to date:  66.0 yards
Net USED:  1.875 yards

Here's the quilt that pushed me over the edge. I would like to get it to the long arm quilter before October. 

Linking up:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2015/09/27/fabric-report-week-39-2015/

Smart Phone Quilt Blocks

I pulled out my Smart Phone quilt again and got a couple of blocks done.  These are surprisingly time intensive.  Even the simple ones take me a couple of hours.

 

Six blocks done.  I'll need 25 or 30 to make a decent sized quilt. 

 

Linking up:  http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/2015/09/lets-bee-social-91.html

Rushing the Season

Warning:  this is a picture heavy post.

 Do you decorate for Halloween?  Do you decorate for Halloween in September?  This year I started putting out some of  my Halloween cross stitch decorations early.  I made a tree for my Halloween ornaments a couple of years ago. 

 

I made some of the ornaments.  Others were given to me by my online stitching friends.  This is my mantel minus the fake cobwebs I sometimes put up.

 

 

 My friend Jennifer did the stitching and finishing of this Prairie Schooler flat fold.

 

Jennifer also made me this treat bag.  I put a can of soup inside, so it can stand up for display.

 

 

Just Nan makes some of my favorite Halloween charts.  I did the stitching and finishing of these.

 

This is a Shepherd's Bush, also my work. The bow on this one needs a little help!

 

My friend Jodi stitched this witch, and I finished her into a flat fold.

This framed piece is from Cross Eyed Cricket.

 

This piece is in my foyer.  I think it came from a magazine.

 

 

 

I have a sewing machine drawer full of cross stitched smalls.  Most of these were made for me by friends who know I love Halloween.

 

 

My friend Nancy stitched and finished this Drawn Thread pillow:

 

 

I made 'Smell My Feet' into a pillow:

 

 

I think that is all!

 

Linking up:  http://www.supermomnocape.com/2015/09/21/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-24/

 

 

 

 

 

Gravity!

I'm a couple of weeks late because my sewing machine was in the shop, but here is my Gravity quilt top:

 

I am very please with this pattern:  the directions are clear and easy to follow.  Since I have the rulers now, I think more Jaybird quilts are in my future. 

 

This quilt is going to be a gift for my oldest son for his birthday, if I can get it quilted in time. Otherwise, he will get it for Christmas. 

 

Linking up:  http://busyhandsquilts.blogspot.com/2015/09/gravity-quilt-along-quilt-tops.html  http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2015/09/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-memories-and.html  http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2015/09/finish-it-up-friday-92515.html

Scrappy Mountains Majesties Top Finished!

I am happy to report that I finished something today!

This is my version of Scrappy Mountains Majesties (69"x 85") .  It is a Bonnie Hunter free pattern.  As I recall, she pieced the whole thing in a weekend.  Mine took considerably longer than that!  The whole thing is made from repurposed shirts.

                                Used This Week:  4.5 yards                                
Used Year to Date: 60.875 yards 
Added this week: 0
Added year to date: 66.0 yard
 Net added: 5.125 yards

Linking up:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2015/09/20/fabric-report-week-3

http://www.shecanquilt.ca/2015/10/scraptastic-tuesday-october-link-up-is.html

Sewing Machine is Back!

Here's the good news:  I got my sewing machine back, and it's working fine.  The spring on the bobbin case had to be replaced, and it only cost $30.  Here's the bad news:   he didn't clean and oil it even though I told the woman who wrote up the ticket that I wanted it cleaned and oiled too.  The tech wasn't there when I picked it up, or I would have talked to him directly.  I decided just to bring it home and use it for a while.  Then I might try and find another shop to do the cleaning and oiling.  I don't want to be without it for another two weeks!

I got the rest of the Scrappy Mountain Majesties blocks done yesterday and started sewing the rows together.

 

Linking up http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2015/09/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-what-shade-are.html

Thirteen Days and Counting

Thirteen days without a sewing machine.  I had no idea it would take this long to fix!  Three of those days we were out of town, so really I've only been without a machine for 10 days.  Still, that's a long time for me.  I've watched the Smart Phone Sew Along pass me by:  8 blocks behind now.  I've decided I can't participate in the Twilter's Hashtag block exchange because then I'll be even further behind on other projects.  All I can say is my machine better be COMPLETELY fixed when I get it back. 

I've been cutting up scraps, cross stitching, and  (gasp!) cleaning my house.  We've taken a load of junk to Goodwill, moved furniture around upstairs, set up a guest room, polished the hardwood floors,  and started on setting up an office downstairs.  I've dusted the shutters, something I only do a few times a year. I've even applied for a part time job!  I'm glad the cutting instructions for the next Scrapitude quilt came out this week, so I still have some cutting to do.

http://scrapitudequilts.com/here-we-go-its-time-to-cut-the-scraps/

If you are being overrun with scraps, I encourage you to try one of Charlotte's mysteries.  They aren't as involved as Bonnie Hunter's but the patterns are just as pretty. This is Scrapitude, made mostly in batiks:

 

This is Scrap In a Box:

 

Charlotte's patterns are what some call 'full on scrappy', not the controlled scrap palate that Bonnie Hunter usually uses in her mysteries.  Charlotte's method teaches you to look at the difference in value, not necessarily color.  Both of these quilts were made with a lot of old, weird and ugly fabric, but I'm pleased with how they turned out.