Happy Memorial Day!

Wishing everyone a wonderful day!

I spent all day yesterday doing little nine patches. They're scrappy, they're fun, and they're all out of my stash!



Some of those are from that swap about seven years ago. I think those light shirtings are really popping, but Kathie at Inspired by Antique Quilts gave me a couple of tips to calm them down. Or I may just keep making blocks and replace those. When they're set with alternating plain aged muslin blocks, they probably won't pop quite as much as they're doing now all laid out together.

Kathie is also the inspiration for these!

I'll worry about that much later when I'm closer to the end of these.

Stash Report 2011 - Week 22

Nothing much has changed. I'm sewing, but not counting anything yet. Honestly, I don't know how I'll figure out the nine patches when I'm done with them. I'll probably take a very conservative stab at the bust on that one. Of course, the finish is still off on the horizon - a long time away!



There was a bit of incoming - some pieces from a friend to add to my baskets, drunkard's paths and nine patches. A good estimate of 2.5 yards.

Yesterday was an errand day and haircut, etc. I did manage to grab a couple of purses on sale. This morning I'm not overly enthused by either of them, but they'll work for now. I couldn't find the color I really wanted for summer. Will have to keep looking for that. I really don't get those designer purses. Sure, they're pretty, but not very practical for me.

Finally caught up on sleep last night. I was up very early today, but hopefully can crash early and be back on schedule by tomorrow. In the meantime, I'll be at the humming Bernina if anyone needs me!!

Year to Date:

Busted: 236.45 yards
Purchased: 298.275 yards
Net YTD: (61.825) yards busted :(

Help Joplin Project

Judy at Patchwork Times has once again spearheaded a project to help others in need. Judy is one of the kindest, most generous ladies I know. Here's the link to all the info you'll need to join in and help the Joplin MO residents who suffered such devastation and loss this past weekend.

Help Joplin Project

Anything you can send will be such comfort to those who need so much. I am going to go through the quilt stash this weekend to see if there aren't some completed quilts that would be appropriate. There's one that needs binding that will go to Judy, and I'll do that binding on Saturday. Per Judy's request, I will wash any quilt before shipping it to her.

I know everyone who reads my blog has already seen Judy's post on this project. But if you haven't, please send whatever you can. Every cent will mean so much to those who have nothing.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

That Kimberly!!

I received an email from Kimberly a few months ago. She said she knew how I love to collect old things because I'm so old -- no, no, wait, she's much too sweet to actually say that! :) Anyway, she wanted to know if perchance I had any of the old Kansas City newspapers with the star patterns they published for 30 years or so.

I immediately remembered buying some many years ago as well as a couple of really old books with pictures of those stars in them. I was a brand-new quilter and had no clue what to do with them! But I wasn't about to admit anything until I could squeeze some information from her.

I've known Kimberly ever since she opened the Fat Quarter Shop (although we've never actually met), and no matter how much I beg or attempt bribery, I have yet to EVER get any information from her about new quilts or clubs. I mean, sheesh, sometimes a gal just wants to know what's going on, but that Kimberly won't tell anything! I can assure you, it's not for my lack of trying!

So, although I hate to admit this, I totally caved. Yes, I had some of them, and I'd send them right along to her. She received them in a couple of days, and only then offered a tease -- that there was a SUPER SECRET PROJECT in the works!

Finally, a couple of days ago I get a late night email from her -- "Go look at the What's New page." I was out of bed in a flash (I must get a laptop to keep upstairs) and flew downstairs to the computer! There it was!

The Vintage Kansas City Star Block of the Month!

I was SO excited! For so long I have wanted to make some of those stars, but the templates and hand piecing seemed daunting to me. Well, Kimberly worked it all out for us -- no templates, no hand piecing! All easy piecing techniques using our beloved rotary cutters and sewing machines!

Totally totally excited! It doesn't start until November, so I have plenty of time to get these other projects finished up and be ready to go! I LOVE THIS QUILT!

I hope everyone signs up with me for this one. Maybe we can do a blogger's quilting group like we did on some of the other BOMs - hold hands and do it together! I'll ask closer to the start date, but if there's enough interest, we'll get it going. Maybe we can do the monthly drawing for prizes like before. I don't know. We'll talk about that later.

In the meantime, though, go sign up immediately for this! She always sells out of the really great BOMs quickly, and you'll hate it if you miss out on doing this awesome quilt!

