The secret project is done so I’ve got a bit used.  Woohoo!  And I started a new project called Staycation.  I started it a few weeks ago at my guild’s monthly workshop.  It’s an easy enough project but I never cut enough to just sit and sew for long hours so every time I piece everything I can piece, I get up to cut as much as I feel up to cutting and stay relatively accurate.  I’ve got 2 of these “great blocks” ready to go.

Staycation
11/15/17

I have 6 halves of these blocks ready to go, which will get me 1 great block and half of another.  I need 4 for a lap size or 9 for a full/queen.  I started working on Bonnie Hunter’s mystery quilt on Friday along with the rest of the Bonnie Hunter fans and I’m using staycation as an leader/ender/break between sets of chain piecing for this year’s project, On Ringo Lake.  I’m inspired!

The fabric stash:  

• Used since last time: 2.5 yards
• Used year to date: 44.75 yards
• Added since last time: 0 yards
• Added year to Date: 124 yards
• Net ADDED for 2017: 79.25 yards

Slow Stitching Sunday

Same story on my Sunday Project, A Rainbow Garden, as last Sunday!  No progress, not even one stitch.  That’s just how the cookie crumbles, isn’t it?

~Happy Sunday!

~happy crafting!

~Melanie

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

Melanie

Nothing in and Nothing Out.

The fabric stash:  

• Used since last time: 0 yards
• Used year to date: 42.25 yards
• Added since last time: 0 yards
• Added year to Date: 124 yards
• Net ADDED for 2017: 81.75 yards

Slow Stitching Sunday

I was still not able to work  on my Sunday Project, A Rainbow Garden last Sunday and I hope I can work on it today! I have 2 projects left for Christmas and I want to get those done before the end of the month.  It looks like I probably will not get 1 of them done which I had already figured but HOPED that I would be close enough to get it done early in December.  I don’t think that’s going to happen.  I probably will get it done by Christmas though as I’ve been working on it daily.  The second project is probably going to get done because it is a small thing.  All that to say that my slow stitching has not been in the world of quilting but in knitting and cross stitching.  I’m still doing a lot of handwork just not the handwork I set aside for Sundays.  Oh well.  that’s just how the flow goes sometimes.

~Happy Sunday!

~happy crafting!

~Melanie

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

Melanie

Nothing in and Nothing Out. Last Sunday I went to a Weaving and Fiber Festival in Torrance, CA.  I loved all the colors and fiber.  But I didn’t spend any money other than my admissions fee.  Which is very strange indeed.  I’d like to say that I’m learning to control my impulses and buy things for projects when I’m ready to start working on a project.  But that would not be true.  Really I have a ton of yarn and like my fabric space do not have room for more. I would have found space for the fiber though but I do not know how to spin on my drop spindle.  I’ve watched a ton of YouTube videos and I’m just not getting it.  I think this is something I need to take a class and learn.  I would also love to get a spinning wheel and start playing with that.  But I’m afraid to get into another hobby or have another project.  So, I’m leaving that alone and will happily watch the spinners and yarny folks on YouTube.  I did find some sort of collective that does semi annual workshops or retreats and teaches this sort of thing.  The fall one was this weekend and I was not able to attend.  But I will try to attend the spring  event.  Maybe I’ll discover that I truly enjoy spinning and maybe I’ll be able to rent one a bit before forking out the cash.

The fabric stash:  

• Used since last time: 0 yards
• Used year to date: 42.25 yards
• Added since last time: 0 yards
• Added year to Date: 124 yards
• Net ADDED for 2017: 81.75 yards

Slow Stitching Sunday

I was not able to work  on my Sunday Project, A Rainbow Garden last Sunday and I will probably not work on it today either!  I’ve got a number of projects I need to get done for Christmas so I’m working on those first.  The plan is to get it done by the end of this month so that all my crafty projects in December are fun projects for me.  Unfortunately, this project has to be put aside until I get to it.

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – in progress
10/29/2017

~happy crafting!

~Melanie

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

Melanie

Some movement in the stash this week.  My mini group is putting together a basket for our quilt guild’s holiday party.  Our theme is “tools of the trade” and we are going through our stash and donating things (fabric and tools).  Well, I’ve got a bunch of tools that I tried and decided I didn’t like along with fabric that I’m no longer in love with.  So to help make space in my fabric bins, I donated 11.25 yards to the basket.  I have some yards to add as well because this coming Saturday I will be at the last workshop of the year and I needed 5 yards of a background fabric.  I do not have 5 yards of any 1 fabric so I went to my LQS and found something I like.  I still need to cut a bit before the workshop so I’ll be doing that this week.

Today I’ll be heading down to Torrance to a Weaving and Fiber Festival.  I’ve never been before and I’m excited to attend.

The fabric stash:  

• Used since last time: 11.25 yards
• Used year to date: 42.25 yards
• Added since last time: 5 yards
• Added year to Date: 124 yards
• Net ADDED for 2017: 81.75 yards

Slow Stitching Sunday

And for Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy at Kathy Quilts… I will continue with A Rainbow Garden!

Here’s where I was last time:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – in progress
10/15/2017

Here’s where I am now:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – in progress
10/29/2017

~happy crafting!

