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Stash-Busting Report

21 June 2009, 1:40 pm

No change this week:

  • YTD 123.5 yards out
  • YTD 139.00 yards in
  • YTD Net:  15.5 yards IN   (booo!)
  • YTD Goal:  75 yards out (still 90.5 yards away from my goal)

    • A customer quilt was delivered this week; Pat & Patrick’s wedding quilt was delivered to them, so I can show a couple of pictures of their Irish Chain quilt.  It’s an extra-long queen — 98 x 118 (actually that was before quilting, so I’m sure it quilted up a little smaller).  I made it from Eleanor Burns’ book.  She offers two options for borders:  an easy border and a seminole pieced border.  In one of those what-was-I-thinking moments, I chose the seminole border.  I love the look, but the borders were pretty much like making another whole quilt.  I like it though, and I think it was worth the extra time.  I decided to do an all-over panto, and I like the look of Jodi Beamish’s (Willow Creek Studio Designs) Daisy Swirl on large open spaces.  It has a nice distribution of quilting vs spaces, not too open/not too tight.

    irishchain2 irishchain3

    irishchain4

     

    I’m trying to be more organized in my blog posts and do specific reports or subject matters for each day of the week.  My plan is as follows:

    1. Sunday — Stash Report (Judy L at Patchwork Times hosts)
    2. Monday — Design Wall Report (Judy hosts this one too)
    3. Tuesday — Bird Photos (my best bird photos from the past week, if I have any; otherwise, I will “wing” it!)
    4. Wednesday — Photo Puzzle Day (I may be the only one that likes these, but since it’s my blog, they stay)
    5. Thursday — UFO Thursday (something new starting Thursday – a support group for those of us that have waaaaay too many UnFinished Objects or PhDs (Projects half Done) of the quilting sort languishing in boxes, bags, and closets.  You know who you are!!!  If you felt the least pang of guilt reading about it, come back Thursday.)
    6. Friday — Photo Friday (I’ll keep this going until I exhaust my limited bag of tricks)
    7. Saturday — Week in Review (both quilty and non-quilty topics)

    That’s my plan!  I hope there is something there that is interesting to you, because I would love to have you stop back again! 

    Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there.  Missing my own dad today, who was taken from us much too soon, ten years ago last month. 

    –Sue

    Filed under Quilting, Stash Busting Sunday.
    8 Comments

    Sunday’s Stash Report

    14 June 2009, 12:18 pm

    (Warning:  Long post, lots of photos.)  Well, there’s no other way to say it:  I’ve been BAD BAD BAD and, boy, has it been FUN FUN FUN!!! 

    I purchased 6 yards of flannel for my design wall (mostly due to encouragement from Judy Laquidara who hosts Design Wall Mondays as well as Stash-Busting Sundays).  I love my new design wall!  Thank you, Judy!

    Then the fat quarters I ordered from Vicki Welsh’s new Etsy shop arrived.  I was almost drooling over her color combinations available in her store, but this blue and brown combination really caught my eye!  I clicked on it, and when I saw it was it was titled Bluebird Fabric Palette, I laughed out loud!  Of course I loved it — it’s from one of her bird photos (and it’s even more gorgeous in person as I don’t quilte have the colors as rich as they really are)!   8 FQs = 2 yummy yards.

    duluth-vickis-bluebird

    Then there’s the SIX fat quarters I won on Teresa’s blog.  SIX!  I think her site said five, and I got a bonus!  Thank you again, Teresa.  They are lovely.  6 FQs = 1.5 gifty yards.

     duluth-teresas-gift

    Now I’ll show you what I bought at the Minnesota Quilters Show in Duluth this past week.  I’ll start with a pair of hand-dyed socks.  I LOVE socks, and I’ve admired Vicki’s from afar.  I just couldn’t resist these — and ZERO yards added!

     duluth-socks

    This next purchase is Betty’s fault.  Good friend that she is, she knows what I like and isn’t afraid to point it out to me!  This is a set of 18 FQs, all marbled and of a nice quality.  18 FQs = 4.5 delicious yards added.  In case you’re interested, they have a web store:  www.jerisquiltpatch.com.

    duluth-marbles 

    Next year’s challenge fabric:  I decided to buy two “kits” as I heard this fabric colorway has been discontinued.  (Click here for a look at my entry for this year.)  I love the new feature fabric.  It reminds me of a Persian Carpet.  I have a whole year to think about it, then do it at the last minute like I did this year!  (High school all over again…)  2.5 yards of challenging fabric added.

     duluth-challenge-fabric

    Other than a little pair of scissors (and I figure you’ve all seen scissors before), that was it for shopping at the show.  Betty and I really pushed to see the whole show to our satisfaction (meaning we saw several areas more than once) on Thursday.  We stayed overnight in Duluth, which is such a unique and charming city.  We were then free to take our time going home on Friday.  So naturally we started driving further north instead of heading south towards home!  Who could resist a bit of a North Shore drive on a gorgeous summer day? 

