Early Stash Report Sunday, February 19, 2012

Fabric Added this Week: 1 yard
Fabric Added in February: 1 yard
Fabric Added YTD: 2 yards
Fabric Used this Week 13 yards
Fabric Used in February: 14.625 yards
Fabric Used YTD:  27.5 yards
Stash Reduction: 25.5 yards
   I finished putting together Tumblers top on Friday and the backing this afternoon. As usual my husband and DSS both claimed the quilt. Tumblers is pretty but don't understand why because the pieces are placed without rhyme or reason and the border is...well, it just seemed right at the time! The backing is pieced strips.
  The one yard was bought to finish the flip flop border due to a cutting miscalculation on my part. This was the first yard that I truly bought in 2012 since the other yard was Ricky Tims' Caveman fabric won at QGA guild meeting.
   My 'Shop in the Stash' campaign is getting to be fun. I am not attempting a 'No buying' kick but having just one vehicle, living 35 miles from the nearest fabric shop, & having life get real busy makes shopping in my stash the best option. But our guild meetings have moved to within a mile of a LQS. I see fabric in my near future!

   Well, we are off to bowl at Fort Polk Sunday all day and since we are going in the car, it will be a non-quilting day. Good thing is I will bring 'My Sister' to my sister. It is a twisted sister design by Ami Simms from her twisted sister, me. LOL
Lator Gators! Keep making lemonade from Life's lemons.

It's Not a Twin!

Tumbler top is finished complete with mitered corners! 72 by 103. It is not a long twin b/c it fits from side to side and from bottom to top with under pillows tucking room on my King bed. 
According to my app it took 6 1/2 yards of fabric but according to my calculations, it took 6 yards -3 down and 2 across. The backing will take another 6 1/2 yards so I will have some great numbers to post Sunday.
  Now to get it to DD#1 for quilting by May. I think it will be a well loved graduation present. The next graduation quilt to complete is the one that DGD#2 has been collecting fabric for the last 6 years to make. A Halloween themed true spiderweb quilt-think Simply Quilts octagon quilt built log cabin style complete with episode taped and saved for reference. Hopefully, it can be done in twin size like she wants.

Lator, Gators! I have to go piece a 80 by 112 back. Think I will do it out of scraps with hearts sprinkled around.
Keep making Lemonade out of Life's lemons. 

I did it! All by Myself.

     The overpriced flip flop fabric came in yesterday as we were leaving for BR. It matched the one I had perfectly so this morning I cut and pieced the border that was missing. I decided to make true mitered corners although usually I make fake ones by sewing two squares together into a half square triangle. 
   A flat mitered corner! It is amazing what I can do when I put on my "big girl panties" as my daughters say. I have enough of the grey and flip flop fabric to make a pillowcase too. You can bet I will use every bit of that $17 yard especially since most of the quilt was made from scraps or stashed fat quarters.
   Last night I did a guild presentation on making your own printable fabric using 'Bubble Jet' at $16 a bottle and how to make a "Faux Bubble Jet" using Washing Soda, Alum, Fabric Softener, and very hot water which cost about $13 initially, but make many batches and supplies have household uses too.
    These sheets can be used to make backgrounds for embroidery, labels, or pictures.  Yes, the printing will wash away eventually but so do the 'store bought' ones. 6 of one or half a dozen of the other. LOL 
   I am a big supporter of quilters putting some type of label on every thing they make.  In fact I support labeling of all crafts and pictures. Just don't label children or people!
    Labels give a quilt a sense of ownership, pride, and history. With quilts being stolen, labels should, if at all possible, be part of the quilt back not an add-on which could be taken off. 
    My first quilt, no label, was claimed by another family member who thought it was made by my mom who used it when she would go into the hospital including her final visit. My second quilt was returned to me after my aunt died since it had a label. Both of these are special to me b/c of the strong women who used them until their deaths. 
   Saturday I am having a Sew Day with my BFF Pam. Since my 5 day mom & daughter retreat has been cancelled due to b-ball games - bowling & basketball, this is a real treat.
Lator, Gators! I am off to sew more mitered corners and quilt a bit on Saint Stars 2.
 Keep making Lemonade from Life's lemons.

  

Design Wall Monday Feb. 13, 2012

   My design wall is still stagnant. I have started quilting Saint Stars 2 and it is looking good. It is simple straight line stitching except for these. I quilt on it for 30 minutes and then work on something else for an hour like Tom Cat's face or SHB or Tumblers or house chores.

    DGS#11 helped me cut tumbler blocks on the Go while recuperating from a mysterious rash.  He was amazed that they came out so perfectly. He cut enough for 2 quilts b/c he was having so much fun! He made lots of scraps and used lots of fabric out of the "why oh why did I buy that!" bin.
   I had to stop working on Tumblers, because of a miscalculation causing me to be short by 2 4 1/2 by WOF strips of border fabric. Since I had my BIG GIRL PANTIES on from quilting on Saint Stars 2, I went to the internet, found more of the Debi Hron black flip flops, and bought it. The shipping was more than the fabric! When the fabric comes in, I will finish that top, but in the meantime, I will work on piecing the back, all from the stash, of course.
   I am beginning to wonder who owns who. Lorenzo determines my wake up time, my bedtime, uses me as a pillow when he needs a nap, types when I am blogging, and demands rides. He thinks he is the owner and I am the pet! I am beginning to believe that too! DH just laughs at us but he is getting pulled in by that cute face too.
Lator Gators! Keep making Lemonade from Life's Lemons.