2012 UFO Challenge - September Update

At the start of this year, there were 4 UFOs on my list.  The Purple and Yellow quilt was finished last month, so that leaves just 3 on my list.  I've spent the last two months working on the project from Moose on the Porch's 2012 Layer Cake Quilt Along project.  At the beginning of September it looked like this:

 The last border was sewn on about 11:30 last night.  So it's officially a finished flimsy.

Blocks from Moose on the Porch's
Layer Cake Quilt Along

The layer cake wasn't the easiest to work with.  I think the border helps a lot, but this isn't one of my favorite projects.  I'll use the left over 10" squares and border fabrics to piece a back at some point.  I didn't expect to get this project completed, I'm very happy to get it to the point of being a finished top.  My plan is to practice my quilting skills on this project.  I'm not ready to do that right now, so this project has reached a good stopping point. 

For now, I'm going to move on to October's UFO.  Number 6 on my list is Scrappy Stars.  At the end of January it looked like this: 

 

Pattern is Folk Art Christmas Stars

by Robyn Pandolph

Hopefully, I can make a lot of headway on this project in the next month.  Even if it doesn't get finished, any progress would be great. 

I'm linking up Judy of Patchwork Times who is, as always, the gracious hostess of the 2012 UFO Challenge.

Stash Report - September 30th

Is it really the last day of September?   Either I'm not paying attention or there is some weird disruption to the space/time continuum that makes time speed up as the end of the year draws near.  It's too early on a Sunday for any contemplation of physics, I'd so much rather go back to contemplating making quilts and admiring fabric. 

My fabric fast has been well and truly busted as the admiring fabric portion of the program had me pushing more buttons and ordering more fabric.  These showed up on Tuesday.

You'd think I'm channeling Halloween to be ordering these black and orange dots from Connecting Threads.   Actually, no.  These fabrics are intended for an OSU (Oklahoma State University) quilt I've got in the planning stages.  So hopefully at least some of these three will leave the stash before the end of the year. 

On the other had, I did get some sewing in this week.  I started a new project and made significant progress on UFO # 11, so there is at least some measurable fabric going out. 

Used last week: 2.07 yards
Added last week:  10 yards

Used for 2012:  32.65 yards
Added for 2012:  294.38 yards

Net stashed for 2012:  261.73 yards

My 2012 goal was to keep fabric purchases to less than 100 yards and use at least 75 yards of fabric.  I'm not any where close on either goal.  I suppose there is still the possibility of making the 75 yards out, but it's a long shot with only one quarter to go.  One of the challenges this year is that I'm not finishing as many quilts, so I'm not using a lot of fabric for backings.  I've been starting a lot of projects this year, but haven't really gotten any of them to completion.  Maybe that's what I should work on till the end of the year?  Or should I start more projects because that uses fabric too?  Hmmm. 

That's it for this week's stash report.  I'm going to finish my coffee and hope over to Judy's Patchwork Times to see if anyone has a great strategy for last minute stash reductions. 

2012 NewFO Challenge - Numbers 5, 6 and 7

The 2012 NewFO Challenge sponsored by Cat Patches is all about new beginnings.  Which I took to heart this month as three new projects are now taking up space on the design wall.  Not sure what came over me this month.  There haven't been three new project starts in one month since we left Texas and I was removed from the influence of the class schedule at the local quilt shop.  So what's new? 




Grandmother's Choice
Barbara Brackman BOW

I couldn't resist Barbara Brackman's newest block of the week program, Grandmother's Choice.  It's been fun to learn about the women's suffrage movement.  Making the blocks has been a challenge.  I'm not a big on using templates, which is why block 4 is still under construction.  Block 2 and 4 have really been a test of my piecing skills.  But that's a good thing, I really should push myself to learn more advanced piecing skills.  However constructing block 4 is beginning to feel like an end of term exam for a class I didn't take. 

