My secret project is finished and I can add a bit of used fabric!  It’s not a lot – only 2.5 yards.  I guess you can figure what kind of quilt that is by those numbers but I’m hoping the muggle in question does not read this blog and if they do will not figure out what 2.5 used translates to.  I’ll be washing and taking a picture in the next few weeks and will be able to post said picture at some point later.

I also just realized that I never counted the fabric used in my ditty bag –

Ditty Bag
9/9/2017

And I’m just going to say 1 yards used to make it a nice rounded number.  I really can’t remember how much the pattern called for and I could probably pull out the pattern and look but I’m not going to.  1 yard it is!

But I also added about 3.5 yards so it evens out…

it’s just too cute

linen – not sure what I’ll make with it but I had to have it…

another linen … I already have a yard of this .. but it’s now half price so I had to have another… This will be a bag one day…

and I’ve been eyeing this for a while… And I could not say no … so it found itself in my hands and on the cutting table …

and my daughter decided to get crafty last night and made this owl picture frame for me … I’ll need to print a picture to use

The fabric stash:  

• Used since last time: 3.5 yards
• Used year to date: 31 yards
• Added since last time: 3.5 yards
• Added year to Date: 115.5 yards
• Net ADDED for 2017: 84.5 yards

Slow Stitching Sunday

And for Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy at Kathy Quilts…

I will stitch a bit on Block 8 for A Rainbow Garden!

Here’s where I was last time:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – in progress
9/10/17

I haven’t done anything over the last few weeks.  I had a guild workshop on embellishments a couple of Sunday’s ago and last Sunday I didn’t take this project out.  It really needs to come out today as I want to continue to make progress on it.

~happy crafting!

~Melanie

see more stash reports at Quilt Paint Create’s site  and hand projects at  and 

Melanie

I’ve got a finish but it’s not finished finished finished.  So I’m not going to count it.  When do you count your finishes?  I normally count the top when it’s done and then count the rest of the quilt when it’s labeled and washed.  Usually, because it takes forever for me to finish tops.  And then, it takes forever for me to get it quilted, bound, and labeled.  For me, it’s not really finished until there’s nothing more for me to do with it.  The secret project is bound and now I need to bust out the embroidery machine and do my label.  Then I will wash it.  While I have the embroidery machine out, I plan to embroider a few pieces and play with it.  I’ve been meaning to do this for awhile but it’s been too much effort (and really not enough time) to get out the machine and play.  Since I have to get it out to do this label, I will take some time to play as well.  That’s the plan for this week not today.  Today, I’m off to an embellishment class with Shelly Swanland.

The fabric stash:  

• Used since last time: 0 yards
• Used year to date: 27.5 yards
• Added since last time: 0 yards
• Added year to Date: 112 yards
• Net ADDED for 2017: 84.5 yards

Slow Stitching Sunday

And for Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy at Kathy Quilts…

I did a little bit of work on Block 8 for A Rainbow Garden!

Here’s where I was last time:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – in progress
8/27/17

Here I am now:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – in progress
9/10/17

Basting helped a lot and I was able to get some of those leaves stitched down.  Slow progress but progress nonetheless.

~happy crafting!

~Melanie

see more stash reports at Quilt Paint Create’s site  and hand projects at  and 

Melanie

Happy Sunday!  Yesterday a couple of quilty friends and I trekked it over to Orange to check out a quilter’s garage sale.  I did not come home with fabric! 🙂  Surprise!  I did come home with some notions that I’ve been keeping an eye out for, buttons, and whole bag of leather, vinyl, and suede!  Those will be bags one day.  🙂

The fabric stash:  

• Used since last time: 0 yards
• Used year to date: 27.5 yards
• Added since last time: 0 yards
• Added year to Date: 112 yards
• Net ADDED for 2017: 84.5 yards

Slow Stitching Sunday

And for Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy at Kathy Quilts…

I did a little bit of work on Block 8 for A Rainbow Garden!

