Design Wall Monday - October 31st

Happy Halloween!  We're ready for tonight's trick or treaters.  My Guy and Kiddo spent last evening carving pumpkins.  I think they've been watching too much of "Halloween Wars" on the Food Network.  This year we will have a vampire and a mummy greating the trick or treaters tonight.  (I was initially alarmed when My Guy popped into my sewing room and asked if we had a roll of gauze bandages anywhere in the house.)

This Halloween is a bit sad for me.,  Kiddo will not be out pounding the pavement in search of candy this year for the first time since she was 2.  At 12, she could probably squeeze out one more year, but at 5' 2" Kiddo looks a lot older than she is.  There is a costume party on her schedule tonight, so she's not terribly bummed. 

Since it is Monday, it's time to show what's up on the design wall.  I got the Flurry binding sewn yesterday, but that's laying on the cutting table, not up on the design wall.  That's my only "new" project this week.  I've made some progress on the Geisha blocks.

Only 11 more blocks to frame before I can start working on the sashing, so I'm more than half way there.  

That's it for me this week.  Check out more Halloween eye candy over at Judy's Patchwork Times. 

Stash Report - October 30th

Can you believe that it is the last weekend in October?  Our morning temperatures have dipped into the below freezing range, though it's still nice in the afternoon.  It's definitely fall. 

With the cooler temps you'd think there would be more going on in the sewing room. Unfortunately I think less went on this week than last week.  Definitely less fabric getting used.

Used this week: 0.53 yards
Added this week:  0 yards

Used year to date:   48.67 yards
Added year to date:   60.25 yards

Net stashed for 2011:  11.58 yards

There have been no additions to the stash for the last 10 weeks, so that's working in my favor.  Unfortunately that's going to change this next week.  I don't have enough of any fabric to put borders on the purple/yellow scrap quilt, so I'm going to need to order a few yards of a dark and a light purple so I can finish that project.   On the bright side that fabric will come in, then go right back out. 

That's it for me this week.  Check out Patchwork Times for more tales of the stash. 

Bloggers Fall Quilt Festival - Fall 2011

It's time again for the Blogger's Quilt Festival so graciously sponsored by Amy's Creative Side.  I'm a little late getting my entry posted this year due to photography problems.  This quilt was completed last week and has been dubbed "Texas Twilight" by My Guy. 



This quilt has made previous appearances on my blog while it was under construction as the Buck-A-Block quilt.  The light background blocks are made from Thangles Buck-A-Block #2 designed by Mary B. Hayes.  The black and dark blue setting was self designed.  These blocks were offered as a BOM by the local quilt shop when we lived in Texas back in 2006.  I didn't actually start working on the blocks until about mid year last year. 

This quilt was supposed to have green sashing with a blue bonnet print as the border.  But that proposed setting would not gel with the blocks.  I ended up going in a completely different direction.  The dark fabric in the Thangles blocks is actually bluebonnets on a black background, hence the black.  The blue is a good match to the blue dots in the light background fabric.   I like the finished quilt even though looks nothing like the original plan.  Sometimes the blocks just have other ideas than you do. 

Trudy Lindemann did the quilting.  She used diagonal lines in the blue setting triangles and wide borders.  In the narrow blue border she did a modified feather motif and then loops in the pieced blocks.   It turned out beautifully. 

Grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and hop over to Amy's to check out all the wonderful quilts posted as part of this fall's show. 

Foto Finish - Something Round

It's Saturday!  Finally.  It always seems like the week you are back at work after taking vacation is unusually long.  At least it works that way for me. 

The previous two weeks, Barbara's  Foto Finish themes have been a challenge.  This week I was pretty sure there would be something in my files that would work.  To be honest, I had too many shots that would work.  Finally I asked My Guy to make the call.  He narrowed it down to two and I finally picked this one because we both agreed it fit the theme best. 

I like the colored tops of all the markers.  I'm not sure why it is, but there is something appealing about a brand new box of colored makers, pencils, or crayons.  I can't draw to save my life, but I still love the idea of a new box of color.  These are actually scrapbooking markers that I bought for one of Kiddo's projects.  Now they reside in the sewing room and I use them to color my hand written piecing instructions when color placement is important. 

