Rainbow Scrap Challenge - Still in Catch Up Mode

It's a bit damp here at Life in Pieces.  It looks like we are going to get a bit of sun this morning, but the forecast says the rain will be back this afternoon or evening.  We've missed out on the worst of the storms this week, getting mainly just wind and rain.  The large hail and tornadoes have been to the south of us.  Sounds like the worst will be north of us today, but we'll keep a close watch on the weather today as it certainly can change quickly in these parts. 

I've gotten some time in the sewing room most nights this week, though you certainly can't tell that by what's up on the design wall. I'm still playing catch up on my Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks.  Just one completed purple Twinkle Star to show for my efforts this week.

Twinkle Stars, Tutorial by Andrea Feldbush of Soscrappy

I still have one purple star left to cut out, but the other 4 are in various stages of assembly.  So no green stars as yet, but I have selected the fabrics for them. 

In spite of all my fabric purchases over the last few years, my green stash is still pretty limited. I was able to pull enough to make this month's set of 6 blocks.  At some point I'll need to beef up this part of my stash, but for now I'm planning to stick to my fabric diet.  

This is the first project where I've gone first to my scrap strips to find the fabrics for the blocks.  I did a lot of cutting and sorting of my scraps last year and it's paying off this year.  I really need to get back in the habit of cutting a few strips, it does pay off when you are making scrappy blocks.    

That's it for me this week.  I'm seriously contemplating taking a solo retreat day tomorrow.  Drama Teen is having a sleep over tonight, so there will be no doing house work in the morning.  May as well sew right?  

I'm liking up with Angela over at Soscrappy.  Next on the agenda is my second cup of copy and some blog hopping to see what everyone is up too.  

WIPs - Still Playing with Purple

It's been a fast week already, I'm still wondering what happened to Monday and Tuesday.  In part, I think it's because I've fallen back into some bad habits.  Drama Teen passed her driver's test and is now getting herself to and from volleyball practice.  That means  Mom doesn't have to leave work at a set time to run DT home or someplace else.  I'm bad about getting busy with a project and not watching the time, before I know it it's 6:30 and I'm still working.  My Guy is worse on that front than I am, so he's no help in reminding me to go home.  There is always one more thing I could do before going home, I just have to remember to say no and shut things down.  

Even with the extended work hours since DT has been driving, I am doing better about getting into the sewing room a bit each evening.  Though the weekends will always be my best time for getting some stitching done.  I'm still working on the purple Twinkle Star blocks.

Twinkle Stars, Tutorial by Andrea Feldbush of Soscrappy

The purple and orange block just needs the last row attached and it will be done.  Four of the six purple blocks that were supposed to be made in April for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge have been started.  It's been slow going, but at least there is some progress.  I haven't pulled the fabrics yet for May's green blocks. 

The other WIP that's progressing is Grand Illusion, the last Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt.  

Grand Illusion, A Bonnie Hunter Mystery

Row 3 is done and sewn together.  I'll attach it to the other rows once the next sashing strip is assembled and stitched to the row.  I want to get this project done so I can tackle my oldest WIP.

Red, White and Blue Stars

I've not touched this project in 3 years.  It's next up once I get Grand Illusion to the finished flimsy stage.  

That's it on my WIP progress this week.  I'm linking up WIPs on Wednesday over at Esther's Quilt Blog, WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced and with Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation.  Good luck with all your WIPs.  

Wordless Wednesday - More Spring Blooms

Stash Report - Week 18 of 2015

It's been a beautiful weekend so far.  Highs in the low 80's and mostly sunny, though the mornings are still pretty cool.  It really seemed that Spring was taking it's sweet time in getting here this year, but it's definitely here now.  The pink roses just outside the dining room started blooming this week.  

The yellow roses on the other side of the front door haven't started blooming yet, but there are lots of little green buds popping up so it won't be much longer till they bloom too. 

Now that work has settled down some, I'm able to get back into the sewing room more regularly.  It shows in this week's stash report.  

Used last week:  0.70 yards
Used in April:  1.35 yards
Used year to date:  12.65 yards
Purchased year to date:  0 yards

Though I'm not burning through fabric at the rate I'd like, at least I'm making progress on using up some of the stash.  There's been no incoming fabric for 4 months.  That's a record for me, the longest I'd gone with no fabric purchases in the previous 5 years was 3 months.  Now if I can just get back on track with stitching for at least 15 minutes every day, I might use up a bit more fabric each week.  But even if I don't, I'm still happy with my progress so far this year.  If I can just keep it to more out than in, I'll be happy at the end of the year.  

I normally link up with Patchwork Times for the stash report most Sunday's.  Judy has a lot on her plate at the moment, her Mom has been ill and will need surgery.  So keep Judy's family in your prayers this week.  

Rainbow Scrap Challenge - Playing Catch Up

It's been over a month since I've posted any progress on this year's Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  I knew it had been a while, but I didn't realize it had been quite that long between posts.  Work has finally calmed down a bit, so I've been able to get back into the sewing room here and there.  But the time away was long enough to put me a couple of months behind on the Twinkle Star blocks.  I finished up all of the yellow blocks for March last weekend.  

Twinkle Stars, Tutorial by Andrea Feldbush of Soscrappy

I've made a start on the purple blocks for April. All the fabrics have been selected.

And a couple of blocks are actually partially constructed.  

But nothing green yet.  I'm hoping to at least get the fabric pulled for those blocks this weekend and have a couple of blocks completed by next week.  


I couldn't resist putting all blue, pink and yellow blocks up on the design wall to see how they all looked together.  

I can't wait to see the purple and green blocks mixed in as well.  

That's it for me this week.  Check out all the other rainbow projects over at Soscrappy.