Finishes #3 and #4

I can't believe how much I was able to finish this week! I am loving my Focus on Four list! These two baby quilts were on my list to finish and they are now taking a bath in the washer.

Finish #3, The Tumbler Quilt was pieced in September 2010 using pieces that were cut with the GO! 6 1/2" Tumbler die. I still have lots of these little gems left to use, some string pieces and some solids. This is definitely going on my list for a new top soon.

A few years ago, Gloria (oh please let my memory be correct!) gave me this little quilt top that I named 4 Patches and Flowers, to finish for a charity quilt. I promptly put it on Mt. ToBeQuilted and there it has layed all this time. (Gloria, call me if this is wrong!!)


Flannel and Minkie make up this fabulously cuddly little quilt that will go to a deserving little girl. The back has a very light lavender Minkie and the whole quilt is just so soft and smooshie.

It feels so good to be marking things off my Focus on Four list. Today I hope to mark off some sew along quilt blocks.....like maybe 4 of them!!! I picked 4 because that's how many I am behind and if I hurry and get them finished, I can put 2 new blocks on my list for this week. Oh yes, there is a method to my madness~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tuesday Knitting Report

There is some progress on Maemae's sweater. I knit a few evenings this week but several were spent in the sewing room. Ernie was watching stuff I didn't care to watch. Just a few more rows and I can start the sleeves. Although I am a bit nervous about sleeves now.

I was so excited last week to be putting my sweater together only to have been brought to tears when I tried it on. Look at how ginormous that sleeve is! I can't bear to look at it! I was ready to throw the whole thing in the garbage until Ernie says why don't I just take the sleeves off and make them again. I hate it when he gets all practical and reasonable! So I folded it up and put it back in the bag.

Today when I got it out to take a picture to share my misery with you all, I decided to take the sleeves off and take them apart and do them again! In previous years, this would have already been gone with the garbage man but now I am determined. So I will finish Maemae's sweater and hat first then I will tackle this again.

Finish #2

I'm calling this one finished! In reality it's almost finished.......but will be done, done, done by this evening! I'm headed in to sew the binding on and then I am going to finish it by machine. Add a label and do the happy dance.

I chose this project as UFO#6 for Judy L's UFO Challenge. This is Quiltville's 2008 New Year's Eve mystery called Double Delight. From looking back in my blog, I see I made good progress during January and then who knows why but it got put away. Then looking at more photos, I see the borders were added and the top was finished in November 2009 and folded up and put on Mt. ToBeQuilted.


I used a twin sheet for the backing and of course it isn't wide enough. I made these orphan blocks from parts of several quilts including Double Delight and thought this was a good place to use up these blocks.

Thanks Judy L for the 2011 UFO Challenge and for choosing UFO #6.

Design Wall Monday

One of my new Focus on Four projects this week is to make the back for my RRCB quilt. I started to pull out leftover fabrics from the deer quilt so I could empty the bin. I had forgotten how big the pieces were. As I'm hanging them up I start to think this will make a great boy quilt. So the fabric will be folded up and marked for that and something else will be used up for the back of RRCB.

The block on the left is my first complete Crab Apple block. This is from Bonnie Hunter's Leader/Ender book. So far I have all the pieces sewn to make the blossoms and am now working on the paper pieced part and the border. It's been alot of fun.

UFO #6 aka Double Delight is loaded, machine is cleaned and oiled, new needle is in and bobbins are wound. I see a finish in my near future.

Audio Books

After responding to a comment left by Cathy at Eagle's Wings Quilts, we had a conversation about audio books. My friend Sharlene has been telling me how great they were for a very long time but I hadn't started to listen to them until she gave me one to try out. That's all it took for me to be hooked.

I swear I am getting so much more sewing done because I am wanting to continue "reading" my book! I have only found a couple that I couldn't listen to because of the reader. I have found a few that I loved because of the reader. I listened to An Irish Country Village by Patrick Taylor, narrated by Terry Donnelly and is fabulous! Each character has their own Irish voice. I wish my library had all of the books in this series. An Irish Country Girl is my next book to "read".

Right now I am listening to Miss Julia Delivers the Goods by Ann B. Ross, narrated by Cynthia Darlow. To me, Ms. Darlow reads the main character, Miss Julia, in a voice that sounds like Katharine Hepburn. It is a fun little mystery to listen to.

