Stash Report and Stuff

Used since last report:         0.00 yards
Used year to Date:            13.50 yards

Added since last report:     0.00 yards
Added Year to Date:           5.50 yards

Net Used for 2013:              8.00 yards

No change to the stash report. Not sure if that is good or so-so!  Means I didn't finish anything that would help reduce the stash. February turned out to be a lost month. There are so many items I had planned to complete and didn't finish any.

I did attend the Machine Embroidery Retreat in February for five days at Grand Casino Mille Lacs, MN. Of course, it took the week before the retreat to organize and find everything that I needed to take. It was a good thing that we only live 30 miles from the retreat because when I was unpacking at the Casino, I was missing my main project bag with all the cut pieces for most of the projects. I would not be able to do a lot of the projects without it. Hubby had so nicely been helping me pack the vehicle and I did not notice the project bag was accidentally set back down in the sewing room and it did not get loaded when we were loading the vehicle. So it was left at home. A nice little round trip was necessary but at least I hadn't lost it.

We finished so many projects and I did not come home with so many UFO's like the last two years. Both Maureen (good friend) and I were so happy with what we accomplished. Finished a name tag and a snappy bag done with bobbin work besides the projects shown below. Two projects I did not do at all. We had a fun time and there were so many of us that know each other that a lot of visiting also took place. I may go next year. Depends on the projects

Flamingo embroidered on Pet Mesh Tote

Cowl fleece scarf with embroidered snowflakes

Embossed bath towel for my guest bathroom

One end of a cutwork placemat. Stabilizer is still on it.

Since watching Bonnie Hunter on QuiltCam (http://quiltville.blogspot.com/) with all her vintage machines, I decided to drag my Singer 99 (3/4 size head) with the Bentwood case out of the closet. I bought her on an auction for $25. Her birthday is 4/2/1931, so she is no youngster.  The pretty little girl needs to be cleaned and oiled. To sew with the machine it has a knee control lever that fits in the slot on the  bottom section of the case (lower right in the picture) in place of a foot pedal. Now I need to find a place to set her up so I can sew on her. Guess I will try to get my treadle machine up and running. The treadle needs a new belt and then I can try her out.

A week ago, my youngest daughter treated me to a stage show in Minneapolis called "Buckets and Tap Shoes" for my birthday. It was so much fun. The two main guys in the show tap danced and drummed on everything except a drum. It was amazing what they were able to do with buckets, pails, water glasses, plastic 55-gallon drums and metal pipes. They even were drumming on the floor.  The theater building the show was in had been saved from demolition and moved to its current location and then renovated.  Due to the smaller size of the audience area, it was such a wonderful friendly informal event. We visited with other attendees even though we didn't know anyone.

Make sure you hop over to Patchwork Times to see how others are doing:

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/03/03/stash-report-week-9-2013/

Beth

Home from Retreat

Received a call from my daughter Natalie this afternoon. Since I had not posted retreat results, she was wondering if I was home yet. Yes!! I am home. Going to retreats is fun but it sure can be exhausting. I arrived home late yesterday afternoon and I was tired!!  Fell asleep on the couch for a nap before dinner (Hubby cooked) and did absolutely nothing in the evening except catch up with the shows I had saved on the DVR. Is that lazy or what?? LOL Sure was nice though.

Arrived up at the casino on Monday afternoon and set up all of my equipment.  The guys from St. Cloud Sewing Center were at the doors to help us unload all of our supplies. That was great!! Since this was a machine embroidery retreat, most of us came with two machines; one for machine embroidery and one for general sewing. Some of the ladies bring their whole thread cart, computers, extra small table, irons, etc. The retreat went until Friday afternoon. The food was great and the beds were very comfortable in the hotel. My friend, Maureen, and I were roommates. I served her coffee in bed in the morning! She is a slow starter in the morning. LOL  Her husband is going to have to fulfill some big expectations! ROFLOL What ever I can do to help the situation.


The first project we worked on was a felt bag with a mylar applique' on it. It will make a great Christmas gift bag. The snow flakes were embroidered on first, then we placed the mylar snowman applique' on and embroidered the texture all over the mylar, then embroidered the scarf and nose on the snowman. They turned out very cute and shiny. I still have the sides and handles to put on the bag but I want to embroider a name on the bag first.

Another project we worked on was a purse. I still have the lining and pockets to finish and then it is done.

Since most of the work for the purse was done in the hoop it was a challenge. Some of the machines did not like the layers of peltex, fabric, and buckram. One of the things I found out at this retreat was, if you are traveling with electronic sewing machines and are doing heavy duty sewing - BRING A BATTERY BACKUP/SURGE PROTECTOR!!! I have always traveled with plenty of surge protection but never battery backup for my sewing machines. The issue some of us had, was that we were experiencing mini brown outs when all of the machines where running and it caused other machines to experience operating problems. It was a little disappointing because I was not able to work on all of the projects but I still enjoyed the social time. St. Cloud Sewing Center works very hard to provide us with fun projects plus a lot of fun gifts and door prizes.

