Design Wall Week 9 2-21-11

This will be another binding week. I feel like I have been binding quilts forever - so far I have completed 6 in the last month. I only have 4 more to go! I will bring a couple to work on this weekend when I go to North Louisiana to watch my grandson play in a baseball tournament. WOoo WHo

Dottie's 5 patch

5 patch with borders

     I am also working on Magic 5 patch. I have enlarged the block to 16 1/2", added borders, and have a toddler quilt. My friend took the idea and made a smaller top for me to quilt. She bought stuffed animals to put in the pocket that is formed from the fifth square. She also made a wall hanging using 3" blocks. I will present the idea to the guild on Tuesday, since it is an easy, very quick quilt to do and could be completed for our Quilt Day celebration.

Lotto blocks

    Speaking of the guild, I have pillowcase(s) to make today. I forgot about them. oops, I will need to get to work on that since the meeting is at 9am. The fabric is ready - I just need to sew! And I need to square up Lotto Blocks. Dang! Something might not get done for Tuesday. Oh, that reminds me of something else I have to do-finish the Bee Swap block. 

One Fabric Quilt

     Today I went to a workshop on making a quilt from border fabric. The little bit of fabric I pulled from my stash about 2 1/2 to 3 yards is going to make a fair size quilt with very little waste. The instructors wanted to know what line the fabric was from but I didn't know since it had been in my stash for about 10 years possibly more but definitely not less. The more I worked on the project the more I like this pattern. Will I go out and buy more fabric to make it? Probably not but I will use it with the two other border fabrics I have in my stash. 
     Well, it is time to go bowling so I will talk at you next week if not sooner.
    Lator Gators. May the fabric you want and need show up in your stash as if by magic. Keep 2011 STRESS FREE! 

Stash Report Week 8 2011

      Last Sunday, Pape and I took a trip to Fort Polk to watch his Travel League team bowl. Pape fell a couple of times in late January and sprained his ankle. He hasn't been able to walk or bowl properly since which makes him unhappy and he caught a bad cold. An unhappy sick Pape makes for an unhappy Charlene.
     It has been a busy week. So busy that I lost track of what I actually did or didn't do. I know I went to a board meeting on Tuesday; Wednesday I picked up a puppy and my granddaughter; a guild meeting on Thursday; supper with friends on Friday; and sew day with QGA on Saturday. In-between all the running, I worked on binding quilts, making lotto blocks, and making magic 5 patches for a guild presentation this week. This next week I have to bring grand-daughter to doctor(Tuesday or Wednesday); guild workshop on 1 wonderful fabric quilts(Monday); guild meeting with 2 presentations(Tuesday morning & night); and a 3 day trip to North Louisiana with DD#1(Thursday, Friday, & Saturday).  I have come to realize that I can only handle 1 or 2 events per week, but life seems to pile my plate full most days. I thought retirement meant more time to sew but I am finding out that it is just as hectic as when I was working.
Stash Report Week 8

Fabric Added this Week:     8.5       yards
8.5 yards of Halloween border fabric on sale for One-wonderful fabric quilt
Fabric Added in February:   11.75  yards  

Fabric Added YTD:            17.56  yards     

Fabric Used this Week:      12.75 yards given/used 

2.25 yards for Magic 5 patch 16"

2.5   yards for backing of M5 

1.25 Pre-quilted panel w/binding Charity Quilt for National Quilt Day Celebration

4.25 yards of scraps to guild - probably more - scrap bin went from bulging over top to about quarter full

2.5 yards pillowcase (2) for NQD

Fabric Used in February:   22.765 yards left stash 

Fabric Used YTD:             30.06 yards

Fabric Enhancement/Reduction:  12.5 yard

I love being in the black!!!

Beautiful tree block 

sweet basket

Yesterday, I got a wonderful surprise in the mail. My block swap partner, Bren, sent me not 1 but two wonderful blocks. My swap partners have been fantastic. All are blocks that I have never attempted so you know what I plan on doing soon.


Well, lator Gators. May the fabric you need appear in your stash without your knowledge or addition to your stash report. Keep 2011 STRESS FREE!