Stitching Stuff: Week 3 of 2023

It was sunny and 61 F on Tuesday, so I went for a long walk. It was raining and 40 F today, so I stayed in the sewing room most of the day.  I'm really ready for more of the 60 plus temps, but it sounds like we'll have to wait a few more weeks for that.  Till then, it should be easy to get my stitching time in each week. 

My routine seems to be developing again after all the interruptions due to the holiday and then getting sick.  It was another excellent week on the stitching front. 

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/Jan = 19/21 days
• 15 minute days/2023 = 19/21 days
• Success rate = 90.48%

So far so good on finding time to stitch.  

The sewing room needs a lot of attention. My plan when I retired last year was to spend Sunday mornings cleaning, decluttering and organizing my sewing space.  Last weekend was the first Sunday anything along those lines actually happened.  I started my clean up in the southeast corner.  The first order of business was to get a handle on all the scraps. 

 

I have one drawer, two bags and one small blue bin of scraps that need to be pressed, trimmed and sorted by color.  I got a late start last week, but still managed to empty the little blue bin in front of the two sacks. 

It doesn't look like much, but there's a lot of  2" and 2.5" strips those piles.  All the strips got sorted into the proper box by size and color.

 

That is a drop in the bucket, but at least the process is started. The plan is to tackle more scraps later this morning.  It may take a few weeks, but it will be nice to empty both sacks. Then I won't have to keep moving those around when I want to get to something else. 

How did your stitching week work out?  Did you stitch, organize, or do something else entirely?   

1. Gretchen 2. Ivani 3. Julie in GA 4. Karen 5. Michelle 6. Colletta's Kitchen Sink

7. Melisa- Pinker n' Punkin Quilting 8. Frederique 9. Susan in TN 10. DonnaleeQ 11. Quilting Gail 12. maggie f

13. Andre at Quilting and Learning 14. Lyndsey 15. Janice 16. Carol Andrews 17. Celine 18. Amanda

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Stitching Stuff: Week 28 of 2021

The big work project that was eating my lunch early this year isn't over, but it's finally been beaten into submission.  Now I just need to get caught up on other assignments. But at least I'm not having to work those long days I was earlier this year and my stress level is much, much lower now.  So it's been much easier for me to get in my stitching time each day. 

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/July = 10/10 days
• 15 minute days/2021 = 165/191 days
• Success rate = 86.38%

One of my little side efforts this year has been to get a handle on my scraps. I have two big bags of them, plus this drawer that was just packed. 

This is what the drawer looked like at the end of January.  This is what it looks like now. 

 

It's about half as full as it was.  I do a bit of trimming while I wait for the iron to warm up to press freshly stitched seams. It's been slow, but effective.  

How did your stitchy week go? 

1. Julie in GA 2. maggie f 3. Ivani 4. Chrisknits 5. DonnaleeQ

6. Meloney 7. Sherrie 8. Shasta @ High Road 9. DawnyK 10. Quilting Gail

11. Amanda 12. Dq at Dreamworthyquilts 13. Carol @ Quilt Schmilt

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Stitching Time: Week 10 0f 2021

The weather is starting to show signs of spring. It was warm enough to get back to our evening walk several nights this week.  I still managed to fit in my stitching time as well.

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/Feb = 28/28 days
• 15 minute days/March = 6/6 days
• 15 minute days/2021 = 62/64 days
• Success rate = 96.88%

Most of my stitching time this week was spent on hand stitching down the binding for the Red, White and Blue Stars quilt.  I finished that off Friday night, so Saturday I was able to empty the project boxes. 

There were two project boxes dedicated to this quilt.  One had yardage the other had the fat quarters and left over strips, plus the book containing the instructions for making the star blocks.  Everything got put away into the right bin and now I have two empty project boxes.

Some of my other boxes have multiple projects in them. I should probably go through the boxes and at least separate out the ones that are on this year's quilt plan. 

What are you working on in your sewing room? Organization or stitching? Both? Were you able to work in your 15 minutes most days?  

