Sunday, May 19, 2019

Week 20 of Stitching and De-stashing

It's spring in Oklahoma.  Which means the weather alternates from cold, wet and dangerous to hot, sunny and glorious.  Yesterday was thunderstorms, today is sunshine.  You can stitch in both, though I've been known to unplug the sewing machine during some of the stronger lightening storms.  The storms didn't keep me from getting in my 15 minutes of stitching time each day this week. How did you do at fitting in some fun and game time with fabric and thread?



The biggest challenge this week was fitting in some stitching time on the day I had the stomach bug. Thankfully it was just a 24 hour bug type of thing.  I was able to play with quilt labels rather than go up to the sewing room when I didn't feel too great. 

15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
15 minute days/May = 18/18 days
15 minute days/2019 = 126/138 days
Success rate = 91.30%

My percentage of stitching days is back over 90%, so I'm still on track with that goal. 

It was a good week on the de-stashing front as well. 

Fabric out this week = 1.39 yards
Fabric out for 2019 = 22.41 yards
More out than in for 2019 

I've done well with my fabric diet so far this year.  Even so, working fabric out of the stash takes significantly longer than it takes to push a few buttons and add fabric to the stash.  Linking up with Quiltpaintcreate for this week's stash report. 

My one 15 minute stitching spent not with fabric and thread was spent working on the label for my Vintage Dresses quilt. There was a comment from last week noting that the dresses in the fashion plates were quite a bit more vintage than the dresses in the quilt.  Here's that first label. 



I went looking for some clip art that was a bit less vintage.  There was some cool stuff on line, but then I remembered my dress patterns. When I was in high school and college, I made a lot of my own clothes. In those days it really was cheaper to buy the fabric and make something versus having store bought. So I hauled out the box of dress patterns and though they aren't from the 1950's, the style of several were pretty close that in some of the blocks.  So I grabbed the camera, spent a little time with clean up in Photoshop Elements and then ended up with this. 



I'm not sure I like the frames around the pattern fronts, but I think these dresses match better with the ones in the blocks.  I'm also wondering if it would be better to remove the white backgrounds and replace that with something else.  That takes a bit of time, but I may try it with one to see if how that works out. 

So how did you spend your stitching time this week? 



1. Pack Rat With a Plan
2. maggie f
3. karen
4. Julie in GA
5. Chrisknits
6. Quilty Most Wanted LIst
7. DawnyK
8. Amanda
9. Christina's Handicrafts

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17 comments:

Donna said...

Maybe if you replaced the white with something close to the color of the rest of the label and left the frame as is? You were quite the seamstress if you were making dresses like that in high school.

Pack Rat With a Plan said...

WOW! Your labels are amazing. Your graphic design skill is as good as your sewing skill.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

love your labels.

Rebecca said...

Oh Yes!...those work much better!

The Colorful Fabriholic said...

Love your revised label - much more timely.

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

You are one talented gal, Kate. Love reading your posts.

Quilter Kathy said...

And you made a lovely new header for your blog!

Miaismine said...

Gorgeous labels and header! You are so talented with fiber and the computer! Awesome! Thank you for sharing!

DawnyK said...

That does look more in line with the quilt top. You do such amazing work.

Katie Z. said...

What a lovely label! And I hear you on the weather. It’s the same here... we’re due for more flooding rain tomorrow.

chrisknits said...

I used to have sone of those patterns!!! OMG! Brings back memories.

Marti said...

Good turnout today! We had storms yesterday too but today was nice. Hubby is a storm watcher and we were out yesterday afternoon. A huge lightning strike hit the ground nearby and the part that hit the ground was bright red, but it didn't start a fire. I think you are smart to unplug your sewing machine during storms.

seabreezequilts said...

Back in my early 20's I use to sew all of my clothes. I used to go to a discount bridal/formal fabric shop run by a Vietnamese family and I use to pick up bargain fabric for suits. I knocked up a couple of suits for under$20 back then. I doubt I'd be able to do it now I don't have the time or the inclination to sew clothes to many other things to take up my stitching time. I still love the vintage label but you are right the 80's dresses match the blocks more.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

your labels - and your new header are awesome!!!

Emily said...

Yes, I noticed that the dresses in the original were a completely different style/time period than your vintage dresses. I like these much better--a better match. I like the new blog header!

Preeti said...

I spent my Saturday with nose to the machine, doing little else. I had to finish the Trinket Flimsy before the deadline. Glad I made it :-)
Did your blog get a haircut? Looks different but nice :-)

Jennifer said...

Same weather here in Indiana! Love the dresses on the updated label - the frame and white backing don’t bother me, but I will be interested to see how the label changes when you play with it.