Circle around to Cat Patches to see more round somethings. 

Favorite Thing Friday - October 27th

It's not quite Friday in my corner of the world, but it's close.  Maybe by writing my Favorite Thing Friday thing post I'll get a good jump going into the weekend.  After a day spent in meetings, I most definitely need some powerful positive thinking!

Last week was Fall Break for Kiddo.  She had 3 days out of school.  We had great plans for the long weekend, but after a mix up with the volleyball schedule, an unexpected business trip for me and an out of nowhere assignment for My Guy, we weren't sure there would be any plans.  However, we did manage to cobble together a short family trip where we:

Looked at big rocks

Climbed into the big rocks

Checked out one of Jesse James' hideouts.

And photographed the fall foliage.

So the rocky start to Fall Break ended up being a rocky end too.  But in the end we all had a great time. 

That's it for my favorite thing this week.  Check out all the other Friday favorites over at Shay's Quilting in My Pyjamas. 

15 Minute Challenge - October 25th

It's week 3 of the 15 Minute Challenge - The "Where Does the Time Go" Christmas Sewing version. 

Progress was made this week on the Christmas gift sewing I wanted to do.  It never seems to be as much time as I would like, but managing to find at least 15 minutes to sew 5 out of 7 days in a very busy week is not bad.

The binding is done on the Buck-a-Block quilt, which has now been dubbed Texas Twilight (thanks to My Guy for that spiffy name).  Now it just needs a label and then it will be finished.  I'm making progress on the Geisha quilt.  No progress on the other 3 gift quilts on my list.  Though once the Texas Twilight is labeled, I'll start working on the binding for Flurry.  I'm confident that I can finish 3 of the 5 quilts for Christmas.   I've not given up on the other 2, but it's looking less and less likely that they will make it to the finished column.  However, I do have 5 vacation days that I need to take between now and the end of the year or I lose them.  So there may be a one or two day sew-a-thon in my future. 

Did you manage to find time for Christmas sewing or other crafty endeavors this last week?   If so (or if not), write up your tale and share it with Mister Linky. 

Design Wall Monday - October 24th

Monday, already?  Most of last week I was lucky enough to be on vacation, though the first two days of the week I was out of town on business.  It's hard to do much on the blog when I'm traveling for work, so there was no Design Wall post last week.  I'll make up for it this week.

Block 2 for the Moose on the Porch Fat Quarter Stars Quilt along is done. 

My block is simpler than the pattern provided.  I just liked the cleaner look, especially when paired with the first block.

All the blocks for the purple and yellow quilt have been sewn together.  

The original pattern didn't use borders, but I'm going to add a couple.  That may mean ordering some fabric as most of the purple I have left is all as fat quarters.  I really like how this one is turning out.  This UFO almost didn't get finished becuase I wasn't thrilled with the first 3 blocks made in the class.  It definitely deserved a second chance. 

Progress was also made on the Geisha quilt.

I'm not setting the blocks this way, there will be dark blue sashing between the blocks in the final quilt. 

That's it for my design wall.  Hop over to Judy's Patchwork Times to see other design walls. 

Stash Report - October 23rd

It was a busy week.  I had a business trip the first part of the week and then Kiddo was on fall break the last part of the week.  We snuck in a very short trip to one of the state parks where we climbed on rocks for an afternoon and found several wonderful restaurants where we added back all those calories we worked off (and then some probably).

Some sewing did happen.  I finished 5 blocks for the Geisha quilt and finished the Fat Quarter Stars block 2, so there is a little going out.

Used this week:  0.6 yards
Added this week:  0 yards

Used year to date:  48.14 yards
Added year to date:  60.25 yards

Net Stashed for 2011:  12.11 yards

I did check out one quilt shop while we were out and about, but didn't find anything that had to come home with me.  I have just a little over two months to work back to being in the black.  There are two quilts I've been working on that will need backs in the near future.  I have the fabric for those two in my stash, so that should help move me in the right direction.  I'd really like to end the year in the black. 

How's your stash management going?  Link up over at Patchwork Times and share. 