1. Ivani 2. Marti 3. Julie in GA 4. Shasta @ High Road 5. Chrisknits 6. Stitching Loving Nana :)

7. karen 8. maggie f 9. Sherrie 10. Dq at Dreamworthyquilts 11. Meloney 12. DawnyK

13. DesertSky Quilting 14. Quilting Gail 15. Amanda 16. Carol Andrews

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Stitching Time: Week 5 of 2021

The last day of January is going to be cold and really windy, perfect stitching weather.  The weather this last month has been really conductive to spending time in the sewing room.  That's definitely helped get me back on track in terms of working in some stitching time most days.  How about you?  Are you finding more or less time to stitch in 2021?  

Work was cooperative this week and we didn't have to work very late any evening, plus we took our monthly day off on Friday.  It was a good week on the stitching time front. 

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/Jan = 28/30 days
• 15 minute days/2021 = 28/30 days
• Success rate = 93.33%

I've only missed two days of stitching time this year, so I'm off to a good start on that front. You can link up and share how your first month of 2021 is going at the bottom of the post. 

With all the nasty weather this month, I've had a few sewing sessions that lasted most of the afternoon/evening.  It's been nice finding the time to sew, but I paid for those sessions with a sore shoulder and aching back the next morning.  I had similar problems back in 2018, so replaced my student desk with an adjustable sewing table. That helped a lot. So why are the problems back again?  I've been using an old office chair for the past 15 years. It won't adjust anymore and that was causing me to hunch over the sewing table.  So it was probably time to replace it.  The replacement came Thursday. 

It took a day to get the height right. But I was able to sew all afternoon yesterday without a back ache.  Definitely a good decision.  I'm hoping for another full afternoon of pain free stitching today.   

So how did your stitching go this week? 

 

1. Chriskntis 2. Julie in GA 3. martha mumaw 4. maggie f 5. Chris in Canada 6. Ivani

7. Meloney 8. Quilting Gail 9. DI 10. DesertSky Quilting 11. DawnyK 12. Jennifer in Indy

13. dreamworthy quilts 14. Shasta @ High Road 15. Amanda 16. Marti 17. Carol Andrews

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Best of Life in Pieces 2020

For the 6th year I'm linking up with Meadow Mist Designs "Best of" linky party.

It's a chance to look back at the "best" or most favorite posts on my blog this year.

1.  Most views (1579): Just A Bit of Stitching Stuff

Rainbow Binding for Twinkle Stars

I'm not sure why this one got so many views.  I guess one of the labels popped up as a result during a common Google search?  Though the rainbow binding for Twinkle Stars is pretty cool. 

2. Most comments (35): 10 Years At Life in Pieces

Hard to believe it's been 10 years since I started blogging.  The sewing room has been rearranged a few times over that ten years, but it looks pretty much the same now (except probably a good deal messier). 

3. Most link ups for the 15 Minute Challenge: Week 1 of 2020

There were 19 link ups for the first 15 Minutes to Stitch post of 2020. By week 2, the link ups had fallen to 14. Currently there are about 9 bloggers who link up regularly. This approach to getting in that sewing time doesn't work for everyone. It's been really helpful to me into the sewing room most days, especially as messed up as this year has been on a number of fronts.  The weekly 15 Minutes to Stitch linky party will continue this year.   

4.  My favorite finish: Fourth Finally Finished 

Storm at Sea (Streams)
Paper Piecing Class by Carrie Randell (Quilter's Hideaway)
Started:  March 9, 2019  Finished: October 19, 2020

Storm at Sea (Streams) was finished in October and now lives on my bed.  It's definitely My Guy's favorite finish this year.  

5. My favorite blog photograph: Week 21 of 2020: Stitching Stuff    

After being locked down for 9 weeks, we finally ventured to Tulsa for a much needed shopping trip and had lunch in the Tulsa Rose Garden.  It was so nice to get out of the house for a bit and check out the pretty flowers. They were a much needed lift after weeks of worry and working from home. 

I hope you enjoyed my top 5 posts from 2020. You can check out more best of the best over at Meadow Mist Designs Best of 2020 linky party.  

10 Years at Life in Pieces

 Today is Life in Pieces 10 year blogiversary.  It's been ten years of stash reports, design wall Mondays and connecting with some of the most creative, inspiring and fun people. I'd name names, but I'm sure I'd leave someone out. I don't belong to the local guild as they only meet during the week and this working girl isn't able to attend. But I've been so fortunate to have what I've come to think of as my on line guild. There are weekly show and tells, demolish your UFO programs, work down your stash programs, tutorials and my most favorite things the quilt alongs, BOMs and mystery quilts.  