I love that I can visit my library via the internet. I place holds on books and audio books for both of us and they email me when they are ready for pick up. I try to just go in and pick up the books but most of the time we have to browse for a while. It is the library after all.

PS--I've asked about the downloadable books and they are working on that right now. We should have that option available to us soon. How fun is that going to be???

Photo Play

I wanted to create a collage header for my blog and didn't have a clue how to start. Until yesterday! While cruising through Blogland, I read somewhere and gosh I wish I could remember where, that you can create a collage with Picasa Web Albums. I downloaded the program-free of course-and started playing. Thanks to whoever posted that.

Last night I created the new header and a collage for my computer background full of family faces. This morning I spent some time organizing some folders and created this for my 100 Blocks so far. But really I want to sit here and play--I think I see a chicken collage turned into a poster...........

But now I must get in there and get the next block finished so I can be up to date and work towards being ahead.

Blocks 15 & 16 of 100

I made time today to work on Tea's Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks sew along.

Finished Top #1

On Sunday, I wrote this post about focusing on four projects for the week. Today I get to mark one of those projects off the list. I finished my Quiltville Roll Roll, Cotton Boll mystery top today! The binding is cut and ready to sew and press. And the backing fabric is right there ready to sew but I'll wait next week to do that. WooHoo.

I have to laugh at myself because I was so stressed over working on this top and nothing else that I gave myself permission to work on something else. I didn't touch any other project.

I'm excited to go back in and sew but we've been invited out to dinner and how can I turn down someone else cooking???

So far, January has been quite productive. That's a good start to the year.

Tuesday Knitting Report

I AM SO EXCITED!!!

Sorry, didn't mean to yell but really, I am very excited. I finished the sleeves Sunday night and now I am ready to sew my sweater together. And then I can do the collar and the front bands. I need to find some buttons so that side might be put on hold until I go to JoAnn's again. But...I think I might have some in my button stash.......I have buttons from both of my Grandmothers so there might be something super fabulous in those tins.

One night I canned baked beans like Judy L does. Let me tell you, if you are a canner and you haven't made these, you must. You will never buy baked beans in a can again! Again, thanks Judy L for the support while I had my issue-I learned that when you pressure cook, the 3" of water is measured AFTER the jars are in the cooker, not before. But all is good with my beans and they are delicious.

So while I am watching the pressure gauge, I decided to get off the computer and cast on this sweater for Maemae. So far, quite simple and fast but I learned I do not like long stiff knitting needles. I have several sizes of circular needles but not a size 7. You know what is on my list for JoAnn's next time. Yes indeed. Every size of circulars that I don't have........which isn't many. I should just break down and buy that fancy kit with the interchangeable needles but I probably won't.

Design Wall Monday

It's border time for my RRCB mystery. I can see a finished top in my near future. Yeah!

I am using the fabric left from the quilt I made for Ernie's hunting club for my inner border and binding. Then everything else in the box will go on the back. It will be nice to have one more small bin empty.

Thanks to Judy L for hosting Design Wall Monday. Go here to see some fabulous projects throughout Blogland.

Focus on Finishing

I never imagined how hard it would be to for me to stick to one project. I know I can do it but gosh, I have to force myself to not pick up something else to work on. The photo shows the remaining blocks waiting to be sewn into rows for the RRCB mystery. I'm sewing it in sections and I'm on section 2 of 3. I am loving this quilt and cannot wait to use it.


So I have come up with a plan for the week. I have a white/silver board that I use for my Focus on Four lists. These are the projects I want finished this week. I've been using this method to keep myself on track for a while now. But I have never planned the week out like this.

I make my own rules and now I need to follow them. Even if it's just for this week. I am giving myself a choice of projects to work on. Maybe that will keep me on track a little better and I can reduce the height of Mt. ToBeQuilted.

We woke up this morning to a bit of snow on the ground. I haven't listened to the news at all so I have not idea how much is expected. I'm just going to go into my hidie hole and check on it later.

Tuesday Knitting Report

As I was pleasantly sewing along on my RRCB blocks last night, I hear a noise from the living room.
"Aren't you supposed to be knitting?"
"I'm sewing."
"But didn't you want me to remind you to knit at night?"
"Yes, but I'm sewing."
"I'm reminding you to knit and it's night."
"Ugh~~I'm coming!"