Foto Finish - Something Spooky

For the second week in a row Barbara's Foto Finish theme has elicited a groan.  Something spooky?  I was pretty sure my image files were going to be severely lacking any potential images for this week.  Unfortunately, I wasn't wrong.  So this morning, I grabbed the camera and went looking for inspiration.  I had a few thoughts, none of which yielded what I was looking for.  Then I remembered something my daughter had decided on as party favors for a Halloween movie party she hosted a few years ago. 

These skeletal glasses were very popular with the girls.  They all sat around watching the movies eating popcorn with with bubbly grape juice in their spooky champagne glasses acting so sophisticated, as only 9 year old girls can. 

For truly spooky images, check out what has been posted over at Cat Patches. 

15 Minute Challenge - October 18th

Welcome to week 2 of the 15 Minute Challenge - The "What Was I Thinking" Christmas Sewing version.

Real life has begun to intrude on my dream of finishing 5 quilts for Christmas gifts.  What was I thinking!  I forgot that I have a week long business trip in November, plus I got tapped for a business trip this week.  So that ends up being 8 days out of my sewing time before Christmas.  I really may have to rethink my strategy.  Especially since I only managed 4 days this last week.  One day was actually spent on a non-Christmas project, but I'm going to count the time anyway. 

I'm not going to panic just yet (even though it sounds like I have).  We'll see what things look like after next week.  If things still look dim in terms of having time, I'll trim my quilt Christmas list. 

So how did you do this week on achieving your crafty goals, Christmas related or not?   Use Mr. Linky to share your week's goals or woes as the case may be. 

Stash Report - October 16th

Half way through October as of yesterday.  Hard to believe isn't it.  I'll be glad when October is over.  It's crunch time at work and the deadlines have been keeping me pretty busy.   I did get some sewing in this week.  I finished 3 blocks for the Geisha quilt, so I have just a little going out this week.

Used this week: 0.27 yards
Added this week:  0 yards

Used to year to date:  47.54 yards
Added year to date:  60.25 yards

Net stashed for 2011:  12.71 yards

Nothing in again this week, which helps in moving me just a bit closer to being back in the black again. 

To see how stash management is going globally, check out Judy's Patchwork Times. 

Foto Finish - Orange

When I read Barbara's Foto Finish theme for this week, I groaned.   I was pretty sure my photo selection for orange was going to be zero and with this week's schedule, grabbing a new shot was going to be a challenge.  You'd think for someone who lives in the state of Oklahoma orange would be fairly easy to come by in a photograph.  On any given weekend, you'll see a lot people out and about in either deep red or bright orange, the colors of the two state universities.  I have even less of an excuse for having limited orange shots in my portfolio since I'm an alumni of the one with orange and black school colors. 

Surprisingly, the photo files contained a fair number of orange themed shots to chose from.   I whittled it down to three, then sought the opinion of the resident photography guru in our house, My Guy, as to which one to post.   This was his choice.

This one is the "orangest" of the three according to My Guy.  If you can't tell, it's the petal of a Tiger Lily.  This shot was taken on our trip to Washington State a few years ago.   I love using a macro lens to capture the texture and details of flower petals.  Each petal is a work of art in itself.

To see the world through orange colored glasses, check out who linked up to Cat Patches for this week's Foto Finish. 

Favorite Thing Friday - October 14th

It's Friday, finally!  Time to not only actually contemplate favorite things, but maybe to actually do one or two.  I've been contemplating favorite things for the last couple of days and as I start to write this post, still haven't come up with anything worthy to write about.  That has been an ongoing struggle the last few weeks, what to write about on Friday.  With My Guy on the road the previous 4 weeks, Kiddo's insane practice schedule and the multitude of deadlines at work, I seem to be incapable of thinking of a single favorite thing.  So if I can't decide on a single worthy topic to write about, maybe it's time for a list.  


Kate's Top Ten Little Things in Life

10.  Sun sets
  9.  Sun rises
  8.  the blue, blue skies of fall
  7.  My Guy's ginger cream scones (which he made yesterday)
  6.  Reading a good book
  5.  Spur of the moment photography expeditions
  4.  Spending time in my sewing room
  3.  Being silly with Kiddo
  2.  Pillow talk with My Guy
  1.  Hanging out with My Guy and Kiddo

That's it from my corner of the world.  Check out all the other favorite things over at Quilting in My Pyjamas. 

15 Minute Challenge - Oct 11

Welcome to week 1 of the 15 Minute Challenge - The Manic Christmas Sewing version. 

Since I have 5 quilts that I'd like to finish for Christmas gifts, my goal to spend 15 minutes in the sewing room has been supplanted with the goal to spend at least 15 minutes working on those 5 Christmas gifts.  You are welcome to join me in the Manic Christmas Sewing version or if you have decided to keep your sanity this year, you can report whatever crafty stuff you did in your 15 minutes. 

This week went pretty well, with progress made on 6 out of the last 7 days

Friday night I passed out in the recliner after dinner and didn't wake up until 10:00 PM.  I decided that was a pretty good sign I was too tired to sew and just went to bed.  But otherwise I made good progress on both the Buck-A-Block binding and the Geisha quilt.  I did also finish my first block for the Fat Quarter Stars quilt along, but since that's not a Christmas project, it didn't get included above. 

So how did you do this week on being crafty?  Write it up, then link up below.  

 

Design Wall - October 10th

It was a nice weekend here.  We got some much needed rain.  Even better, My Guy made it home after 4 weeks of being overseas.  He had asked me to have some Starbucks coffee waiting for him in car.  Apparently it's very hard to find brewed coffee in the UK and he really wanted a good cup of coffee.  It's good to have him home.

Since Sunday was spent shopping with Kiddo before we headed to the airport, I didn't get as much sewing room time as I normally do.  Even so, progress was made on Geisha Quilt.

 
Corners have been added to all the fussy cut blocks.  Now I need to cut and assemble the "frames" for these blocks.   I also finally got myself in gear and finished up the first block for the Fat Quarter Stars Quilt along. 

This is the first time I've used black, red and white in a quilt.   I'm liking how they work together.    When I picked out the bundle of fat quarters for this project, I didn't realize just how many of the fabrics have stripes.  That may make some of the future stars a bit challenging to piece.

That's it for my design wall this week.  To see what other creations are under construction, check out Judy's Patchwork Times. 

Stash Report - October 9th

Did you know that you can track an airline flight just about anywhere in the world?  My Guy is on his way home from the UK today.  Since he took his current job he's been to Australia several times, Indonesia twice and now the UK.  So I've gotten really good at tracking down the departures and arrivals of his connecting flights where ever they are.  As I write this, his flight out of Amsterdam is taxing out to the runway (of course the only wrinkle here is that I have to assume he actually got on the flight).  Our local airport is about an hour from where we live, so I very often check to be sure his flights are on time before I head in that direction.  I'd rather wait at home than in the airport lobby.  I get more sewing done that way. 

I did actually get some sewing done this week, but like the previous two weeks most of it is either projects where I've already counted the fabric or I've not finished a block so I can count it as going out (I count fabric as out when the block is complete).  However, I did get busy and finish my first block for the Fat Quarter Stars Quilt Along.  So I have a little (very little) to count as going out this week.

Used this week: 0.22 yards
Added this week:  0 yards

Used year to date:  47.27
Added year to date:  60.25 yards

Net stashed for 2011:  12.98 yards

On the bright side, nothing in this week.  Even a little progress is better than none. 

That's my report for this week.  Check out Patchwork Times for more reports on the state of stash management.   

Foto Finish - Something Old

It's been an incredibly long week for some reason.  I'm so glad it's Saturday.  It's been nice this morning to just sit in the recliner with my coffee and scan files for an appropriate photo for today's post.  Barbara's picked "something old" as the theme for this week,  As I was poking around in my digital files, I kept asking myself, "What is old?".  How old does something have to be to be considered old?  Does a 1960's tractor count?  Is that old enough?  How about a building constructed in the early 1900's?  Or do you need to search out images of rock formations that have endured for centuries?  I finally decided on this image, mainly because I liked it. 

I love the light shining on the moss and the ivy covering the gnarled branches of this oak tree.  This old man of the south sits in one of the many squares in Savannah, Georgia. 

To see more old stuff, check out the other Foto Finish links over at Cat Patches. 

