Fabric Report

Used since last report:                   0.00  yards

Used for service projects:              0.00 yards

Donated fabric:                              3.50 yards

      Used year to Date:          10.50 yards

Added since last report:                 3.00 yards

Added for service projects:            0.00 yards

      Added Year to Date:         5.50 yards

Net Used for 2015:                    5.00 yards

It has been such wonderful weather in Minnesota this week. It was 40 degrees the other day.  Went on a couple of outings with Hubby since it was such awesome temps and "sunshine." Sunshine has been sadly lacking for a long time this winter. I feel for everyone in the bad weather areas, especially since we have been having such mild weather. 

Only attended one quilting event this week. On Monday, we had Sew-Sew Monday at the LQS. There was a fun quilt show during lunch time. Two of the ladies, Bonita and Mary, had each bought three yards of the same fabric. They challenged each other to make a quilt using the fabric and keep it secret from each other. Well, on Monday they brought their completed quilts. Oh, how different they are and how much fun to see how they utilized the same fabric.

Bonita - fabric used in the border. Beautifully mitered!

Mary - Cut the fabric into strips and inserted in the center
of the colored blocks

I spent a lot of the week cutting out all of Bonnie Hunter's "Grand Illusion". Since I will be going on retreat, it is nice to have the whole thing cut and ready to sew. All the pieces are separated with directions into the five parts so that I do not get them mixed up.  Wouldn't it be nice if I could get all the pieces sewn during retreat?

Grand Illusion - all the pieces cut and organized

Did not finish any projects this week but did purge and donate one UFO. It was a hand applique project started about 15 years ago. I donated five completed blocks, fabric, and book with patterns to a very nice friend who took it off my hands. WooHoo -- one project that will no longer guilt me because it is not completed. 

Besides purging a UFO, I have been combing my stash for fabric to make pillowcases for our guild service project. The pillow cases are cut and ready to sew. Hoping to have a lot of usage to report next week.

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

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2015/01/24/fabric-report-week-4-2015/

Hugs, Beth

Fabric Report

Used since last report:                   0.00  yards

Used for service projects:              0.00 yards

Donated fabric:                              0.00 yards

      Used year to Date:          0.00 yards

Added since last report:                 0.00 yards

Added for service projects:            0.00 yards

      Added Year to Date:         0.00 yards

Net Used for 2015:                     0.00 yards

No fabric additions or completions to report this week. I have made some changes to the fabric report (no longer called Stash Report). Since I sew a lot of service projects, I thought I would like to track fabric used for the projects.

I did want to share a prize that I received. I was lucky enough to be the 2000th visitor to the Selvage Blog. Karen Griska sent the cutest pincushion and "pinsies" that she makes.

There were a lot of activities going on this week. So many activities are scheduled the first and second week of the month and then the rest of the month is quiet. More things get done in the latter part of the month -- sometimes!! LOL

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

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2015/01/11/fabric-report-week-2-2015/

Hugs, Beth

Stash Report 2015

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

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

Net Used for 2015:                     0.00 yards

Hey, it is always so nice to start out with a clean slate. Love all the zeros. I wasn't going to do the stash report this year but I feel it keeps me on track to actually use stash!! LOL  New purchases are so nice but I do need to clear some space to store them while they age. The shelves are VERY full.

The plan is to be more productive this year and finish projects even if they are not PERFECT. I tend to be a little bit of a perfectionist and sometimes this keeps me from finishing projects. Maybe that is just plain procrastination (which I have down to a fine art)??

Last night I finished sewing together the center portion of Celtic Solstice by Bonnie Hunter. I did add two rows of blocks to the center to make it longer. It now covers the top of the queen size bed nicely. Hoping that I can find the inner and outer border fabrics in my stash. The middle border pieces are done, just need to be sewn together into long strips. 

Celtic Solstice

This year a UFO list has been started. As I clean and sort the downstairs closet where a lot of the overflow from my sewing room is stored, I know that additions will probably be added to the list. There are a lot of projects that just need to be quilted and moved out of the house! LOL 

I sincerely hope that everyone has a wonderful 2015 and are able to work on some fun and wonderful projects.

