WTVFQ-uilt

UFO Challenge for February

2012-02-01T20:56:00.000-05:00

I did finish my January UFO - early in the month. For February, Judy has picked UFO #1. For me, that is Sunbonnet Sue. The top is completed, need to make a backing and get it quilted. That won't happen for a little while, since I have my moth wallhanging (to be called Night Flyers) loaded. I'm still having trouble with backlash in the bobbin, so need to either change the bobbin thread or get some bobbin washers, or something. That will have to wait for an opportunity to go to the quilt shop. Maybe Saturday afternoon, depending on how long the USADance board meeting goes.

Stash report - week 5, 29 January 2012

2012-01-29T08:01:00.000-05:00

A little more fabric out this week, and still nothing added. I made binding for the QOV mystery on Friday, and got that stitched to the front of the quilt, ready for hand stitching down on the back. Yesterday I prepared the backing for my moth wallhanging. That's now loaded on the longarm. I tried to start quilting, but was having problems with the bobbin thread breaking. I need to investigate that some more. I'm using machine embroidery thread for quilting; I've done that before without problems, so need to check to see if I've developed a rough spot on the bobbin case, or if I have a warped bobbin. Will need to spend some time troubleshooting today.

Stash numbers for the year:

Added this week:            0      yds
Used this week:              1.97 yds

Added for 2012:              0     yds
Used for 2012:                7.70 yds

Net for 2012:                  7.70 yds USED

Check with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

Stash report - week 4, 22 January 2012

2012-01-22T07:44:00.001-05:00

I did some quilting this week. My "used" was for borders and backing for the QOV mystery on my UFO list. I plan to spend some time in the studio this afternoon putting borders on another UFO, so will have net use again next week!

Numbers for this week:

Added this week:           0      yds
Used this week:             4.11 yds

Added YTD:    0    yds
Used YTD:                    5.35 yds

Net for 2012:                 5.35 yds USED

Check with how everyone else is doing at Patchwork Times.

Stash report - week 3, 15 January 2012

2012-01-15T08:05:00.000-05:00

Nothing in, nothing out this week, but I did have a finish. I count my fabric out of the stash as it is cut and incorporated into a project.
This week, I finished sewing down the binding on a UFO mystery quilt, so that is my second UFO finish for the year.

Stash report:
In this week:               0   yds
Out this week:            0   yds
In YTD:                      0   yds
Out YTD:                0.46 yds

Net for 2012: 0.46 yds used.

Check in with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

Another UFO finish

2012-01-14T19:29:00.000-05:00

Watching the Saints/49ers football game, I've finished stitching down the binding on my NYE 2008 (I think?) mystery - the dinosaur themed toddler quilt. This one is ca. 60 x 60, so a nice size for a lap quilt or toddler bed. I'm pleased with how this turned out - it's going to make some child happy. This one was #8 on my UFO list for the year.

This one started the year with the binding on, ready to stitch down, so didn't require a lot of work to finish. Now I need to get something else to that point to have a good project for handwork while watching football on TV.

stash report - week 2, 8 January 2012

2012-01-08T08:10:00.002-05:00

I actually have a little bit of fabric out for finishing my Planet Patchwork mystery tablerunner. I made a trip to the LQS yesterday, but didn't buy a thing, just browsing. I did spend time cleaning off my cutting table yesterday, so I may get some sewing in today.

the numbers:
In this week:         0      yds
Out this week:      0.46 yds
In YTD:              0      yds
Out YTD:           0.46 yds

Net for 2012:        0.46 yds busted

Check with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing to start the year.

2012 UFO Challenge

2012-01-01T20:48:00.001-05:00

Well, I need to post my official list on the link-up with Judy at Patchwork Times. I've numbered the top 12 things on my UFO list so I can keep track of them, but here's the list:
1 Sunbonnet Sue - top finished, needs quilting
2 Jelly Roll 1600 - top finished, needs quilting
3 QOV mystery - needs borders
4 SITP - have the blocks pieced; deciding if I want to make it larger
5 Planet Patchwork mystery tablerunner - blocks at start of the day
6 Summer 2008 mystery - top finished, needs quilting
7 President's memory quilt - needs corners on the top
8 NYE 2008 mystery - binding in progress
9 Christmas stars swap blocks - blocks
10 Fractured mini - top finished, needs quilting
11 Colorwash wallhanging - top finished - needs quilting (may add applique first)
12 Moth wallhanging - needs borders

So for January, Judy picked #5 - and I've already gone up and put the blocks together and finished it!

UFO Challenge for January

2012-01-01T13:08:00.001-05:00

Well, this is starting well. Judy has picked #5 for the UFO Challenge for January. I have the Planet Patchwork mystery tablerunner as my #5 for 2012. That one should be pretty quick to finish up - I need to sash between the three blocks, then layer, quilt and bind. I'll probably go up an work on that some in a few minutes. I like easy starts for the year!

3:45 PM - no time like the present - I found an orange, sashed the three blocks, found a scrap of batting that was the perfect size, used the same orange for the back, and did a simple stitch-in-the-ditch quilting on the DSM. I even folded the backing around to the front for a binding and machine stitched it down. So I have my first finish of 2012!

Stash report - week 1, 1 January 2012

2012-01-01T09:36:00.001-05:00

Well, it's a new year, and a new start to the stash report. I didn't actually buy or use anything last week, so all my numbers will start at 0 for the year.

I'm hoping to use more this year - I'd be delighted to use more than I buy, but mostly, using more means that I've been sewing, LOL.

In this week:       0 yds
Used this week: 0 yds
In YTD:              0 yds
Out YTD:           0 yds
Net for 2012:      0 yds

I did check my year-end 2011 numbers against the 2010 year-end numbers.
I used more and bought less in 2011:

2010 Year end : added 102.38, used 50.77, for a net addition of 51.62 yds
2011 Year end: added 96.72, used 64.98, for a net addition of 31.74 yds

Check with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is starting off the year.

Year-end wrap-up

2011-12-31T15:45:00.002-05:00

Well, life took an unexpected turn mid-year, and I haven't done as much quilting (or dancing) as I had originally planned. But with all that - it's very rewarding (if exhausting) to have my daughter and grandchildren with us. Children add just joy to life!

Taking stock of the year.
I added to my fabric stash - and that's while I was much more aware of what I was buying. I guess I must have been accumulating at a much higher rate before I started tracking last year. But I'm OK, because I used a significant amount, as well.

I finished 20 projects this year (I have one more at the hand-stitching the binding on the back stage, but don't expect to finish that this evening). Of those, 11 were UFOs. I added a few new projects, many of which were actually finished, and some (3) will carry over to next year's UFO list. I still need to decide on my top-12 to sign up for Judy's UFO challenge. I think I'll put mostly tops that still need quilting - those are the closest to finished.

All in all, I'm satisfied with where I am with my quilting projects. I finish some, and I start some, and enjoy what I do. One goal for 2012 will be to spend time in the sewing room more regularly. That will help me de-stress and get more accomplished.

Stash report - Week 52, 25 December 2011 - Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T15:57:00.000-05:00

A wonderful Christmas morning here. I had my whole family here with John up from North Carolina. The children unwrapped presents and have had a good day. I have lasagna in the oven for dinner for tonight, and homemade rolls ready. We had homemade cinnamon rolls (Cinnabon clone) for breakfast - YUM!

I've been doing a little bit of stitching this afternoon on the binding on one of the quilts I have sitting here waiting for a finish. This is the only sewing for the week, so no fabric used, but none bought, either.

Numbers for the last stash report of the year:
In this week:              0 yds
Out this week:           0 yds

In YTD: 96.72 yds
Out YTD:                60.53 yds
Net for 2011:           36.19 yds added to stash.

Check in with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else has done.

Stash report - week 51, 18 December 2011

2011-12-18T18:35:00.000-05:00

One more week left in 2011. This has been a year of changes for us. With DD and the 3 grandchildren moving in with us, I haven't had much sewing time for the last 6 months, but the time with the grandchildren (and my daughter) has been priceless.

I did do a little sewing yesterday. The grandchildren are getting a toddler kitchen for Christmas, so I made an apron for the youngest (the other 2 got theirs last year), then made dishtowels and potholders for each of them (toddler size). That used almost 3/4 yards between them. I had a little more time, so made binding for the two quilts I quilted last week, and got the machine part of the binding done. I did start hand stitching the back side of the binding on one of the quilts this morning.

The fabric in is FQs of blacks I picked up Friday - I'm pondering doing Bonnie Hunter's Orca Bay mystery, and my stash doesn't have very many blacks.

Numbers for this week:
In this week:                          2.25 yds
Out this week:                       1.31 yds

In this year:                          96.72 yds
Out this year:                       60.53 yds

Net for 2011:                       36.19 yds ADDED to stash.

There's been a lot of discussion over the last couple of weeks about whether or not folks are doing the stash report next year. Over the last 2 years I've tracked stash, I've added both years, but am definitely more aware of what I buy. I've also been mostly focused on finishing UFOs and really think before I start something new. Of course, if I don't start something new, I'm unlikely to really rack up a lot of fabric use, other than as backings. I plan to continue tracking, because I've already shifted my mindset about buying fabric - and my storage drawers are full.    I'll also continue to work on finishing UFOs, but plan to make more new starts in 2012 - and try to shop stash first.

Check in with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

Stash report - 11 December 2011

2011-12-11T07:12:00.001-05:00

No report for a couple of weeks because I hadn't done anything. This week I was busy! My fabric out is for backs for 2 quilts. I had Tuesday and Friday as vacation days this week, and got 2 quilts from my UFO stack quilted! Both still need trimming and binding, but I'm really happy with what I've accomplished this week. Not sure if I'll have a chance today to get back up into the sewing room to make any binding, but that will go on next week's report if I do.

Numbers:
Added this week:        0 yds
Used this week:           6.03 yds

Added YTD:              94.47 yds
Used YTD:                59.23 yds
Net for 2011:             35.25 yds Added to stash

I'm pleased with my number used, given how life is going this year. I haven't had as much time to sew as I had thought I would. I'm hoping to be able to do some more sewing while I'm on vacation around Christmas time.

To see how everyone else is doing, check in with Judy at Patchwork Times.

Stash report - 20 November 2011

2011-11-20T20:47:00.000-05:00

Nothing in and nothing out of the stash this week. I bought a couple of FQs yesterday, but they're for a gift, so will go right back out, so won't be counted.

