Stash Busting Report Week #50

I had a strong beginning of the week, then had other obligations at the end of the week. My report follows:

• fabric received in: 0 yards
• fabric used: -8.75 yards
• net for the week: - 8.75 yards (used)

Net fabric for the year: -26 yards (used)

What I accomplished this week:

• made 9 more hot pads
• Blue Treasure Quilt: pieced, quilted and binding done

Goals for next week:

• continue working on Christmas gifts :)

Remind me next year that I should start the Christmas gift making as soon as the Christmas decorations go up in the stores, okay?! and I'll remind you, too! :)

Day Guild Holiday Luncheon Today

Today was The Lake Country Day Guild Holiday Luncheon and meeting.

We had about 36 members present, a strong turn-out as the guild has about 45 members or so. Just look at the wonderful potluck dishes everyone brought. Yummy!

We also did a voluntary gift exchange. If you brought a gift then you received a gift.

Here is my package wrapped.

Here are the goodies inside. A sampling of fabric postcards, a pigma pen and a pressing sheet. I had forgotten about the stamps until after it was wrapped! and I didn't have any full books of stamps to include. My friend, Sharon received my gift and she was 'okay' with no stamps...maybe I'll buy some and put in my purse for the next time I see her. :)

This is what I received in return from Katie. A Holiday card, a Quilty Holiday puzzle and a very big notepad with quilt blocks on three sides. That will come in very handy as I am always searching for little bits of paper to write measurements on! Each place setting had a napkin with a napkin ring on it and we were able to take home the napkin ring as our favor!

Today was a fun day to spend with quilt-y friends. The weather co-operated with sunny skies. :)

Binding Finished!

I finished sewing the binding on my Blue Treasures Quilt. The center fabrics are from my scrap bag of blues that I have been saving. A few years ago, I decided to save my scraps that I normally would have thrown out (I know, *gasp*) and make a crumb quilt. There are many inspiring crumb quilts around blogland. A few that have inspired me are Norma at Silver Thimble Quilting (scroll to her December 28th post), Tracey at Quilting in Connecticut (where I saw this layout) and AmandaJean's Crazy Mom Quilts (she is creating a monochromatic series of crumb type quilts).

I quilted it with Popcorn from Willow Leaf Studio. This block actually has a piece of fabric that I dumpster dived for when I took a class in 2003!

I even *sewed* some seaweed into this block. :)

This was a fun quilt to put together. Many memories are with the scraps, most scraps I remember but there are a few that I haven't *a clue* where the fabric came from!

When I told DD that the centers came from the blues scrap bag, she deadpanned and said, "Probably didn't make a dent in it!" How did she know! Will she become a future quilter? I sincerely hope so! :)

WIP Wednesday Part 2

At about 5:30 pm Monday thru Friday, Miss Daisy finds me to let me know it is her dinner time.

She finally gave up and went to her bed.

Finally! Mom stops what she is working on to feed Daisy!

What was I working on? If it's Wednesday then there must be binding work to be done at Bell Creek Quilts. I managed to sew 2.5 sides down this afternoon on my next quilt. WooHoo! Maybe it will be done after dinner? One can hope, right? :)

WIP Wednesday

Typically, after my Family Christmas on Christmas Eve, all 'Out-of -Towners' are invited to my Mom's condo for an 'After Party Party'. At this second party on Christmas Eve, we exchange smaller gifts with everyone there. These hot pads are going to be for the 'Out-of-Town' girls at my Mom's house. I will probably pick up another 'little something' to go with the hot pads, too.

I finished piecing them on Sunday. Tore off the foundation papers during a game of Clue on Sunday night. Layered and sewed on Monday. Turned them right sides out on Tuesday.

This morning I was able to sew around the outside to enclose the turning point.

Stash Busting Report Week #49

This past week, seems like I spent a lot of time thinking about projects but little time actually 'doing'. Here is my report:

• fabric received in: 0 yards
• fabric used: -1.5 yards
• net fabric for the week: -1.5 yards (used)

Net fabric for the year: -17.25 yards (used)

What I accomplished this week:

• made two table toppers
• started on Christmas gifts

Goals for next week:

• continue working on Christmas gifts!

This week I have my day guild's party so part of the week will be spent preparing for that...writing the agenda and the like. I had wanted to use 100 yards of stash this year. Looks like I'm going to fall short of my goal. At least right now, I have used more fabric than I have brought...so that is a good thing. :)

Here's What I Did

Here's what I did.

I put the polka dot around this set of potholders so they would all look alike.

On this batch, I did the envelope style turning as suggested by Nancy. Unfortunately, the last one I layered wrong so the backing fabric is wrong side out! Looks like I have one for me! When I make more this week, I'll simple add another to be made.

Do you ever make something then end up liking the back more than the pieced front? I really like the retro salt and pepper shakers that are on the back of the first set of potholders. :) I would probably use them with this side up.

Christmas Gifties

I was hoping for a quick and easy finish for my potholders but...

just straight stitching and a straight cut seemed kinda boring.
Next, I did a straight stitch and pinked the extra. Again, kind boring.







Then I thought, zig-zag like a postcard edge. Oh...no...definatley not this!





The old stand by...I bound the edge in this fun polka dot. Seems just right to me. :)

If you are looking for me...I'll be in the sewing room working on bindings for my Christmas gifties.

WIP Wednesday

I made two more medium size table toppers from Genii Lehmann's pattern. This is the winter side for after January 1st. I think that I didn't cut my octagon the right shape for the topper on the right as it is kitty-wompuss. I figure once the topper is covered it will be less noticeable!
Here is the Holiday side up.










Here is what will be on the table toppers for now. DS's Peanut's Christmas plate and silk poinsettia flower stems. Only temporarily until I pick up the real poinsettia plant on have on order from DD's school fundraiser.

December 1st View

Can the holidays be far off when the snow has come to the upper Midwest?

Oh, what a difference a few short weeks makes in the weather here in Wisconsin! Maybe a little later we can build a snowman and have some hot chocolate. :)