Project 6 had a very serendipitous start.  Drama Teen ran for president of her school's student council, which meant a trip to Hobby Lobby for campaign poster supplies.  Of course I can't leave Hobby Lobby without checking out the quilting gadgets.  On my way to that wall, I passed by the embroidery section and spied a printed panel that just absolutely had to come home with me.   The intent is to use it as the center of a medallion quilt.

NewFO number 7 has been a PIGS since 2004 or 2005.  I had signed up for a class at the local quilt shop, purchased the pattern and the fabrics, then the class was canceled.  It has sat untouched since then.  For some reason, this particular project started begging for attention.  After playing around in EQ for about a week and tweaking the fabric selection, I cut the fabrics on Friday and started piecing yesterday.  You can see one of the early EQ layouts for this project here. 

Pattern is "Evening Star" from Calico Carriage
Designed by Debbie Maddy

 
That's my three new project  for September.  They more than make up for not starting anything new in July or August.  What's even better about these new projects is that Grandmother's Choice and Evening Star are being made from stash fabrics, no new fabrics had to be purchased.  Which is a very good thing as my stash inflow has been pretty healthy without needing to buy for new projects.  Maybe these will help balance out my seemingly ever present fabric flow imbalance.    

Check out all the other NewFOs over at Cat Patches.  I'm also linking up with Kathy's Quilts Slow Stitching Sunday.  Stop by and check out all the cool handwork going on. 

15 Minute Challenge - September 25th

Last week's 15 minute challenge post was so positive that I think it jinxed me for this week.  I didn't do any sewing on current projects or UFOs, instead I pulled out one of my PIGS, scanned the fabrics into EQ and starting playing with layouts.  I mentioned last week that I was itching to start something new.  Now that I've got that project in my head, I can't seem to work on anything else.  Guess I'll have to start it this week. 

I wasn't home over the weekend, but was attending a college reunion.  No one from my class came, but I did see a few that graduated before me and after me.  It was a fun weekend.  I took a new embroidery project with me and started it last Friday while winding down in the hotel.  I didn't get very far with it over the weekend, but I'm going to try to add one night of embroidery work to my 15 minute challenge schedule, I'd like finish this piece in a reasonable time frame. 

So last week was all about new stuff. 

All though no sewing happened, I'm taking credit for the 15 minutes spent on the new project prep and the embroidery.  How about you?  What did you spend your 15 minutes of creative time working on or dreaming of? 

1. Kate 2. libbyQ

3. Amanda 4. Thea

5. Lesley in SC

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Design Wall Monday - September 24th

We weren't home most of the weekend.  Not a lot of sewing happened, so there is not anything new up on the design wall.  I have made progress on The Sofa Quilt.

I'm about halfway finished assembling the flying geese units. 

I've got the yen to start something new.  So while I didn't sew, I did pull out one of my PIGS and do a few mock ups in EQ to see exactly how I wanted to use the fabric.  At the moment, this is the front runner. 

Pattern is Evening Star from Calico Carriage
Desigend by Debbie Maddy

I considered adding some yellow, but Drama Teen liked the monochrome purple color scheme with white.  I do too.  So the real deal may start showing up on the design wall next week. 

Check out more productive quilters over at  Patchwork Times. 

Slow Stitching Sunday - September 23rd.

Seems that handwork is a once a month occurrence around my sewing room.  I've linked in with Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday posts twice now, once in July and again in August.  Now it's September, so it must be time to link in again. 

I started a new embroidery project this weekend.  I saw a panel at Hobby Lobby a couple of months ago and decided it would make a great center for a medallion quilt.  I bought the panel and what thread I could find.  The last missing color was located and purchased.  Now there was no excuse not to get started.   I didn't get very far with it as it has been a busy weekend, but at least it's started.

The letters are back stitched, which is a stitch I've not used in a while. I've had to work hard to get my stitch length regulated.  But, it doesn't look too bad so far.  I have not worked out exactly what order I'm going to stitch things in, but the plan at the moment is to start in one corner and work towards the other corner.  I'm going to try to set aside one night a week to stitch, because I'd like to see this panel finished and made into a quilt. 