Favorite Things Friday - Oct 7th

It's finally Friday!  The last day of the work week.  I'm ready.  Not that I have any less to do at home than I have to do at work.  But this weekend has an added perk, My Guy comes home on Sunday.  He's been gone for 4 weeks.  So I'm ready for that too.  

One of the things that I've missed this fall with My Guy being "across the pond" is our mini photo expeditions.  It's pretty typical for one of us to get up, take a look at the light outside and decide we need to grab the cameras and take off on a mini expedition to somewhere in or out of town that we've noted would make great photos in the right light.  Last Sunday was one of those mornings.  The light was beautiful, all bright gold.  So I grabbed the camera bag and the car keys and headed over to one of the pastures not far from the house by myself.  It was so hot over the summer, Oklahoma didn't get much in the way of wild flowers, but with the cooler fall weather, many of the pastures have exploded with color.  

I love the morning light.  It was early enough that my shoes got all wet from dew laden grasses.

Some of the flowers were still showed the tale tell droplets of their morning soak.  And then I found a small patch of these. 

My Guy and I call these purple pineapple flowers.  We've never been able to find the "real" name for them.  It's a sure sign of fall when these start showing up in the fields and pastures. 

I love the range of colors in these, from the pale blue to the deeper purple. 

The spiky leaves have always made me think of these as "alien" flowers.  You know something you'd see in a science fiction flick, where some alien creature is growing in the center pod.  In the middle of the movie whole fields of the pretty purple pineapple flowers will suddenly hatch and the creatures will then terrorize the humans.  Don't see that?  Well it's probably just me then. 

So this Friday I have two favorites, fall mornings and purple pineapple flowers.  For more favorite things check out who has linked up with Shay over at Quilting in My Pyjamas. 

15 Minute Challenge - Oct 3rd

Do you ever have one of those Monday's where you feel like it's a Monday squared (you know Monday times Monday = absolute chaos)?  That was yesterday.  Nothing bad happened, it was just busy and long. 

Just a quick update on Kiddo's volleyball injury.  She did see her doctor yesterday who diagnosed a torn muscle.  No PE or volleyball for the next 2 weeks.  Kiddo can start back with swim practice next Monday as that should help stretch the muscle without doing any additional damage.  Kiddo may still be able to play in the last two volleyball games of the season, we'll just have to see how fast she heals.  She's one very bummed out volleyball player at the moment. 

In spite of all the distractions of being a temporarily single, working parent, I actually did really good job of finding 15 minutes a day to sew. 

Seven out of seven days is as good as it gets.  It's been a while since I managed that.  I'm actively working on 4 projects at the moment: binding the Buck-a-Block quilt, piecing the Geisha quilt, cutting fabric for the Fat Quarter Stars quilt along and sewing together the blocks of the purple and yellow scrap quilt. Life in the sewing room is good at the moment.

Last week, I asked about the interest in a Christmas focused 15 minute challenge.  The response was pretty mixed on that front.  So the best approach seems to be continue the 15 Minute Challenge as it is with everyone just reporting on how much playing in the sewing room actually happened.  However, I am going to adjust my 15 minutes a day of sewing time to focus on projects I want to finish for Christmas.  There are 5 projects I'd like to finish. 

Starting in the upper left and moving clockwise:
            1.  Flurry - only needs binding
            2.  Geisha - started cutting and piecing blocks
            3.  Jigsaw - haven't even washed the fabric yet
            4.  Scrappy Stars - only 4 blocks complete
            5.  Buck-a-Block - only needs binding

The two that need binding will get done for sure.  Geisha should get done, it's going together pretty fast.  I'm not too sure about the Jigsaw and the Scrappy Stars.  I need to check with Trudy over at Keepin You in Stitches on what her deadline is for quilting projects intended for Christmas.  I'm guessing that if it's not in the mail by December 1st, it's not likely get completed in time for Christmas. 

So that's my plan for the next couple months.  I'm going to spend at least 15 minutes a day working on Christmas gifts.  You are welcome to join me in my ambitious madness or you can demonstrate just how much wiser and saner you are by sticking with your 15 minutes a day on whatever you choose. 

Use Mr. Linky below to link up and share how you did last week on carving out some sewing time each day. 

