Happy Mother's Day

from my front porch to yours.

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

Stash Report

Used since last report:         5.00 yards

Used year to Date:              10.33 yards

Added since last report:       0.00 yards
Added Year to Date:             8.00 yards

Net Used for 2014:               2.33 yards

Hey! I am in the black!! That is a rather good feeling. I finished quilting and binding my daughter Brenda's log cabin quilt (see here). The border fabrics, pieced backing, and the binding were all from my stash. I was practicing a new free-motion quilting pattern with piano key quilting in the border. Sure can tell I need to practice more.

Pieced backing with quilting from Brenda's quilt.

We had our Featherweight group sewing session this last Thursday. The members brought blocks using black and white and yellow fabrics. We had more than enough for one quilt and will probably enough for a second quilt when everyone has their blocks done. These quilts are part of our guild service project for Breaking Free (a program to help get women off the street). The quilt looked so sunny and fun, that many of the members were talking about having a block exchange so we can make our own quilt in the same colorway.

I started reading the "Cobble Court Quilts" books by Marie Bostwick. So far, I have read the first two books and have requested the next three from the Library. What great stories. I like that the books present examples of real life situations such as divorce, breast cancer, and domestic abuse. The impact quilting and the friendships formed through our quilting is amazing.

Neither Hubby or Son wanted to go the movie "God's Not Dead" with me, so I went by myself. We have such a nice theater (it has three separate theaters) in the town of Foley, MN, so I definitely didn't mind going by myself. The movie offered a great message and it was wonderful to have the theater packed with so many young people who came to see the move.  I thought they were there to see the movie "Noah" but they all trouped into the theater I was sitting in to see "God's Not Dead".

The snow is almost gone and we actually had a day with close to 70º F. Wow!! What a wonderful heat wave.

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

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/04/13/stash-report-week-15-2014/

Hugs, Beth

Design Wall Monday & Late Stash Report

Used since last report:         3.33 yards

Used year to Date:               5.33 yards

Added since last report:       0.00 yards
Added Year to Date:             8.00 yards

Net Used for 2014:             - 2.67yards 

Not a lot to report but have been keeping out of mischief! LOL  I finished putting borders on a 

log cabin quilt center that my daughter Brenda pieced. Also pieced a back for it and currently loading the quilt on the frame. Hope to quilt and bind it this week.

Brends's log cabin quilt

Since the weather has not been cooperating -- Snow, Snow, Snow---- I couldn't open windows and start airing out the house after a long winter. Soooo -- I decided the stash is so far out of control and started to purge some of the old fabrics. These fabrics have been cut into patient bags for the Coborn's Cancer Center. The scraps left after cutting the bags are being cut into usable sizes for future quilts. So far I have completed another 10 bags, three are in process and approximately another 50 bags cut out. Each bag uses approximately 1/3 yard of fabric. You know what --- It hasn't appeared to even make a dent in the stash.  <Grin>  Guess I will be sewing for many years. Too many years working in a quilt shop surrounded by all those wonderful fabrics did it to me!!  LOL That is my story and I am sticking with it.

Stack of cut out Patient Bags

On Sew-Sew Monday, Maureen brought her Bulls Eye quilt top.  What a great quilt!

Mary brought a star quilt top she has completed. What a fun quilt.

Connie has a quilt started with a block using four pinwheels with a nine-patch surrounded by sashing. It will be absolutely smashing.

I'll end with what it looks like out my window on March 31st.  Spring will come!!!!  <Grin>

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

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/03/31/design-wall-march-31-2014/

Hugs, Beth

Stash Report

Used since last report:         2.00 yards

Used year to Date:              2.00 yards

Added since last report:       1.50 yards
Added Year to Date:            8.00 yards

Net Used for 2014:             - 6.00 yards 

Wow!! What a difference a week makes. Last weekend my children were home for my Birthday. The snow was so deep in the yard, on the deck and steps leading up to the deck, that their dogs had problems climbing up onto the deck. By Wednesday, we could see bare decking and now it is almost completely bare.

