New Year, New Stash Report

A fresh start!  Nothing bought or finished in the new year.  So my totals are big fat 0's!!

I wanted a post asking you to estimate how much fabric was in your stash.  Henrietta started to think about, hyperventilated, and said NO WAY!!  Hey, I was willing to guess how much was in mine!  But I don't want to stress anyone out, so we won't go there.

Since I've been playing with *A* blocks, I needed to make some bias tape.  No bias tape maker that size.  Somewhere on the internet I had seen this handy little trick----

Yes, it's just a piece of paper with two T pins.  Underneath I have drawn lines vertically the width I wanted my bias tape.  (3/8")  Inserted the T pins so that the strips could run underneath the pins.  The corners are anchored to my ironing board with more T pins.  I just slipped the strips through, ironing them as I went.  Simple and cheap! 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year--did you count down the year last night?   Blizzard conditions in South Dakota with nasty wind chill.   Ken slept and I played with *A* things.  Today is bright and sunny, but still blowing and cold. 

Picture from my front door
 

 Last night I cooked one Fairytale pumpkin--

There was a lot of pumpkin!  Which turned into---

Don't you love that deep orange color??   There are still two more pumpkins, I'm not sure how much more I will can.  


Over the last week I've been thinking about goals/resolutions for the next year.  Here we go---


Sew what I enjoy
Limit stash additions
Quilt half my completed tops
Finish half my block sets into flimsies
Complete 56 "Two Lips" blocks
Applique half Beyond the Cherry Tree blocks

I will do things I enjoy.  Participate with block swaps, lottos, group sewing.  Donation quilts--yes, I really enjoy them.  I will fret less over deadlines.   I will cut into yardage! 


Non-quilting goals--

Bake and cook less
Exercise more
Enjoy life more

Bake and cook less???  Yes, I am cutting back.  More simple healthy foods.  Less baking sweets.   Last night as I canned the pumpkin I was looking for empty jars.  I have LOTS of food I've canned.  This next year I will probably only need tomatoes, a one or two Fairytale pumpkins, a FEW JARS of jam, and some canned turkey.  Maybe a bit of home grown sweet corn.  I know it is ingrained in me to can all that extra food, but we don't NEED it.  Exercise more.  How many people do you know that could say "exercise less"??!!   I am not "saving" things for later.  

And here are a few holiday pictures---

Mason and Laura Beth

Mason checking Grandma's Angels

Opening Presents

  

My sister Kathy wearing the holiday shorts

 Mason with Antlers

The best toy--the wrapping paper!

 
The holiday shorts were in the white elephant gift exchange.  My dad has claimed them.  We said if he wants them--he has to model them!

I wish you all a Happy New Year!  

Monday Goals--Year in Review

Have you been thinking about goals for next year?  I have!  There are several sets of blocks not finished into tops.  Using half of them will be a goal.   My stack of tops to be quilted is now two stacks, quilting half of them is a goal.  I have a new "A" word project.  It's called "Beyond the Cherry Tree".   A reproduction using up some of my reds and greens!

Making half the blocks in that is a goal.  Why only half?   If I say I want to finish ALL my tops, its feels very overwhelming.  Why do I want to "get rid of" things I enjoy?  Although I love to finish things, sometimes its the process that I enjoy the most.  There will be finishes, I just won't obsess about them.

I plan to continue participating in block lottos, block swaps, and block making as a group. Donation quilts.  A few I SPY D9P quilts to donate using fabric given to me are planned.  I enjoy these.

Stash reporting.   It's a very useful tool to me.  I love to read everyone's reports.  I see so many different ideas and learn so much from everyone.  Lately family has kept me busy and I haven't had much time to read and comment.  That's a goal for next year too!  

My goals this week--enjoy life, quilt when possible, and plan for next year!

   

Sunday Stash Report

I didn't buy fabric this week, nor did I finish anything.  Stash is ahead by 58.5 yards.  Last report of the year, I'm not planning on finishing anything!  Stash pulled ahead in 2010!

I have lots of finished tops to be quilted.  The small pieces of fabric have been used.  Scraps are only a small box.  I remember making most the blocks for a Heartstrings quilt from scraps on my sewing room floor!  

We've had a wonderful Christmas.  How was your Christmas?  Are you full of cookies?  (We are!) 

Merry Christmas!

Count Down to Christmas

Is everyone counting down to Christmas?  Today I mixed up 3 batches of cookies.  Tomorrow my sister Kathy is coming over, we will bake those last batches, make popcorn balls and haystacks.  A list of foods for family is prepared, the ingredients bought.  I will wrap a few presents tomorrow.  

I've been working on the "A" thing.  There are 27 Two Lips blocks completed.  I have pieces ready for more.  

 

If you look closely, I made a block using my Japanese Royalty fabric.  I need to use more pastels in them.  This was the year to "get out of the rut".  Maybe not the way I had planned, but doing the "A" word is DEFINITELY getting out of my rut!  The pattern calls for 56 blocks, I'm almost half way.

An internet friend loaned me a book and encouraged me in the "A" word.  This block is called "Blueberries"--thank you Mary Ann!  

Don't look too closely, the little circles aren't perfectly round.  I've never seen berries grow perfect either.  In 150 years or so no one will care!

I'm off to charge my camera battery!  Don't forget to have your camera ready to go!  

 

Sunday Stash Report--Week in Review

Busy week!  You too??  Yes, its the countdown to Christmas.   A few packages to wrap.  A few more cookies to bake--I saw a recipe on Judy's blog I have to try.  No fabric bought this week, and nothing finished.  I'm still in the "red" (nice try Henrietta--but YOU helped me add to the red stash!)  Check Judy's blog for everyone's stash report.  See how many have plans for next year!

I've made at least five more Two Lips blocks this week.  They are simple and easy to pick up when I have a few minutes.  No progress on the next set of red/white swap blocks.  I haven't made my two sample blocks, but I've been studying the choices.  

Saturday night my sister Kathy, her husband--my FAVORITE brother in law Paul, Ken and I went out to a neighboring little town steakhouse.  They had advertised a customer appreciation night.   Everyone was issued a numbered ticket for door prizes.  Oh boy!  First Paul won a t-shirt.  Then Ken won a $20 gift certificate.  Then I won a $20 gift certificate.  And before we left, Kathy won a gift certificate for two fish dinners.   It was a great night!

Less than a week until Christmas.   Remember to charge your camera.  Check for extra batteries.  Extra memory card.   Are you ready???