~Melanie

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

Melanie

Guess what?!?  Nothing In and Nothing Out!  And it was my birthday last weekend.  I almost succumbed to the pressure and almost went to my LQS on Friday but I didn’t.  I had no reason to go other than to buy and pet fabric.  Which I could do at home.  I ended up heading home, finishing up the frankenbatt for Secret Project #2.  I even basted everything together.  All I need to do now is quilt it.  On Saturday, I pulled everything out of my fabric closet to put the batting bin back when I had the very intelligent thought that I should probably get the batting ready for my next project.  That way I wouldn’t have any excuse not to do it and it was already out anyway.  I am feeling pretty smart about that decision, thank you very much.  Anyway, in reality, my next project is Celtic Solstice.  And if you recall, that baby is a pretty BIG quilt.  Capital letters B-I-G!  BIG!  So, I’m not going to frankenbatt that.  I’ll pull the batting for that from my roll.  The next one after that is Quilty Little Christmas.  And that is 2×5 and is going to be a wall hanging.  A great project for frankenbatting.  I laid it on the floor and got the pieces ready for another frankenbatt.  I was not in the mood to actually piece it together (everything from my closet was strewn about on the floor.)  So I cut where I needed to cut and pinned the sides I wanted to be together so I wouldn’t have to remember.  The batting is now happily in my project bin for that quilt.  Right now, my quilty mojo is still missing.  However I am able to work on one project at a time.  Right now that project is Secret Project #2.  It’s very slow progress but progress is progress and I’m happy with the little bit I’m able to do.

The fabric stash:  

• Used since last time: 0 yards
• Used year to date: 31 yards
• Added since last time: 0 yards
• Added year to Date: 119 yards
• Net ADDED for 2017: 88 yards

Slow Stitching Sunday

And for Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy at Kathy Quilts… I will continue with A Rainbow Garden!

Here’s where I was last time:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – in progress
10/2/2017

Here’s where I am now:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – in progress
10/15/2017

And here’s my project all laid out on my workstation:

My workstation
10/15/17

Just a progress pic working on block 8. I was doing a blanket stitch on that leaf.

~happy crafting!

~Melanie

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

Melanie

I was able to gift Secret Project #1 so I’ll be posting about that this week when I’ve got time to get the pictures ready and posted.  Now I’m working on Secret Project #2.  I haven’t actually played – really played with fabric in a long time.  I’m making the back for Project #2 and I didn’t want to make it too difficult as I haven’t felt the quilty bug in a long time.  I’ve enjoyed buying fabric and making bags but I haven’t wanted to do anything quilty in awhile.  But today I did, I woke up and went straight in my crafty room to work on the back for Project #2.  Which I finished right away.  I had already picked the fabrics a few weeks ago, sorted them in the order I wanted them to be in, and on Friday night pressed them.  So today, I simply lined them up one at a time, cut, and sew.  The next step is to rummage through my bins for appropriate batting.  I have batting on a roll but this being a small project, I am looking forward to using up some of my scrap batting that I’ve tucked away in a corner of my fabric closet.  If I do not do that now, I know it will take me forever to get back on it.  I’m hoping this quilty fever continues.

I did add another couple yards of fabric.  While at LMU last weekend for a tour with my daughter, we stopped by the new modern fabric shop that opened up in Inglewood recently.  It is Sew Together and they have cute fabrics.  They do not have a lot of selections and is not worth the trip from Woodland Hills to Inglewood, a 30-minute drive without traffic.  But, they’re new and I’m sure with time, this will change.  Until then, know that they are right next door to The Knitting Tree. This is a fabulous yarn shop and you can get into a little community art gallery from inside The Knitting Tree.  I didn’t take any pictures because I was so enamored with the yarn that I forgot to. 🙁  Anyway, I had to support the new fabric shop and the yarn shop so I did a bit of damage.

From my Solvang Trip a couple of weeks ago
@ Creation Station
Buelton, CA
9/29/2017

From my Solvang Trip a couple of weeks ago
@ Creation Station
Buelton, CA
9/29/2017

From last weekend’s visit to LMU
@ Sew Together Lounge
Inglewood, CA
10/8/2017

From last weekend’s visit to LMU
@ Sew Together Lounge
Inglewood, CA
10/8/2017

The fabric stash:  

• Used since last time: 0 yards
• Used year to date: 31 yards
• Added since last time: 2 yards
• Added year to Date: 119 yards
• Net ADDED for 2017: 88 yards

Slow Stitching Sunday

And for Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy at Kathy Quilts… I will continue with A Rainbow Garden!

Here’s where I was last time:

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – in progress
10/2/2017

I have not worked on this project since and I hope I will have the mojo to work on it today.  I’ll be happy even if I take it out and just put in one foot of floss (which might be all I’m capable of).

~happy crafting!

~Melanie

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

Melanie

My numbers have not been great. First, I’ve been out.  Last weekend, the hubby and I, and some friends took a trip to Solvang, CA.  It’s a nice little trip but a weekend was more than enough.  We’d been before but never for a whole weekend so we were able to try different things around the area that we normally do not get to try.

1st, we went to a lavender farm, Clairmont Farms.  The lavender was not in bloom but we got to buy a whole lot of lavender.  I have problems sleeping so I keep lavender next to my bed.  I love it.

2nd, we visited OstrichLand.  Who knew how aggressive ostriches are. I plan to go back when ostrich eggs are in season and try one of those.

3rd, I went to Creation Station, the local quilt shop.  I was able to buy 1.5 yards of fabric.  And learned that they periodically have weekend retreats.  I’m going to find out the details and see if I can make it one of these days.

We ate, we played, we relaxed.  But I wasn’t able to quilt so I’ve added a bit and used none at all! I’m okay with that.

The fabric stash:  

• Used since last time: 0 yards
• Used year to date: 31 yards
• Added since last time: 0 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… well, I’m at a college thing with my daughter today so no changes in this part but I missed last week’s post to show what I was able to get done the Sunday before that –

A Rainbow Garden!

Here’s where I was last time:

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

Here I am now…

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – in progress
10/2/2017

I even missed my mini group meeting this month so I wasn’t able to work on this then either.  Oh well – sometimes that’s just how it is.  Hopefully I’ll be able to work on this sometime this week.

~happy crafting!

~Melanie

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

Melanie

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