Featherstone Quiltworks

Monochromatic Challenge:  Purchased border/binding fabric.  The rest of the fabric came from my stash.

Guild Project:  Purchased two FQs; the rest came from stash.  I’m counting this fabric, even though it’s for future guild meetings, as I’m keeping the project for myself.

Birthday Postcards:  Purchased 1 yard of the main fabric and am using about a 1.5 yards of additional fabrics out of stash.  This will make easily 35 postcards to have on hand.  Very cute — pictures tomorrow.

Used this Week:     8.5 yards
Used year to Date:    8.5 yards
Added this Week:    4 yards
Added Year to Date:    4 yards
Net Used for 2011:   4.5 yards

Note the date and time…I’m in the black!  I have lots of existing projects to work on for January and February, with some purchases needed to complete them.  I should start the year with some good numbers.  How are you doing?  Check out other quilters’ stash reports at Judy Laquidara’s blog.

–Sue

Well, my year of tracking fabric yardage in and out with Judy Laquidara is drawing to a close with only three more Sundays to go after today.  My original goal is long since abandoned, and I’m just hoping to come out even for the year.  I was so excited last week when I finally was showing 13+ yards busted.  Then I saw a large hand-dyed backing-sized piece I custom ordered from Vicki Welsh.  I hadn’t reported it the week before because it involved math, since it’s extra wide, to determine what the actual reportable yardage would be.  I did the math, and it comes out close to 9 yards.   Here is about 1/4 of the total piece, along with a close-up shot of a smaller portion yet.

And isn’t it yummy?  I’m going use it for a twin-sized whole-cloth quilt for a brand-new great-niece.  I’m picturing some feathers, some flowers and leaves, maybe incorporate her name.  Any other suggestions for freehand quilting? 

Vicki W. does such beautiful dye work.  Please take a minute to check out her goods on Etsy.  You can click here to be directed to her blog; there’s information on her sale that runs through TODAY, Sunday 12/6, how to get the sale prices, and how to get to her Etsy shop.

And thankfully I don’t report on my thread stash/purchases, as I took full advantage of Connecting Threads’ sale this last week.

I usually use a shade of gray, a shade of beige, black or white for thread.  Lately, however, I have wished for a specific thread color for a little top stitching or something of the like.  This assortment should keep me sewing for a good long time!  It was like opening a box of fabulous Godiva chocolates, but a lot less fattening.

Thanks for stopping by!

–Sue

BLOGGER’S NOTE:  OOPS!  I just remembered another BIG piece of fabric (a custom-dyed back from Vicki W) that I forgot to report, because I need to calculate what that wide yardage comes out too.  I’ll add it next week.  Oooooh, and I was looking so good this week!

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This is a two-week report, as I’ve been AWOL the last week or so.  I guess just a little too busy with a house guest, Thanksgiving, two family dinners in, a family dinner out, a couple of play days with quilting friends, shopping for some replacement appliances, and frantically trying to finish my PhD quilt (Project half Done) — WHICH IS DUE WEDNESDAY.  This Wednesday.  Yes, we started in June.  Yes, I had as much time as everyone else.  Yes, I’m one of the two who initiated this project.  No, I’m not done.  Yes, I must be done.  It’s not an option.  Sleep is an option.  I’ll post a “progress” picture on Judy L’s Monday’s Design Wall report tomorrow.  So, back to the stash report…

Purchased This Week:  My Michael Miller Fairies panels came to the door.  Honest.  They just came to the door.  I had to let them in…I mean, they’re Fairies…they would have gotten in anyway.  I now have Christmas, autumn pixie, pink, yellow, and blue Fairies (plus the coordinating panel for each with the small blocks).  5.4 magical yards in.

Fabric Used This Week:  6 yards in setting the blocks for my PhD Afternoon Tea quilt.  8.5 yards for the backing.  .75 yards for the binding.  15.25 yards out.

Judy L’s stash-busting reports have really been educational for me this year.  This is the first year I participated, and I would never have guessed I would use 200 yards in a year.  Two football fields in length, 42″ wide.  Wow.

Of course, I don’t think I would have guessed that I bought almost that much either!  What it has done for me, though, is to really make me aware of what fabric is coming in and getting used, and even more importantly, I’ve been more conscientious about using some older fabric where I can and shopping my stash first.  Overall, even though my numbers have stayed pretty close to even, my stash has been greatly improved because more old fabric is out, and I have lots of lovely new fabrics in.  Thank you, Judy!

–Sue

Fabric in:  2/3 yard Christmas panel to coordinate with one of the panels I purchased last week.  (Picture at the bottom of post.)

Fabric out:  2/3 yard into the UFO Afternoon Tea that I’m working on.  Woo-hoo, I’ll have something to report on UFO Thursday this week!

Okay, about those Michael Miller Fairies panels…do you ever discover something, and you just have to have it…in every color?  You want it ALL!!!  A week and a half ago Pam B and I were at a LQS and I found the Christmas Fairies panel and a yellow Sunshine panel.  I bought them both.  They immediately made me think of my mom.  I’ve been trying to think of how I know she would love them, but I just know. 