This so feeds into the vintage mindset I've been experiencing lately - the Civil War stuff, '30s fabrics, antique quilts..........

Okay, Kimberly, you can say it. I'M OLD!!!!!!!

Message from Judy at Patchwork Times

I spoke very briefly with Judy at Patchwork Times last night via her cell phone. She is okay. She was not home, but was up somewhere near Joplin and the storm passed right over her. They were able to get into a safe room until it was over. She'll post about it when she gets home.

Thank you to everyone for your concern. We love our Judy!

Stash Report 2011 - Week 21

Expected incoming fabrics arrived. No buyer's remorse on any of them! I'm going to start cutting them up this week, so at least half of them will be out of here within the next couple of weeks.

In addition to the FQs I blogged about yesterday, the third project in the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle arrived. The quilt is called Prairie Gathering, and the fabrics are absolutely wonderful! I'm really itching to start this one.



I really need to finish up a couple of items on my sewing table, so I can really hop into the Civil War projects in earnest. I could finish both of those in a couple of weekends if I'd put my mind to it. Might work on one over the long Memorial Day weekend. It's not a large quilt, but the backing would be a stash bust. I'm going to simply grid quilt it on the machine. Just need to get it squared and pinned. I can do it!

A few months back I pulled out the Brrrr Park to cut, and I still haven't done that. Might get that cut out next weekend as well. I want this quilt on my bed this Christmas, but that won't happen if I don't get it made. It's a gorgeous Minick & Simpson quilt out of their Winter fabric. I love love love this quilt! (Scroll down on the page to see the quilt.) I'm going to enlarge it to fit my bed.

I think I can significantly lower my numbers in the red just doing the above. Must stay focused!

Oh, oh, oh, oh -- I finished up my 100th basket block last night! I'm so excited! Of course, there are 191 more to go. I had this goal this week and I made it! I'll prep more of them as I'm cutting the Civil War fabrics, but I don't plan on stitching on them again at least for a month. It's okay. I have a plan and I'm sticking to it!! It has worked out well, though, to stitch them 20 at a time. Small goals; more accomplishments!

Why do I always pick these projects that are big and tedious? LOL.

Year to Date:

Busted: 236.45 yards
Purchased: 295.775 yards
Net YTD: (59.325) yards busted :(

Head on over to Judy's Patchwork Times to see what others have been busting this week! Some pretty awesome stash numbers over there!

(And pardon the comment moderation. Seems the stalker has reappeared. It just make me feel so special!)

TGIS!

Thank goodness it's Saturday! I truly had a boring week this week. Oh, don't get me wrong. Lots and lots of important tasks were accomplished, but they were all "yawners."

I'm trying to decide whether to run errands today, or just stay indoors and play. That sounds funny. Remember how moms used to say, "Go outside and play"? It's just the opposite for me now. Inside is where all this luscious fabric resides. Inside is where my sewing room is. Inside is where I sit and applique. Yep, I stay inside and play!

Of course, Penny wants to go outside. She loves to roll in the grass and stroll me really close to all the blooming flower beds. Achoo!!! So we compromise. We walk longer but stick to the walking path. If I let her lollygag about, then we end up exploring all the blooming things and she doesn't concentrate on the task at hand, if you know what I mean. She's so stinking cute. Really has developed a cute personality. I must figure out the video thing because she's got twirling down pat! "Twirl, Penny!" That's all it takes to get her going. :)

I'm on the home stretch to completing 100 basket blocks. Maybe I can get that done today. I had a few things land on my doorstep this week, and I'm anxious to get those cut and ready for the baskets, nine patches, and the drunkard's paths. These fat quarters are from the Carolina line by Jo Morton. I know. I should have taken them out of the plastic to photograph! I will SO not be a photographer in my next life.

Oh, yeah, today is May 21st! Yikes! Maybe I should have held off poking these buttons on the off chance that it's all going to end today AND I would be one of those to go in the first group. Okay, I seriously doubt that would happen - going in the first group, I mean - but then again, no use leaving all that fabric at the Fat Quarter Shop when I could be enjoying it for few hours!

(Hmmm, I wonder if there's a quilting studio in the hereafter! There must be! I can't imagine the perfect world without one!)



Back to the mindless blabbering here ....

Most of the blues I'm going to pull put for the James River Blues project that I put aside last year. That was last year, wasn't it? Maybe the year before? Wow, I don't even remember with all the sickness and heartache in 2010. Doesn't matter because things are happier and brighter nowadays, and I'm wanting to do nothing but cut and sew and applique.