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

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2015/01/04/fabric-report-week-1-2015/

Hugs, Beth

Stash Report

                               Used since last report:                   8.25 yards

                               Used year to date:                         44.08 yards

                               Added since last report:                 0.00 yards

                               Added year to date:                      52.625 yards

                               Net used in 2014:                        - 8.545 yards

Last Saturday, Oct. 18, we had a birthday party for my Hubby's 75th birthday. He likes to say he is only "57". Good try but no buy, Buddy!!! Our son did a pig roast and it was nummy. Everyone was home until Monday, so there was plenty of time to visit with everyone.

Finished sewing 27 bags for the Coborn's Cancer Center in St.Cloud, MN. They hand out approximately 700+ bags a year for new breast cancer individuals.  That is only one of the many hospitals in Minnesota. The number of new cancer patients is staggering to think about.

I finally finished staining and putting urethane on my quilt ladder. Byron, my son, built it for me. It is nice to have a place to showcase more of my small quilts, instead of rolled up in the closet.

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

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/10/26/stash-report-week-43-2014//

Hugs, Beth

Stash & Autumn Splendor

                               Used since last report:                   9.00 yards

                               Used year to date:                       35.83 yards

                               Added since last report:                 0.00 yards

                               Added year to date:                     52.625 yards

                               Net used in 2014:                       -16.795 yards                         

Well --- It has been a week of extremes! Last weekend was 80+ degrees and I was able to enjoy the wonderful early morning view from the deck. This weekend is cold, blustery, and we have had snow showers. By next Spring the 40 degree temps will feel like a heat wave but right now, it feels cold. Brrrrrr

You can tell it is fall when the bees are so very busy collecting nectar from my sedum plants. I don't mind watching the honey bees but I really do not like the wasps that also hang around. There was even a butterfly feeding. 

I actually have some significant yardage used to report. Wow!! Brenda's quilt is completely finished after much naughty language. I don't think my machine liked the thread I had picked out, so it had temper tantrums all week, but I got it quilted. Brenda is happy to have it done since it has been in the UFO pile for quite a while. It is perfect timing, since she is in the process of buying a house and selling her condo. The quilt will work for a housewarming addition.

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

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/10/05/stash-report-week-40-2014/

Hugs, Beth

Stash Report

Used since last report:           4.00 yards

Used year to Date:              14.33 yards

Added since last report:         0.25 yards
Added Year to Date:            12.25 yards

Net Used for 2014:                2.08 yards

Boy, has it been a while since writing anything. It seems like a lot has been going on and the days just go by. Had bowling tournament at the beginning of the month and "Girl's Weekend" with my two wonderful daughters Memorial Day weekend.

I did take thirty patient bags to the guild meeting in May and that accounted for another four yards of fabric used. 

My Sister's Choice quilt is progressing. Currently I am putting the rows together and hope to have the borders on by the end of the day. We'll see!!! This quilt is dedicated to the Breaking Free program. It is a service project supported by our quilt guild.

I am hoping to plant some of my plants in the straw bale garden today. Glad I did not get seeds planted because they would have washed away in all the heavy rains we have had over the last 36 hours. Have been planting some of the flowers and even a couple of trees. Hubby groans every time I mention planting a tree. We only have three trees in the yard. Our previous home was so shaded and in the woods that there was not a lot of sunshine during the day in the summer. I love all the sunshine our current home gets but I did want to have just a couple more trees to make the yard prettier. May also get another flower bed ready for fall planting. Summer finally arrived in Minnesota!!

Over the last month, I have read the first five books of Marie Bostwick's Cobbled Court Quilt Series and the first three books of Ann Hazelwood's Colebridge Community. Marie's books are very well written and address in a very sensitive manner some of the issues that women face. A very good read. Ann Hazelwood's books are not the greatest writing but are just a fun read. It has been years since I just relaxed and did a lot of reading. Audio books have usually been the way to go because then a person can sew or do other tasks. It was nice to just sit and read.