The blog has been a place to record not just the quilty stuff that goes on, but also what's been going on in the rest of my life.  When I started the blog Kiddo (aka the Scientist in Training) was 11 years old. 

Mom (and Dad) spent a lot of time at volleyball practice, volleyball games and volleyball tournaments. There was also swim practice and swim meets in there too.  I have a lot more stitching time these days and I do not miss those o'dark thirty morning rushes to get out the door headed to somewhere for some sporting event. But I do miss the girl now that she's mostly all grown up and off at college.  

While the SIT has changed a lot, my sewing room hasn't changed too much in the last 10 years.

Though it is a great deal messier. 

Maybe because I have more time to hang out there?  We'll go with that explanation. 

So thanks for posting such cool, fun, inspiring stuff. And thank you for hanging out with me, for all the moral support, for all the suggestions, and for all the wonderful comments over the last 10 years. 

It wouldn't be a blogiversary without a give away. So I have this fat quarter bundled of Anthology Batiks from Windham Fabrics to help celebrate. 

Leave me a comment about what you like best about blogging, if you not sure what to write.  I'll pick a winner on Saturday, September 12th and announce it on next week's 15 Minute Challenge post. 

For those in the USA, have a relaxing Labor Day weekend.   

A Bit of This and That

It was a get through it week and weekend.  The Scientist in Training headed back to college to sign a new lease on her apartment and help her roommate move in. Then she promptly came down with what appears to have been a nasty stomach virus. Poor girl, she was finally able to eat without feeling miserable last night.  She should be able to get to all her classes today (fingers crossed on that). On my end it was a weekend of texting her home remedies and commiserating on just how miserable it is to be sick when you are not home.  

The reorg of the sewing room continued this weekend.  Step one was to deal with the purchased patterns.  Last weekend they all got stuck one binder just to get them off my desk, but they weren't organized.  After organizing by general project type, it took two binders to contain that collection. 

Now a pattern can be located without flipping through a whole notebook to locate it.  I really do need to finish up a few UFOs, there are some really fun patterns I'd like to make. 

A marathon ironing session moved some of the washed fabrics out of the to be pressed bin and into the fabric closet so they can be readily used. 

I prewash my fabrics, so there's always a stack that needs pressing before they can be put away.  This pile is about half of what was in the bin. 

There was a bit of stitching this weekend.  The third round of borders have been added to Storm at Sea. 

Storm at Sea
Paper Piecing Class by Carrie Randell (Quilter's Hideaway)

The fourth border will be pieced. I'm still working on stitching the big blue diamonds, all the green square in a square blocks are ready.  So construction on this project will slow down for now. 

I still need to prep Vintage Dresses, that's my August One Monthly goal. Good thing there is still one full weekend and one partial weekend in August.  There is still time for me to get it done.  

Linking up with the usual Monday linky parties. 

Monday Making
Design Wall Monday
Main Crush Monday 

Not a Stitch

I walked into my sewing room Saturday with the intent of prepping Vintage Dresses for quilting.  That means vacuuming to minimize the possibility of contamination from stray threads on the floor and the cutting table. After dragging the vacuum up the stairs and plugging it in. I looked around and realized just how much of a mess the sewing room really was.  There's a lot of clutter and every available nook and cranny is stuffed with something.  There are bags of scraps on the floor because the scrap drawers are full, along with books because there is no shelf space left on the book cases. 

To deal with this mess, means finding space on the other bookcases.  So rather than prepping the quilt, I started decluttering.  What you don't see in this picture (cause I always forget to take "before" shots) is the double stack of magazine patterns that were piled up on the top of this book case. Those piles were not quite a foot tall.  That seemed like a good place to start.  By the end of the day yesterday I'd gotten this far. 

I emptied five binders while whittling down the stack to the patterns I really wanted to keep (tastes change).  That freed up a whole bunch of plastic sleeves.  So a bunch of patterns are going to the recycle place. 

The filed patterns fit in three binders. 