Even the deer have started coming out onto the field behind our house because there is some bare ground. I couldn't resist taking a picture of one of the deer. This has been a hard winter for them. 

With the sunshine and warmer temps (30° F. or more), I have felt so much more energetic and climbed out of my corner. Started digging into projects to be done, and fabric to be used up. Currently I have been sewing up patient bags for Coborn's Cancer Center in St. Cloud, MN. Last year our guild members donated over 700 bags and the center is completely out of bags. These are only given to new cancer patients. They have as many as 1200 new patients per year. Makes a person think of how we are all touched in some way by cancer. Anyway, I have completed six of the bags and have a bunch more cut out and ready to sew. It is an awesome way to utilize fabric that I know I will never use and don't know why I bought it.  LOL!!!

On my way to Featherweight Club (we all sew on Featherweight sewing machines), I took a picture of a 50 foot snowman. He makes you smile!!  They have featured the snowman on national news. What fun to have him as a neighbor. LOL  He is starting to slump in the warm 40° F. weather.

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

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/03/16/stash-report-week-11-2014/

Hugs, Beth

Stash Report

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:            6.50 yards

Net Used for 2014:             - 6.50 yards 

Wow!! No additions to the quilt stash. Since I was going to be at a machine embroidery retreat last week, I did add some fleece & twill for embroidery projects.

The machine embroidery retreat was a lot of fun. Here is some "Show & Tell" from attendees:

Sewing machine cover with machine embroidery.

Twister quilt

Applique' quilt

Machine quilted with the embroidery module.

Machine embroidered quilt.

This year we managed to complete or come close to completing more projects. Since they are all a learning process, they do not always turn out exactly as planned but become "Design Opportunities." LOL  Here are a couple of the projects that I worked on.

Embroidery on the front of a vest for my daughter.

Ribbons with embroidery on top for a pillow insert.

Embroidery on one end of a fleece scarf.

Can cozy with name, tablet holder with initial and a blackboard bag assembled all in the hoop.

The blackboard bag was a lot of fun and the saying is so true: "So much fabric, so little time." There are more sayings, as well as, sizes in the embroidery design package I purchased. It just seems like a person always can use or give away these small zippered bags.

The tablet holder will work for paper tablets or the electronic ones. A super fun and simple project using a place mat.

All in all the five days at the retreat was a lot of fun but sure am tired once I arrived home. My friend Maureen and I roomed together again. We had a snow storm the night before we were to come home, so Maureen and others ended up staying an extra night. I did manage to drive home on Friday because I only lived 30 miles away. It was some of the worst roads that we have had for a few years but what can I say --- we live in Minnesota.

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

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/02/23/stash-report-week-8-2014/

Hugs, Beth

Stash Report

Used since last report:                  0.00 yards

Used YTD:                                     0.00 yards

Added since last report:               4.50 yards

Added YTD:                                   6.50 yards

Net Used YTD:                              - 6.50 yards 

I sure have not been very productive lately, but I am "okay with that!"  Sometimes we just have to give ourselves a time out. I have been working on projects, just have not finished any.  Now that I have gotten the "whine ------" out of my system!!  LOL

On Thursday evening at our quilt guild meeting, I won one of the birthday drawings. It was the a very fun basket. There was a teapot, cup, tray, and tea bag holder. Also the cutest fat eights of fabric, Quilter's Apprentice book, slow cooker, and a red "Princess" teddy bear. I think the fabric will be used to make a sewing machine mat for my Featherweight. After all, she deserves the very best!! VBG

The other fabrics were purchased but they were all on "SALE." That is always great justification for purchasing fabric. Right? The check is for on some towel edges after I get recipes machine embroidered on them. The rest is stash enhancement - I borrowed that phrase!!