I did get a chance to stitch for a few minutes last night and a few more this afternoon. I finished my Mittens quilt! The grandchildren immediately claimed it for cuddling on the family room floor.

I don't know if I'll have a chance to sew at all this week. Thursday will be spent at the family Thanksgiving gathering, and Friday DD works but the grandchildren will be at home, so I'll have babysitting duty.

Numbers this week:
In this week:                          0      yds
In YTD:                               93.92 yds
Out this week:                    0      yds
Out YTD:                             53.20 yds

Net for 2011:                        40.72 yds ADDED to stash

Check with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

Stash report - 13 November 2011

2011-11-13T06:42:00.000-05:00

No fabric use this week, but I did do some sewing over the last couple of days. I finished stitching down the binding on my leftover 4-patch posie/9 patch wallhanging. And I finished 3 sides of the binding on my mittens quilt. I may have time to finish that binding today, but will be spending most of the day putting on the Dancing with the Stars of the 'Burg show - a fundraiser for the Harrisonburg/Rockingham Child Daycare Center.

So that leaves my totals the same as last week:

Used this week:                 0      yds
Used YTD:                      52.20 yds

In this week:                      0      yds
In YTD:                           93.92 yds

Net for 2011                    40.72 yds added to stash

Check with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

Stash report - 6 November 2011

2011-11-06T07:21:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I quilted my Mittens quilt. I love the way it turned out! I used the "Winter White" pantograph (Dave Hudson) - it's snowflakes, but not too dense, so the quilt is still "fluffy". I pulled left-over binding pieces from my bag and put on a scrappy binding. It's now waiting for the hand-stitching of the binding to the back.

So numbers for this week:

Added this week:            0      yds
Used this week:              1.89 yds (wide backing for mittens)

Added YTD:                  93.92 yds
Used YTD:                    53.20 yds

Net for 2011:                 40.72 yds added to stash

Check with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

Stash report - 30 October 2011

2011-10-30T15:55:00.000-04:00

Well, I can't quite figure out what week it is anymore, so I won't worry about that part.
Very little sewing going on here - just one evening of hand stitching a few minutes this week.

Last weekend, I didn't do a stash report, so this covers both weeks. I put borders on my small wallhanging made of leftover blocks last Saturday, and quilted it on Sunday, so that's my "out" for the last couple of weeks. The grandkids are taking a nap, so I may go up and try to sew on something for a little while this afternoon.

In last 2 weeks:             4.50 yds
Out last 2 weeks:          2.02 yds

In YTD:                       93.92 yds
Out YTD:                    51.31 yds

Net for 2011:               42.61 yds added to stash.

Looks like I need to get busy sewing!

Stop by Judy's Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

Stash report - week 43, 16 October 2011

2011-10-16T07:47:00.000-04:00

Wow - week 43. This year is certainly going by. No sewing for me this week. I had thoughts of getting into the sewing room yesterday, but they didn't pan out.

This week, the pantograph I ordered for quilting my mittens UFO arrived. It's snowflakes, and a more open design than some others I saw. I want this quilt to stay softer, rather than having a lot of thread on it. I don't know if I'll have a chance to get it loaded today or not. We've got a trip to the pumpkin patch with the grandchildren planned for today.

My stash numbers for the year stay the same this week:

In this week:              0      yds
Out this week:           0      yds

In YTD                    89.42 yds
Out YTD 53.74 yds

Net for 2011: 35.68 yds Added to stash

Check with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

Stash report - week 42, 9 October 2011

2011-10-09T08:21:00.000-04:00

I haven't done any stash reports for a while, so this is a catch-up report. I ordered Halloween and Christmas fabrics from Z&S when they had their sale in September. It took a while for them to come in - I think they were overwhelmed with the number of orders they got :>

So last weekend I made 4 Halloween pillowcases - and, of course, two of the grandchildren wanted the same one, so yesterday I made another bat fabric pillowcase. That's the sum total of my fabric in and out for the last month.

In this report:           16.25 yds
Out this report: 5     yds

In YTD                    89.42 yds
Out YTD 53.74 yds

Net for 2011: 35.68 yds Added to stash

Check with Judy at PatchworkTimes to see how everyone else is doing.

stash report - week 37, 11 Sept 2011

2011-09-11T08:23:00.001-04:00

I used a little bit of fabric from the stash to work on yesterday's Planet Patchwork Wonderful One-Day Mystery tablerunner. I did not do all the cutting at once, so I still have some to count for next time I work on this. Checking my stash report, this is the first entry into my spreadsheet since the end of July! The only sewing I've done for a month has been things that were already cut out and counted - cupcake swap blocks, putting scrap binding on a quilted block, and the honey bun I counted earlier.

Next week's numbers will show some adds - I poked buttons at Z & S fabrics, who were having a wonderful one-day sale - Halloween and Christmas fabrics for pillowcases for the grandchildren. I'll count those when they arrive in the mail.

Check out Judy's Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

So for this week's numbers:
In this week:                     0 yds
Used this week                 0.65 yds

In YTD:                        73.17 yds
Out YTD:                       48.74 yds

Net for 2011:                  24.43 yds Added

stash report - week 31, 31 july 2011

2011-07-31T09:15:00.001-04:00

A little in and a little out yesterday. I just had a few hours, and didn't want to take the time to find my backgrounds for cupcakes, so I bought some more white-on-white and tone-on-tone FQs for the tops. I've got all the pieces for the swap blocks cut out ready to stitch.

I also worked just a little bit on the binding for the Spring Mystery baby quilt.

So the numbers,
In this week:           2.88 yds
In YTD:                73.17 yds

Out this week:        1.71 yds
Out YTD:             48.08 yds

Net for 2011:        25.08 yds added

Check with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

stash report - week 29, 17 July 2011

2011-07-17T08:21:00.000-04:00

I finally got into the sewing room for a bit yesterday. I cut some white-on-white to start a Pineapple Blossoms with the honey bun I bought last month. So far, I have 2 blocks complete, and 2 that only need the final triangles.

Used this week:        1.88 yds
In this week:             0      yds

Used YTD:               46.38 yds
In YTD:                    70.29 yds

Net for 2011:            23.92 yds IN

Check with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

Stash report - week 27, 3 July 2011

2011-07-03T08:36:00.001-04:00

Nothing this week - not a stitch taken, not a fabric cut.

in this week                 0 yds
out this week               0 yds

in YTD                      70.29 yds
out YTD                    44.18 yds

Net for 2011              26.11 yds IN

Check with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

Stash report - week 26, 26 June 2011

2011-06-26T07:51:00.001-04:00

It's been an interesting week. Monday had a little sewing - I pulled out the mini Storm at Sea quilt I got as a kit last year on the trip to Indianapolis. All of the blocks were made, so I started setting them together. I also did the last-minute errands to get ready for the trip to the zoo with DD and the grandchildren.   Tuesday was the zoo trip. It was great - even the 1-year-old was fascinated. A marvelous day! Wednesday, I finished piecing, and quilted the mini Storm at Sea. Thursday, I did go buy a quarter yard of purple batik for the binding for my quilt. I got that bound - even stitched down on the back, so that one is finished! I also pieced a backing from stash for the spring mystery from Cindy Carter's blog. I got that quilted, binding made and on - still needs stitching down on the back. My sewing came to an abrupt halt on Friday, as DD and the grandchildren are here. Hard to spend time in the sewing room when the 4-year-old wants to know where you are and what you are doing all the time, LOL.

So, I had a productive week. I did had another stash addition from last Sunday - we went to visit with my parents for Father's Day, and my mom gave me two more bolts of wide backing fabric. Both of these are cream. It is helpful not to have to piece backings for large quilts.

My numbers for the week:

In this week:                         13.75 yds (mostly the wide backing)
Used this week:                      2.06 yds

In YTD:                                70.29 yds
Out YTD:                             44.18 yds

Net for 2011:                        26.11 yds IN

Check with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

Stash report - week 25, 19 Jun 2011

2011-06-19T08:33:00.000-04:00

I've had a productive week this week with my two vacation days.
I made the three pillowcases for the grandchildren. I finished the binding on my Mexican Cross - it just needs a label, which is printed out. I finished my Inspiration Round Robin from several years ago - binding/hanging sleeve and label are all attached. And I made a Jelly Roll Race quilt top (of course, I bought the jelly roll for that this week).

I did make quite a few purchases this week: fabric for the pillowcases, there are leftovers from that. Then the jelly roll (actually a Bali Pop), with some 1/2 yds and FQ of batik for my jelly roll quilt, and a honey bun because it was really the type of fabric I wanted and couldn't find in a jelly roll. That will be turned in to something this coming week.

So my numbers are overall moving in the wrong direction, but I'm pleased with what I got, and am happy with my UFO progress so far this year.

Numbers:
In this week:              13.11 yds
Used this week:           6.17 yds

In YTD:                     56.54 yds
Used YTD:                42.43 yds

Net for 2011:             14.11 yds in

Check with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

Vacation progress

2011-06-17T09:54:00.000-04:00

So far, I've finished the binding on my Mexican Cross - it still needs a label. I've made binding and have it machine stitched to the Inspiration Round Robin. And I've made pillowcases for the grandchildren as souvenirs for our zoo trip next week:

I think today, I'll go to The Little Shop. I haven't been there in a while. Yesterday, I went to Rachel's. She has reduced her fabric inventory significantly, but had some really pretty yarns. I resisted the temptation to get some sock yarn - I've already got way too much sock yarn sitting around waiting to be made into socks.

Vacation!

2011-06-16T10:11:00.000-04:00

I am now officially on vacation until the 27th! I've been lazy this morning. I got up at my usual time, then have been fooling around on the computer most of the morning. I took advantage of a sale at thequiltingschool.com - buy 3 months membership, get 1 free. They have a lot of online video lessons - including a lot of longarm lessons/shows by Pam Clarke, Linda Taylor, and others. So I've spent part of the morning watching longarm videos. I want to work on some different background fills, so I'm gathering ideas.

I only have 1/2 of one side left on the binding of my Mexican Cross. That will be on the to-do list today - to get that finished and make a label. I don't usually bother with labels for my quilts, but this one is from a long-ago swap, and I want to include a label. I may go to Madison to The Little Shop (another quilt shop) to see what they have that is interesting. I want to get some animal fabric to make pillow cases for the grandchildren to remember the zoo trip. I also want to find a jelly roll of bright spring prints to try the jelly roll 1600 method. I'm thinking make the strips as a background, then applique big flowers to it.

Lots to do today...

Stash report - week 24 - 12 June 2011

2011-06-12T22:50:00.000-04:00

Some sewing and some shopping this week. Last Sunday, I did Day 2 of the Neutrals Binge. Then I pieced the backing and loaded my Inspiration Round Robin. I finished quilting that today. I still need to find something for binding for that one - probably a dark navy blue or black.

Numbers:
Out this week:         3.33 yds
Out YTD:            36.27 yds

In this week:          14.28 yds (ouch)
In YTD:     43.43 yds

Net for 2011:          7.16 yds IN

I expect to be back in the black by the end of the month - I have a week and a half of vacation coming up and I plan to do a lot of sewing!

To see how everyone else is doing, go see Judy at Patchwork Times.

Stash report - week 23 - 5 June 2011

2011-06-05T06:00:00.001-04:00

This week I got the binding made and on for my Mexican Cross, so used a little more than 1/2 yard for that. Then I went to the LQS for some neutrals to increase my variety. I want to make more blocks for my Shakespeare in the Park to have it big enough for the bed. I didn't have the time I expected for sewing yesterday afternoon, because I had to go in to work 3 hours before I had been planning to..... but no work today, so I'll get in some sewing time.

I haven't decided if I'm going to go to the Quilters Unlimited show in northern VA today or not. Depends on how caught up in sewing I get this morning.

For the numbers:
In this week:                  4.63 yds
Out this week:                0.56 yds

In YTD:    29.15 yds
Out YTD:                     32.93 yds
Net for 2011:                 3.78 yds USED

so I still have a new reduction in stash. I have vacation coming up in a couple of weeks, and expect to do quite a bit of sewing, so the numbers should get better then. I'm more interested in using fabric than worried about buying fabric, so I'm happy with where I am.
Check with Judy to see how everyone else is doing this week.

UFO number for June

2011-06-01T11:50:00.000-04:00

Judy has drawn #8 for June. My #8 is my Shakespeare in the Park. Right now, I have all the blocks made for the twin size that is the way the pattern is presented in the book. I put it away at that point when I decided that I like it well enough to want to put this on my bed. So now I need to cut out and piece a lot more blocks. The good news is I have a week's vacation coming up later this month with only one day committed to something else. It would be really great to have most of the piecing done so this could be quilted that week. If DH really goes out riding somewhere for the weekend, I might get a start on that. Pulling those fabrics will also give me a chance to cut squares for my friend Marianne's ivory charms. That will follow putting the trimming, making the binding and putting it on to finish the Mexican Cross.

Stash report - week 22, 29 May 2011

2011-05-29T11:37:00.000-04:00

Another no-sewing week. Too many crazy hours at work.

Added this week:              0 yds
Used this week:                0 yds

Added YTD:             24.53 yds
Used YTD:               31.95 yds

Net for 2011:              7.42 yds OUT

Check out what everyone else is up to at Patchwork Times.

Dance the afternoon away....

2011-05-22T22:32:00.000-04:00

At last month's Nationals, we took a workshop with Garry Gekhman, one of the judges for the competition. "Every Man's Dream" was a workshop on leading and following. In that one-hour group lesson, we learned SO MUCH basic information. It resulted in a fundamental change in our dancing. Since Garry is located only 2 hours from us, we asked if it would be possible to get a coaching/lesson with him. That was what we did today - a 2 1/4 hr dance lesson with Garry Gekhman. What a wonderful experience! Exhilarating and humbling all at once. It was only AFTER the lesson that I thought about the fact that I'd spent a significant part of the lesson time dancing with a World Vice Champion dancer. OMGosh!

Another round of fundamental change in my dance frame, which is going to take quite a while to replace what is already in muscle memory. And I found out that I've been dancing the spin turn wrong - no wonder it was so hard for us to get around....But I think I understand, at least intellectually, what he was asking me to do, so practice will tell.

Changes to dance frame and hold, head position, natural turn, spin turn, promenade link in Tango, chase, turning lock, chasse to the right, oh, just about everything we tried. And that was just dancing waltz and tango. We learned a trick to get to promenade position when you get interrupted - cool. The one positive thing was that we tend to use heels and toes properly....

Well, we've got a lot of practicing to do before we schedule another lesson. But not tonight - my feet are going to rebel if I put them back into high heels tonight, LOL.

will be dreaming of dancing tonight....

Stash report - week 21, 22 May 2011

2011-05-22T07:04:00.001-04:00

Nothing quilty happening here this week. My numbers stay the same as last week:

In this week:            0 yds
Used this week:       0 yds

In YTD:                 24.53 yds
Used YTD:            31.95 yds

Net for 2011:           7.42 yds used

Check with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

Stash report - week 20, 15 May 2011

2011-05-15T16:31:00.000-04:00

Another busy week. I have done some quilting/sewing this weekend, but most was on already-counted fabric. I spent yesterday afternoon working on the quilting for my #4 UFO - the Mexican Cross. I am at the point that I need to put the extended plate on the machine so I can do continuous curve quilting in the 9-patch sections of the blocks, then get out the seam ripper to fix the feather sections with poor tension. Also still need to so the borders. Those now look rippled because the batting is fluffy and the center of the quilt is quilted. I should have done the stay - stitching on the very edges first on all the sides, but I just stay-stitched the inside of the border.

Today, I made a dance shoe bag for DH. I even monogrammed it with a "dance shoes" alphabet - the letters have footprints and directions, like the Arthur Murray instructions. That's my total fabric use for the week.

Numbers:
In this week:         0      yds
Out this week:      0.43 yds

In YTD:            24.53 yds
Out YTD:           31.95 yds

Net for 2011:        7.42 yds stash used.

Check with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

Stash report - week 19, 8 May 2011

2011-05-08T09:26:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, and to my mother, in particular.

Not much yardage used this week. I finished the hand stitching on the binding for my UFO #1 yesterday, so that's now done and on my bed. But all the fabric was counted for that already.
This morning, I made a snappy bag for my mom for Mother's day, so that's a yard out of the stash. No fabric shopping trips this week, so I'm back to heading in the right direction.

In this week:             0      yds
In YTD:                    24.53 yds

Out this week:            1      yd
Out YTD:                 31.95 yds

Net for 2011:              7.42 yds OUT

Check with Judy to see how everyone else is doing this week.

UFO for May

2011-05-01T22:53:00.000-04:00

Judy pulled the number for May's UFO - #9. Checking my list, my #9 is the Quilt Bug mystery - and it's already finished! So I'll focus on finishing #1 and #4 - I'm behind in those.
This evening, I've been hand stitching the binding on my #1 UFO - and have gotten half-way done. So I should be able to finish that this week while we watch TV.

My #4 is currently on the quilting machine (Mexican Cross). It's about 1/3 way there. I need to tear out part of the stitching that's on there now because of poor tension, but I'll wield the seam ripper after I finish the rest of the quilting. I worked on that a bit today before we went out to eat.

Stash report - week 18, 1 May 2011

2011-05-01T08:21:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy week this week. Dance lessons three nights takes up a lot of the available evening time. But I took Friday as a vacation day and went to two quilting workshops at the local quilt shop. Debbie Brown is a fun teacher. The first workshop was on feathers - how to design them into your quilting. We learned ideas for making feather borders, feathers in squares and triangles, in sashings, and in those really large setting squares you get with lone star-type quilts. Debbie had lots of sample quilts to pass around - all really pretty. The second workshop was a "how should I quilt this" lesson. We each brought quilt tops that we hung up and talked about what designs to use for quilting. Debbie used quilters preview paper to draw out ideas for spaces on the quilt. I took two tops - my Mexican Cross, and my SVQG inspiration round robin. I came home with plans for quilting both of those. Watching and talking about what to put on each quilt that was hung helped with how to look at a quilt to decide what to put on it. If I have a chance, I'll take more workshops from Debbie.

Yesterday, I put the Mexican Cross on the frame and got started quilting. I'm using So Fine thread, because I didn't want the heavy thread look of the King Tut. I put in a new needle, and checked the tension on both the bobbin and the top, and started quilting. It was going OK, but I was breaking thread more than I wanted to. I decided I needed to check the timing, since I had gone down in needle size. So I retimed, then I saw the next page of the manual, and thought I might need to replace my tension spring, so I did that. Got everything going again, and had awful tension problems - lots of birds nests underneath unless I hand the top tension cranked as high as it would go, then I'd still occasionally get an eyelash underneath. So I retimed again, and took out and redid the check spring a couple of times. I've finally got the machine stitching nicely with good tension again, so I'm making better progress now. It's taking a long time - first because I'm using 3 different threads - I'll stitch a few passes with one color, then roll back up and stitch that area with the second color, then go on to the third. I also spent a lot of time taking out bad stitching. I still have a few sets of feathers in setting triangles to tear back out, but I'll get to them after I finish with the rest of the quilting.

While I was at the LQS yesterday buying thread and batting, I picked up yardage for the backing to the round robin, so that's my fabric in this week. Out was a little more pink and brown for the borders for the Mexican Cross, plus the wide backing for Mexican Cross.

In this week:           4      yds
In YTD:                  24.53 yds

Out this week:          3.76 yds
Out YTD:               30.95 yds

Net for 2011:       6.42 yds OUT

Check with Judy to see how everyone else is doing this week.

Stash report - week 17, 24 April 2011

2011-04-24T06:00:00.021-04:00

I've done some sewing since last week. On Sunday afternoon, I quilted my Judy Martin swap quilt - all queen size of it. I always have to hem and haw about how to quilt a top. I decided on an overall leaf meander. I used King Tut thread top and bottom - I love the way it turned out. Then I went out of town for most of the week, and didn't do any more sewing until Saturday. I made binding and put it on the Judy Martin swap quilt (UFO #1).

While I was out of town, I stopped at a new-to-me quilt shop and bought a brown with pink flowers, and a brown/pink print to use for borders for my #4 UFO - a Mexican Cross quilt. I pulled that out on Saturday after getting the binding onto UFO #1, and the pinks just didn't work. I was able to find a pink in the stash that would work, and looked fine with the brown-with-pink-flowers, so I've got the borders all as one long set of brown-pink-brown. I still need to press the top and then get the borders cut and attached. I'm going to put 9-patches in the corners. I think it will mirror the middle of the Mexican Cross blocks.

No quilting today - we're going to DMIL's for Easter services and lunch.