Here’s where I was last time:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – in progress
8/20/17

Here I am now:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – in progress
8/27/17

I do not usually baste my pieces down but the pieces were so fiddly and for some reason, this time around I was annoyed at having to re-adjust my pieces every time I worked on this project.  I usually do not mind but this time around it just kept looking funny to me and I would spend too much time adjusting and re-adjusting.  I’m hoping that the pieces will stay in place now but can still be moderately fiddled with when I get to a spot needing fiddling.

~happy crafting!

~Melanie

see more stash reports at Quilt Paint Create’s site  and hand projects at  and 

Melanie

Yesterday I attended this month’s bag class.  I’ll post about it more another time but early yesterday morning I was going through my stash to find the fabric I wanted to use for the class.  While I was doing that I decided that I wanted to put away all that fabric from last week’s post.  I rearranged everything and I found space for all 74 yards. I still am not sure how it all fit.  I also put away fabric I pulled for my secret project.  And I changed how I put my fabric away.  In the past they were organized in yardages (sorted by colors), and then fabric under 1 yard, and then fabric under a fat quarter, and then scraps.  It’s a perfect system for making scrappy quilts because I start with the scrappy bins looking for the right fabric, move to the fat quarter bins if I can’t find it and then move to the fabric under 1 yard.  I rarely hit the yardage bins unless I’m working on a particular project that required yardage.  The only problem with this system is that over the last few months I’ve been wanting to do more garment sewing and needing fabric over 1 yard.  And, rather than dig through the multiple yardage bins for something 2 or more yards, I would buy fabric.  So to combat that I pulled fabric that was over 2 or more yards and put it in their own bins.  I was able to fill 1.5 bins with 2+yards.  I wasn’t anal about this because I didn’t pull out my measuring tape to make sure, it was more a feel by weight system.  If I felt it was 2 yards or more, I put it in this bin and if it didn’t feel like it was I left it in the 1 yard bins.  I have about 2-3 one yard bins, one bin for the fat quarter to 1 yard bin, another bin for the smaller than fat quarter bin and half of a bin for the scraps.

It was messy.  Here’s the pics from while I was doing it.  I haven’t taken new pics yet because I had to leave it like this while I rushed to my class and didn’t finish until I got back home yesterday afternoon. It really helped prevent purchasing more fabric while at the quilt shop yesterday. 🙂

The fabric stash:  

• Used since last time: 0 yards
• Used year to date: 27.5 yards
• Added since last time: 0 yards
• Added year to Date: 112 yards
• Net ADDED for 2017: 84.5 yards

Slow Stitching Sunday

And for Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy at Kathy Quilts…

I did a little bit of work on Block 8 for A Rainbow Garden!

Here’s where I was last time:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – cut the pieces and pressed the paper onto the wool fabric
8/6/17

Here I am now:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – in progress
8/20/17

~happy crafting!

~Melanie

see more stash reports at Quilt Paint Create’s site  and hand projects at  and 

Melanie

As you know I was out of town last weekend.  We went to celebrate the end of summer in Vegas.  It was another fun weekend and I found a new to me quilt shop called Sew Yeah Quilting.  I visited the shop and my usual, Quiltique.  Both shops had a great variety of fabric.  These shops are HUGE.  My LQS is tiny compared to these shops and the selection seemed endless.  I had to restrict myself to the sale room and one non-sale item.  So I added 13 yards from last weekend’s travel binge.  For some reason, I’m buying 2 yards of things instead of my normal 1 yard.  Almost everything I purchased was on sale so I didn’t break the bank.  If it wasn’t on sale, I only bought a yard.  I guess you can say I bought 2 yards for the price of 1 at regular price. 🙂