It will probably take four binders to hold these and what's not filed yet.  Still, that means four binders are coming off the book shelf, leaving room for a few more books. I've also started going through my quilting books and have decided that there's a few that should just go.  So those will get boxed up and taken to the library at some point.  

I spent all weekend on dealing with just the purchased and magazine patterns.  I'll try to finish that up this week and start scheduling time to work on some of the other clutter.  It's amazing what dragging a vacuum cleaner into a room can prompt!   

So no stitching to show off this week, there's not even a clean sewing room to show off, but at least I've made a start on making it better.  Linking up with the Monday Design Wall. 

Weekend Stitching - Star-ful

We spent Saturday and Sunday relaxing with the Scientist in Training, which was pretty nice.  She headed back to college yesterday just after lunch, so it was pretty quiet in the house after that.   

I spent the afternoon trying out my new sewing table.  It is definitely more ergonomic, I was able to sew all afternoon with no aches or pains.  Though, it's going to take me a bit to get used not having a drawer on the table.  I had to think about where the wound bobbins were when the one in the machine ran out. 

The Quilting Professional from SewPerfect Tables

  
Right now the bobbins are in the blue bin on the lower left.  They were in drawer that was to my right.  I'm going to get another rolling cart for the right side.  I have another black polka dotted one that has 3 drawers that will fit nicely under the right side of the table. That will have to wait till I can order a replacement, because the 3 drawer cart is currently being used in my office.  

I spent most of yesterday working on the first block of the Christmas Mystery quilt being sponsored by the local quilt shop.  Nothing to show there as yet, but two of the dancing star borders did get stitched together and then added to the Inverted Star blocks. 

Inverted Star:  Center blocks by Jessica Boschem of Common Threads
available from Craftsy as a free download.  Setting by Kate

I did get the top border laid out and ready for stitching.  But had to stop and add coping strips for the two corner stars so they would fit.  I'm happy with how this one is coming along.  I'm off this Friday with plans for a solo stitching retreat.  So hopefully the last two pieced borders, plus a final white border will all get added.  Then I need to figure out what will work as the backing. 

Linking up with the usual Monday linky parties. 
Main Crush Monday
Design Wall Monday 

Week 42 of 2018: More Stashing and Stitching

I've definitely needed my sanity sewing this week, though getting in those 15 minutes each day wasn't easy. 

I had to bring work home one night, so I missed one day of stitching this week. 

15 minutes stitching days/week = 6/7 days
15 minutes stitching days/Oct = 19/20 days
15 minutes stitching days/2018 = 275/293 days
Success rate = 93.86%

My goal is to end the year at over 90%, so I'm still on track there even with the day with no stitching.  

In spite of missing one day of stitching time this week, the stash report looks pretty good in terms of the outgoing numbers.

Fabric used this week: 3.12 yards
Fabric used in 2018: 37.99 yards
More out than in for 2018

The bulk of what went out was the backing for the Halloween Mystery quilt.  If I can get the Inverted Star borders finished, hopefully there will be another backing going out for October. I'm way off my target of 75 yards out for 2018.  I'm linking up with Quiltpaintcreate for this week's stash reports.  

The inserts for the new sewing table came on Tuesday, so the better part of yesterday afternoon was spent assembling the new sewing table and rearranging the sewing room a bit.  

The table is The Quilt Professional from SewPerfect Tables.  It's not glamorous, but it is very adjustable and very stable. 

The only thing I wasn't really happy with is the two drawers that came with the table. They are a very thin and flimsy plastic, that will break down with time. I opted not to stall those.  I'll probably add in another set of rolling drawers for the right side.  But otherwise, I'm really happy with my new set up.  I haven't had a chance to sew all day yet, I hope to do that next Friday.  Hopefully this set up will let me do that without waking up the next morning in pain.  

How did you do on finding time to stitch each day?  You can link up here and share your successes and challenges.  

1. Meloney 2. Julie in GA

3. Mary-Kay 4. Christina's Handicrafts

5. Aileen 6. Shasta

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Week 41 of 2018: More Stashing and Stitching

Sanity sewing was right at the top of my to do list this week, so getting in my 15 minutes of stitching each day wasn't hard. 

Plus now that it's getting dark earlier, my sewing room excursions are getting longer, so it was a lot more than 15 minutes each day. 