So, some in, some out this week.

Added this week:             4    yds
Added YTD:                  20.53 yds

Used this week:               4.46 yds
Used YTD:                    27.67 yds

Net for 2011:                   7.14 yds USED

Check in with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

stash report - week 16, 17 April 2011

2011-04-17T09:31:00.000-04:00

Very little sewing was done this week. I finished a set of swap blocks and got those in the mail yesterday. Yesterday also included a trip to the LQS so that I could get some thread for quilting my #1 UFO. While I was there, I picked up 1/2 yard of a brown tone-on-tone that I need for a swap that is due in August.

Numbers:
In this week:     0.5 yds
In YTD:            16.53 yds

Out this week:      0 yds
Out YTD:          22.96 yds

Net for 2011:       6.43 yds reduced stash so I'm still ahead, even though I've added more than I've used over the last month.

UFO challenge - in March, I put together my #1 UFO so that it is now a flimsy ready for quilting. That MAY get loaded on the longarm today - I've got backing and batting that will work for it in the stash. I also pulled out April's UFO #4 yesterday - it's a hand-pieced Mexican star in pink and brown. This one was a swap when I was in high school - a few people included the date in their signatures - 1974!! It has no borders, and is about 67 x 84 as it is. I may just quilt it without borders, but have it draped out to look at and decide on.

Pop on over to Judy's to see how everyone else is coming with their stash this week.

Stash report - week 12, March 20, 2011

2011-03-20T08:04:00.000-04:00

Nothing happening on the sewing front this week. Life was too busy at work during the week. I left early Friday afternoon, thinking I would do some sewing, and decided to take a nap instead. I had stopped by the LQS wanting to get some nice bright cheery spring fabric, but thought about what I have sitting in the drawers at home, and changed my mind. Not that I HAVE a stash of bright cheery spring fabric, mind you, but I have other colors that could be made into something.

Yesterday was spent car shopping, then at a dance, so no sewing yesterday either. Today will be spent watching the Dukes play in the NCAA tournament in Charlottesville. The best part is that DS is up from North Carolina, and DD will come with at least 2 of the grandchildren, and younger DS will go with us, as well. Lots of cheering to be done!

So the numbers for this week:

Used this week:                0 yds
Used YTD:                    21.73 yds

In this week:                     0 yds
In YTD:                           11 yds

Net for 2011:                    10.73 yds OUT

Check in with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

Stash report - week 11, 12 March 2011

2011-03-13T08:10:00.000-04:00

I got to sew yesterday, and used from the stash. I'm not counting the sashing for the Judy Martin quilt, because that was cut some time ago. I used background fabric for the Cindy Carter Spring Mystery - and lots of nickels, which I won't count.

So for the numbers:

Used this week:     1.36 yds
Added this week:      0 yds

Used YTD:          21.73 yds
Added YTD:        11.00 yds

Net for 2011:   10.73 yds used

Check with Judy at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

A good day

2011-03-12T19:07:00.000-05:00

I finally got home from Pennsylvania around noon today. On the way back, I stopped at a new-to-me quilt shop - Shenandoah Sew n Vac in Woodstock. It was small, but had some nice fabrics. I resisted getting any. I also stopped at Patchwork Plus as I got home, thinking I'd like to get a jelly roll to have a head start on making something else out of the Scrap Basket books, but then decided I really didn't need to buy anything there, either.

Cindy Carter is running a mystery quilt this weekend, so I decided I'd make that one. The scrappy version uses lots of 5" squares, plus a background fabric. I pulled a white-on-white from the stash as background, and a bunch of red, yellow and orange nickels from the drawer. This is going to be one bright quilt. Right now, the mystery is through clue 3, and I'm caught up. I'm making the baby/lap size.

In between steps, I've been working on my Judy Martin swap blocks UFO - #1 on my list. It was to the point of needing the long horizontal sashing. That's never one of my favorite parts of a quilt, but I've got it all put together now. I'm trying to decide if it needs an outside border or not. It's currently about 93 inches square.

While I sewed this afternoon, I listed to the JMU women's basketball team beat VCU to advance to the finals of the CAA tournament. I could have watched the game on TV, but prefer to listen to David. Way to go, Dukes! Listening to the finals will keep me company while I do some sewing tomorrow, as well.

Mid-Atlantic Championships 2011

2011-02-27T21:56:00.000-05:00

A good competition for us. It felt like the best we've ever danced. Our placements were good - we made 3 of 4 finals, and had a 3rd place in Sr1 Silver Standard, 6th place in Sr2 Silver Standard, and 5th place in Sr2 Gold Standard. We were 9th in Sr1 Gold Standard. Altogether, these were our best results yet. Changing our dance frame and the technique differences that has created are starting to pay off.

On the "still to work on" side, looking at the video shows that there are still some fundamental things that need fixing - I kept dropping my right elbow. I think I was letting myself get too centered in turning figures. And, darn it, I was looking down still in the promenade sections of the tango oversway---I was even thinking - "look up". Of course, when I watch the video, I see the things I did wrong, rather than the things I did well.

Judges' marks were all over the place - which also suggests that we were being inconsistent in how we danced. One dance may have been rated anywhere from 2nd to 7th depending on the judge - which may mean either something particular the judge looks for, or what we happened to be doing when the judge was looking at us. More fodder for Karen at our lessons for the next few weeks.

We have six weeks until Nationals, so there's time to focus on a couple of key points (like more of "stay left") between now and then. I think this also calls for some routine gym time between now and then. Dancing silver and gold means more dances, and I was about done in by the time we were finished.

The weekend was fun. The new venue was beautiful (North Bethesda Marriott). We had the largest floor we've ever had for a competition, and this only used half of the Marriott's Grand Ballroom. It was great having David's sister, Kathy, come with us again this year. There was beautiful dancing to watch while we weren't dancing ourselves.

Stash report - week 9, February 27

2011-02-27T14:24:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy week. I did get my Johnny Jump Ups quilt quilted, and used some stash to make the binding. I got that applied on Friday afternoon, and started stitching it down before we had to leave for Bethesda. That will be my project for this afternoon - to finish that binding, so the quilt is done.

IN this week:              0 yds
IN YTD:                11.0 yds

OUT this week:         0.44 yds
OUT YTD:              20.37 yds

NET for 2011:     9.37 yds BUSTED

Check out Judy L's blog to see how everyone else is doing with their stash report for the week.

Stash report - week 8, February 20

2011-02-20T06:00:00.008-05:00

I got some sewing time yesterday, and made progress on my #10 - the fall tablerunner. I hope to have that finished today. Yesterday I got it quilted and made and applied the binding. It's ready to have the binding hand sewn on the back, which I plan to work on during the road trip to Delaware for the women's basketball game.

Once I got the tablerunner to the point I wanted it, I put borders on my Johnny Jump Ups top I started last weekend. I also made and loaded a backing for it, and picked up batting and quilting thread in a pretty yellow King Tut. I think I'm going to do a meander with butterflies for the quilting.

The 2 yds in were a purple crocus print intended as a border for the Johnny Jump Ups, but I decided not to use it for that, and instead used stash. The purple crocuses ended up on the back of Johnny Jump Ups, along with some green from the stash.

Since the borders, most of the backings and bindings were all from stash, I made a nice dent in my stash report for the week:

In this week:                    2 yds
Used this week:              7.25 yds

In YTD:                          11 yds
Used YTD:                     19.92 yds

Net for 2011:                   8.92 yds OUT

Stash report - week 7, February 13

2011-02-13T11:06:00.000-05:00

I decided to start a new quilt yesterday, and used all stash for the top, so I my numbers are moving in the right direction. I got Kim Brackett's new book, Scrap Basket Sensations - I like all the quilts in it. The "Flowers for Nana Girl" reminded me of pansies - so I cut that from all purples for the flowers, and added yellow centers. I used leftover sage greens for the background, and a dark green for the leaves. All of the cutting was finished yesterday, and I got the blocks put together. This morning I made the pieced sashing, and got the top put together. Now I need to look in the stash to see what I can find for a border. I have a top of pretty Johnny Jump-Ups.

My report for this week:

In this week:                    0 yds
Used this week:          2.78 yds

In YTD:                       9 yds
Used YTD:               12.67 yds

Net YTD:               3.67 yds OUT

Stash report - week 6, 6 February 2011

2011-02-06T08:21:00.000-05:00

I finally pieced the backing for my NYE mystery. I cut up the blocks of the Spot Loves Colors panel and pieced them randomly into strips of the tone-on-tone red, green and blue left over from the top. I also cut and prepared the binding. The quilt is loaded on the longarm ready to be quilted. I think I'm going to do a meander that is color words. I need to look in my thread drawer to see what would be good for this.

As for my stash, I had a coupon from the LQS for fat quarters at a volume discount, so went in planning to get 20 fat quarters (at $1.50 each - good price). But all they had were some blenders - the batiks weren't included in the special. I had wanted to get some pretty prints. So all I got was the batt I needed for my NYE mystery.

This week's numbers:
In this week:                     0 yds
Out this week:                 2.13 yds

In YTD:                           9.00 yds
Out YTD:                        9.89 yds

Net for 2011:                   0.89 yds OUT - I'm actually in the "busted" category :>

Check in with Judy L to see how everyone else is doing this week.

UFO #6 Complete

2011-02-02T22:47:00.001-05:00

Judy Laquidara of Patchwork Times is running a UFO Challenge for the year. Each month, she picks a number, and you are challenged to complete that number UFO on your list. I have my list with my top 12 selected on my sidebar. January's number was 6. For me, #6 was a wallhanging I made as part of a challenge on the Yahoo group, The Quilting Post. We had a particular challenge fabric we had to use. I chose to make a fractured panel out of the fabric, and used that as the focal point for a "stained glass window" or "garden gate" style quilt. All it needed was quilting and binding. I finished the binding the first week of January, but it took me until this past weekend to actually get all the loose thread ends clipped.

Here it is finished:

And a close-up of the "fractured" panel in the center:

This is done by cutting multiple repeats of the same section of fabric, and then subcutting each one from a slightly different starting place, then sewing those repeats all together. The side panels are of the challenge fabric. I really like how this turned out. I took it in to the office on Monday and have it hanging on my office wall.

See how everyone else did with their January challenge here.
February's number is 10 - for me, my fall tablerunner. I need to trim the sides, quilt and bind. So that will probably be my sewing for Saturday - maybe I can have it ready to hand stitch down binding during the Superbowl.