I suppose I should be pleased that he remembered that I asked him to remind me of something. And I do like to knit while watching (listening to) tv. And I do want to get my sweater finished.

When I measured last night, I am past my elbows on the sleeves now, only 8 more rows until I start the decrease for the cap. Exciting!!!!! Maybe not for everyone but it is for me since this is my first sweater. I wonder sometime if I should have started with a child's or baby's sweater instead of one for myself. Then I think if I didn't do mine first, I may never do it. Now I am in hurry and finish mode.........I bought yarn yesterday for another sweater. This one will be much smaller and pink.

Design Wall Monday

I have been working on my blocks for Quiltville's RRCB mystery.......sure hope I didn't just ruin it for anyone. Sorry if I did. This block was a complete surprise for me and I am so glad I dug in and had all the parts ready for this step.

I am very excited to put it together and that means I will focus on this project all week and think about the others that are line up waiting for me. Good thing I have a list~~~

Now I am going to enjoy my cup of tea (I slept in this morning and feel like I'm running late!) and read a few DWM posts from Blogland friends that are listed over at Judy L's. And I need to write that quilt she shows on my ever growing list!!!

Finish #1

At no time did I plan to start a new project this weekend. I was happily making my blocks for RRCB but when Taylor asked to make a project for her mom, I had to . We started yesterday and this afternoon, the little wall hanging was ready for mom. And she loved it! And now I want one.

But first, I have other things that need attention.

1.1.11

Happy New Year

"They" say that whatever you do on January 1, that is what you will do all year. This is going to be a very fun year!!! I got up early, sewed for a couple hours until Ernie and Taylor got up. We stayed up last night---way too late for me! But she wanted to see in the new year and it was fun.

It was just a lazy kind of day for the most part. We fixed an early dinner and after dishes, settled in to watch a movie...until Little Mr Louie came in and demanded to have a bath-stinky little dog! During doggie bath time, Taylor was reading a quilt book and found a little wall hanging she wanted to make. I gave her a bag of scraps and told her to pick out her fabrics.

While we were deciding which paper pieced flowers to sew, I had a brainstorm! (Yeah, we are hoping to have lots of those this year!!) I remembered a wall hanging I saw on the Accuquilt site, showed her and off we went--fusing and cutting, planning and plotting. We had to lay some things around so she could see what it would look like. I can't wait to see how she decides to finish it tomorrow.

But now it's bedtime........hopefully she will be up before noon tomorrow.

2010 Memories

This is a photo taken at The Pomeroy Farm Quilt Festival this summer. I loved this display! It makes me smile thinking that my husband and my father would never, ever have worn that shirt or those pants. Now that pink dress, I love! I had several dresses that style but I was never brave enough to wear that pink!

I went back through my blog to see what I had accomplished this year. I was amazed at the number of quilt tops I made! 19! I made 19 quilt tops and turned 8 of those into quilts. That means I have 11 more on Mt. ToBeQuilted.

This is my list of finishes for 2010:
19 quilt tops, 8 quilted
5 UFOs
3 bags
4 wall hangings
1 rug
6 pair of socks knitted
4 hats knitted
2 scarves knitted

WOW! That surprised me. Of course there are some projects that have been started and are in the can't be counted yet category. Which leads me to my word for 2011. FINISH

My 2010 word was Simplify. My 2 goals were to learn to quilt feathers and learn to use my EQ5. Well, I did quilt feathers on one quilt....decided maybe I really don't want to do them, I do pantographs and meander much better. Maybe I'll try again, maybe not. I did learn to use EQ5 and then bought EQ7 and have been using it like crazy. And we did simplify our lives even more. We got rid of alot of crap that we never used. We aren't done yet but we are well on our way.

My goals for 2011 look pretty simple:

• Continue to simplify.
• Concentrate on finishing one project before starting another.
• Stay current with the BOMs, quilt alongs and challenges that I have committed to.
  

I think that's enough motivation for me for now. I can always add to my list if I want to.

I hope 2010 was a fabulous year for you and I hope 2011 will be even more fabulous!