15 minutes stitching days/week = 7/7 days
15 minutes stitching days/Oct = 13/13 days
15 minutes stitching days/2018 = 269/286 days
Success rate = 94.06%

I'm hoping to finish the year with a success rate of 90%, so I've got a bit of cushion at the moment.  Hopefully I won't need it, but life is going to be hectic the next couple of months with holiday doings and looming project deadlines at work. 

Thanks to everyone who gave feedback last week on the 15 minutes of stitching linky parties for next year.  The linky will go live each Sunday (baring unforeseen Internet issues).   You can link up for this week at the bottom of the post. 

My stash busting isn't going so hot this year. I really need to just delete those Connecting Threads sale emails!  Oh well, it's nice to have a good selection when I'm ready to make a project.  Thankfully, there was a bit of stash going out this week.

Fabric used this week: 0.91 yards
Fabric used in 2018: 34.87 yards
More in then out for 2018

The plan is to finish a few quilts in the next couple of months. Hopefully the borders, backings and bindings on those projects will help up the outgoing numbers and I can meet my goal on the out going side at least.  Linking up with Quiltpaintcreate for the weekly stash report.

I'm really excited to get up to the sewing room today and get my new sewing table all set up.

At the moment it's sitting in the dining room still in the boxes. But I hope to enlist My Guy's help to get it upstairs. That small box is heavy! 

Happy stitching this next week.  You can link up below to share how you did on finding time to play with thread and fabric. 

1. Julie in GA 2. Meloney 3. maggie f

4. Aileen 5. Jennifer in Indy 6. Christina's Handicrafts

7. Shasta

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Week 39 of Stashing and Stitching

I am very glad to see the end of the last week.  It was definitely not one to repeat. It's a good thing there was lots of hand work on the menu or this week's 15 minutes to stitch report would be pretty dismal. 

Week 39 stitching report:

15 minutes stitching days/week = 7/7 days
15 minutes stitching days/Sept = 29/29 days
15 minutes stitching days/2018 = 255/272 days
Success rate = 93.75%

So why only hand work?  My shoulder problems caught up with me last weekend.  I had the rare opportunity to sew for two days in a row.  I woke up Monday morning in a good deal of pain.  After 2 days of heating pads and 4 days of anti-inflammatory medication, by Friday the shoulder was back to being as good as it gets.  So why am I blaming my sewing room.  It's the computer desk we bought 18 years ago as a "temporary" place for me to sew. 

My chair is adjustable, but I can't adjust it any higher.  So when I try to sew, my shoulders are not in a neutral position.  After two days, that took it's toll.  I posted a question on Facebook looking for suggestions.  There were many about cutting down the legs of the desk, cutting out the center and using the keyboard tray to hold the machine.  After a discussion with My Guy on those options, his vote was for me to not mess with the desk and buy a dedicated sewing cabinet.  His point was that I used the desk for 18 years and it didn't appear I planned to quit quilting anytime soon, so it just made sense to get something more ergonomic that would work for the next 18 years.  So last Friday, I ordered a sewing cabinet from Sew Perfect Tables.  It's not the prettiest table out there, but it's very adjustable, hit the mid-range price point and looks very sturdy (My Guy's input).  It should show up in about 4 weeks.  I'll let you know how that goes. 

In the mean time, I've found that the sewing machine will fit on the keyboard tray of the desk.

It vibrates a bit when I sew, but this set up will work for the next few weeks till the new cabinet comes in.  I don't leave the machine sitting on the tray when I'm not using it, I'm afraid it will bend the slides.  

Since there wasn't a lot of machine stitching this week, the stash report is a bit anemic. 

Fabric used this week:  0.47 yards
Fabric used in 2018: 32.75 yards
More in than out for 2018 

Linking up with Quiltpaintcreate for the weekly stash report. 

You can link up here to share how well you did at finding time to stitch. 

1. maggie f 2. Julie in GA

3. Mary-Kay 4. Aileen

5. Shasta 6. Christina's Handicrafts

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Tips and Tricks for Working on Multiple Quilt Projects

For some reason, I've never been a quilter who works on just one project at a time.  If there's a deadline for a project, I can make myself work on one quilt at a time.  Well mostly, because there has to be a leaders and enders project going at the same time.  But my sweet spot is working on about 4 quilts at a time.  Usually all in various stages of completion.  The maximum I've ever tried at one time has been six or seven.  That was too many, I didn't feel like any one project was getting anywhere.  Organization is key when trying to handle multiple projects at once.  I'm still learning how to improve work flow, but maybe some of what I've learned will help speed up your work flow. 