    The sights were beautiful and, of course, we had an ulterior motive.  An hour or so past Duluth along the North Shore is a charming township called Castle Danger.  How cool is that?  It gets better. Castle Danger has a quilt shop called Quilter’s Cabin in what once was a cabin right across the road from the north shore of Lake Superior. 

    duluth-quilters-cabin

    You often see chairs or a bench for the quilter’s spouse’s relaxation while the quilter is shopping.  This shop has the most fabulous bench I’ve ever seen.  Check out these guys and the view they were enjoying:

    duluth-benchduluth-bench-view

    I suspect this quilt shop has been enlarged a couple of times to accomodate a generous number of bolts, plus the best selection I’ve ever seen of pre-cuts (fat quarter sets, charm packs, jelly rolls, etc., etc.).  First I fell in love with this Moda Simplicity charm pack.  So sweet and pastel, I can picture it in a baby quilt (50 squares, so I can do 7 x 7).  And I actually had my thinking cap on, and I bought 1.25 yards of one of the fabrics in the line for a border.  I usually forget to do that, then by the time I want to use the charm pack, there’s nothing left that coordinates.  Approx. 2.25 baby-soft yards.

     duluth-simplicity

    Then I found this little stack of 12 FQs by Thimbleberries.  I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Thimbleberries has brightened its palette up a bit recently, and this set is a good example.  LOVE these!  I couldn’t find any of the fabrics in yardage, so I found another one that will work, and purchased 1.5 yards of the coordinating fabric.  Oh, the math gets harder.  4.5 yards of Thimbleberries Goodness added to my stash.  Week’s Total:  23.25 yards IN

    duluth-thimbleberries

    On the OUT side of the ledger, I used the 6 yards of flannel on my new design wall, I put 10 yards into a backing of a very large quilt (which I will show after it has been gifted), and another 6 yards into backing for SIL Marilyn’s birthday quilt (which I will be starting to quilt today).  

    Week’s Total:  22 yards OUT.  *whew*  Thank goodness for backings!  I love having pieces big enough for backings in my stash!

  • YTD 123.5 yards out
  • YTD 139.00 yards in
  • YTD Net:  15.5 yards IN  
  • YTD Goal:  75 yards out (now I’m 90.5 yards away from my goal!)

    • I still need to tell you about another quilt shop and adorable restaurant we stopped at in Rush City, Minnesota, on our way home, but I will save that for another day as I didn’t purchase any fabric there.

    Wow!  What a great trip this was, and I hope you enjoyed it a little bit too,

    Sue

    Filed under Miscellaneous, Stash Busting Sunday.
    6 Comments

    Stash-Busting Report — Week 23

    7 June 2009, 6:30 am

    Short and sweet:  nothing in / nothing out.  I remain at:

  • YTD 101.5 yards out
  • YTD 115.75 yards in
  • YTD Net:  14.25  yards IN  

    • I literally spent the week at the longarm, and I finished my Minnesota Quilter’s challenge quilt in time to get it submitted Friday.  I will show pictures on my What’s on Your Design Wall posting tomorrow.

    The Minnesota Quilt Show is in Duluth this week and I will be there Thursday and Friday, and I am sooo looking forward to it!  The workmanship and creativity is just amazing, and it’s fun to have something of my own to look for — even if it is a challenge entry, it’s in the show!

    I guess I better get some stash busted this week because I made a little purchase in Vicki Welsh’s Etsy store and that will arrive in the mail probably sometime this week.  Plus, what are the odds that I can spend two days at a quilt show and not buy anything?  Slim to none.

    This stash reporting has been a real eye-opener for me.  I am only slightly disappointed that I’m nowhere near my goal of busting 75 yards of stash this year, and we’re almost half-way through 2009.  What is amazing to me is how many yards I’ve used — 101.5 yards!  I would NEVER have guessed that I would go through that much fabric!