I made it home just in time to make my Quilt Association’s annual treasure hunt.  This event is every August and is a very good reason for a newer quilter to join a guild.  Of course, most of the fabric are older but it’s great for scrappy quilts or getting backing cheaper.  We have our treasure hunt like this: members are asked to “clean” their sewing room and destash anything they are no longer happy with to make room for the things they want to purchase.  They donate it to the guild.  Then at the treasure hunt, we all look at the fabric and we buy them up.  I believe it’s sold for $1/ half yard.  There’s also a silent auction, a live auction, and ice cream!  At the end of the night, for those who have stayed to the end, we are given a bag and it’s $1 for whatever we can fit in the bag.  I believe that that is a newer addition and may not always be the case.  Anyway, I was extremely lucky and won 5 raffle baskets and went home with a lot of fabric.  I won a quilt and 2 quilt tops.  I ended up going home with 61 yards of fabric.  OMG!  I have a lot of work to do now to make up for this increase.   And I still do not know where I’m going to store it all.  It was fun and now I have a lot to donate to the Association for next year’s hunt.

The fabric stash:  

• Used since last time: 0 yards
• Used year to date: 27.5 yards
• Added since last time: 74 yards
• Added year to Date: 112 yards
• Net ADDED for 2017: 84.5 yards

Slow Stitching Sunday

And for Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy at Kathy Quilts…

I did a little bit of work on Block 8 for A Rainbow Garden!

I hope to get more done today.

Last time: all I had time to do was trace the pattern onto freezer paper.

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – Traced pattern onto freezer paper
7/30/17

Last Sunday I was able to get the paper cut and pressed onto the wool fabric.  I was so confused as there was not enough fabric and the colors on the pattern were not matching the picture or the fabric I had.  Lucikly I keep every scrap/remnant and went through my little baggie to make up for the discrepancy.

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – cut the pieces and pressed the paper onto the wool fabric
8/6/17

Did you catch that?  I didn’t have enough wool in the package for block 8 to do the block.  Not to mention my confusion because the pattern referenced colors that were not part of my kit. Needless to say, I was so irritated.  This was a BOM I purchased through Primitive Gatherings back in 2013.  I’ve been working on it a bit at a time.  I enjoy the process.  Anyway, I was really frustrated and now that it’s been 4 years, there’s really nothing I can do about it but be annoyed!

~happy crafting!

~Melanie

see more stash reports at Quilt Paint Create’s site  and hand projects at  and 

Melanie

I made this bag last week so I’ve got a bit used.  And nothing added!  I restrained myself while at my LQS.  Our guild’s treasure hunt is happening next week so my numbers will be taking a dive but it will be a fun event.

The fabric stash:  

• Used since last time: -1 yards
• Used year to date: 27.5 yards
• Added since last time: 0 yards
• Added year to Date: 38 yards
• Net ADDED for 2017: 10.5 yards

Slow Stitching Sunday

And for Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy at Kathy Quilts…

I pulled out Block 8 for A Rainbow Garden!

And I’ll be working on setting up today.

I only had enough energy to trace the pattern onto the freezer paper last week.  Hopefully, I’ll get further along today

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – Traced pattern onto freezer paper
7/30/17

~happy crafting!

~Melanie

see more stash reports at Quilt Paint Create’s site  and hand projects at  and 

Melanie

I’m super excited to post that I’ve had some activity this week!  I finally finished the binding on Missing Ivy just in time for July.  It has been on my goal list for the last few months and I finally made it my ONE crafty goal to finish.  I do not have a picture of it yet but here it is as a finished top.  I plan to get a picture later today when my helpers are awake.

Missing Ivy
Finished top!
10/10/16

It’s a huge finish and now I’m not in so much of a hole as I was last week.  I did buy some Halloween fat quarters that I couldn’t say no to.  Look how cute these are:

Trick or Treat Teal
Designer: Sarah Watts
Collection: Lil Monsters

Neko Black Designer: Sarah Watts Collection: Lil Monsters

The fabric stash:  

• Used since last time: -17 yards
• Used year to date: 26.5 yards
• Added since last time: 2 yards
• Added year to Date: 38 yards
• Net ADDED for 2017: 11.5 yards

Slow Stitching Sunday

And for Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy at Kathy Quilts…

I pulled out Block 8 for A Rainbow Garden!

And I’ll be working on setting up today.

Here’s Block 7 all finished up:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 7 – finished?
7/23/17

~happy crafting!