Maybe this panel will get me jump started back into doing embroidery regularly.  I used to do a lot of hand stitching, but that pretty much went away when Drama Teen was born.  I think because my hands were then usually full of my baby girl, which is exactly as it should have been. 

Stash Report - September 23rd

I was ready for Friday this week.  Unfortunately, we had a full weekend too.  A bit of volleyball, meeting up with old school chums and a visit with family rounded out the weekend.  So not much time to sew.  I don't think I've touched the machine since last Sunday.  I do hope to get back into the sewing room for a bit this evening. 

Unfortunately, I was unable to keep myself from pushing a few buttons.  One reason was pretty obvious, Hancock's was having a sale on a few fabrics I had drooled over previously, so I broke my fabric fast and ordered them, plus a few other sale fabrics to "enhance" the stash.

Timeless Treasures Vivienne

Timeless Treasures Vivienne and Wilmington Porter
Blooming Spring Petals

Then as I was working on the Grandmother's Choice BOW project I was thinking how nice it was to have a set of fabrics for that project.  Earlier this year I had bought a couple of yards of Bernatex Festive Tulips.  Since I seem to make a lot of sampler quilts, I decided I should order a few half yard cuts of fabric from that line to go with what I already had, because I think it would make a great sampler quilt.  So this also showed up on the front step this week.

Benartex Festive Tulips

I tried really hard to be sorry, but as the stash organization has progressed this year, I'm finding more holes.  Starting a number of new projects this year has also helped me understand what I really should be buying for the type of projects I like to make.  So the report will just have to take the hit for now. 

Used last week:  0.41 yards
Added last week:  37.5 yards

Used for 2012:  30.58 yards
Added for 2012:  284.38 yards

Net stashed for 2012:  253.80 yards

I could say that next week will be better, but I've already pushed a few buttons this week.  Oh well, you can't say I'm not stimulating the economy.  Check out the other stash reports posted over at Patchwork Times. 

Wordless Wednesday - Last of the Blooms

15 Minute Challenge

Autumn officially starts on Saturday, but the signs are already clearly evident.  It's turned cooler, for which we are extremely grateful for after sweating through the hot and dry summer.  My Guy was trying to get the yard work done last night, but some clouds rolled in making it almost full dark by 7:35.  Losing the light early is on of my least favorite things about fall.  The leaves here don't usually start changing until October.  Not sure how much of that we'll see, so many trees lost their leaves during the summer due to the drought.  But it's obvious that summer is on it's way to more southern climes. 

The cooler weather has made the sewing studio much more comfortable in the afternoons.  I've actually been able to sew a couple of days without running the ceiling fan, which was pretty much in constant motion this summer.  I've noticed not being as tired when I get home.  For some reason the heat of summer just takes it out of you, even if your only exposure is the walk from the office to your car after work.  At any rate, last week was a pretty good one in terms of finding at least 15 minutes to sew most nights. 

The only day I didn't sew was Thursday.  Drama Teen's school celebrated it's 100 year anniversary last week.  The school hosted a big anniversary dinner on Thursday.  So we all prettied up and attended. 

Progress has been more plentiful in the last few weeks.  I think in part because I've started working on more than one project at a time.  I guess my main focus this month is the Layer Cake Quilt Along project, which is the UFO for the month.  The Sofa Quilt continues as a leaders and enders project.  I've worked in sewing the binding for The Fat Quarter Stars project and getting the quilt trimmed and squared up so I can stitch on the binding.  In there somewhere the Rainbow Challenge and Grandmother's Choice blocks have been cut out and sewn together. 

Overall, fabric usage is up and more projects are moving along.  Feels pretty good.  But I've noticed this itch to start something new.  I have a number of PIGS (projects in grocery sacks) that I've accumulated over the years and a couple of them are calling my name.  Maybe I'll give in and start one of those before the month is out. 

How goes it with your personal quilting/crafting efforts?  Here's Mr. Linky if you are willing to share. 

1. Amanda

2. Thea

3. Kate

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Design Wall Monday - September 17th

We got rain and cooler weather for the weekend.  It was a very welcome change.  Most of Saturday was spent in Tulsa for volleyball games and Sunday morning was reserved for laundry and a bit of housework.  However, that left the weekend afternoons to get some sewing in. 