Work Area Set Up:

I have two design walls, a large and a small one.

This picture is from 2013, so it's older, but it illustrates the point.  There are four projects in progress.  If the blocks are small they will stay up on the design wall, if the blocks are larger, just the ones I'm working on go up on the wall.  That helps me see where I'm at in the construction process on multiple projects. 

Projects in Progress Organization:

Having a place for the projects in progress and the fabric in use makes it easy to find exactly what part I'm looking for.  

All of my projects are in project boxes.  The blocks and or block pieces for a project are either up on a design wall or in a project box.  It keeps my sewing space uncluttered and I can usually find exactly what I'm looking for.  The other trick that's been a life saver is how my fabrics are folded and stored.  The third shelf down are all the fabrics that are being used for the projects in the boxes.  I fold my fabrics much like they are on a bolt. I can unfold part of the yardage, give it a touch up press and then cut whatever pieces I need.  Since cutting isn't my favorite step, I tend to cut as I go, so there are less loose pieces for me to keep up with.  

Assembly Line Construction:

I learned about chain piecing in my first quilt class.  Not sure I can sew any other way now.  The big challenge has been where to store all the different block pieces for different projects so I can easily get to them as I'm lining up the various pieces to sew.   A recent addition to the sewing room seems to have solved that. 

I ordered this 5 drawer unit from Pottery Barn Teen when it was on sale earlier this year.  Each drawer has parts and pieces for the various projects in the work.  The top drawer as the pieces for this year's Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks, the next has pieces for En Provence, the current leaders and enders project.  Another drawer have the pieces for the Christmas Angels quilt which is my current third project.  

When I sit down to sew, I start lining up the blocks.  

From left to right is the binding for the Meadow Mist Mystery quilt, the RSC block, HSTs for the Angel quilt, sashing for En Provence and then En Provence block that I'm using as my lender and ender at the moment.  Yes, I could have done more than 2 of the HSTs for the Angel quilt, but I tend to make those in small sets so I'm not at the cutting table cutting them all at once.  That's one of the cutting chores I really dread.  Sprinkling those dreaded HSTs in with a set of other blocks keeps me moving that project along.  Is it fast?  No.  But I'm able to keep the project moving and it doesn't end up forever on the UFO list because of a step that is hard for me to power through.  

Method to the Madness:

When I started making quilts again, I had a two year old at home and a full time job that involved a lot of over time.  My sewing time was really, really limited.  Very often 15 minutes of sewing time was all I could eek out on a regular basis.  But I found a process that allowed me to make the most of that time. This is my work process:

1.  Cut whatever pieces are needed
2.  Pin the pieces at the sewing machine
3.  Chain sew what's sitting at the machine
4.  Press all the seams
5.  Repeat

With my 15 minutes one night, I'll cut what's needed for the next step.  The following night I'll use the time to pin all the pieces and maybe sew a few together.  The next night finishing stitching and press.  It's not a lot at any one sitting, but if I manage 15 minutes every night, there's a good deal of progress in a week.  

Recently I've learned that picking one project as the focus for the time period really helps with getting to a finish.  The One Monthly Goal has really helped with that.  So if it's just 15 minutes, that's the project where the time gets spent.  

Progress for the year using this approach:

4  Finishes
1  Binding in progress
1  Ready to send for quilting
1  UFO moved from pieces to finished blocks
1  Steady progress on En Provence 

We are all different in how we work best, this seems to fit the rhythm of my life.  What works or doesn't work in yours?     

Stash Report - Week 5 of 2017

We are all glad that last week is over.  Everyone survived the respiratory crud and was healthy going into Friday.  Let's hope it stays that way.  Apparently some type of stomach bug  and the strep are also working their way through the local school systems, so we weren't the only ones at work who missed a few days last week.  

Not much happened in the sewing room early in the week.  I barely managed to get in my 15 minutes those days I was home sick, but I did manage so I'm still 100% on finding time to sew every day this year.  I didn't manage a lot of stitching early in the week and that shows in this week's stash report.  