Stash report - week 5, 30 jan 2011

2011-01-30T21:26:00.000-05:00

Not much sewing here this week. I did get in some stitching time today. Fabric used was for a block to contribute to a love quilt for a friend undergoing cancer treatment. While I stopped by the LQS on my way home from work Friday, with the full intent of buying something bright and cheerful, I went home empty-handed. I didn't see anything that had to come home with me. And today, I decided not to take a trip across the mountain to the shop in Charlottesville - instead, I stayed home and sewed down the binding on the quilt I've been trying to get finished, while listening to the basketball game.

Used this week: 0.25 yds
In this week:        0 yds

Used YTD: 7.76 yds
In YTD:              9.00 yds

Net for 2011:   1.24 yds IN

Ready for spring

2011-01-27T20:16:00.000-05:00

OK, so I'm a wimp. We had anywhere from 4 - 10 inches of snow in our area yesterday. I was prepared to stay at work, but wasn't needed there last night, so decided to come home. Unfortunately, I waited until almost 5:00 to leave, right at the height of the storm. Luckily, I was in the truck with 4 wheel drive. I never would have tried it in my Miata. The roads had been plowed and treated with chemicals at some point, but were in terrible shape. I drove at around 25 mph into town - a trip that usually takes 20 minutes, took closer to an hour. The road had one vague track to it. With one of the main thoroughfares that bad, I decided not to even try the smaller country road coming out to our house. Deciding that discretion is the better part of valor, I checked into a hotel in town, then called DH to tell him that I was staying in town.

I did have my quilt that just needs the binding stitched on the back with me, and managed to finish one side last night. So that was a good outcome. The roads were drivable this morning, and it warmed up enough to have mostly bare pavement by tonight. We're supposed to have snow again next week - I'm ready for spring!

Stash report - week 4, 23 Jan 2011

2011-01-23T11:06:00.001-05:00

My stash report was going to be nothing in/nothing out, but I went to the LQS yesterday to get fabric to bind the Quilt Bug mystery. This was my first actual fabric purchase for the year (my other "add" was fabric gifted to me for Christmas). I got the binding cut and sewn on by machine, now that will be my hand-stitching project in the evenings for a while.

This week's report:
In this week:            1 yd
Used this week:       0.5 yd

In YTD:                   9 yd
Out YTD:                7.51 yd
Net for 2011:           1.49 yd IN

My numbers are still on the acquiring side, but I'm pleased with the amount I'm actually using.
Go by Judy's blog, to see how everyone else is doing this week.

Stash Report - Week 3, 16 January 2011

2011-01-16T08:36:00.000-05:00

It was a really busy week this week, so not much sewing. In spite of that, I did manage to use some fabric. I finally found where I had stashed my appliqué project case, and have been using my little 6" heart blocks as take-along handwork. I cut ore neutral background squares for hearts to bring for the trip to New York. Unfortunately, I only managed to stitch one heart on the way up here Friday. The roads were too bumpy to do nice stitching easily.

This week's report:

In this week: 0 yds
Used this week: 0.77 yds
In YTD: 8 yds
Used YTD: 7 yds
Net for 2011: 1 yd added

Go see Judy L. To see how everyone else is doing this week.

Dancing in New York

2011-01-15T17:22:00.001-05:00

This weekend is the Manhattan Amateur Classic in New York. We danced Senior 1 and Senior 2 Silver and Gold Standard. We didn't get to the ballroom as far ahead of our first heat as we usually do - and they were running 20 minutes ahead of schedule. We were there in plenty of time to dance, but we didn't get as much warm-up as we normally do. I think it threw us off a bit mentally. And it was a crowded floor, so we did not dance as well in our first heat as we would have liked (Sr 1 Silver). We danced better in Sr 2 Silver- even though that floor was even more crowded. We advanced from the quarter-final to the semi-final, but did not make the final. There were a lot of good dancers. Our gold heats were both full seven-couple finals. We did our best dancing of the day. We finished sixth in both gold heats. I'm happy with those finishes. We definitely danced better than at last year's MAC. So that's progress. We did not translate all of the technique we've been working on onto the competition floor, but we did make some improvements.

Last night's Sr Championship level Standard rounds were very enjoyable. And Adult Championship Latin and Youth Championship Standard were awesome as usual. Tonight is the Adult Championship Standard and the Youth Championship Latin- more awesome dancing to watch!

Stash report - 9 Jan - wk 2

2011-01-09T06:45:00.000-05:00

It's Week 2 of the new year for stash reporting. It's been a good week for me. I went to the LQS to buy thread, and saw the cutest print with the "Spot's Colors" group that would make a backing for the NYE mystery, but decided not to get that since I have enough left-overs from the front to piece a back. I finished quilting my Quilt Bug New Years (2008?) mystery. And I quilted and have the binding applied to my TQP Challenge quilt. Today's sewing will be hand stitching the binding on the TQP Challenge quilt, and some applique hearts that are also on the UFO list - nice handwork for in the car.

So this week's report:
Purchased this week:               0 yds
Used this week:                 1.79 yds
Purchased (gift in)YTD:               8 yds
Used YTD:                     6.23 yds
Net for 2011:                                1.79 yds in

Go check with Judy L at Patchwork Times to see how everyone else is doing this week.

UFO #6

2011-01-08T20:01:00.000-05:00

I pulled out UFO #6 this week - it's my challenge quilt from The Quilting Post from several years ago. I couldn't find the leftover challenge fabric I had intended to use for the backing, so I pulled something else from the stash. This isn't a very large quilt - about 28 x 43. The quilting is finished, and it's unloaded. Now it needs trimming and binding. If I can get the binding on, it might be a good project for in the car on the way to the basketball game tomorrow.

Stash Report - 2 Jan 2011 - wk 1

2011-01-02T09:03:00.001-05:00

The first week of 2011, and I have some stashbusting to report. Used yardage is for the backing for the Quilt Bug New Year's Mystery from 2008. I finally got that loaded on the longarm. Quilting is not quite done yet, but I count my yardage as I use it.
Editing my original post - I forgot to add in the backing fabric my mom gave me for Christmas yesterday.

In this week:           0 yds
Out this week:      4.4 yds
In YTD:    8 yds
Out YTD: 4.4 yds
Net for 2011:      3.6 yds

I don't plan to NOT buy fabric this year, but I am going to make an effort to use the fabric I already have - I liked it when I bought it, so I ought to use it!

A new year, a new (old) project

2011-01-01T09:12:00.002-05:00

Well, it's the first of the month, so Judy at Patchwork Times has picked this month's number out of the bag: the first UFO focus project for the year is #6 - for me, that's my TQP Challenge project. This is ready to be quilted, and the quilting will be used to secure the fusible applique.

Before I get to that one, I need to finish the quilting for the project that's currently on the longarm - that one is actually #9 on my list - the QuiltBug mystery from New Year's Day, 2008. I'm almost finished with the quilting - I have 3 sides left of the inner border, then the outer border, and the quilting will be done. I plan to get lots of things quilted this year!

Judy's 2011 UFO Challenge

2010-12-18T22:27:00.000-05:00

Judy L. at Patchwork Times is having a UFO Challenge for 2011. You list 12 projects you want to finish. On the first day of each month, she will pick a number from 1-12. That is the project you work on for that month.

My list is:
1. Judy Martin Swap Blocks - finish assembling, borders, quilt, bind
2. Mittens - borders, quilt, bind
3. QOV mystery - borders, quilt, bind
4. Mexican Star - borders, quilt, bind
5. SVQG Round Robin - quilt, bind
6. TQP Challenge - quilt, bind
7. NYE 07 mystery - quilt, bind
8. SITP - decide if it needs to be bigger, (more blocks?), assemble, quilt, bind
9. Quilt Bug 2008 Mystery - quilt, bind
10. Fall tablerunner - borders, quilt, bind
11. Sunbonnet Sue - quilt, bind
12. Christmas stars blocks - setting, borders, quilt, bind

Are you seeing a pattern here? Lots of things get held up at the "needing borders" stage. And I have a lot of quilting to do. Next week leading up to Christmas is going to be busy with family, but the week after Christmas is vacation - and I plan to spend some time in my sewing room. It would be good to get some of the backings and binding ready for all the quilts I'm going to try to get quilted next year.

Secret Santa

2010-12-12T20:44:00.001-05:00

We do a Secret Santa at work. For about a 2-week period, we leave little gifts for our secret partner, and then have a party at the end with our main gift, and revealing the Secret Santas. Our party is going to be next Friday, and I already finished my final gift! I really like this little guy. It's wool applique, with hand button-hole stitch. Machine quilted. This little quilt finished about 8 x 15 inches.

Stash Report - 31 Oct 2010

2010-10-31T20:15:00.000-04:00

Used some yardage this week. I got Mocha Swirl quilted and bound; backing and binding from stash.

In this week: 0 yds
In YTD: 77.13 yds

Out this week: 3.90 yds
Out YTD: 36.27 yds

Net: 40.87 yds added

Check out Judy L's blog to see how others are doing with their stashbusting.

Stash report - 24 October

2010-10-24T08:28:00.000-04:00

I haven't done a stash report in quite a while. Not much sewing going on in the last couple of months. No sewing at all last week, but I'm on vacation this coming week, and plan to sew. I should have numbers to report next week.

In YTD: 77.13 yds
Out YTD: 32.37 yds
Net added YTD: 44.76 yds

Go check out Judy L's blog to see how everyone else is doing.

Carolina Fall Classic

2010-10-23T17:36:00.000-04:00

It has been a beautiful day for a drive. We got to Greensboro around 2PM, checked in to the hotel and got our registration packet for the competition. I even managed to pick up the dress one of the ladies in the Dancing with the Stars of the 'Burg wants to try on as an option for the event. We even found a vest for one of the men. The costuming is getting there!

Our first heat is not until 12:59PM tomorrow. Hair/makeup appointment is at 9AM.

And we get to visit with DS this evening - that is a pleasant surprise.

No luck in finding jewelry for the DWTS event - not much selection from the one vendor with jewelry. So I'll have to do that on-line. Don't know if we'll have a chance to see any of the championship level dancing tonight. But I'll willingly give that up for a chance to visit. We haven't seen DS since February.

Tomato sauce

2010-08-29T22:10:00.000-04:00

I got a wild hare this week that I wanted to make tomato sauce. I've never made tomato sauce. I've never done any canning. I've made jelly a few times, but not recently.