One More Finish

This UFO is no longer a UFO. It is a finished quilt taking a spin in the washer, waiting for a tumble in the dryer so it can be given in all it's crinkled softness. This was my Design Wall Monday post on December 12. It belongs to granddaughter Ashlee, now 16. She started making it when she was 14 and has not had a chance to work on it since.


After chatting with her the other day, we decided I should go ahead and finish it. As it's hanging up on the design wall, I think I should do like I've see here and here. Circles were cut with the GO! Cutter and placed randomly and quilted down.

She had already picked out this super cute flannel for the back. I think she is going to be thrilled with the way it turned out.

I think this is a good way to end 2010.

Tuesday Knitting Report

It's not quite Tuesday in my part of the world but I have huge plans for tomorrow so I thought I would post my knitting report before I head off to dreamland. I am working on the sleeves now. So far there have been no big mistakes or start overs on them. Yeah!

I keep wrapping them around my wrist.....this is going to be so very toasty! I haven't spent alot of time knitting this week but I hope to change that now that Christmas is over and there is no pressure to do stuff.

Now I wonder if I will dream of my sweater or of the quilt I am so excited to quilt tomorrow. Can't wait to show you what Ashlee and I decided to do with this one.

It's Been A Good Day

Ernie is feeling really good and is getting very bored. I don't know how many books he has read or movies he has watched. I don't know how many miles he has walked on the treadmill or miles he has ridden on the bike. I do know that I need that man to find something to do outside the house! So today he took a drive to see his coworkers. Thank goodness!

I love him dearly but I need some Judy time! And this is what I did with my time.....I am caught up on my 100 Quiltmaker blocks. In fact, I am caught up on all my sew/quilt alongs.......

Blocks 9 and 10

Blocks 11 and 12

Blocks 13 and 14

Perfect timing, guess who is driving in the driveway........

Design Wall Monday

Can you believe this is the final Design Wall Monday of 2010? I am kind of excited for the first Design Wall of 2011 and the excitement it will bring with it. Thank you Judy L of Patchwork Times for hosting DWM each week. Monday is my favorite day in Blogland.

I spent lots of time in my sewing room on Sunday~~~in fact, I spent most of the day in there. It was dark and rainy and we both were ready for a quiet day. And I wanted to sew....I had some catching up to do.

First up was part 6 for the Roll Roll, Cotton Boll Mystery. Usually by now, I can figure out sort of what is going on but not this time! Bonnie has created a true mystery this time.

Then I got out my Moose on the Porch blocks and made block 4. I don't want to be behind when block 5 comes out on Tuesday. Using the batiks in my stash is making for some interesting blocks. I am going to have to buy something for sashing. Maybe a nice black or a dark blue. I'll find something somewhere, sometime.


I'm a bit behind on my Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks sew along over at TeaQuilts. Above is block 9 and


this is block 10, ready for some squaring up of flying geese and half square triangles before the block is sewn together.

It's going to be fun to start 2011 caught up on my sew alongs.

Stash Report 12.26.10

It's time for the final Stash Report for 2010. I already knew my buying habits weren't too bad...I've been a member a Stashbuster Yahoo Group for years and had already become very aware of what and why I buy fabric. Not to say I don't buy some just because I love it or I want it, because I do. I don't see that changing any! I was very surprised by the actual numbers. I really wanted to make my goal of 100 yards net but that didn't happen and I will not complain because I was gifted with 25 yards of fabulous fabric!! But in my mind..........

Here is my year end report:

Used in 2010: 257 yards
Added in 2010: 175.25 yards
Net Used for 2010: 81.75

I don't plan to continue with the stash report in 2011. I plan to focus on turning quilt tops into quilts. But I will continue to check on my friends in Blogland and see how they are doing by visiting the links at Judy L's on Sunday mornings.......

PS: the photo is of some orphan blocks that I turned into mug rugs for my quilting friends...a simple mug rug and a jar of hot cocoa mix made great little gifts!!

Merry Christmas

Tuesday Knitting Report

I've been knitting every night since last Tuesday Knitting Report. I told you I wasn't fast!!! But I feel like I have accomplished a lot.

The right front is finished, the left front should be finished tonight and then I will see what is the next step. I will remember to use the smaller needles to do the ribbing on the sleeves! That's one lesson I don't plan to forget.

I just noticed the shaded stripes line up pretty good. I did try to make that happen and I'm thrilled with how that turned out.