The Fat Quarter Stars Quilt is back from being quilted.  It's been trimmed and the binding made, but that's as far as that one progressed.  I did finish block 3 in the Grandmother's Choice BOW. 

Grandmother's Choice
Barbara Brackman BOW

Block 3 was a lot easier than block 2.  I'm really liking the dark purple with the green. 

The first round of borders have been added to the Layer Cake Quilt Along project.

Layer Cake Quilt Along
By Moose on the Porch

The border fabric doesn't photograph well, but it has the same teal color in it as the sashing.  The pink in it really stands out in the photo.  It looks a lot better in person.  There will be one more narrow teal border than a wider border of the paisley.  I was hoping the border would pull all the blocks together, but I'm not sure that's going to happen.  The border print is from the same line as the fabric in the blocks, so I was hopeful it would have the desired effect. 

That's what is up on my design walls.  I'm linking up with Patchwork Times this week.  Hop over there to see what's showing up on design walls every where. 

A Fair Weekend

Last weekend was our county fair.  My Guy grew up on a farm and his Dad was one of the 4-H sponsors, so he's done the fair thing before.  Neither Drama Teen or I had much experience with county fairs.  I had considered entering a quilt a few times, but up until this year, all the quilting divisions required that the maker had to do both the piecing and the quilting.  That pretty much shut down any possibility of entering a quilt as I don't do my own quilting.  But this year they added a category for "commercially quilted".  So I got a copy of the fair book to see what was required for an entry.  My Guy took a look at the book and suggested that we all enter photographs since I was making the trip to the next town over to enter the quilt anyway.  I hadn't actually decided to enter anything, but both he and DT were having such fun talking about which photos to enter that I just gave in.  It was a learning experience for all of us. 

 

I decided to enter the purple and yellow scrap quilt (aka And Kiss Me Jack).  We'd never made it up to the fair before, usually we have swimming or something else going on, so we had no idea what the competition looked like.  I was pretty surprised to find  a blue ribbon pinned to my quilt. 

 

That definitely exceeded my expectations. To be honest there wasn't a lot of competition in my division, but it's still a nice feeling to place well. This was the first time outside the blog that I've shown any of my quilts.   

The photography division was a lot more competitive. Drama Teen garnered a third place for one of her photos.

She was a bit disappointed because what we all regarded as her best photo didn't place at all.  But once we got to looking at the junior category, it was obvious that she should be pleased to have placed at all.  There were some really good photos in that division. 

 

My Guy and I had to enter the advanced category as we have DSLRs (which is a bit ironic as I'll explain in a minute).  My Guy garnered a second place for his panoramic entry.

 

 

This image was taken on the DT's school trip to Colorado they took back in May.  (DT's picture above is from the same trip.)  This shot was taken with My Guy's point and shoot camera, not the DSLR.   It's one of the boys climbing up the sand dunes. 

 

Much to my surprise, I ended up with three ribbons in the photography divisions.   

 

 

The tulip shot was taken with my point and shoot, the other two were taken with the DSLR.  The second place on the dragonfly shot is ample payment for my battle with the horseflies that I lost just before that picture was taken. 

 

So our first family experience as fair entrants was a pretty good one.  I think we ended up with a grand total of $9.00 in fair winnings.  We celebrated with ice cream, which just about took care of the winnings. 

Stash Report - September 16th

Volleyball went OK yesterday.  They lost their first set, but won the second.  Not bad for a team that has never played together before.  Only seven more weeks till the season is over, then we'll start club volleyball.  At least Drama Teen decided to drop swimming.  We won't be running as much as we did last year when she did both.  Maybe the house will get a bit cleaner and a few more quilts will get done. 

We did get home in time for me to do some sewing yesterday evening.  Most of what I did was cutting and no real sewing.  Still there is a bit going out for the week. 