So, I stopped at the vegetable stand on the way home from work on Thursday. They have about 20 varieties of tomatoes. I know that plum tomatoes or Roma tomatoes are supposed to be good for sauce, but that was one variety they did NOT have. So I asked the woman who owns the stand if the ones labeled "local - grown in Keezletown" would make good sauce. They would, so then to decide how many to buy - she suggested that they sell 1/2 bushels for canning - hmm, that sounded like too many tomatoes. So she had a box with a few pounds in it - ones with a couple of bruises, etc, that weren't pretty for using at the table - and suggested they would be good for sauce; the whole lot for $2. Well, I figured I couldn't go wrong for $2, so they went home with me. Since DH was working late, I put a pot on the stove and started peeling tomatoes. I peeled them, cut out the bruised parts, squeezed out as much of the seeds as I could, then chopped and put them in a pot.

After about 2 hours of simmering, everything was broken down and about the right consistency. I used my immersion blender to smooth it out a little more, then packaged it up into 2 quart-size zip bags which I put in the freezer.

Today, I used my homemade tomato sauce to make spaghetti sauce. Yum! It tasted different than using canned tomato sauce - it's sweeter. Next time I do this, I won't put any sugar into the spaghetti sauce. So this week, I may take the woman at the farm stand up on her suggestion of 1/2 bushel.

Stash report - 29 August 2010

2010-08-29T21:55:00.000-04:00

Nothing bought this week, and a little bit used.

In this week: 0 yds
Out this week: 1.08 yds

In YTD: 75.13 yds
Out YTD: 30.87 yds

Net for the year: 44.26 yds added.

Check out Judy's blog for how everyone else did this week.

Stash report - 15 August 2010

2010-08-15T18:10:00.000-04:00

Well, I did well on Friday using from stash to finish my Mardi Gras quilt, but then when I pulled out the blocks from the Judy Martin swap, I wanted to have something to integrate the whole into the borders, so I went shopping.

In this week: 13.63 yds
Used this week: 3.14 yds
Net for the week: 10.49 yds added

In YTD: 75.13 yds
Used YTD: 29.79 yds
Net YTD: 45.35 yds added - not quite Busting stash, am I?
But I am finishing quilts, so I'm OK with that.

Stay at home retreat

2010-08-15T13:53:00.000-04:00

I've been having a solo stay-at-home quilt retreat this weekend. I took Friday as a vacation day and have been quilting all weekend.

On Friday, I pulled out a set of swap blocks from the "Romp in the Swamp" with The Quilting Post friends. Because we had a retreat in Louisiana, our swaps were Southern or Louisiana themed. The set I worked with this weekend was stars in Mardi Gras colors - green, gold and purple. Sashing, backing, and binding are all from stash. The quilting on this one is a freehand ribbon meander - sort of like streamers. I even had a batt and thread in the stash that worked for this one

I'm calling this Mardi Gras. The binding is sewn on the front, but still needs to be turned and hand stitched to the back.

I just took off the machine another quilt from swap blocks, also through TQP. This is a from a swap of 6" blocks in 30's reproduction prints. I got some half-circle templates yesterday, and quilted this with Baptist fans.
This also has the binding applied, but still needing to be stitched to the back.

The next set of blocks I"m working on is much older - these are from a 1995 swap, on Genie, I think. We had a group of 25, each of us picked a focus fabric and a Judy Martin block pattern. We sent a piece of our focus fabric to each person, and we all made our selected block in the different fabrics. My focus fabric was a teal background with wheat-brown flowers and purple leaves. I've put my blocks up on the design wall (looks like I did not make my own block in my focus fabric....)

I want this to be a bed-size quilt, so I'm going to do some type of sashing, and maybe a series of borders - narrow inner border, then a pieced border of some sort, then maybe a final narrow border. I went to the LQS yesterday and found to pieces of brown that go well with the brown in my focus fabric, and one piece of wine that matches one of the leaf colors, so I've got something to work with. I think I'll play with some designs in EQ before I start cutting anything.

Oh, and all of the pictures today are from my new camera. I was having a lot of trouble getting clear pictures with my old camera, so I got a new Canon PowerShot SD1300IS. I like it so far.

Time to find some lunch. DH will be back from his mini-vacation in a little while, so I'll probably stay out of the sewing room this evening.

Busy Day

2010-08-07T21:07:00.000-04:00

Well, kinda. Today started EARLY - up at 2:30 a.m. so we could take DMIL to the airport. Leaving her at the security line seemed almost as bad as leaving one of the children there by themselves. Even if we know that she's perfectly capable of managing her bag and getting through security and to her gate all by herself, LOL. We did get a call mid-afternoon that she has safely arrived at her destination.

Dance practice this afternoon. Some things are working, and some just aren't. I think I'll be working on natural spin turns forever....When we go in to practice tomorrow, I expect they'll be better - it seems to work that way. One day the timing is just off, then the next it works. At least I hope so. Even the things that don't feel like they are working right are much better than they were at our last competition, so I'm really pleased with our progress. Having the dance floor in the living room where we can really work on one figure at a time is helping.

This afternoon I worked some more on organizing my sewing room. I got rid of all of the batting scraps that were piled in the corner. They were mostly usable sizes, but had become a favorite cat bed, so they got tossed. Underneath the batting were two cardboard bankers boxes. Both had sewing things - one had my BOM blocks from several years ago, still in their mailing envelopes. I had wondered where those had gotten to....so they now reside (out of the mailers) in a plastic shoe box on the shelf of the spare bedroom. The other box had miscellaneous dressmaking scraps - those went in the trash, and some quilt books and magazines. The books are on the shelf in the spare bedroom, and the magazines got boxed up with most of the others from the sewing room to go to the storage building until things are straightened up enough that I can decide where to keep them. I also found my Featherweight - it was also hiding under the batting scraps. I knew it had to be in there somewhere, but couldn't figure out if it was in the back under the cutting table or where...

Tomorrow I'll run to Walmart and get some more plastic drawers to put where the bankers boxes were - I can make a nice stack of those to hold some more folded stash. I'm trying to get rid of all of the totes that are stacked around - they're too difficult to get anything out of, so nothing in them actually gets used. By having everything folded and in the drawers, I can see everything and get to it to use it. Once it's all folded, I'll have to go through everything one more time to sort by colors, but that will wait for now. I'm also going to get a couple more plastic shoeboxes for storing UFOs - if I keep everything for a project together in its own box, then I can just pull one out and work on it - then put it away in its box if it reaches a stopping point before it's done. Storing those in the spare bedroom closet also frees up space in the sewing room.

I almost have the longarm table cleared off - without putting it all on the ironing board or cutting table, so I'll be able to load some of these tops and get them quilted. The next project after that will have to be finding somewhere to store all the finished quilts - or sending some off for others to enjoy.

Stash Report - 25 July

2010-07-25T22:19:00.000-04:00

I used fabric this week, and didn't buy any, so I've got net out this week. I cut from the two jelly rolls I've gotten in the last several weeks for a quilt out of the Scrap Basket Surprises book - I'm making the one called "Mocha Swirls" - I think it's going to be pretty!

So far, I finished cutting, and have made all of the split pieces, and am putting blocks together. I've got about 1/3 of the blocks put together so far.

So, for my report:

Used this week: 3.5 yds
Added this week: 0 yds

Used YTD: 20.93 yds
Added YTD: 58.51 yds

Net for 2010: 37.57 yds added.

Head over to Judy's blog to see how everyone else is doing.

A universal truth of organizing

2010-07-16T18:39:00.000-04:00

It's always the same. Whenever I start organizing somewhere - it always gets a lot worse before it gets better.

I spent all day Sunday working in my sewing room. I didn't sew a stitch. I pressed and folded fabric and put it away. I worked on various pieces of yardage that were stacked under the cutting table. I pressed and folded a ton of fat quarters. And scraps. I cleared out one scrap box, but the other one under the longarm is still quite full. I pressed and folded, and pressed and folded. I ran out of drawers for the yardage and ended up with a stack on the cutting table. I cleared off the front of the cutting table all the way across and pressed and folded all the miscellaneous leftover pieces that were there.

Today I took the afternoon off from work. After a going-away lunch for a coworker, I came home and started thinking about what to do with my afternoon. I even stopped at the quilt shop and didn't buy anything. They have Horn sewing cabinets on sale - but their original price was almost $1000, so even on sale, I have other things I'd rather spend that kind of money on.

I went upstairs planning to start cutting fabrics for the Planet Patchwork mystery quilt that's running this Sunday, but that stack of folded yardage was still sitting on the cutting table.
So I decided I needed to go get some more stackable drawers to put it in. One trip to Walmart later, I had four sets of plastic drawers - two for folded yardage, one wider set for tops ready to quilt, and one for scrapbooking paper. I had to take my box of fabric scraps out from under the longarm to make room for the drawers for the yardage. That's now sitting on the ironing board. But all of the cotton yardage is now in drawers. The wider drawers fit very nicely in the alcove under the window. There's even room to spare in those after I put all the tops in it out of the sweater box. But I have to figure out what to do with the box I had there and I need to put that sweater box somewhere.

And I have a stack of flannel yardage sitting on the cutting table now - it needs a home.
Maybe this weekend I'll get some more drawers to replace the miscellaneous plastic boxes at the other end of the longarm and go one box at a time - more ironing and folding coming up for me. But I really want an organized sewing room!

Stash Report - 11 July

2010-07-11T09:24:00.000-04:00

It's been a long time since I've done a stash report - or since I've posted at all.

I've been sewing this week, so have used up some fabric, but I did some buying as part of that.
On Monday, I bought 30's fabrics to be able to sash some swap blocks into a baby quilt top. That got sashing and borders on Monday, then I used the rest of 2 of the fabrics to piece a backing and binding, so those are ready to quilt.

Yesterday I also worked on my Shakespeare in the Park, and have finished the last few blocks and cut all of the setting triangles, so that was a little more stash used.

So the numbers stand here:
Added this week: 14.03 yds (a jelly roll plus several 30's cuts, and yardage for borders for a king-size quilt)
Added YTD: 58.51 yds

Used this week: 5.09 yds
Used YTD: 17.41 yds

YTD net: 41.10 yds ADDED

Since I haven't made any new tops, the only significant uses are for backs, and I need to do more of those....

Easter cards

2010-04-02T06:46:00.000-04:00

I made cards for Easter this year. The last went in the mail last night.