    Another bonus, as I’ve mentioned before, is the huge enjoyment my DH gets whenever I buy fabric.  You’re going to have to report that on your stash report!   hahahahahahahaha! 

    Sue

    Filed under Stash Busting Sunday.
    3 Comments

    Stash-Busting Report — Week 22

    31 May 2009, 9:51 am

    It pays to procrastinate.  Sometimes.  Two years ago I saw the Winterberry line of fabric by Maywood.  Love at first sight.  Bought a fat quarter of everything Fabric Town had.  At the same time, Friend Betty bought FQs of the same line — but in Arizona!  Betty has her blocks made; my FQs are in a little tote with a pattern, patiently waiting their turn.

    Last week Betty and I went to Mill End Fabrics, which is pretty much what it sounds like.  Leftovers and overruns.  You can get great buys, but don’t go with something specific in mind because that rarely works out.

    They had probably ten (or more) new bolts of the Winterberry line, some still had the paper band around the bolt.  So I bought (ahem) two more fabrics I didn’t have plus the backing.  Add 8.25 yards.

    On the usage side, I used 3 3/4 yards on a new reunion quilt that is in the works, and 7 yards for challenge backing/binding/sleeve.  10.75 yards out.

  • YTD 101.5 yards out
  • YTD 115.75 yards in
  • YTD Net:  14.25  yards IN  

    • Slowly but surely, I WILL reach a negative number!

    Sue

    Filed under Stash Busting Sunday, Uncategorized.
    1 Comment

    Stash-Busting Report Week 21

    24 May 2009, 11:52 am

    Twenty-one weeks are gone of 2009?  How did that happen?

    I have to hurry and get my stash report done before Betty picks me up in a half hour to go to Mill End Fabrics!  Any purchases later today will go no next week’s report.  What a plan!

    Bought this week:  4 yards of a navy blue for my 9-patch garbage buffet quilt.  Used this week:  4 yards of navy blue cut into sashing strips for aforementioned quilt; 5 yards into my Minnesota Quilter’s Challenge for the flying geese and the borders + binding.  YTD totals are:

  • YTD 89.75yards out
  • YTD 107.5 yards in
  • YTD Net:  17.75 yards IN  

    • Which leaves me still in the red, but if you think about it, in the world of fabric, red is as good as black. 

    I’d also like to mention that I started a little photography class last Friday called Photo Fridays.  Each Friday for a while (how is that for specific?), I’m going to go over a couple of features on digital cameras for any of you who threw your manual in the drawer, or if you read the manual but don’t take enough pictures to remember how to use the features.  I’m not an expert, but I do use my camera literally every day, so what I don’t know, I can figure out.  If you’d like to join the fun, click here for last Friday’s lesson.  You can join in any time, or like some others are doing, you can also just work on your own.

    And I don’t feel like a post is really complete without a photo. . .

    hummerflowers

    Gotta go — Betty will be here in five minutes!

    Sue

    Filed under Photo Fridays, Stash Busting Sunday, Uncategorized.
    2 Comments

    Stash-Busting Report

    17 May 2009, 12:52 pm

    ZERO in this week!  Very little used — 1.5 yards — this week, but I’ve been concentrating on wrapping up some almost-done projects that were starting to pile up. 

  • YTD 80.75yards out
  • YTD 103.5 yards in
  • YTD Net:  22.75 yards IN

    • It’s been a good sewing week, a great bird- and bee-photo week, and a lousy battling-allergies week *sniff*. 

    And a Crabby Alert:  I officially jumped off the bakery truck and back onto the dieting/exercising wagon.  Why is it that the things that aren’t so good for you are so much more fun than the things that are good for you???  Figured I better do something now before I put my swimsuit order in with Omar the Tent-Maker. 

    Robin, (and I love that someone named “Robin” responds on my bird posts!!!), you asked about the hummingbird photo.  He stayed at our feeder for maybe 15 seconds, and last night he was coming by every 20 minutes, but it was getting too dark to get any other pictures.  I have noticed other years that he seems to make rounds and actually can be somewhat predictable.  I haven’t seen him yet today though, so I hope he didn’t move on to another neighborhood!