Used last week:  0.75 yards
Added last week:  0 yards

Used for 2012:  30.17 yards
Added for 2012:  246.88 yards

Net stashed for 2012:  216.71 yards

I've managed to clear 30 yards out.  That's still less than half of what my target was for the year.  With only a little over 3 months left in the year, I don't think I'm making that goal this year. 

That's it for me this week.  To see the state of the stash in other places, check out the postings over at Patchwork Times. 

Rainbow Scrap Challenge - Orange Part 2

It's been a long week, so I'm glad it's the weekend.  Drama Teen is playing volleyball for school again this year, so we are off early this morning to play the first 2 games.  It should be interesting since she's one of two girls playing on the boys team.  She attends a very small school which this year didn't have enough girls or boys to put together separate teams,  so the diocese allowed the school to field a mixed gender team.  Since the team has more boys than girls, it's being dubbed a "boys" team.  Half the team has never played in the school league, so it may be a really long season.  But at least Drama Teen gets to play.  

Last weekend was my last "free" sewing weekend until the volleyball season is over.  I did get a lot done on several projects, including the last orange coffee cup for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

Block pattern by Janet McCarroll
published in Block Magic Too by
Nancy Johnson-Srebro

I always associate orange with Halloween, so there was no question that these little guys had to be made into a cup.  It's been a lot of fun selecting the fabrics for these blocks, there is quite a diverse collection up on the design wall.

Block patterns from Karen F. Srebro and Janet McCarroll
publised in Block Magic and Block Magic Too by
Nancy Johnson-Srebro

Not that I want time to pass any faster, but it certainly is hard to wait till next month to see what the next scrap color will be.  I skipped the neutrals month, so there will still be 3 blocks to make after the 9 blocks are made for Oct., Nov. and Dec.  I played with the idea of just going ahead with those 3, but I should probably wait till I know what the last 3 colors are.  Then I can fill it with whatever seems appropriate. 

That's it for my adventures with scraps.  I hope to link up with Soscrappy before we head out the door this morning.  I'll have to wait till the afternoon to check out what other scrappy fun has been posted there. 

15 Minute Challenge - September 11

Today marks the 11th anniversary of 9/11.  My heart and prays go out to those who lost love ones in New York, Washington, and on flight 93.  The course of so many lives were altered that day, it's hard to take in all the implications.  So I'll remember and honor those that are no longer with us by trying to appreciate all the simple and not simple things that make up each day given to me. 

It's Tuesday which means it's time for the 15 Minute Challenge report.  I  didn't do a good job last week of making the most of the time I had. 

But I do have the opportunity to make better use of my time this week.  

How did you do this week on finding time to do something crafty you love?  




 

1. Kate 2. Lesley @ Quilt-a-Daisy

3. Cyn;-) in S. Calif 4. Thea

5. Amanda

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Design Wall Monday - September 10th

It was a quiet weekend, not much going on.  We attended the 100th year anniversary service for Drama Teen's school on Sunday.  Between the service and the following reception, that took up most of Sunday morning.  But that left Sunday afternoon for sewing. 
 Amethyst, block 2, of the Grandmother's Choice BOW was finished.  Sewing with templates is something I haven't done much of.  I may need to start marking the stitching lines at the corners because I'm not quite getting those right.  But the Amethyst block came out OK as long as I apply the galloping horse rule. 

Grandmother's Choice
Barbara Brackman BOW

 

Most of the machine time this weekend was spent on UFO #11, the Layer Cake Quilt Along project from 2010.

 

 

Layer Cake Quilt Along
By Moose on the Porch

 

I finished framing all the blocks and started assembling the blocks into rows.  I'm not in love with this quilt, I'm hoping the borders will help tie all the disparte blocks together.  The layer cake included both colorways of this line, but the two colorways don't mingle well to my mind.  But I'll finish it and probably use it to practice doing my own quilting, something that's been on the to do list for several years, but I've not actually done yet.  In a number of ways, this quilt has been a good learning experience. 

 

That's it for the design wall. I'm linking up with Patchwork Times as usual and hope to have some time this evening to check out all the eye candy posted there.   