The pattern calls for 12 blues and 12 shirtings, but I wanted to use as many as I could. I started off with my scraps and managed to get about half of the blocks made just from those. I have a few more scraps and will combine those with a few more FQs that I found laying about and then these new blues. The blocks are easy to make and I would have been done with it long ago, but with scavenging the scraps and adding 1000 different fabrics instead of just 12, it's taken a bit longer. That's okay. I'm going to totally love the finished quilt! That's what important, isn't it? Well, that and having a ton of fun through the process!

So back to how this post all started -- I decided I'm going to stay in and play today! Errands can wait until tomorrow. I lost an earring last night and need to pick up a replacement pair, and I also absolutely positively MUST buy a new purse. I broke the handle on a nice one several weeks ago when I got to work, and dashed over to the (don't laugh) discount store near the office and picked up another one to use for just the day. Well, that's been weeks. It's time to go purse shopping. I tend to use the same one until it's worn out. Maybe I should buy two of them this time. Since I'm going to be here after today, you know.

Work Anniversary

Today is my work anniversary - 17 years. On one hand, it doesn't seem that long. On the other, it seems like a lifetime.

It's really just another day. Nothing special at all. I spent yesterday boxing up some things in my late boss' office which gave me a lot of reflection time on these past 17 years. My job hasn't always been easy but it surely has been interesting, especially watching his company grow and become what it is today. I learned so much from him. Those teachings are, I feel, a legacy that I will use in my life for the rest of my days.

Thank you, Joe, for believing in me and trusting me to help carry it forward. I miss you.

Stash Report 2011 - Week 20

I was a good girl this week. What? You don't believe that? I didn't either! ROFLOL. I looked and looked around the sewing room, and I couldn't find one single thing that came in this week!

Must do house chores today! Hopefully I'll find some time later this afternoon to prep more drunkard's paths and make some little nine patches. I need to figure out a better system for the 9Ps. I think I'm going to adopt (i.e. outright copy) Kathie at Inspired by Antique Quilts by prepping some at night to sew on the next day. Might move those 9Ps along a little quicker! I love making them, but I've had a devil of a time getting into a rhythm on them.

Penny snuggled up next to me last night while I needleturned two more basket blocks. Obviously I was more tired than I thought. When I looked at them this morning, I noticed that the handle on the darker one is all wonky. I was about to unstitch it, but then decided that it stays as it lays! There are SO many baskets in this quilt that it probably won't be noticed. I'm sure there will be plenty more "burps" before I'm done with all of these 6,793,119 blocks! Of course, by the time I'm done working on them, I'll be at The Home and no one there will care - especially me! :)



Year to Date:

Busted: 236.45 yards
Purchased: 281.945 yards
Net YTD: (45.495) yards busted :(

Heading over right now to check out the stash reports at Patchwork Times. Judy sure does keep us accountable, doesn't she?

Whatta day!

I went car looking/shopping. Those places, I think, are trained to just wear you out! I learned from experience, though, to give them my keys for the trade appraisal, and then to immediately ask for the keys back when they're done. Nope, don't want to talk about anything until I get my keys back. I had one place several years ago that held my keys hostage. I won that round, trust me, but it was a lesson learned!

Yep, the third place I went, one followed me home. I was plumb worn out at that point!

So there's a new QuiltMobile! Goodbye to the other one.......

I have a ton of stuff to do tomorrow to catch up on things that didn't get done today. That's always the way it is with me, playing catch-up. Oh, well, at least this item is checked off the list.

Penny and I are chilling right now. I was so hungry when I finally got home that I ate breakfast. She was happy because she loves bacon.

Watching the news of opening the Morganza Spillway in Louisiana. I'm praying so hard for all the family I have down there, especially my brother and nephew. Hopefully this will help. I can't imagine having to make the call to flood out some to save others.

I will also pray for all of our quilting pals in South Louisiana. Stay safe!

80 Basket Blocks Done

211 more to go........ sigh!

94 Drunkard's Paths

Here are 94 drunkard's paths. Only 6,972,239 to go!



The flash really washed out the colors. They're much darker and richer.

Stash Report 2011 - Week 19

This week was brutal for incoming, but it could have been a lot worse!