I have re-organized a walk-in closet that I use for most of the overflow supplies from my quilting studio. While re-organizing, I have been noting all the UFO's. I pulled one out to be finished this quarter as part of my challenge to finish a UFO per quarter. The problem I had with this quilt is -- it was a mystery block of the month I participated in quite a number of years ago. I had to force myself to finish the center. All it has needed is for the borders to be put on and then quilted. Well - it was just "too PINK" and reminded me of Pepto BismoL. Since I used to suffer from motion sickness as a child, my mother was always feeding me Pepto Bismol. Can you understand now why I didn't like so much pink? You know what??? When I dragged the quilt out, it wasn't so bad after all. In fact, I quite like it.  Isn't it amazing how our perspective can change?  I did find a fat quarter of a solid pink in my stash to insert before adding the final border.  Being able to use my stash is always a plus.

Mystery Quilt

Two of my friends did come out on one of the coldest days this winter and sewed with me. What nice hardy Minnesotans for friends. Mary is busy cutting sashing for her quilt and Maureen is steadily ironing.  We had a good day and everyone got home safely.

Hope everyone is staying warm and safe. This had been quite the winter!!

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

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2014/02/09/stash-report-week-6-2014/

Hugs, Beth

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

What are you doing on New Year's Eve?

It seems like everyone is rather quiet this New Years. No sew-along that I could find, so I am having my own little sew-along. Since Hubby went to bed and my son has crashed on the couch, I am cozily ensconced in my sewing room. It is only a -20 F or lower, and a very good evening to stay at home where it is nice and warm.

What am I doing? Why I am watching an Agatha Christie Miss Marple movie, starring Angela Lansbury, in "The Mirror Cracked."  Elizabeth Taylor and Kim Novak are also in the movie and they are a hoot. Besides watching the movie, I am sewing Part 3 of Celtic Solstice and drinking a nice hot "Tom & Jerry."

Twenty minutes ago, Bonnie Hunter announced the winner of the book, "Quilt Improv." It was a give-away on her website. Since I did not win the book guess I will go back to sewing. Tomorrow I will just have to order the book on Amazon.

Hope everyone is having a safe and happy New Year's!!

Hugs, Beth

Happy New Year, 2014 Goals & CS

I'll bet a lot of people are doing the same thing I am -- setting goals for 2014. This year I decided to "Keep It Simple." Last year I set rather energetic goals and you know what - I hardly did any of them. Do I feel guilty --- NO!!!  LOL  So I think small goals each month may be much more doable then thinking about a whole year in advance. Besides, I need to spend time seeing what everyone else is doing!!  TeeHee

In December, I didn't work on anything that was set as a goal, but I did sew pillowcases and a table runner as Christmas presents. I didn't even count the fabric bought for the pillowcases because they were sewn up immediately and given away. That sure doesn't happen too often. Most of the time the fabric has to "age" for a while before being utilized! LOL  

I did get parts 1 & 2 of Celtic Solstice completed and part 3 & 4 has been cut out. Also, the blue triangles for part 5 have been cut out.  I am okay with being a "Turtle." Sometimes we forget to enjoy the process!

I want to wish everyone a very wonderful New Year!!!

Thank you for stopping by and make sure you hop over to Patchwork Times to see what others have gotten done!

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/12/31/get-it-done/

Hugs, Beth

2013 in Review - Finishes and Stash

Used since last report:        0.00 yards
Used year to Date:             62.00 yards

Added since last report:     5.00 yards
Added Year to Date:         104.17 yards

Net Used for 2013:            - 42.17 yards 

2013 wasn't a complete bust. While the stash was in the red, it wasn't too bad a finish. In past years it would have been a whole lot more stash added!! LOL

Some of my flimsies that were finished:

Easy Street - Bonnie K. Hunter Pattern

Dotty Dresden - Original

Diamond Strings- made two of these

Strip Twist - Bonnie K Hunter

Hopscotch, Butterscotch - Bonnie K. Hunter

Blue Ridge Beauty - Bonnie K. Hunter

There were a number of small projects that were full completions but I have piled up a lot of flimsies that need quilting. Guess I had better get my "buns" down stairs and do some quilting. 

Now it is time to think about my goals for 2014. I know that one of my goals is to purchase less fabric. The stash just is not shrinking!! LOL  

Thank you for stopping by and make sure you hop over to Patchwork Times and see what others are doing.

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/12/29/stash-report-week-52-2013/

Hugs, Beth