On Tuesday evening, Kenny and Lisa from Embroidery Library and Karline from Urban Threads brought a trunk show of embroidered items for us to see. It was awesome!!! I loved some of the edgy designs that Urban threads has.

Kenny from Embroidery Library



Karline from Urban Threads (center) and Janelle from St. Cloud Sewing Center (on right)

 

Retreat Photos

 Working Hard!!

Lots of supplies!

Dedicated workers!

Linda and Judy with their purses. Great job!!

Sharing!

How about having some Mascot's?? LOL Just too cute!

Enough thread??  No, I don't think so!  LOL

I still think scrapbookers have more "stuff" at retreats then quilters or machine embroiderers. Not sure anybody left anything at home. Thank goodness the casino had plenty of large carts for us to haul all of our things in and out with. Too bad it is another whole year until we have this retreat again.

Beth 

Off to Retreat We Go

Well, I have been packing since last night!! I still am not sure I have enough "stuff" and that I have everything that I need. This retreat is a machine embroidery retreat. That means two sets of projects - one set for machine embroidery and one set for quilting. Of course two machines are going with me. I will be bringing my Bernina 640 with embroidery module (Queen Bess the Bernina 830 has to stay home) and my little Featherweight.  Since this retreat is only 30 miles away, I can always zip home to get something or have hubby bring it to me. The retreat is at the Mille Lacs Grand Casino, so he will not mind making the trip. LOL  Now that I have taken a picture, it doesn't look like much in the picture but I still have more to add. No, I am not taking the whole sewing room with my like my DH thinks!!

For the OB turtles, I am still making progress but I am not taking Orca Bay with me to work on at retreat. When I get to layout stage I like to work at home. Instead I am starting Blue Ridge Beauty from "Leaders and Enders" by Bonnie K Hunter. Blue Ridge Beauty is a super simple pattern with just a lot of sewing that will be a great project for being able to socialize, eat, socialize, sew, and socialize. 

Well, better finish packing and getting ready. The computer needs to be packed up yet.

Beth

Quiet Week in the Sewing Room

Had one of those weeks where I was busy all week but not a lot accomplished in the sewing room. On Tuesday I went bowling (bowled much better then the last two weeks) and after bowling I attended Machine Embroidery Club. Since we will be having a retreat February 20 - 24 for machine embroidery, I wanted to make sure to attend so I could see the projects we will be working on. On Thursday, I attended Featherweight Club (must have a Featherweight machine to attend) and sewed on a binding. On Friday, my Hubby wanted me to go bumming with him. Guess I can't sew all the time and neglect the poor boy!!!   LOL

I did do some sewing on the 38 cancer bags that I have in progress. Have to admit after I do a certain amount on them, I get bored and want to sew on something else. The cancer bags are made out of a variety of fabrics, but decorator weight is the nicest for these bags.

 I took a break from sewing the Cancer Bags and started working on Orca Bay quilt again.  Almost done with all of Part 4, which is red string piecing. I have been cutting up one of the physcian directories that the insurance company sends out each year. The pages are wonderful for the foundation piecing. Tears off very easy. Great way to recycle!!

After the string piecing is done, the block gets squared up.

 I then tear the paper off the back, spritz lightly with water and press flat. After pressing the front and back so it lies good and flat, the square is cut across the strips on the diagonal.

Now I lay my ruler (it is just like the companion angle ruler) on one piece, lining up the 3 1/2" line with the cut diagonal edge and trim off the excess fabric.

For Part 7, I added the pieces from Part 5 (black wing pieces) to the pieces from Part 4. I skipped Part 6 at this time (do have the pieces cut).

Are you confused yet??  Can you tell I tend to work in the order I want to work??  Oh, well!! Makes life interesting. I will get back to Part 6, but I wanted to check that the above units are going to be the correct size. I can understand why Bonnie sets out the steps to the mystery the way she does. She is only trying to keep us from guessing what it was going to look like.  I am so wanting to get this top done.  It also means another UFO quilt top done (some call these flimsies). Love the name "flimsies". 

Beth

Sunday Stash Report

Used this Week:                   0.00 yards
Used year to Date:            17.11 yards

Added this Week:                2.75 yards
Added Year to Date:           29.375 yards

Net Used for 2012:            -12.265 yards

The fabrics added this week were supplies for the machine embroidery retreat I am attending February 20 - 24. Needed 1/4 yard felt for one project (didn't have quite enough on hand). Also, needed 1/2 yard of linen for another project and purchased 2 yards for scarves that I would like to embroider. WooHoo --- NO QUILTING FABRIC!!!!   LOL

Beth