This is a House Mouse stamp, colored with Copic markers. I think they turned out really cute!

Stash report - 7 February

2010-02-07T22:50:00.000-05:00

Well, just a little sewing this weekend. I made a fiber postcard, two blocks for a love quilt, and binding for the Road to OK baby quilt. I finished getting the binding on the baby quilt.

In this week:      0 yds
Used this week:    0.86 yds.

In YTD:                 21.45 yds
Used YTD:             8.24 yds

Net YTD:              13.21 yds in.

You can check out how everyone is doing at Judy's blog.

Stash report - 31 Jan

2010-01-31T21:22:00.000-05:00

Gee, where did the week go this week? Not much sewing going on here this week. I have just about finished a second set of blocks for the snowglobe swap while sitting at the women's basketball game this afternoon. Since this all came out of stash (at least it was stash as of 1 January), I'm counting this fabric this week, since everything is cut and I've just got a couple more applique stitches to make for the second set.

Used this week:     1.22 yds
Used YTD:            7.63 yds

In this week:        0 yds
In YTD:                21.45 yds.

NET YTD:           13.82 yds (gain)

I'm whittling away at it for the year.

Check out Judy L's blog to see how everyone else is doing on stashbusting for 2010.

UFO Finish #2 for 2010

2010-01-24T20:56:00.001-05:00

I've finished another UFO. This is my Pounded Flowers tablerunner. In (summer 2008?) our guild did a demo of the pounded flowers technique - we were each to bring in at least one block to the next meeting. I think I made 3. They were all turned in, and they drew names for groups of blocks. I won a set of 6 blocks. I had this tablerunner top put together by the next month's meeting, and it has been sitting in my "box o'tops" waiting for its turn to be quilted ever since. I'm pleased with how this turned out. I quilted random leaves in the setting triangles, sashes and borders.

Sunday stash report - week 4

2010-01-24T09:19:00.000-05:00

I've been sewing this week, and expect to use more stash today as well, but here's my report as it stands right now.

Added this week:        7.95 yds
Added YTD:             21.45 yds

Used this week:          5.81 yds
Used YTD:                6.41 yds

Net this year:            15.04 yds in

Hmm - need to get back up to the sewing room. I was sure I had used more than I added this week, but I haven't yet put one of the quilts on the frame that I bought backing for. Maybe that should be today's project.

Check out Judy's blog for how everyone else is doing.

A Finish

2010-01-23T13:15:00.000-05:00

This morning I finished my NYE 2009 mystery quilt. This was offered by Ann Smith on several Yahoo quilt groups. I think this makes a cute baby quilt. Ann does marvelous mystery quilts. The instructions are always clear, with great pictures or diagrams. The finished quilt is usually pretty traditional.

I also made a pillowcase of out leftovers. I've got several kids' pillowcases finished now. One of the quilt inspectors likes to try to help with the pictures.

I'm also working on snowglobes for a swap. This is the first one. It still needs to be trimmed to size.

Vacation week

2010-01-22T12:22:00.000-05:00

I've been on vacation this week, and have spent part of the week quilting. On Tuesday, I finished putting together the top to my New Year's Eve Mystery from this NYE. Yesterday it got borders and I quilted it last night. The binding is sewn on now, waiting to be turned to the back and stitched down. That will be an evening exercise. I cut out and prepped the pieces for 2 sets of applique snow globes for a swap on The Quilting Post. They're due to be mailed by 15 Feb, so will be some evening stitching for the next couple of weeks - or maybe lunch-time stitching at work. We're allowed to swap up to 5 sets, but I doubt I'll get that many finished. They should make a cute wallhanging.

I also pulled out another UFO that was a mystery last year - it's bigger than I remembered - 60 x 60 without borders. I got some red fabric yesterday for borders and backing - that may be the next thing on the machine. DH is home today but will be gone for the weekend, so I'll sew most of the weekend, as well.

Knitting is also progressing. I finished the blue socks I was knitting last week, and started this week on the pink pair that is the last hank of yarn I got in Hillsborough - beautiful variegated dark pinks to burgundy from Cherry Hill Farms. I had lost one of my size 1 double pointed needles, so went to the yarn shop in town to get another pair. I decided to get a long cable needle to try to magic loop method of knitting in the round. I also bought a neat book - Sensational Knitted Socks, that gives formulas for making socks with all kinds of gauge yarn, sizes and patterns. I decided that since this pair of socks is for trying new things, I'd try the pattern for toe-up socks, with short-row toes and heels. On the needle this sock looks like it would be too small, but when I try it on it fits beautifully. I'm really going to like these, I think.

Wednesday I spent the day with my parents. It was really enjoyable to sit and talk (and knit). My mom belongs to a knitting group that makes afghans for wounded soldiers. They make 6 x 9 rectangles that are put together to make the afghans. She had several that were ready to be delivered. They're nice and soft and cozy. They send these to the VA in Richmond. I may have to make a set of rectangles and put them in the mail to her for that project.

We also went to check out a new knitting shop that had opened near her. It's called Knit 2 Unwind. I found some different sock yarn there - some bamboo yarn, and some that was wool/bamboo/nylon blend. I bought 3 skeins, and my mom bought me 2 skeins. So my yarn stash is building, too. I haven't done the self-patterning yarn before (other than stripes). One of the skeins makes a pattern - that should be interesting.

It's been a busy week, and there are still 3 days left of vacation.

Sunday stash report

2010-01-17T19:29:00.001-05:00

I did actually do a little bit of sewing this week. I made some blocks for a friend. Since these were all from stash (used up some bright nickles and some Kona black), I'll count the yardage out now that the blocks are done.   The week coming up is a vacation week, and I plan to make some swap blocks, and put a top on the machine to quilt, so that should use up some yardage.

In this week:              0     yds
In YTD:                     13.5 yds

Out this week:               .6 yds
Out YTD:                      .6 yds

Net for 2010:             12.9 yds in

Home from Manhattan

2010-01-17T10:07:00.000-05:00

We competed in the Manhattan Amateur Classic yesterday. The MAC is the third largest all-amateur competition in the US. We competed in three heats - Sr. I and Sr. II Bronze Standard, and Sr. I and Sr. II Silver Standard. I didn't dance as well as I had hoped - didn't feel solid on my feet. Out of all we had 2 x 5th place finishes and one 6th place finish. The one bright note is that in one heat, we were scored FIRST by one judge in Quickstep! Yay! Of course, it all depends on what each judge sees you do, but I'm very happy with that. I think the competition was as strong as we have ever seen it.

I had been feeling pretty good, and we got warmed up well, but our first dance of the first heat just didn't feel good - too many nerves, a little unsteady. It didn't set a good tone for me for the whole day.

I've also gotten out of the way the thing no one wants to do - I fell at the very end of the quickstep in our first heat - either turned my ankle or stepped on my dress, or both. Down to the floor I went without any warning, pulling DH over with me. Yikes! Unfortunately, I tweaked my ankle when I fell - and it continued to get worse throughout the rest of the dancing - I was barely able to finish the last heat - luckily that one was a bronze, so only had 2 dances. I had to coast the last half of the last quickstep. The ankle is still sore today, so I'll try to be good to it and rest it, which means no practicing today, probably.

One thing we did was go out and push the limits - we were dancing big, but we pushed to the point that we weren't altogether under control. I think we had flashes of staying in our new dance frame, but it wasn't consistent enough. We need to spend more time in the studio than we have done for the last couple of months. It needs to be back to every morning. And gym time in the evenings when we don't have dance lessons. Stamina was a problem. Because or routines don't fit into the studio, we don't dance for a whole song without breaking. We have to figure out some way to dance continuously for a complete song and still dance big.

Next up, Mid-Atlantic Dancesport Championships in Bethesda at the end of February. So we have 6 weeks to get ready for that one.

Sock pictures

2010-01-11T21:28:00.000-05:00

I finally pulled the pictures off the camera. Here are the socks I finished a week ago.

They're a little looser than the first pair, but so far don't tend to fall down, so I'm enjoying them.

Design Wall Monday

2010-01-11T06:10:00.000-05:00

I don't actually have my design wall up at the moment. But I have blocks laid out on the ironing board, so I'll use that. These are blocks for a friend. I have one made and two ready to make the final seams to put the block together. I'll try to make a few more, as well.

Go over to Judy's blog to see what everyone else is doing this week.

Stash report - week 2

2010-01-10T18:27:00.000-05:00

Well, I haven't posted since my last stash report. Not much sewing going on here. I have started piecing a few swap blocks, but won't count that as out of the stash until they're done. Plans had been to sew all weekend, but we ended up babysitting the grandchildren yesterday morning, and that took most of the day before we got home. It was great to see the kids, so it's worth giving up a day of sewing.

Today I went by Michaels and bought some supplies to make cards. I think I need some pretty papers to go with these, but I'll start with what I got. This looks like fun.

So my stashbusting numbers:

Used this week:    0 yards
Used YTD:           0 yds

In this week:         0 yds
In YTD:           13.5 yds

Net this year : 13.4 yds gained

Stop by Judy L's blog to see what everyone else has gotten accomplished this week.

Stash report

2010-01-03T22:31:00.001-05:00

I decided I will track my quilting stash use this year along with Judy L.
I started as of January 1, rather than a full week. I've added 13.5 yards of 90" wide fabric this week - this is a Christmas gift from my mother. Nothing used since Jan 1. I started my NYE mystery quilt, but I'm going to wait to have the top put together to count that yardage.

Added this week: 13.5 yds
Added YTD:         13.5 yds

Used this week:       0
Used YTD:              0

NET for 2010:     +13.5 yds

First finish of the year

2010-01-03T22:27:00.000-05:00

Is my second pair of socks. I need to figure out where I put the camera so I can post a picture.

A day trip to Philadelphia provided time to knit.

I think I'll wear these tomorrow!

Happy New Year

2010-01-02T08:01:00.009-05:00

Plus one.
It has been a hectic couple of days. Thursday was spent finishing the Christmas shopping - Christmas with my family is today. Then we actually went to a New Year's Eve party - I think it's about the first time we've done that since high school. We even stayed until after midnight (sleepy, sleepy). It was fun spending time and dancing with all of our friends.

Yesterday we met Meaghan and her family for lunch and to bring them their Christmas gifts (we usually spread Christmas over a couple of weeks). Mason is just getting so big!

And Paige is as adorable as she can be. (of course, I'm the grandma)!

