Stash Report

Used since last report:        0.00 yards
Used year to Date:               0.00 yards

Added since last report:     2.00 yards
Added Year to Date:            2.00 yards

Net Used for 2014:              -2.00 yards 

Whew!! It has been a long three weeks. We attended a visitation for Roger, a good friend of my husband and he was best man at our wedding, who passed away on Dec. 31, 2013. The visitation and funeral was held in South Dakota on Jan. 8th & 9th, so we were gone from home almost two whole days. 

After we arrived home from South Dakota, I quickly packed to go on my "English Manor" quilt retreat which started on Thursday, Jan. 9th. The theme was Downton Abbey. Quite a few of us worked on "Fanfare" by Chris Hoover made out of Downton Abbey fabric. We had a formal dinner on Saturday evening and a lot of the ladies did a good job of dressing up. One of the attendees came as Mr. Bates. She was great in a suit. The caterers served us a seven course meal in the English manner.  

Saturday evening formal dinner.

While at the retreat, we of course made a trip to the quilt shop in Randall and I did purchase a few fun pieces. It is always nice to add some fun fabrics to the stash! LOL

On Sunday, after the retreat, I drove up to Fargo to spend the week house-sitting and doing the "Chipper Watch." He is my daughter Natalie's dog and is always such a personality. Notice how much company he was --

While in Fargo, I kept working on Fanfare until the top was finished. I knew that If I did not finish it immediately, it would become another UFO that would take years to finish.  I didn't even count the fabric "in or out" because it was being used before it became "vintage" or "well aged." Chipper made sure he watched over me, so that I kept on track !!! LOL  Notice how he is keeping such an eagle eye on me ----

Fanfare - designed by Chris Hoover

I was snowed in for two days after the blizzard in North Dakota while at Natalie's and it was wonderful because I slept, read, knitted and just generally zoned out in front of the TV while I streamed British TV and some movies. Sometimes we just need some down time with absolutely NO responsibility except to feed Chipper and let him in or out periodically.  By last Sunday though, I was only to happy to head home.

Everyday since last Monday has been someplace to go!! LOL  Not a lot of sewing time at home. Monday, if the weather does not make the roads too bad for travel, I am expecting Maureen and Mary for a sewing day. Mary's hubby will join us later in the day, for food and cards in the evening. Sounds like a pleasant way to spend a wintery day!!

Hugs to all and make sure you hop over to Patchwork Times and see what others are doing.

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/01/26/stash-report-week-4-2014/

Hugs, Beth

Celtic Solstice, Brrrrrrr --, & English Manor Quilt Retreat

It was such a lovely surprise to have the early reveal of Celtic Solstice (http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2014/01/happy-new-year-2014-surprise-reveal.html). What a beautiful quilt!! Bonnie has done it again.

I plan to make the small size quilt longer for a twin size bed. Planning to add two rows, so I am busy cutting more pieces but I did piece one of each block. 

 

I just have to say --- Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr  Baby it's cold outside! During the night our thermometer temps ranged from - 28 to -35 F. outside but it is the wind that makes it so dangerous. We have been spoiled with our mild winters over the last few yearrs. 

Did you watch Downton Abbey Sunday evening? I am a huge fan of Downton Abbey TV series and watched all of the first three seasons in preparation for season four. Bet there are a lot of others that are fans!! LOL  In January, two of my friends and I are going on an "English Manor Quilt Retreat" held at the Linden Hill Mansion (http://www.linden-hill.org/historical_museum.php). It is a wonderful historical site in Little Falls, MN. It is such a fabulous place to stay and there are even "haunted" rooms!  The quilt we will be working on is a free pattern from Andover Fabrics called "Fanfare" (http://andoverfabrics.com/CuttingKits/Kitting_Downton%20Abbey-Fanfare.pdf) and was designed by Chris Hoover (Whirligig Designs). Gruber's Quilt Shop kitted the fabrics for anyone attending the retreat. So, instead of working only on Celtic Solstice, I am cutting all the pieces for Fanfare in preparation of the retreat which starts soon. Yaaa---  It should be fun. 

Right after the quilt retreat in Little Falls, I will be heading up to Fargo for the "Chipper Watch". Chipper is my daughter Natalie's dog. They will be going on a trip to Panama. Norm, my SIL, was awarded the trip by one of the vendors for the company where he works. It should be an interesting trip. My poor Hubby will be batching it but I know him and his bud, Butch, will probably get up to all kinds of michief while I am gone!! LOL Also, since our son comes around on a regular basis to be fed, Hubby will end up cooking for him.

Make sure you check out Quiltville's Quips & Snips (http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2014/01/mystery-monday-link-up-part-6.html) to see how others are doing on the Celtic Solstice. There are some beauties!  

Also, check out Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times (http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/01/06/design-wall-monday-january-6-2014/). There is a lot of eye candy to view.

 Hugs, Beth

Stash Report - Week 1, 2014

Used:        0.00 yards
Added:      0.00 yards

The start of a new year with a clean slate is such a feeling of new beginnings. I was thinking about not doing the stash report this year, because I know that I will purchase fabric that will be "just because I like it!"  Decided to rethink this. By keeping the stash report, it makes me think about what I am purchasing. Also, the stash report helps me create a purchase plan. For the coming year, there is a need to add "light value" fabrics in all color categories. Also, I would like to add more fun graphic fabrics that are more contemporary. It will be interesting to see I how do through the year.

It is also interesting to see how much I use through the year. This year I hope to finish at least one UFO a quarter. The UFO's are tops that are pieced but need to be quilted and bound. Notice that it is not an overly ambitious challenge. That is because a lot of the time I get the top pieced but do not get it quilted. 

This is a year to just enjoy and have fun. No guilt is allowed!! LOL I hope for everyone to have a wonderful and enjoyable quilty 2014.  

Make sure you hop over to Patchwork Times and see what others are doing.

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/01/05/stash-report-week-1-2014/

Hugs, Beth