    I have two cameras I leave out all the time, and hopefully one is at the end of the house I’m at when I need one.  It helps if you set your camera mode to “action” or “sports” to freeze the movement a little bit better, if you have that kind of setting available (I didn’t do that last night — didn’t have time). 

    I also have a setting on my camera whereby I can hold the button down and fire off up to four shots in succession.  That really helps in bird pictures, because sometimes you just can’t respond fast enough to their movements to get more than a first shot.

    You’ve inspired me, Robin!  Starting Friday, I am going to do Photo Friday posts, and cover a little bit of photography and especially how to use your camera’s features each Friday (and maybe give you a little “homework” assignment).  I’ve been wanting DH to get to know my cameras better, and this will be a good way to get him acquainted with Miss PowerShot and Mr. Lumix!  I know I don’t know everything on this subject, but I have learned a bit through trial and error that I can share.

    Well, I’m off to do some sewing!

    Sue

    Filed under Photo Fridays, Stash Busting Sunday.
    4 Comments

    9-Patch & Stash-Busting Report

    9 May 2009, 8:12 am

    Thank you!  I really appreciated all the comments on my blog yesterday regarding the sashing color on my 9-patch quilt.  (I was just thinking of what to call it other than just “9-patch quilt”, the first thing that came to mind was “9-Patch Garbage Quilt”, because it is all scraps that I used to throw away when I first started quilting!  I have to come up with a better name than that.  Maybe you can help me with that today.) 

    I probably should also change the name of the Stash Report to the Rationalization Report…(and thanks to Judy L  for doing the stash report!)

    I didn’t totally trust my judgement on the blue fabric.  I thought maybe it just looked fresh and different and that’s why I liked it best, but looking at it again this morning, along with twelve BLUE votes — blue it is, and I know I’m we’re making the right choice because I am much more excited about this quilt right now.  The next challenge will be to find a navy fabric comparable to the batik I tested the blocks on. 

    I decided to add my stash report a day early onto this posting because I’m going to discuss my stash-busting efforts (really, I’m trying!).  And this week was hard on my stash-busting efforts.  This week I purchased some muslin for the sashings that I’m now going to do in blue (no crying here — I needed a bigger piece of muslin on my shelves; I usually have a bolt.  I planned to have some extra so I bought 10 yards.  Actually muslin shouldn’t count, it’s like buying flour for your pantry).  

    I also got a gorgeous fabric (it’s light-colored though) for the backing (8 yards, enough for backing, binding, and some extra), and now when the 9-PGQ is done I may want a darker backing instead (and no regrets here either — it will make a fabulous backing on something).   18 yards in.

    So four months into the year and instead of being 1/3 of my way towards my goal of 75 yards used (25 yards), I am deeper in the hole.  And that’s okay.  It gives DH something to chortle about when I walk in with a bag of fabric, “Is that more stash???  Are you going to have to report it?”  Followed by maniacal laughter.  At least I’m using up some old stuff, buying some new stash I need/love, and giving my husband a cheap thrill, all at the same time.   (Fabric used:  scraps into the 9-PGQ, which I weighed to get the yardage = 3 yards.)

    The numbers don’t lie:

  • YTD 79.25 yards out
  • YTD 103.5 yards in
  • YTD Net:  24.25 yards IN

    • *sigh*  I’m about 50 yards away from where I should be at this point.  We’ll see how the next third of the year goes.  I may be changing my goal to just break even!

    (Click here if you have time for a little Mother’s Day puzzle.)

    Sue

    Filed under Quilting, Stash Busting Sunday.
    7 Comments

    Sunday’s Stash-Busting Report

    2 May 2009, 10:20 pm

    Well, lucky for my report, I’m concluding a give-away today and there was a little fabric included (total of 3.5 yards).  (Click here if you’re looking to comment on the give-away posting, which ends at midnight Central Time tonight.)  I also used a bunch of scraps and charm pack leftovers to start a scrappy nine-patch quilt through Crazy Mom Quilts.  I have ten blocks done, but here are nine that fit nicely in a photo:

    ninepatch

    And the next 35 blocks ready to be stitched up:

    ninepatch0025

    Even though that probably isn’t technically “stash”, it is fabric out of my sewing room, so I’m going to count it!  I weighed a yard of quilt fabric on my new kitchen yarn scale, and then weighed my cut pieces.  I did the math, and all those little 2.5″ patches equaled 1.5 yards!  I would have weighed the slivers I threw away last night, but it was in the kitchen garbage, and it wasn’t pretty.  Nothing in except some yardage for children’s pillowcases our guild is making for donation, so that’s not part of my stash.