Design Wall Monday

This isn't my design wall, it's my little ironing board and on it are a few of my HSTs for the RRCB mystery. I have them all cut and now I am setting the timer for 30 minutes and sewing and pressing and trimming-which isn't too often when using the EZ Angle ruler, but I do check often.

I am bagging them up in groups of 60--mostly because I only have 10 little baggies in my bag of bags. And that works just fine for me. This is the beginning of bag #3.

On my big design wall is the same project as last week. I know what I'm going to do with it, I just need to clear up a few other things first.

Grab yourself a snack and something to drink, there are lots of design walls posted this morning at Judy L's. I can't wait to take the tour today! I love Mondays in Blogland.

Stash Report 12.19.10

This has been a fun, busy week in the sewing room. Gifts were being finished at a rapid pace. The clue for step 5 of RRCB was released and I spent lots of time cutting fabric for clues 4 and 5. Now the trick is to find time to sit down and sew.....maybe Tuesday, maybe not. I'm so happy I found the reds I wanted for step 5 in my stash and my added number continues to stay the same.


Used this Week: 12 yards
Used Year to Date: 257 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 175.25 yards
Net Used for 2010: 81.75

Go over to Judy L's and see how others are doing with their stash....Thanks Judy L for hosting the stash report. It really has been fun. Next year--that's in 2 weeks people!--I am going to pass on the stash reporting and focus on the UFO busting. But I will spend time reading how my Blogland friends are doing with their stash!

Blocks 7 & 8 of 100

Blocks 7 and 8 of Tea's Quiltmaker's 100 Block Challenge are finally finished. I'm already a week behind but I'm not too worried. I have my fabric picked for the next 2 and will be working on them soon.

I'm not loving the fabrics I picked for the star block. As I sit here and look at this photo, I think I am going to take the star points out and replace them with a nice creamy yellow and leave the center as is. That's my new plan!

I love Mr. Teddy even though he is looking like he has a swollen jaw. :)

Thanks Tea for hosting this.

2011 UFO Challenge

Each year on January 1, I make a list of my UFOs. I don't do it to torture myself and promise to get them all finished up because I know I won't do it. I do it purely to see what I have finished and what I had started and not finished.

2011 is not going to start that way. I am not going to make a list of all my UFOs. I am joining in on Judy L's 2011 UFO Challenge so I am only going to list 12. Click the link and see what I'm talking about if you don't already know.

I made my list, I checked it twice, I've been naughty and I've been nice---sorry, I get carried away! 2 are sets of blocks, 5 are competed tops and 5 are completed tops with the backings and bindings made. I have lots of others in case I get crazy and want to do more. Really my goal for 2011 is to quilt lots of quilts.

Here's my list:

1. 2009 BOM-blocks are finished, setting decided
2. Scrappy Twin Sister with back and binding
3. Depression blocks top
4. Hearts & Flowers-set of 12 blocks
5. 9 Patches & Posies top
6. Double Delight Quiltville Mystery with back and binding
7. Corn & Beans with back and binding
8. Lime green butterflies top
9. flannel Baby Yellow Brick Road with back and binding
10. Carol Doak BOM with back and binding
11. Tumbling Blocks top
12. Bright Trip Around the World top

Tuesday Knitting Report

I finished the sweater back one day last week and quickly cast on both fronts. I got the ribbing knitted up to a measurable size, lay the tape measure on it and realized I forgot to use the smaller sized needles for the ribbing. I cried. I started over. When the ribbing was to length, I calmly reminded myself to change to the larger needles.

I really enjoy knitting in the evening and miss it when I don't do it. One day I hope to be a super sweater knitter like my friend Karen. She does fancy lace sweaters. I don't think I need a fancy lace sweater, maybe I'll just work on being fancy!

Design Wall Monday

While sorting some stuff yesterday, I came across this UFO. This one doesn't belong to me but to now 16 year old Granddaughter Ashlee. She started playing with some strips one day a couple years ago and they turned into the center of this top. Then she picked out her border fabrics and we cut them to put on next time she sewed. These were all put into a large zip bag along with the flannel for the backing. I think this was a year and a half ago.

Anyhow, I asked her if she wanted me to finish this for her and she said yes. So I put it up on the wall and I'm going to look at it for a while. I have an idea to jazz it up a bit, we'll see how that works out. Until then, I have a birthday gift to finish, step 4 of RRCB and a few more blocks to catch up on this week. And Christmas is not going to wait for me.