Stash Report - September 9th

Last week was exhausting.  I'm not sure why but I ended up going to bed early almost every night last week.  Consequently, not a lot of sewing happened.  However, after getting the laundry whipped out and taming the pile of paper on my desk, I did get a good stretch of time in the sewing room yesterday.  Which is a good thing, the stash report would have been really anemic without it. 

Used last week:  0.70 yards
Added last week: 0 yards

Used for 2012:  29.42 yards
Added for 2012:  246.88 yards

Net stashed for 2012:  217.46 yards

Nothing in this week, which helps the net stashed numbers.  I'm way off the pace in terms of fabric usage this year.  UFO #11 is coming along, so maybe I'll get a back made this month.  That's always good to bump up the yardage going out.   

That's pretty much it for the stash report.  I'm linking up with Judy over at Patchwork Times this week as usual.     

Rainbow Scrap Challenge - Orange Part 1

I'm not sure why it is that the 4 day work week after the three day holiday weekend seemed so long, but it sure seemed to take forever to get to Saturday this week.  Not much going on this weekend thankfully.  However, the house needs some attention this morning, plus the piles of laundry are getting rather alarmingly large, so it looks like that will take priority this morning.  The sewing room will have to sit empty until this afternoon. 

I did take Labor Day to heart last weekend and didn't do much other than sew.  So to an extent it's time to pay the piper.  But I did get a lot of sewing done last weekend, including 2 orange blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

Block pattern by Janet McCarroll
published in Block Magic Too by
Nancy Johnson-Srebro

Both My Guy and I went to graduate school at OSU (That's Oklahoma State University, not to be confused with Oregon State University which not only has the same initials, but the same school colors).  I have a whole collection of OSU fabrics that will at some future date make it into a quilt, so I just cut off a bit from one fat quarter to make the block. 

Block pattern by Karen F. Srebro
published in Block Magic by
Nancy Johnson-Srebro

It's amazing what you can do with a bit of fussy cutting.  This cup turned out really cute.  Even My Guy likes it.  I'm still working on cup number 3 for the month, so I don't have a picture of the all the blocks to date.  You can see what was up on the design wall at the end of August here. 

I'm really enjoying the challenge and making the blocks.  It's been fun to see what other scrappy projects are in the works.  Definitely getting some ideas for next year.  I'm going to go link up with Soscrappy and then check out what new scrappiness has been going on this month. 

15 Minute Challenge - September 4th

Three day weekends are such great opportunities to sew.  But with Labor Day now behind us, the next long weekends will be the holidays (at least for those of us who live in the US).  The year seems to speed up as it goes along.  January always seems to pass so slowly for me.  But by the time we get to September,  it feels like the month only lasts a couple of weeks and then we are into October.    Maybe part of that is because I have a lot of October deadlines at work.

I did take advantage of the long weekend to sew, pretty much ignoring any "labors" devoted to housework for the entire weekend.  Other than Friday, which was the night all three of us came home pretty much comatose, I sewed every night the last 7 days. 

The Layer Cake Quilt Along project is from 2010 and is this month's UFO.  It was last month's UFO too and I didn't touch it until just before the end of August.  I'd like to get it off the list and as it's the only one of my UFO's with all the blocks finished, it's the one most likely to actually get done. 

I'm still working on the Sofa Quilt, but as a leaders and enders project.  I've mentioned before that having to trim all those flying geese for block B was really demotivating me.  By moving that project to the back burner, I was able to work on not only the LCQA project, but make the first block of the Grandmother's Choice BOW and make some progress on the coffee cup blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge as well.  I'm just a lot more productive if I'm working on multiple projects at time rather than limiting myself to one.   A lesson I need to remember. 

Did you find some time to sew over the holiday weekend?  Either way, link up and share how your sewing/crafting is going. 

