WIP Wednesday

This is what I am currently working on...



The blue and yellow Strip Twist (from Bonnie's site) and...


...quilting a donation quilt in honor of National Volunteer Week. I used the Heartstrings panto from Willow Leaf Studio.





I had a map panel that I bordered and backed with some star fabric and this is the result. I used the Simple Stars and Loops panto from Willow Leaf Studio. I was surprised that it used 3 bobbins full! and the quilt only measures 48 x70!

National Volunteer Week...April 27 - May 3

While I was blog hopping, I read on Mary's blog that it is National Volunteer Week. So in honor of volunteers everywhere, this week I'm going to try and quilt a few donation quilts. Once the quilts are ready, I will post the package to Pam for her M2M. Pam is planning a trip to Mexico to deliver quilts to children in an orphanage in August 2008. I think the deadline for sending quilts to Pam is in the middle of July 2008. I have a few tops that just need backs made, quilting, binding and labeling to be finished. Did I say, "JUST?!"

Stash Busting Report Week #17

This week found me doing 'a little' online shopping. I'm almost back to square one with the fabric in/out tallies. Why is it so easy to buy yet so hard to use it back into quilts? Did you ever wonder that?!

My report for this past week follows:

• fabric received in: 25 yards
• fabric out: 0 yards
• net fabric this week: +25 yards (in)

Net fabric for the year: - 2.5 yards (used)

What I accomplished this week:

• pieced Lake Country Mystery to a flimsy
• started piecing the b/y Strip Twist

Goals for next week:

• piece b/y Strip Twist to a flimsy
• cut and piece a Checkerboard to a flimsy
• quilt, quilt and quilt
• did I mention quilt?

Check back in and we'll see if I can keep my nose to the grindstone... :)

Stormy Day

Today was a day of storms in my corner of blogland! The power has been out at least three times during the last 24 hours.

I had started my next top, Strip Twist by Bonnie but when the power went off, I switched to finishing the hand sewing of two labels.


I am a little worried as there seems to be a low spot between our house and the neighbor's and with the quick rain, a river developed draining to the front pond in the backyard. This picture was taken between storms today. After tonight's storms, the water from the front pond has crested over the back to the second pond. At least it is heading in a direction away from our house and towards the third pond :) We will 'see' in the morning how much the water has receded.

WIP Wednesday

Today I worked on the borders of the R/W/B Lake Country Mystery.

The top finished to a flimsy.

So...this is what 23 yards of fabric looks like!

How did they ever fit it into such a small box?! I'd like to tell you that it all has a plan but the reality is a little of this and a little of that. A large chunk is for backings, both tops already made (UFO's) and future tops (to be UFO's?), a little bit for some postcards, and a few yards for future donations quilts. If I don't report back in for a spell, I'll be in the sewing room trying to make a dent in this latest internet purchase! :)

Stash Busting Report Week # 16

Overall, this was a good week in the sewing room. I was otherwise busy for a few days this past week but still managed to get some things done. My report for last week follows:

• fabric received in: 6 yards
  
• fabric used: 10 yards
  
• net fabric for the week: - 4 yards (used)

Net fabric year to date: -27.5 yards (used)

What I accomplished this week:

• finished Disappearing 9 Patch to a flimsy


• quilted 2 Tiny Teddy panels


• bound 3 Tiny Teddy panels
  

Goals for next week:

• continue piecing Lake Country Mystery (this is a carry-over)
  
• start to cut and piece next graduation quilt (should it be the blue/yellow or green/beige?)

I have batting on order so when it gets here, I will start quilting again.

Now for some pictures. I saw on CarolE's blog, Giraffe Dreams where she pinned her quilts to a clothesline and snapped a picture so I thought I would give it a try and outside too as spring has come to Wisconsin...well at least for today :)

This first Tiny Teddy is a lesson in what NOT to do. I quilted it but didn't baste the sides down and got horrible puckers in the border. I also wanted to try machine stitching the binding on. I used a zig-zag stitch and I don't like the look at all...too harsh IMO so I switched to a serpentine stitch with about 3 inches to go. This will be my car quilt and my humbling quilt, although DD slept under it last night and said it is a 'good sleeper' :)

This next Tiny Teddy is a favorite border treatment of mine. I used the Cotton Candy panto and a serpentine stitch on the binding.

This last Tiny Teddy is a simple triple border to get the quilt to size. I used the Happy Times panto and serpentine stitch on the binding. All three need their labels stitched down then I think a wash 'just to see' what happens. Just in case you are wondering, I brought the Tiny Teddy panels while visiting quilt-y friends in Texas last year. Our very sweet bee friend had a sewing retreat last May at her lake house and I hopped a plane and had a great weekend of sewing fun :)

CarolE is also having a blog give-away. If you go to her blog and comment you are then entered to win a copy of Anne Zemke's book, "They Named Me Majorie". It's about a girl and her travels with the Orphan Train that inspired Finn to start her Orphan Train Blog.

A Blog Win and A Blog Warming Party

I was lucky to win a prize over at Paula's blog, A Latte Quilts. My package arrived yeaterday and look at all the goodies! Not only the pattern but Paula included a lot of other fun stuff, too! Thanks Paula...your package made my day :)


Becca at Becca's Quilts is having a Blog Warming Party and Give-away to celebrate the starting of her blog. (She won a prize over at Paula's blog, too) Becca's prizes are some beautiful plaid fabrics, a Turning Twenty...Again Pattern and some Christmas-y 9patches. She is holding her drawing on Friday April 25th so there still is time to hop over there and check it out. me? I'm kinda liking the pattern...

What I see...

Lori from Dakota City Quilter asked, "What do you see when you are sitting at your sewing machine?"
My sewing room is in the basement aka 'the dungeon' and I see a white brick wall. Hey, at least the previous owners painted the brick! But don't feel too bad for me because I swing around in my chair and look right at the design flannel and cozy up to the heater :).

On my flannel is my take on Helen's Disappearing 9 Patch. I was trying to use up some of my florals and was thinking leaves and dirt walking path but think I kinda missed the mark! :) but as Pam would say...IIWII (it is what it is...my new favorite saying, by the way!) I was trying to decide if I should quilt it with a leaf motif or a floral? What do you think?

A sad day here in 'the dungeon'...I used the last of the batting :(
It was 30 yards of 120" Hobbs 80/20. Sad to say, that the few places I checked won't ship the 120" any more because of the high cost and drat, wouldn't you know, I didn't save any out for my queen quilt :( Guess the 108" will have to do...

On a happier note, nothing says 'SPRING' to me like a new pair of shoes! These are my new shoes. Everyone got new shoes but no one would let me take a picture in their shoes for worry that their feet would show up on the blog! They know me sooo well. *g*

This about 'SUMS IT UP' at my corner of the world. DH is due home after 3 sleeps away.