Design Wall - October 3rd

It was a busy weekend, I'm almost glad it's Monday.  I thought I was spending Saturday morning watching Kiddo play volleyball, instead we spent a good chunk of the morning at one of the after hours clinic.  Kiddo is mostly fine, it only hurts when she walks.  We're not sure what she did, but she definitely hurt something when she made a dive for one of the balls.  So for now no VB or swimming until Kiddo sees her primary care physician, which should happen today.  The rest of Saturday was taken up with preparations for Kiddo's 1st middle school dance of the year.  It's amazing what you can do with a $5 windbreaker from Goodwill and iron on letters.  Add in a very cool badge with a slot for an "official" ID and your kid is magically transformed into a Las Vegas CSI.  

I did get some sewing time on Sunday.  I made a bit more progress on the Geisha Quilt. 

I have the corners sewn on about half the blocks.  This doesn't look like much sewing time, but I also worked on sewing the binding to the Buck-a-Block quilt, sewing blocks together for the purple and yellow scrap quilt, and starting cutting out the fabric for the first block in the Fat Quarter Stars quilt along.  I didn't get photos of any of those projects. 

That's my design wall for the week.  Check out Patchwork Times for more design wall goodies. 

Stash Report - October 2nd

I'm in the process of finishing up a few projects where the fabric has already been counted in the stash report.   The new projects aren't far enough along for me to count that fabric.  So for a second week in a row,  my report hasn't changed.

Used this week:  0 yards
Added this week:  0 yards

Used year to date:  47.05 yards
Added year to date:  60.25 yards

Net stashed for 2011:  13.2 yards

I have been sewing more the last week which should translate into more fabric out in near future (for backings and bindings).  

The beginning of October marks the start of 4th quarter and the end of the 3rd quarter of the year.  At work we've been reviewing project goals and progress this last week, then laying out the priorities for what needs to be done by the end of the year.  I did the same with my sewing goals.  With just 3 months left in the year and a little less than that to Christmas, it's time to make some decisions about what I really want to get done before the end of the year.  If your eyes glaze over at the mere site of graphs, you may want to stop reading here. 

I've not done as well as I hoped on stash additions this year.

I did really well the first half of the year, but I pretty much blew my fabric budget for the year with what I bought during the 3rd quarter.  However, overall this year fabric purchases have been much more moderate than last year. 

Fabric is not going out as fast as I had hoped, but it is going out.   

I'm actually in better shape than last year.  If I can keep up the pace I should do better than last year.  My goal was simply to use more than I buy.  I'm not there yet, but hopefully will be by the end of the year. 

Unfortunately I've made some additions to my quilt plan, but haven't made any finishes since June. 

I'd hoped for more of the rows to be blued out.  I'm sewing the binding on the Buck-a-Block quilt and Flurry has been quilted, but it's at the post office waiting to be picked up.  I should get both of those done this month.  Both are going to be Christmas presents.  I'd like to get the Geisha quilt, Jigsaw, and the Scrappy Stars quilts done as they are going to be Christmas presents too.  So those 5 quilts are my priority over the next two months. 

I set a goal to finish more quilts this year then I did last year.

If I finish the two that just need binding, I'll be equal to where I was last year.  Hopefully I can finish those 3 other quilts and I'll smash last years record.  So I have a lot of sewing to do over the next couple of months.  Guess I better get busy. 

To check out other stash management strategies, take a look at who has linked up to Patchwork Times. 

Foto Finish - Feet

It's October 1st.  Can you believe that?  It feels like passage of time speeds up throughout the year.  I can remember thinking that January lasted forever this year.  September didn't! 

Moving on to today's Foto Finish theme of feet.  Some weeks Barbara's themes are certainly challenging.  I had a great opportunity to get a great shot of feet last week, but I left my camera at home.  (Chalk that one up to the trials and tribulations of a mother trying to get out the door with a preteen,  goodies for the swim team's picnic lunch, and all the required swim gear).   However, I did find another shot from a previous swim team event that fits. 

This particular swim meet I was trying to catch the swimmers in the middle of their dives off the block.  I'm still working on that skill, this shot was just a little late in the sequence.  Even though it's not what I was going for, it does capture that tail end of the slide into the water off the blocks.  I like all the splashing going on. 

Check out Cat Patches for more feet shots.  I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with on this one.