I've got to start taking some of the pictures so that I have David with the grandchildren!

Today is Christmas at my mother's, and my sister and her husband and brother and his wife will be there, along with my niece. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone.

A Quiet Christmas Eve

2009-12-24T21:44:00.003-05:00

I think this is the first Christmas since our children were born that we've been finished with all wrapping of packages before midnight. All of the last-minute shopping was finished by 4PM. It's only 9:45, and all of the gifts are wrapped. Well, the ones that are needed for tomorrow, anyway. Since we celebrate with the different parts of the family on different weekends, we can spread out the preparations, as well.

The forecasters are calling for freezing rain overnight and tomorrow morning, so that could hamper our plans to go see DMIL. Hoping for safe driving conditions so that we can go to Orange.

Wishing everyone a holiday season with the joy of family and friends.

Quilt of Valor

2009-12-01T22:55:00.004-05:00

Other than a border, I've finished piecing my Quilt of Valor. This one is from Mystery #13 on the QOVMystery Yahoo group. I like the way this turned out. The quilt tester approves, as well.

I started this one Sunday and finished tonight. Pieced while listening to the JMU Dukes WBB team win their fourth and fifth straight games.

Saturday's accomplishments

2009-11-29T09:52:00.005-05:00

Well, I had planned to get a lot done yesterday. I was going to make a bunch of Christmas fabric postcards and start a Quilt of Valor (QOV). I bought some new embroidery designs and used one of those to make a grand total of one Christmas postcard. - this design is Stella from The Country Needle.

Of course, the one postcard required a trip to the LQS to get some thread, and while I was there I got the green background fabric, and some red as well. Then I found a bolt of red with stars and a bolt of blue with a small dark print on the sale rack, so bought the rest of the bolts for those (40% off if you finish the bolt) and got some Kona white to go with, so now I have a simple plan for my QOV. I surfed my saved patterns to find something relatively simple to piece for the QOV. I picked a mystery pattern I had saved that uses three fabrics - that will be today's project, I think.

I have also been in the mood to bake for the last couple of weeks. Yesterday, while blog surfing, I found a recipe at bake at 350 for toffee blondies. I made a batch of those, and a batch of cinnabon-clone cinnamon rolls.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T13:35:00.002-05:00

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday with family. Everyone brought something for dinner, and we had WAY too much food. With about 10 of us there, we barely touched most of the side dishes. Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, dressing with onion and celery, dressing with cranberries and pecans, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato casserole, corn pudding, apple and cranberry compote, tomato soup salad, green bean casserole, yeast rolls and cranberry/orange muffins. Dessert was pumpkin pie, pecan pie, pound cake and rum cake. It was all delicious. Hosted by my wonderful sister-in-law Kathy.

I have been thinking this past month of all of the things for which I am grateful. I have a husband I love and who loves me. I have three healthy children. I have two adorable grandchildren. DH and I have secure jobs. We have funds enough to have a comfortable life and to be able to help our adult children when needed. We have family who are there when we need them. We have friends we enjoy. Even though there are concerns and troubles, we are blessed with a good life and support. I am grateful for all of these things.

Looking ahead to 2010

2009-11-24T20:30:00.003-05:00

I'm thinking about quilting goals for next year already. Do I want to try to concentrate on completing UFOs? Do I want to focus on stashbusting? Is that really a goal for me? Do I want to set a number of yards to use? Should I at least try to use more than I buy? I know I don't want to do a "no buy" challenge - I like to get some new fabric now and again at least. I have been finding that I'll go into the LQS and come out without buying anything as often as not anymore. I will tend to buy at least something when I go to a quilt shop that isn't my usual store. Maybe since I see things that are different than what my local store carries.

Back to my original question:
I like to plan to work on UFOs. It makes me feel good to finish something that's in the stack. And I have so many things that just need quilting, or borders and quilting - they're almost done. I at least want to focus on those things. And I want to make sure that anything new I start gets finished.

Maybe my first goal should be to try to carve more hours out of every day.....hmmmm.

Go Dukes!

2009-11-22T21:10:00.005-05:00

The second JMU Women's basketball game was this afternoon. They played Virginia Tech at home. After spending most of the day down by as much as 11 points, they made their final run in the last 6:11 of the game to win by 7. The Convo was rocking today! This makes two games where they have looked like they were out of the game several times, and came back at the end to win. There is no quit in these young ladies.

Bread

2009-11-22T21:00:00.005-05:00

We're having Thanksgiving dinner with my sister-in-law. She has hosted for Thanksgiving for several years now. I'm taking the bread, so I baked my rolls today. I have a wonderful recipe for brown-and-serve rolls - it's from an old Fleishman's recipe book. This makes 4 dozen rolls, so there are always plenty.

Some in-progress pictures.
I mixed up and kneaded the dough, then DH and I went in town for breakfast. When we returned, my dough was ready:

I got them all shaped, and let them rise again. These are then baked in a slow oven just until they start to turn color, and can be kept in the refrigerator for a week or more. Brown in a hot oven before serving, and you have hot bread with your meal. Four dozen rolls ready for taking to Thanksgiving dinner. Yum! And one of the best parts is that the kitchen smelled like baking bread.

I'm also looking for some other interesting bread recipes to take a variety. Maybe something whole-wheat? That will wait for later in the week.

Monday morning progress report

2009-11-16T06:36:00.002-05:00

Not a whole lot of progress for the weekend. I did get some small gifts made for my two Secret Santa swaps. I'm pleased with how those turned out. No pictures yet. I keep getting distracted with the computer. I start following links to blogs and just keep going. There are so many fun things that people are doing and writing about!

This should be a short work week. I'm scheduled to take Friday as a vacation day. I may look to see if I can work out taking Thursday off, as well. I have vacation days I need to take before the end of the year, and am running out of year. The LQS is having a longarm teacher in to give classes all week. Thursday she is doing a class on ruler work - that would be fun.

Off to work to start the new week!

At-home retreat weekend

2009-11-14T07:32:00.002-05:00

I plan to spend most of the weekend in my sewing room as an at-home quilt retreat. I have to finish putting together two different secret Santa swaps. I may also get a chance to work on some Christmas gifts. I'll post of progress through the weekend.

Artisan bread - part 2

2009-11-14T07:30:00.002-05:00

I baked the first loaf of my artisan bread this week. It turned out really good. I haven't gotten into the habit of taking pictures for my blog yet. Next time. I'll bake another loaf this evening. This one is a keeper.

Artisan bread

2009-11-08T05:42:00.003-05:00

I love home-baked bread. I enjoy baking bread. But I about the only time I actually make yeast bread (other than in the bread machine) is at Thanksgiving and Christmas, when I make rolls.
I saw a book a couple of months ago for making artisan breads without all the fuss:
Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois. I finally decided to buy the book this week, and have read it cover-to-cover. The premise is to make a bread dough that is very wet, doesn't need kneading, and keeps well in the refrigerator. You make a batch of dough, let it rise for a couple of hours, then put it in the fridge until you're ready to bake - take out a hunk of dough, shape it, let it rest for a little while, then put it in the oven - voila, homemade bread. Sounds great to me. I need a 5-qt container that will fit in the refrigerator for storing the dough, so will have to find one of those; I threw out all the mis-matched Tupperware last time I organized the kitchen cabinets, and that's where I had some larger containers. I did find a pizza peel (for letting the dough rise) at the kitchen store in the farmer's market yesterday, and I know where my pizza stone is, so other than the container for the dough, I'm set. I plan to make a batch of dough today.

I need to be more careful

2009-11-08T05:26:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was a good day. We picked up DH's motorcycle from its service appointment. On the way home, I went to That Little Quilt Shop in Madison to do some shopping for my Secret Santa and Flat Santa swaps. Then I stopped at the Farmer's Market. I got some tea towels to be further embellished with applique or embroidery for Christmas gifts. I also bought a pizza peel, I needed that for the artisan bread I want to bake. Stopped at the grocery store to get salad fixings for the carry-in supper we planned to attend. Then managed to cut my thumb with the paring knife while I was slicing green pepper. A trip to the emergency room later, we had missed the party, but my thumb is glued closed. I know better than to get distracted while I'm using sharp knives, but....

Today is supposed to be beautiful. DH is contemplating a motorcycle ride. I have about a week's worth of things I'd like to do today.
To do:
clean up the kitchen
clean out the refrigerator
start reorganizing the kitchen cabinets
shopping trip - container for bread dough, gift shopping
mix up a batch of artisan bread dough
make up some crocheted snowflake Christmas ornaments for the tree
work on my Shakespeare in the Park - finish cutting the pieces; decide whether or not to increase to queen size
work on my sock (I haven't knit a stitch all week.)
laundry

I'll just start at the top and work my way down, and see how far I get.

Workouts tonight

2009-11-04T22:08:00.002-05:00

First our weekly dance lesson - but not much dancing tonight. We analyzed the videos from the competition to decide where to focus for the next couple of months. Why am I not surprised that the verdict is posture, and use of feet and legs? We keep coming back to those. I'm convinced that feet and legs and posture are much improved from, say, 6 months ago, but it's still where we need to work.

And a new group class at the studio is Zumba Gold. It's a "slowed down" version of Zumba for those of us who are "deconditioned". This version of aerobics uses some basics from different dances - represented in the things tonight were swing or samba, cha cha, and belly dancing. This will be fun, because you can vary the intensity based on how extreme you make your movements.

Home sweet home

2009-11-01T21:40:00.003-05:00

Back from vacation. We got home, unpacked the car, then went to the studio to practice. (stay left, stay left...) Back home, pick up DS and go out to dinner.

So far, I've avoided checking work email since Monday. At this point, will wait until tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow will start a new effort to get back into the gym on a regular basis. With the time change, it should be easier to get up earlier. We'll probably alternate between the gym and the studio in the mornings.

Speaking of the studio, there are a lot of interesting group lessons on tap for November - American Tango, Zumba, Charleston. We'll have full weeks this month!

Shakespeare in the Park

2009-10-31T15:06:00.003-04:00

I've pieced all that I can for now. As I laid this out, I realized I also have not cut the "K" triangles, so that will also wait until we get home.

DH says, " I really like the colors. I don't really notice the pattern." Hmm, maybe it needs a little more contrast in places? I did not take time to rearrange the blocks to get the best play of colors, so I am sure I can improve that. Or it might be that it's just not perfectly lined up, so it loses something that way, too. But I like it.