Stash Report

Used since last report:       5.00 yards
Used year to Date:            31.00 yards

Added since last report:     0.00 yards
Added Year to Date:          14.50 yards

Net Used for 2013:             16.50 yards

I completed my first String Diamonds quilt shown in the March 18th Design Wall Monday

( http://creativeb-designs.blogspot.com/2013/03/design-wall-monday.html ). It is currently on display at Country Caboose Quilt Shop in Wahkon, MN., but I forgot to take a picture before letting it go. When I get it back and quilt it, I will try to remember to take a photo. I do have a second String Diamond quilt started (picture below) and this one is much brighter then the first one. Hope to complete this one today or tomorrow. It is so much fun to see how dramatic the diamonds look. I AM HOOKED!!!  Would like to try one with white strips for a more summery look. The string strip pile has not been depleted but I do have to admit to adding to it but the pile has also been having babies over night!! LOL

We are expecting more snow tomorrow. I usually love the snow but April 21st and we still have a foot of snow with more on the way.  YUCK!!  

Well, that is all, so hop over to Patchwork Times to see what others are doing:

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/04/21/stash-report-week-16-2013/

Beth

Minnesota Spring???

How's this for enjoying the deck on a wonderful Minnesota Spring day? I am trying very hard not to complain about all the snow, but 14 inches on April 19th --- does get to be a little much. That is on top of all the snow we had on the ground before this latest snow.  Usually I love snow but --- WHINE, WHINE --- I AM READY FOR SPRING!!!  The silver lining is that we are not getting all of the rain and severe storms that are down south. I do feel for all of them.

So with all of the snowing, I have been sewing, sewing!!  The string quilt top from Design Wall Monday on  March 18th (http://creativeb-designs.blogspot.com/2013/03/design-wall-monday.html) has been completed and I have started a second one. The first one is on display at a local quilt shop and I forgot to take a photo of it before letting it go. DUH!!!  The second string quilt contains the blocks rejected from the first one. The rejected blocks have pink, floral, and other more feminine fabrics in them. Since I was dedicating the quilt for the Eagles Healing Nest which houses predominately men, I wanted the first quilt to have a little more masculine look to it.

Our contemporary quilt group did a group project two years ago and the sixteen pieces included in the project have finally come home 
(http://creativeb-designs.blogspot.com/2012/03/quilt-show-in-korea.html). I was very happy with the way my piece turned out because I was able to try several different techniques.

My piece looks a lot like the current snowy view out the window, except that I do not have the river.

Well, enough WHINING for today. Hope this catches everyone else safe without bad storms or flooding.

Beth

Design Wall Monday

I have gotten seriously hooked on string quilts lately. The current string quilt I am working on is from MaryQuilts.com. The String Diamonds look so dramatic. The blocks are 8 x 11 inches (my blocks are a little bigger than the directions). It is always so amazing to me how these scrap quilts can utilize such a variety of fabrics and still look awesome. Do not want it too bright since I plan to send this to Eagle's Healing Nest where military veterans and family can go to help heal the invisible wounds of war.

Hopefully I will be able to get some more sewing done today. We have to have a new furnace installed today. Our other furnace quit on Thursday and we have been struggling to keep the main floor warm. Since we do have in-floor heat in the lower level and a gas fireplace on the main level, it has been tolerable. Should be back to normal by the end of the day. Can't have anything upsetting the sewing routine for too long!!! LOL

Hop over to Judy's Design Wall and see what others are doing:
http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/03/18/design-wall-march-18-2013/

Beth

Stash Report

Used since last report:        0.00 yards
Used year to Date:            26.00 yards

Added since last report:     5.50 yards
Added Year to Date:          11.00 yards

Net Used for 2013:              5.00 yards

I just had to do it!!  After all, it was a sale! I bought five yards of black Kona cotton. It was on sale for $4.95 per yard at Crafts Direct. It was tempting to buy other colors, but I did hold firm and only bought the black. (Do I get a gold star for that?)  Did buy 1/2 yard of dragonfly fabric so that I can make a gift for a good friend of mine who loves dragonflies. Thought that was a very good reason to purchase more fabric.  LOL  

Attended Featherweight club this week. One of the attendees, Sarah, had her challenge project (not due until August) almost completed. The challenge is to make a "disappearing 4-patch" quilt with only "solid" fabrics.  An example of the project is in the new magazine, "Quilty - Jan/Feb issue," by Mary Fons.  We can make our quilt any size, just can't use batiks or tone-on-tones. What part of not doing the project until the night before it is due, do some not understand??  After all, I am a regular member of procrastinators anonymous.  TeeHee

Currently, there is a mess in the studio. I am working on a string quilt and the strings are dumped out on the floor. Quite a few blocks have been completed but the pile of strings just does not seem to get any smaller. I just know they reproduce like rabbits over night. Plus, there are more strings piled on the sewing cabinet. Where do they all come from??

Hop over to Judy's Patchwork Times and see what others are doing:

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/03/17/stash-report-week-11-2013/

Beth

Fargo Stay

I arrived in West Fargo, ND, on Friday evening and had a good visit with my daughter. We all went to bed early because they had to get up at 3:00 am and leave for the airport in Fargo by 4:00 am. They will be gone until next Saturday evening. Chipper, their dog that I am watching, started pouting as soon as the suitcases came into view on Friday evening and he has been one "sad dog" ever since. He does such a good job of being the sad doggy!!

Saturday was a lost day for sewing. Chipper cried after my daughter Natalie and her husband, Norm, left. That meant no sleep for me. I am such a sucker for the "sad Chipper". He really is adorable. On Sunday, I was finally able to get down to work. I have been sewing on part two of the Orca Bay Mystery quilt.  Good thing Norm can't see what his kitchen looks like right now. He "loves" to give his mother-in-law a tough time (all in good humor). Actually, I think I kept it pretty neat.

It is Monday morning and I am finishing the last of the string blocks. I have only six more of the blue string pieced blocks left to do. There are 72 of these for part two.

This afternoon I am going to see the movie "The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo."  I have read all three of the books in the series and seen the Swedish version of the movie. It will be nice to see this movie and compare.

It is so nice to be only a few minutes from all the amenities instead of a minimum of 20 miles to anything. I intend to take advantage of everything being so close by.

Beth