~Melanie

see more stash reports at Quilt Paint Create’s site  and hand projects at  and 

Melanie

So I’ve been on vacation and I haven’t been quilting.  What happens when I am not quilting? I buy fabric.  Not all of the fabric I bought were purchased for quilting.  I actually bought some for bags and clothes.  But they all go in the same stash so I’m adding it.  All 13 yards of it.  🙂 Which since one skirt can use about 2 yards is not that much at all.

The fabric stash:  

• Used since last time: 0 yards
• Used year to date: 9.5 yards
• Added since last time: 13 yards
• Added year to Date: 36 yards
• Net ADDED for 2017: 26.5 yards

Slow Stitching Sunday

And for Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy at Kathy Quilts… I’m kind of done with Block 7 for A Rainbow Garden!

Here’s where I was last time:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 7 – still in process
6/4/2017

Here’s where I am now:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 7 – finished?
7/23/17

I actually need to do some embellishments like french knots but I’m not feeling those at the moment.  If I think it needs it later, I’ll add it. For now, I like where it’s at.

I have to get going on block 8 but that means pulling my UFO bin out of the closet and I do not know if I have the energy for that today.  I may just do some binding on Missing Ivy since I’ve only got a week left in the month.  I’m pretty close to being done so I can possibly get it done.  I just have to do it.

~happy crafting!

~Melanie

see more stash reports at Quilt Paint Create’s site  and hand projects at  and 

Melanie

Nothing Used. Nothing Added.  I’m slowly working on projects but can’t add to my stash report just yet.  I’m binding Missing Ivy so that will be in the finished department soon and those numbers will bring me closer to the black side.

The fabric stash:  

• Used this week: 2 yards
• Used year to date: 9.5 yards
• Added this week: 0 yards
• Added year to Date: 23 yards
• Net ADDED for 2017: 13.5 yards

Slow Stitching Sunday

And for Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy at Kathy Quilts… I will continue to work on Block 7 for A Rainbow Garden!

Here’s where I was last time:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 7 – still in process
5/28/2017

Here’s where I am now:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 7 – still in process
6/4/2017

I got a lot of progress done on this block and I’m loving it again.  I need to put the last two of the leaves and then I’ve got 4 flowers to stitch on.  I have some finishing stitches to embroider on and then it’s done.  I hope to get this done this week.

~happy crafting!

~Melanie

see more stash reports at Quilt Paint Create’s site  and hand projects at  and 

Melanie

The weekly stash report is being hosted at Quilt Paint Create’s site.  Thank you for hosting!  I enjoy it each week even though I’ve been out of the loop the last few weeks.

I pulled fabric to make my Maxwell Bag –

The outer and inner parts put together

It’s not finished yet so I’m a little hesitant to add the usage.  However, it’s almost done and I’m afraid if I do not add it now, I will forget to add it later.  And I really do not know how much to count as usage.  I pulled fabric from my scrap bins.  I’ve had these little owl scraps and other beautiful pieces forever and didn’t want to put it in a scrappy quilt.  I didn’t want the fabric to get lost in a scrappy quilt.  I love how they are being used in this bag.  Anyway, I’m just going to say 2 yards because there was a lot of fabric used and bits thrown away.  I could grab the pattern and get the real amount of yardage to add but I am too lazy right now.  So, I’m just going to say 2 yards for now and when I get together with the ladies to finish up this bag I’ll count up the real amount of yardage for my stash report.

The fabric stash:  

• Used this week: 2 yards
• Used year to date: 9.5 yards
• Added this week: 0 yards
• Added year to Date: 23 yards
• Net ADDED for 2017: 13.5 yards

Slow Stitching Sunday

And for Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy at Kathy Quilts… I will continue to work on Block 7 for A Rainbow Garden!

Here’s where I was last time:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 7 – still in process
5/14/2017

Here’s where I am now:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 7 – still in process
5/28/2017

~happy crafting!

~Melanie

see more stash reports at and hand projects at  and 

Melanie