Used year to date:  11.23 yards
Added year to date:  54.3 yards
Net stashed: 43.07 yards

I'm slowly eating away at those early stash additions.  Thankfully there was nothing new in this week. Actually that's not quite true, there was no new fabric in this week.  There were some updates made to the sewing room.  I've not been very happy with the floor lamp over the cutting table.  It's not very stable and the individual lights don't stay in position like they are supposed to.  So I ordered a second Slimline LED floor lamp for the cutting table. 

I have one of these over my sewing machine and love the light it adds to my dark sewing room.  An added advantage is these LEDs give off light in the natural daylight range, which means if I use them for photography, I don't have to color correct the photos.  The lamp head swivels, so the light can be directed where it's needed.  I used it last night and it really helps light up that dark corner where my cutting table is located.   

The other addition is to help with the organization of projects at the sewing machine.  I tend to work on multiple projects at a time. Right now that list include Geometry, En Provence, the 2017 RSC blocks, and the Meadow Mist Mystery.  I was keeping the block pieces in little bins that sat on the floor by the machine.  But it got to the point that they were creating quite a clutter there on the floor and more than once they got kicked over spilling fabric pieces all over the place. Pottery Barn Teen had a sale on storage bins last week, so I thought why not. If I don't like them Drama Teen can probably use them. 

  

I don't think I'll be giving up this one.  I've got the teal fabric pulls for this month's RSC block in drawer two and what pieces I've got cut for En Provence in drawer three.  I sewed with this last night and love it.  It keeps everything separate, but right by the machine where I can get to it easily.   The second set of bins is still in the box.  I bought those to help with scrap storage.  I'll get that one assembled this afternoon.  Hopefully I'll like it as well.  

Linking up with Patchwork Times for this week's stash report.   

Stash Report - Week 8 of 2016

The weather here has been absolutely beautiful. Clear blue skies with highs in the low 80's yesterday.  The only negative has been the wind. It was strong yesterday, but not gale force like earlier in the week.   Since the weather was so nice, My Guy and I tackled cleaning out the rose beds.  We got one done and the other started before lunch time.  We decided to quit at lunch in hopes we wouldn't be too sore after all the bending and cutting.  My shoulder and back were a bit sore, but nothing that a 2 hour afternoon nap couldn't cure.  

The yard work and subsequent nap may have cut into my Saturday stitching time, but since I'd had Friday off, there is still plenty to report as outgoing. 

Used last week:  2.01 yards
Used in February:  5.95 yards
Used year to date:  15.22 yards
Purchased year to date:  0 yards
Net used for 2016:  15.22 yards

I'm still deleting all the quilt shop emails which helps keep the incoming to zero.  I'll have to do some refreshing at some point, but since I'm mainly working on UFOs right now, it will be awhile before I absolutely have to add some fabrics.

The stash output is aided and abetted by being in the sewing room on a consistent basis.  So I've been trying to spend at least 15 minutes every day working in the sewing room.  After getting a bit off schedule last week, I did well this week. 

This week:  7 out of 7 days with 15 minutes of stitching
This month:  17 out of 20 days
This year:  48 out of 51 days

It may not seem like much but those 15 minutes really add up over time.  

Though I didn't get much stitching done yesterday, I did get my new sewing room acquisitions set up.  The lighting in my sewing room is pretty poor, so I have floor lamps set up over the cutting table and the sewing machine.  The one by the sewing machine fell and broke a couple of months ago (possible earthquake damage?).  So it's been a bit dark which isn't a problem unless I'm un-sew  something.  Nancy's Notions had a sale on LED lighting last month, so I ordered a replacement floor lamp and a smaller desk lamp. 

My sewing area is definitely brighter.  The little LED lamp to the left is battery powered so I can move it pretty much anywhere I need it.  It also folds up. 

This will fit in my embroidery bag so I can add some much needed light when I'm on the road.  Hotel room lighting is pretty poor and my eyes just aren't what they used to be.  

The 2016 NASCAR season opens today at the Daytona 500, so I will definitely be at my sewing machine for most of the afternoon.  What are your Sunday stitching plans? 

Linking up with Patchwork Times once Judy gets the stash report post up.