At home, I started cruising the web to try and find coordinating fabrics.  THERE ARE MORE FAIRIES!!!  There’s a fall one, a blue one, a rose one that is pretty scarce, another pink one…AND…there is a coordinating panel that has little fairies blocks.  I got the coordinating panel for Christmas yesterday.  I plan to lay it out something like this.  I just need to decide on some sashing:

They will make up as a small throw size, perfect for an accent on a sofa.  As a bonus, I will have four of the small squares left over, perfect for making placemats.  And here is the Sunshine block (I have the small-blocks panel coming):

And I have ordered the blue panels, the pink panels, and the fall panels.  I think the pastel ones would be perfect for a baby quilt, and you couldn’t get one much quicker to put together!  So, look for more fairies on next week’s stash report!  For this week, check Judy Laquidara’s blog for other quilters’ stash reports.

–Sue

Some little finishes this week, but nothing that resulted in much stash being busted, only about .25 yard cutting some leaves to applique on my Pinwheels & Posies blocks. 

Uh-oh.  I was all set to type that I was too busy to do any shopping this week, and then I remembered . . . while I was at the local quilt shop for my applique class . . . they had these Moda U appliqued basket block kits . . . and I bought . . . five.  (I already own the first five that are in my stash; there are 15 total.)  Well, I guess I’ll estimate about a fat quarter’s worth of fabric per kit for a 12″ block.  1.25 yards bought. 

–Sue

Note:  Whenever you see the word “*new*” in the rest of this post, whisper it just barely under your breath.  Do NOT say it out loud.

IN:  I purchased 4 yards in assorted reds/blacks/whites for a quilt to be named later.  I always wanted a black/white/one-color quilt, and I guess the one color is going to be red!  I was imagining it as black/white/bright yellow, but black/white/red it is. 

I also bought 1/2 yard of a light peachy fabric for my *new* applique project.  (I can hear you now — NEW???  AREN’T YOU SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING ON UFOs???)  Well, yes, but I’m taking a class, and the *new* project will be on my design wall tomorrow.  Back to the 1/2 yard — it is a little too dark, I need a cream, so I have to count it as stash, but it’s a nice piece and will be just right for something else.  Actually, it will possibly become the backing and binding for the *new* project further down the road.  4.5 yards in.

OUT:  5 yards out combined of purple and backing fabric for my painted placemat project.  I love how the first test placemat came out.  Photo tomorrow.  Also going into the *new* project is a Gypsy Rose layer cake, which comes out to 3.5 yards.  8.5 yards out.

I’m modifying my goal — instead of using 75 yards this year, I think my new goal should be just to break even.  Who knew this would be so hard?  Well, obviously not me.  My only chance of getting close to the 75 yards used is to quilt a bunch of my own quilts that have stacked up.  That could work, and I should give it a try, don’t you think?

Sorry for the lack of posts lately.  I’ve been in kind of a no-blogging funk.  It might be seasonal related (we had a week of rain).  It might be my sinuses and the headaches they bring.  It might be that I’ve been busier than usual.  It might just be that I’ve been in a crappy mood.  Or a combination of all of the above. 

So note to self:

Some good things on the horizon/things to be thankful for: 

1. I’m actually going to finish a sock today (a nod to SoctoberFest).
2. Looks like DS#3 found a house to bid on.  Think good thoughts for him.  It’s rough out there in the investment property market.
3. The sun is out today.
4. I’m liking my class — learning applique’; two more classes to go.
5. I have wonderful friends and neighbors.
6. DH#1 isn’t sick to death of me yet.  Or if he is, he hasn’t told me.
7. DS#1 is coming home for Thanksgiving.  I promised I wouldn’t break any bones right before his arrival, so I can take care of him this time!
8. We’re taking a short trip to Mustang Island on the Texas Gulf coast soon.  Walks on the beach.  Bird watching.  Ahhh.
9. DS#2 & DIL may be taking a short trip soon and we will have our rent-a-dog Milo for a couple of days.

Life is good.

–Sue

PS:  Go Twins / Go Vikings (I am slowly and begrudgingly becoming a Favre fan)

Since I’m so slow in posting today’s report, you probably think I did lots of shopping at the ND Indian Summer Quilt Show this past couple of days.  I think I showed amazing restraint! 

FABRIC IN:  My only fabric purchase at, to, or from the show was at Grubers in St. Cloud (love that shop).  I bought a jelly roll of Kaffe Fassett brights.  It’s going to be so much fun to work with.  Most fabric collections have a range of lights to darks, which is nice for some things, but I’m going to really enjoy finding a project for this collection.  I also purchased 5 yards of light gold for my Quilt For An Hour with JudyL.  6.75 yards in

FABRIC OUT:  12 yards used or set aside for the QFAH (and whatever is left over is going into the scrap bucket).  I’m making mine larger with 12 big center blocks — and I’m up to date on it!!  I’ll post a picture tomorrow on Design Wall Monday.  12 yards out.

At the show, I managed to do a little damage at the hot-fix crystal counter and the PaintStik booth.  A quilter’s version of jewelry shopping!

–Sue

PS:  Yes, Karen, I agree, next year we will have to coordinate ahead of time and meet for a cup of coffee or an ice cream cone!