I wonder why I can't sleep.....so many ideas running in my head.........they need to settle down!

Go to Judy L's to visit other design walls.

Stash Report 12.12.10

Not a whole lot of stash usage can be reported this week. I finished my RRCB string blocks, that fabric was reported last week and this BOM uses less than a fat quarter.

I have a few more gifts to finish up this week and then I'm going to buckle down and do some serious organizing so I can make my UFO list that always starts off the new year. Scary, that's almost here too!!!

Go to Judy L's and see what others are doing with their stash.

Saturday Stuff

We are supposed to have a super wet day today so I have made some plans for myself. Nothing too heavy though. I need to get my Christmas tree and decorations set up so I'll feel like it is the holiday season and I have a short list of quilting projects. I've decided to play my timer game today. Pick a project, set the timer for 20 or 30 minutes, see how much gets done. Sometimes I keep going until I'm finished but sometimes I stop and go do something else.

First on my list was to finish the 60 Step 3 string blocks for the Quiltville mystery. I had 10 more to finish so I got right to that this morning. You know me, up early-can't sleep because this is on my mind and Ernie would sleep for a couple more hours. Well it's off my mind now, they are done! Ready for step 4.

Next quilting project is to make my BOM for BOM-Quilt Addicts group. But first, I think I'll bring out that tree........

Tuesday Knitting Report

After my big booboo, I am making progress on my sweater. On my decrease row, I purled instead of knitted and didn't notice until I'd worked 3 rows. I'm not brave enough to just pull the needle out so I unknitted one stitch at a time. And it took some time! But I'm well on my way again.

Design Wall Monday

There hasn't been much activity in the sewing room the past few days but when there was, I worked on the string blocks for the Quiltville mystery, Roll Roll, Cotton Boll. While working on string blocks, my GO! Scrappy 1 is being ignored.

This morning instead of sleeping, I'm thinking of this pushed aside project and came up with a plan. For each string block I complete, I will lay out a scrappy block and sew it together. It's a 9 patch with 8 seams and doesn't take too much time to sew. Before long, I'll have 10 more string blocks made and all of my stars will be completed. Then I can start sewing sashing on while I work on more string blocks. Sometimes I scare myself with my big plans!

I am having a blast with these blocks. My scrappy heart is singing as I pull a string out of the bin and lay it down. I love the fish and the bees. I can't wait to see what comes next.

See Judy L's cute and colorful design wall here, then visit others.

Elk Soup Stock

Thursday we spent the day with Ernie's hunting buddies. One of the guys got an elk and it was cut it up day.

As they were cutting meat off the bones, I saw the door open and a big hunk of bone went out the door and the dog jumped on it before they heard me scream! But they heard me! I brought home a lot of soup bones.

Today is cook day for my bones. Into the pot goes the bones, onion, garlic, celery, salt, pepper and water. Put the lid on, turn it on high, bring it to a boil, turn it to simmer and enjoy the smell of goodness. After a few hours, I'll have a bit of work to do and tomorrow morning the stock will be ready to skim and process. I'll have good organic stock in my pantry and enough meat for a huge pot of soup.

Edit: I just clicked over to Patchwork Times to see some more stash reports and Judy L had posted a Gross Chicken Alert........I guess I should change my title to gross stock alert. Too funny!

Another edit: This pot yielded 7 pressure canned quarts of stock, 5 little containers in the freezer and 4 freezer bags of ready to use stew meat. Not bad for what was going to be dog food.

Stash Report 12.5.10

Only 3 more stash reports left for the year and I am thinking of my goals for 2011. I am wondering if I will continue with the stash report. Although I found it quite interesting to see how I acquire my fabric, I know I am not out of control with my buying habits. If I would have kept track of how much I purchased new vs. how much I was given or bought from yard/thrift sales, I think that may have been pretty even. I have used lots more fabric than I ever thought I would. That part impresses me.

Used this Week: 6 yards
Used Year to Date: 245 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 175.25 yards
Net Used for 2010: 69.75

I now wonder if I will make it to my goal of 100 yards net. I could sit down and knock out a few quilt backs before the end of the year to use up a bunch, but if I don't, it isn't a matter of life and death. I have impressed myself with the fact that I have not missed a week of reporting, even on weeks when I've done nothing. Even on weeks when the added number jumps up 25 yards!