1. Amanda, Seabreeze Quilts 2. Thea

3. Lesley @ Quilt-a-Daisy 4. Kate

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Design Wall Monday - September 3rd

Happy Labor Day if you live in the US, happy Monday if you live elsewhere.  I've done a pretty good job of avoiding labor this weekend.  Other than a few loads of laundry and cleaning off the dining room table, no other housework has been done.  I've spent lots of time in the sewing room this weekend, but not all the time has been spent sewing.  I'm still in the process of organizing all my fabric that was transferred from bins to shelves last December.  So I sew for a bit and then organize for a bit.  Even though I'm far from finished with the organization, just getting the fabric out on shelves has helped a lot with shopping the stash when I want to start something new. 

Speaking of new, there is new project up on the design wall this week.  Barbara Brackman's year long block a week and history discussion of the women's suffrage movement, Grandmother's Choice, started Saturday.  The first block is finished.

Grandmother's Choice
Barbara Brackman BOW

The green background is darker than what I've typically used for a background.  But I like how it came out.  I'm using a fat quarter bundle of Moda's Decadent Victorian for this project.  The other colorway in the line is cream with the purple.  I've not decided if I'll switch back and forth on the background fabric, or if I'll stick with the green. 

The other project that's seen some action this weekend, is the Layer Cake Quilt along project from Moose on the Porch's 2010 BOM.   This is UFO #11 on my list. 



Layer Cake Quilt Along
By Moose on the Porch

Nine of the twelve blocks have been framed.  I'll probably move the blocks around again once all of them are framed and separate the blue blocks a bit.  I've tried out several layouts and nothing seems to work well.  Any suggestions? 

That's what is up on my design walls this week.  I'm linking up with Patchwork Times as usual.  Check out the other labors of love posted there. 

Stash Report - September 2nd

Wow, it's September already.  I'm not sure what happened to August.  If past experience is any indicator, the next couple of months will go by in a blink. That's way to scary to contemplate on a Sunday morning when I haven't even finished my first cup of coffee.  On to safer topics, like stash reports.

I actually sewed this week after spending most of last week picking out fabric for the Grandmother's Choice BOW.  I'm still working on The Sofa Quilt, making the flying geese for block B as leaders and enders.  I'm almost done with those!  Block 1 of the BOW is done, as is the first pumpkin coffee cup for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, plus 3 more blocks from this month's UFO have the sashing added.  Feels good to make so much progress on what's up on the design wall and have fabric in the out column this week. 

Used last week:  0.76 yards
Added last week:  0 yards

Used for 2012:  28.72 yards
Added for 2012:  246.88 yards

Net stashed for 2012:  218.16 yards

Nothing in this week.  So, I'm doing pretty well with the fabric diet.  I'm hoping to get the Layer Cake Quilt Along project all sashed and the borders added, so I can make the back which would really help the stash report. 

That's it for me this week.  I'm going to get my second cup of coffee and jump over to Patchwork Times to see what's up in the world of stash busting. 

Foto Finish - Wet

I've been given permission to forgo any labor today so I can play in my sewing room.  What a nice way to start a weekend.  No big plans for us this weekend.  Considering we were all in bed fairly early last night, I think we all need a "down" weekend.  But before I can head in the direction of the sewing room, a "wet" photo has to be found for today's Foto Finish. 

One thing that continues to amaze me each week as I get ready to write this post is how the week's theme affects what photos catch my eye.  I try not to start with a preconceived notion of what I'll post.  Drama Teen is a swimmer, so I have lots of pool shots.  But is that really the best interpretation of the theme?  If I had not found anything in the files, then I'd definitely have done the obvious, but it's fun to find something unexpected in the files.  

  
What's more wet than water droplets?  I have no idea what plant this is.  It may be a tulip leaf, but it doesn't have the right color.  At any rate, I really like the droplets.  They look like little crystals sitting there in the sun.  There had been a heavy dew the night before and everything was wet.  The knees of my jeans stayed wet for hours after our morning photo expedition that day.

Now it's time for breakfast and then I'll adjorn to the sewing room.  I'm contemplating staying in my PJs for the day as one way of celebrating Labor Day weekend.  Enjoy your weekend, but do check out the other wet and wonderful shots posted over at Cat Patches.