  • YTD 81.25 yards out
  • YTD 85.5 yards in
  • YTD Net:  4.25 yards IN

    • Wow, I’m almost back where I started four months ago!  Hopefully next week I will get into the negative numbers, since my goal for 2009 is a net difference of 75 yards out.

    Sue

    Filed under Stash Busting Sunday.
    4 Comments

    Sue’s Favorite Things Give-away – Saturday

    1 May 2009, 11:00 pm

    Every time I’ve typed my post titles this week, I’ve thought to myself, “Leave it to me to turn a thank you give-away that’s supposed to reward my readers into … IT’S ALL ABOUT ME!”

    My favorite thing today?  Nice fabric.  I know, I know, nobody is going to say they like ugly fabric.  I do think the fabric designs, colors, and quality just keep getting better and better.  That’s why most of us have more fabric stashed away than we care to discuss in a forum that our DH reads!  Because I like scrappy looking quilts, I’m a sucker for charm packs.  How fun to get all those different fabrics that coordinate so beautifully in one little pack; it’s like getting a sampler box of chocolates, without the calories!  Today’s sur-prize:

    giveaway0045

    This is Kashmir III by Moda.  It seems that I like almost anything by Moda.  If I find a good price on a charm pack I like, I will buy three or four of them and just stitch them up into a patchwork for a really quick and easy quilt (here’s an example).  I’ve had pretty good luck at the Hancock’s of Paducah site by searching for charm packs on sale or on clearance (but they seem to be pretty low on pre-cut clearance at the moment, probably as a result of the quilt show at Paducah a week ago).  A tip:  If you want to add a border, try to buy some coordinating yardage at the same time.  It can be hard to find later.  Experience speaking.

    And our topic of the day?  Stash.  (Jim, there are cookies in the cupboard…why don’t you go help yourself???) I have at least my fair share of fabric filling a bookcase plus a closet, but I’m okay with it.  I’m participating in Judy Laquidara’s Sunday Stash-Busting Reports, and in 2009 I’ve kept track of what I’ve bought as well as what I’ve used.  I’ve also signed on with AmandaJean to play along with her scrap quilt quilt-along, and for that I am totally using snips and strips out of the scrap bucket — well, it’s really closer to a scrap barrel.

    I have come to terms with my stash, and decided as long as I focus on using some of the totally outdated aged-to-perfection portion of my stash regularly, it’s really okay to add new fabric occasionally that I love and can’t live without! 

    For an entry in the give-away, leave a comment on this post, and please tell us the state of your stash (or lack thereof).  One more day (Sunday) to comment, then I will be doing the number randomizer thing Monday morning to find out who our two winners are!  Good luck, and once again, thanks for playing along!!!

    The fine print:  1.  Give-away runs Sunday 4/26 through Sunday 5/3.  2.  You may enter once each day by posting a comment on that day’s new give-away posting (that’s what THIS is).  3.  Each day I will add an item to each ”basket” (there will be two); to have the most entries in the drawing, check back and add a comment each day.  4.  There are two baskets because there will be two names drawn on Monday May 4th.  5.  Be sure to include your e-mail when you make your comment so I can contact you if you are one of the winners!  6.  I will close the comments on this post at midnight CDT (sorry, West Coast, but that’s the latest I can stay awake).  Also at midnight CDT the next day’s give-away post will come up, so if the comments are closed here, go to www.suehecker.com/blog (unless it is after May 3rd — then you’re too late!).

    SORRY, GIVE-AWAY IS OVER.

    Filed under Stash Busting Sunday.
    24 Comments

    Stash Report

    26 April 2009, 8:42 am

    Nothing bought, 1/2 yard used.  I’ve been concentrating on working on (and finishing up) some existing projects.

  • YTD 76.25 yards out
  • YTD 85.5 yards in
  • YTD Net:  9.25 yards IN

    • A couple of things going on elsewhere on my blog that you might be interested in:

    I’m having a give-away this week (starts Sunday 4/26/2009) here.

    I’m organizing a PhD program (Projects half Done) for people interested in digging out a long-forgotten project or one you just can’t get interested in again, check it out here.

    Thanks for visiting!

    Sue

    Filed under Stash Busting Sunday.
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