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

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/06/01/stash-report-week-22-2014/

Hugs, Beth

Stash Report & Other Doings

Used since last report:         0.00 yards

Used year to Date:              10.33 yards

Added since last report:       4.00 yards
Added Year to Date:             12.00 yards

Net Used for 2014:               1.67 yards

I am so busted!! Needless to say, I was at a quilt shop in Minneapolis for a class and they had some fun bargain fabrics. The shop is "Four Seasons Quilt Shop." For all of you Civil War lovers, they had a wonderful selection.  Couldn't resist the following additions, especially since they were from the bargain area. I did have to purchase the watermelon fabric even though it wasn't on sale. Caught again! LOL

These will make some fun additions to my scrap quilts. I do not have a lot of pink in my stash, so the pink fabrics great additions. Even a couple of Civil War fabrics have been added.

We went to a smelt fry in Harding, MN. They tasted so good! It has been a few years since I have had the opportunity to eat smelt. They are usually caught on Lake Superior when the spawning season starts.

I just finished the series of "A Cobbled Court Quilts" books by Marie Bostwick. They are very good books. Her books cover subjects of the poor economy, domestic violence, and divorce, as well as, how quilting adds friends to our life. It has been a long time since I just put my butt down and did some serious reading. Usually I listen to audio books while sewing. That means I can multitask but It was nice to just relax and read a book. 

Wayne and I went to a show today. It has been ages since the Hubster went to the movies with me. We saw "Heaven is for Real." Very good and followed the book fairly well. The little boy that played Colter was adorable. It was so nice to see that the theater was just about full. 

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

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/04/27/stash-report-week-17-2014/

Hugs, Beth

What's Up? Not much!

It seems like it has been a busy week but nothing much accomplished. No additions or uses reported for the stash report. The only thing to show for design wall is the pile of handles for patient bags that I turned right side out after sewing a seam down the long side!! Whoopee!! LOL

I did finish a fleece scarf for my youngest daughter. Brenda picked out the thread color for the machine embroidery when she was home in March. Since I was going down to Minneapolis this weekend for Easter, I wanted to get it done. Course now she has to wait until next winter to wear it. Haven't figured out if I am behind or ahead!! I also delivered her finished Log Cabin quilt. She was very happy to finally get it!!

I think winter might finally be over. It was over 70º F.  Whoopee, Yippee, Wow!!  Last Wednesday, we received over 12 inches of snow. The ground had been almost bare of snow but by the end of day, it looked like this -----   The snow is gone again!! Hope it stays gone.

On Saturday, I attended a maintenance class for my Featherweight sewing machine. It was a very good class and I learned a lot. My little machine is just humming now after a thorough cleaning, lube, and oiling. It should help me to better maintain my other vintage machines.

After the class, I went over to my daughter's place. She lives in Minneapolis. Brenda took me on a tour of the hotel (The Commons) where she works. It is a very uniquely decorated place. We then had a leisurely dinner at the hotel, went back to her place and relaxed for the evening. On Easter morning we went to Ikea and I picked up a little kitchen cart that I wanted for in the sewing room. After Ikea we went to a little place called Hazel's and had a delicious brunch. It was a wonderful time spent with Brenda. Then homeward bound I went. Hubby and son had been left to their own devices and it was time to get home and make sure they hehaved -- Very Big Grin!!

Today was Sew-Sew Monday at Gruber's Quilt Shop in St. Cloud, MN. One of the ladies brought in a quilt she is donating to "Breaking Free." What a great quilt. I worked on my "Talkin' Turkey." Might get it done some year! LOL While we were sewing a whole bus load of Canadian quilters stopped into the shop on their way to Paducah. They were doing a fantastic job of shopping. Hope they are not broke before getting to the quilt show! LOL

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

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/04/21/design-wall-april-21-2014/

Hugs, Beth