I cut, prepped, and shared a total of 32 yards. That's a lot of fabric moving around in one week. Except for one yard of another line, everything was Civil War type fabrics. I say "type" because some of it was aged muslin, but it's all going toward the same projects.

However, incoming was 54.675 yards. Ewww...... stinky numbers! The newest French General fabric came home to roost, FaLaLaLa. Gorgeous stuff! When the yardage hits, I'll have to get some for borders and backing. :)

Also in were a lot of Civil War fabrics. I pretty much raided the Fat Quarter Shop's shelves of everything I thought would work in these projects. Unfortunately for my stash report, during the raid I spotted the box of Judie Rothermel fat quarters. Wow, that was one exciting box to open! Penny thought so, too!



There were 100 FQs in the box, but some are already missing! I'd wager the rest will be gone within the next month! I'm on a roll here! I don't see this box on the FQS site now, but Kimberly might be able to get some more. It'd be worth asking the question if anyone is interested. A great buy!

So that's my week! It was a busy one at work, and then was busy here at night. I'm feeling so good about what's being accomplished here - especially after the awful past year. I'll get busy again in another month or two, but for now I'm going to make hay while the sun shines!

My brother is again facing some medical issues, which I hope are not serious, but we're all a bit nervous about them. More testing next week. Then the potential for flooding down in South Louisiana also has everyone nervous. Don thinks his home is safe, but we're worried about my nephew's home. Just praying things turn out well on both fronts.

Year to Date:

Busted: 236.45 yards
Purchased: 281.945 yards
Net YTD: (45.495) yards busted :(

Even though I'm in the hole, I'm real happy about everything quilt-related at the LA Quilter house!!! High fives!!!

Organizational Skills

Are you organized when you're pulling fabrics and cutting?

I'm making the biggest mess out of all these Civil War type fabrics. This is what one side of my cutting table looks like. Yikes!



If I'm cutting a pattern out, and I've pulled the fabrics for just that pattern, then I'm totally organized and neat. All the pieces are bagged, tagged, and the leftovers either go in a ziplock or in the scrap bin.

The problem comes in when I'm cutting just two or three squares and enough fabrics for a basket block out of each piece. Then I end up with leftovers everywhere. And I can't quite put them away yet, because I still have to cut a strip for the little 3" 9-patches.

Most of the fabrics are fat quarters. Of course, the ironing board is set up right behind me so I can press them before cutting. And a tub or two of fabrics are sitting right near my feet so I can pull out of those. It's a mess, I tell you; a total mess!

So I'm determined this weekend to not stitch at all! That's right, not one stitch!

I'm going to do a whole weekend of cutting and prepping so I can put away all this mess. Then I can stitch for a few weeks before I have to cut again.

That's my plan anyway. I'm focused. I'm determined. Nothing will deter me!!

Anyone want to go to the movies this afternoon? :)

A Story and a Request

I just read Carol's blog, and I came away in tears.

Carol has a heart-warming, heart-wrenching story, and a heart-felt request for her fellow quilters.

Please take a moment to read the blog and offer to help out if you can.

Thanks.

Stash Report 2011 - Week 18

These are the last few drunkard's path blocks that I did while waiting for a call back from the emergency dentist yesterday. I have about 40 total done so far, and another 20 or so prepped. I'm so into this right now. But I mustn't forget my little basket blocks. I have another 20 of those prepped, and I'm going to do at least one each day before I work on the drunkard's paths. Maybe I can do that one, or part of it, at lunch break! Any forward progress is a good thing! Kathie at Inspired by Antique Quilts is really whipping out her blocks! She is a constant source of inspiration!

The only thing incoming this week was the next installment on the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle Club from the Fat Quarter Shop. This month is Prairie Huswyfe and it's gorgeous! 4.08 yards.

Busted 10 yards by cutting up Civil War fabrics for myself and to share. It is SO MUCH FUN cutting up fabric! LOL. It's been far too long with no cutting going on around here! I should now have enough cut to sew on for a while.

Oh, I also had incoming of some 1.5" strips from a friend, but I haven't added those up yet. I'll figure it out for next week's report. Maybe I can sew those up this week so it'll be a neutral! :)

I'm slowly making my way into the positive here, but I fear next week will shove me further into the hole. Darn that Kimberly and her 20% coupons! I'll just blame it all on her!

Year to Date:

Busted: 204.45 yards
Purchased: 227.27 yards
Net YTD: (22.82) yards busted :(