This has been a very fun project. Thank you Judy L of Patchwork Times for hosting the Stash Report. Go there now to see how others are doing.

Blocks 5 & 6 of 100

Block 5 from Tea's Quiltmaker 100 Block Quilt Along.

Block 6--I love machine applique' and seriously need more practice.

Tuesday Knitting Report

Since I finished Ernie's socks last week (which by the way he loves and has worn several times even though they are huge, they keep his feet warm), I have gotten out the sweater that I started last year. I decided to take it off the needles and start over. Well, you know there had to be a problem~why must there always be a problem???~the pattern is no where to be found. I have no clue what happened to it.

I looked and looked online and at the library but did not find the book the pattern came from (mostly because I can't remember which book it came from). After looking online for a similar pattern and starting over, I quit that one too. Yesterday we went to town and I did a quick stop at JoAnn's thinking they might have the darn book I have been obsessing about but no they didn't. They did have the one in the photo. Paton's Next Step Three, Create Your Own Cardigan. After another customer raved about this book and having a coupon, I bought it.

Last night I sat down and started reading and then I started on my sweater~the one shown on the cover (I think I will call it Third Time's A Charm). I made some serious (for me) progress and can't wait to work on it again tonight. I am so slow at the purl stitch though but maybe by the time this is finished, I'll be a speedy purler. Or maybe not.

Design Wall Monday

I've spent my few minutes here and there working on my G0! Scrappy 1 that I showed here. It really is amazing how much you can get done in just a few minutes. I have the last 10 blocks ready to sew together. It was fun getting the units ready. I needed 80 A units and 80 B units. After they were together, I just started randomly laying the units down and creating blocks. This is a fun, scrappy, use up the pieces quilt. It will get lots of love and use somewhere.

To see other fabulous design walls, check out Judy L's Design Wall Monday post.

Stash Report 11.28.10

The title of today's post should read It's All Her Fault . I didn't buy any fabric. In fact I was using some, not much but some and then I got the phone call. "I'm reorganizing my fabric and I have a bunch that I'm getting rid of. Do you want to go through it first?" Well DUH! Of course I do!

Thanksgiving Day seemed to be the perfect day for Crystal to give her mom fabric. I came home with 25 yards of it!

So here are my numbers for the week:

Used this Week 4.5 yards
Used Year to Date: 239 yards
Added this Week: 25 yards
Added Year to Date: 175.25 yards
Net Used for 2010: 63.75

If I'm going to reach my 100 yards net, I am going to have to buckle down and make some backs and get to quilting. Goals for December have been intensified.

To see how others are doing with their stash, visit Judy L, see her numbers and then start clicking links.

Mystery Part 2

I love a good stash busting mystery quilt! That is exactly what the newest Quiltville Mystery is. I dug through all my fabric to come up with enough browns to make 30 sets of half square triangles and hopefully have enough left for any other steps that might need brown. As much as I tried to get each set different I have 2 sets that are the same but that's the way it worked out. I'm not making any more. Step 2 is complete.

I still might have to buy a couple pieces where she uses yardage but I can live with that.

Earlier today we went to the library~~Ernie was out of books and I needed new audio books. I still am kicking myself for not trying these sooner. I brought home 4 new ones and I hope that will last me for a couple weeks. Did you know there are books on mp3 players? All you have to do is use your own headphones or hook them up to your speakers. Or am I really lame and these have been around forever???

I'm hoping to get a quilt loaded on the frame tonight or in the morning. I have so many that need quilted plus I need to get my stash numbers booming. After bringing home fabric from Crystal's, I have lots to make up for.....I need to figure that out before Sunday's stash report. Oiye!

Blocks 3 & 4 of 100

Week 2 blocks of Tea's Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Sew Along.

I have a bunch of fabrics left from making this quilt and I have lots of fat quarters that I have put in a bin to use up in my 100 blocks. I'm wondering if I can make all the blocks without buying a single piece of fabric. Of course I can! It will be easy.....she says now.

So far, with my 4 completed blocks, I have ideas for 3 quilts. Maybe I should write myself a note and put it in the bin, just in case....