Week 9 Stash Report and February Let's Book It Update

I'm glad it's Sunday, I was ready for a day of rest.  It's been one of those crazy weeks.  Since Drama Teen has been able to drive herself, my evenings are typically free.  That wasn't true this week.  Evening meetings, a trip to Tulsa and judging at the regional Science Fair put a significant dent in my stitching time this week.  Even so, there's still a bit to report as outgoing this week. 

Used last week:  0.90 yards
Used in February:  6.85 yards
Used year to date:  16.12 yards
Purchased year to date:  0 yards
Net used for 2016:  16.12 yards

I finished the last block for the Midnight Mystery quilt, so my fabric usage will slow down in March.  There's a lot of business travel on my schedule for March, so my stitching will slow down a bit like it did this week.  There just wasn't both the time and energy to get in my 15 minutes of stitching many evenings this week.  

This week:  3 out of 7 days with 15 minutes of stitching
This month:  20 out of 27 days
This year:  51 out of 58 days

Some weeks are just going to be that way.  But having the goal helps with my motivation.  Three days of stitching is better than none. 

Along with finishing up the last block of the Midnight Mystery quilt, one more Poinsettia block is done.  

Poinsettias
By Judy Blok for the December 2013 issue
of American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine

Poinsettias doubles as my current leaders and enders project, as well as my Let's Book It Project.  There are 9 blocks total, so I'm just over 50% done with the blocks. I like it more with each block added to the design wall.  This will probably become my "focus" project once Allietare reaches the finished flimsy stage.  But then I have to find a new Let's Book It Project plus a new leaders and enders project.  

I'm linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times for the stash report and Vrooman's Quilts for the February Let's Book It Challenge.  

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.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge - Anything but Drab Brown

The weekend started early for me as Friday was a day off.  After a few errands that took up the morning, I was able to spend most of the afternoon in the sewing room.  Not all of it was stitching, I'm also trying to put some order to the sewing room.  The fabric closet has gotten out of hand, so some time was spent there figuring out a plan of attack and making a start on putting it to rights.  

Once the stitching got started, I finally finished a Vintage Dress block in brown.  

 Vintage Dresses by Charise Randell

I would wear this one if it was real, though brown is not really my color.  This was the easiest of the 4 dress patterns, it went together so much easier than the first two blue dresses did.  Can't say that for the final dress in the pattern.  It has lots of pieces.  Lots of little bitty pieces.  I've started putting it together, so far so good.  But I haven't gotten to the part with the itty, bitty pieces yet.  

I'm hoping for some more good stitching time this afternoon. For now I'm going to finish my coffee and check out all the scrappy blocks over at Soscrappy.  

Leader and Ender Progress for February

When I switched from sewing clothing to making quilts there was a bit of an adjustment period as the work process are a bit different.  I'm a relative slow sewer, I was always the one in class who finished each step last.  Which is OK, it's not a competition, I just never seemed to get much done while I was in class.  But there are two processes that really help on the productivity front.  Chain piecing really speeds up the assembly process, while leaders and enders allows you to make two projects at once.  Both techniques have made a big difference in how I approach quilting projects.  

It's the third Tuesday, so it's time to join Cathy of A Quilting Chick by reporting on the progress of the current leaders and enders project.  At this time in January, two of the Poinsettia blocks were finished.  

Poinsettias By Judy Blok for the December 2013 issue of
American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine

In the last month, another two blocks have been assembled. 

Poinsettias By Judy Blok for the December 2013 issue of
American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine

It's been fun to see each block come together.  The quilt has 9 of these blocks, so there are still 5 left to assemble, as well as the sashing that goes between the blocks.  Block 5 is partially assembled and will probably be completed by the end of this week. At two a month, it's still going to be a bit before this project is completed.  That's OK, it's not a race.  I am hoping to finish this one up before Christmas this year and that is still a ways off (thankfully!).  

You can see more leaders and enders projects over at A Quilting Chick.  Linking up the mid week WIP with:

Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts
Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation  

Weekend Stitching: - More than Half Past Midnight

Did you have a nice Valentine's Day?  I certainly did.  We had a very slow and relaxing Sunday.  My Guy and Drama Teen made a very special Sunday dinner to celebrate the holiday.  It was better than going out.  

February's goal is to get the Midnight Mystery quilt to the finished flimsy stage.  Tomorrow is the 15th, so it's a good thing I'm more than half way there.  

Midnight Mystery Quilt From Meadow Mist Designs

The red doesn't photograph very well, the quilt actually looks a bit more sedate in real life.   I'm really happy with how this one is coming together.  Just three more blocks to assemble then it will be time to sew the rows together.  

That's it for me this week.  You can find more project progress at: 

Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts