2017 At A Glance, December 31, 2017

This wasn't a particularly prospersous year in my sewing room.  Mind you there was a whole lot of sewing, just not as many finishes as usual.  Kosmo and Katastrophy arriving in early September had much to do with this as a single project, Kutarug, which still occupies my sewing room since that same time.  Throughout the year there were some finishes and many more starts that will become my next year's goal.
Dawn's Early Light
I have been keeping myself accountable for my fabric use and purchase through the year although Patchwork Times dropped the linkups on Sundays.  Since the last day of the year falls on the stash report day it will be included here.  As you can see I finished the year using 110.5 yards and purchased 64.75 yards.  My net used during the year is still on the positive side which is great to see.

Used this week:  0 yards
Used YTD: 110.5 yards
Purchased this week:  7.75 yards
Purchased YTD:  64.75 yards
Net used in 2017:  45.75 yards

The year had me working on several projects new and dusted off.  I helped my mom finish off a couple of her very dusty projects as well.  I didn't purchase like in years past, using mostly scraps in these projects.  I don't understand why there never seems to be more room in my tote bins...
Micky's Quilt 
Tiffany's Quilt
Nothing outstanding in the names assigned to any project except perhaps Kakes in the Kribyard.  I know some will understand how the name came to pass.
Kakes in the Kribyard
Koncentric Konnection and Kourageous were dusted off projects that finished.  Both were entered along with a couple others to the San Diego Quilt Show.  These two went on to entries at Road to California with Kourageous being accepted into the show.
Kourageous
My 2017 UFO goals have yet to be met.  Kutarug is still under the needle and Konstitution along with Kontingency are in that queue as well.  I have set my 2018 UFO goals that you can see HERE.
Kutarug
Today has Quiltvillians at Part 7 of On Ringo Lake.  With help from blog friends a name has been identified for this teal, melon, brown, and neutral colored project, Kandiyohi (Kan e ohi).
Kandiyohi Part 2
So I ask like years before, which "K" name is your favorite this past year?  My parade of finishes in 2017 for your viewing pleasure.

Koncentric Konnection 2/17
Krosscheck 2/17
Konstant Konnection 2/17
Kolada 2/17
Kloggs 4/17
Kalvery 5/17
Kissin' Korner 2 6/17
Knikknakk 6/17
Kakes in the Kribyard 7/17
Kompass 8/17
Kourageous 9/17
Kapture 11/17
Kilimanjaro 12/17
Kountry Kollection 12/17
Karduus 12/17

I close this year with hour glass units being sewn and trimmed.  Another wonderful year of sewing.  Thanks for helping me discover "K" names for my projects.  There will be plenty more opportunities in 2018.  Happy New Year!

Design Wall Monday, December 25, 2017


Merry Christmas!
Today we traveled to Riverside, CA where we spent the day with DH's brother, sister-in-law and their families.  SIL prepared a fabulous dinner for the seven of us.  I spoke to my family via telephone.  I was there a week ago for my family's early celebration.  I hope Santa brought you what you'd hoped for.  The evening had me watching the Grinch Who Stole Christmas.  Kosmo and Kassy who'd been home alone all day had Mom's attention too; a white and gray feather wand toy with a jingle bell!  There is a Christmas present from Grandma that waits for them in the morning...=^.^=

Kutarug continues progress with more hour glass units for the pinwheel blocks.  I think tomorrow will have me working on Bonnie Hunter's 2017 Mystery.  It will be a nice change of sewing that is needed right now.

Sunday Stash Report, December 24, 2017


Let me start with a photo of a Christmas gift from my Sister's family.  A kitty play that Kosmo and Kassy have been enjoying since getting back home.  
It is just like one that you could find for a child.  They have already managed to remove two of the four grommets used to fold it up when not in use.  I can't wait until this teething stage ends.
Kutarug is still in production.  All the pinwheel blocks were used and yet another batch is in assembly.  All colors are needed!
Green, red, and black on the left are done.  Purple, more green, blue, and orange ready for trimming on the right.

All caught up on hand stitching with Kilimanjaro and Kountry KollectionKilimanjaro was finished on the flight to Maryland and Kountry Kollection was finished on the way back to San Diego.  Kerry - ready for the next one =^.^=

Used this week:  0 yards
Used YTD: 110.5 yards
Purchased this week:  0 yards
Purchased YTD:  57 yards
Net used in 2017:  63.5 yards

Today time will be spent sewing my On Ringo Lake, but for now nothing to change stash numbers.




Design Wall Monday, December 18, 2017


Today I am flying home from an early Christmas celebration with my family.  We were all there accept Morgan.  We missed her a bunch.

So nothing on my design wall has changed for this week.  I have a short work week with lots of mandatory training to accomplish.  Making up the three hours between the two coasts will be tough tomorrow morning when the alarm goes off.

Mom didn't have much in the way of melons and turquoise for On Ringo Lake.  Another Part (3) behind on...darn it!  Friday Part 4 will be released which means soon I will be three Parts behind.  This seems to be a trend lately =^.^=

Perhaps I will find time in my sewing room this week.

Sunday Stash Report, December 10, 2017


What is becoming the most posted about project ever, Kutarug.  You can't notice but the last two rows on the wall are sewn together.  Still have them to stitch to the main piece.  These two rows and the next one might be the longest of the entire project.

As you can see I have more on the way...  I need all six colors to keep the mix consistent.  These two stacks are green and black with of course the neutral ready for cutting and marking.

The group to the left are greens, blacks, and reds all waiting for the final press before sewing into a row.  In the back are more purples, greens, and a few blues.  As you can see in the beginning photo more gold/blue HSTs are going to be needed.  I still don't see an end to this project =^.^=

Used this week:  0 yards
Used YTD: 110.5 yards
Purchased this week:  7 yards
Purchased YTD:  57 yards
Net used in 2017:  63.5 yards

Nothing changes this week.  I'm headed to family gatherings this week.  Plan to raid Mom's stash for melons and aquas for On Ringo Lake project.  For more variety I will be gathering anything that will work for Kutarug!  Until next time -


Design Wall Monday, December 4, 2017

This week I will be sending off Kourageous to the Road to California Committee.  Judges will look at it sometime before the show in late January 2018 to score it with the rest in its category.  The blue fabric is to hide the label so there isn't any bias during the judging.
Still working through the hour glass units that eventually become pinwheel blocks for Kutarug.  I'm hoping to use up some of Mom's stash during my visit there next week.  Not that I don't have enough, but variety is always nice.
On Ringo Lake for me is at Part 2.  These will be coming with me to Maryland in case I feel the need to sew.  Mom's stash will certainly be scoured for these melon colors.  I will be using the new ruler pictured.  I am sort of old school, but one never knows until a new way is attempted.  It promises to take a step out of the process.  No name yet for this project...suggestions always accepted.  Keep the "K" in the name :)

Sunday Stash Report, December 3, 2017

Friday was one of the rare opportunities during the holiday season to share the day with Kerry.  She's in retail and spends most of this the time from Thanksgiving through the new year at her store.  We swapped stash fabrics for Bonnie Hunter's On Ringo Lake and eventually found our way to Rosie's to get more teals and a couple of melons.  We each purchase an equal share of half yard cuts then split them.  Our projects will end up with many of the same fabrics, but you'd never be able to notice!
These are the 50 9-patch blocks that make up Part 1.  The Simple Folded Corner Ruler that I ordered for the Mystery showed up on my doorstep on Friday just in time for Part 2.  I haven't yet started, but anxious to give the ruler a try with the Flying Geese in this Part.
Next came assembling the pieces for Sunshine Quilt Guilds December BOM that Joan coordinated.  Joan supplied the neutral.  Participants were to add a medium and dark Christmas fabric.  I won't be at the meeting so it was left with Kerry to turn in for me.
So I have a change this week due to the new project On Ringo Lake!  I working my way still through Kutarug too.  All the units I shared with you last week needing to be trimmed before assembly were trimmed throughout the week.  Now I'm hoping to get to that half way point with this project.  Did I make enough to get through the three largest rows?  Stay tuned for tomorrow's Design Wall post.

Used this week:  0 yards
Used YTD: 110.5 yards
Purchased this week:  7 yards
Purchased YTD:  57 yards
Net used in 2017:  63.5 yards

Design Wall Monday, November 27, 2017


I didn't want to bore you with more Design Wall photos of Kutarug...so here is my start on Bonnie Hunter's Clue #1 of On Ringo Lake the Winter Mystery.
I had hoped to sew some of the three's together.  Unfortunately, work had me there late and then a much needed trip to the grocery store.  Dinner was from Panda Express that we didn't start eating until nearly 8pm.  I'm just now sitting down to put this post together when I should be in bed =^.^=  Looks like a Tuesday sewing night will get these 50 nine patches together.

Oh failed to mention Fat Quarter Shop has the Simple Folded Corners Rulers in stock if you want to purchase one.  They've been on back order and Bonnie is still out.  Its one of the rulers Bonnie mentions during the Introduction of On Ringo Lake.

Sunday Stash Report, November 26, 2017


Nothing to change my stats this week.  More ready to trim for Kutarug.  Will this project ever complete?

Used this week:  0 yards
Used YTD: 110.5 yards
Purchased this week:  2 yards
Purchased YTD:  50 yards
Net used in 2017:  60.5 yards

Black Friday, November 24, 2017

Kutarug is nearly half done.  Laid out here it is a bit distorted, but the left side is the left side and the top is the top.  Right now the plan is for 35 hour glass units across and 33 hour glass units down.  There are two full rows to assemble after more units have been trimmed down.  The trimming is SO time consuming.  The results are SO much better SO...trim!
This photo is assembly of the many rows that were complete.  I waited until there were lots of rows done before taking the entire project off the design wall.  Its is HEAVY!
Units ready for trimming...  (I do own a ruler that isn't broken.)
Units ready for sewing...  This stack will be the first part of (HST) of the hour glass unit.  I can work all week long on the trimming; seemingly having a whole bunch of units that will take me a long way.  Unfortunately, this stack will probably get me through only a row and part of another.
I did discover an oops!  It is pretty easy to notice and equally easy to correct right now.  When Kutarug is finished I'm going to count just how many cut pieces were stitched.  It will be a very impressive number!

On Ringo Lake Clue #1 released today.  I will be keeping up with this project when each clue is released along with Kutarug.  50 Nine patch units of aqua, neutral, and brown are looming for me this week.  Happy sewing everyone =^.^=

Design Wall Monday, November 19, 2017

Are you getting ready!
I am continuing work on Kutarug.  Sure would be nice to have this project further along.  Oh well, in the end it will be worth my effort.  The units above have been trimmed and are already in the project.  I will be posting later this week with progress.  Have a great Thanksgiving Holiday!

Sunday Stash Report, November 19, 2017

Kapture
26" x 30"
Kapture is complete.  It is a pattern by Pam Buda called Four Around Nine.

Another KitNipBox arrived on Saturday.  The theme this time was Sweet Shop.  The tethered toy has a jingle to it that drives Kassy crazy.  The Sour Apple Candy has also become a favorite.  Not sure about the Moustache and frankly neither are the cats.  The Laser Mouse has them very busy running around the house.

Had to share with you a glimpse of grocery day after the bags are emptied.  Doesn't she look comfortable?  It wasn't long after this photo was taken before Kosmo came along and all photos after were nothing but a blur.

I'm continuing progress on Kutarug.  Making more hour glass units for the pinwheel blocks.  At the top of the photo are more HSTs too.  Between all the chores today two more rows were assembled.  Tomorrow I plan to sew more rows together to the main unit.  Nothing to record a change to my stash this week.


Used this week:  0 yards
Used YTD: 110.5 yards
Purchased this week:  2 yards
Purchased YTD:  50 yards
Net used in 2017:  60.5 yards

Design Wall Monday, November 13, 2017


I am still stitching away on Kutarug.  Over the past week I was able to stitch four rows together.  This project isn't even to the halfway point.  The next two unfinished rows are coming together with the units that were recently completed.  Turning the project on its side gave me a bit more room for designing.  I keep telling myself to count how many pinwheels are done.  This would help with the boredom of it.  I'm more than ready for something else.  I've been working on this project since August.  I just can't imagine anyone working on the same project for years...

This is all that I have in yardage of the melon color for Bonnie Hunters "On Ringo Lake".  This project most certainly will help with my boredom.

Aqua from my stash is also a bit light in quantity.  Kerry and I plan to purchase and half several fabrics to give us that sought after variety in our own projects.  I can see shopping in my future.
Kosmo on the left, Kassy on the right are saying "do you have to go to work :("  Wish I could stay home and play with my kitties and sew during kitty dream-time.

Tuesday is another day at the office, a hopefully successful trip to Lowe's for paint strips, dinner with Kerry at Urban, and finally Sunshine Quilt Guild's November monthly meeting.  Have a joyful week =^.^=

Sunday Stash Report, November 12, 2017



Purchases from the Veterans Day sale at Beverly's yesterday.  The fabric on the left is a rich dark brown.  It has been used for the binding on Kountry Kollection.  I have the binding stitched down with the hand sewing yet to happen.  I have been making, trimming, and arranging more units for Kutarug most of the day.

The fabric on the right are fat quarters that will be used for Bonnie Hunter's mystery.  I haven't picked up the paint samples yet, but these should work.  So there is a change to my stash report...not too much!  More to show you tomorrow with Kutarug.

Used this week:  0 yards
Used YTD: 110.5 yards
Purchased this week:  2 yards
Purchased YTD:  50 yards
Net used in 2017:  60.5 yards

Wednesday, November 8, 2017


If you aren't interested in seeing my kitties, Kosmo and Kassy, this isn't a post for you!  Kosmo likes being in front of the camera a bit more than Kassy.  Above was Sunday enjoying a nap on Tim's lap.  He is a big boy, about 1.5 pounds bigger than Kassy.


I had the perfect photo of the two of them in the empty grocery bag with only their tails visible outside the bag.  Then you know the way it ended up.  Before camera was in hand Kassy flew out and he turned around.  Oh well, all we can do is try, right?


Last week during grocery shopping the squirrel nearly jumped into my hands.  I knew it was the perfect toy for Kassy.  (I put a can of green beans in the photo so that you could realize size.)  Well Kosmo got interested and before long if she was anywhere near him with it he'd growl at her.  Yes cats do growl!  So this week's grocery shopping yielded another similar toy, the skunk.  Well Kassy does get to play with it if Kosmo is around with the squirrel, but only then.  If both toys aren't around...forget it Kassy.  I'm scolding him to share with his sister; I'm sure you can understand how well he listens =^.^=


Here my kitties are enjoying dinner.  They do love to eat!  Can you tell who is who?




After dinner it was time to play.  I had the laser pointer, Kassy's favorite of all toys.  She runs crazy after it, so much so that I need to stop after awhile and let her rest.  Then she does nothing but whimper that it is gone.  Kosmo is above and Kassy is below.

This is where I am with Kutarug.  There is sewing going on, just not much of it.  All the completed rows are sewn together, about 23 of them.  I arranged it on the design wall in such a way that I can keep track of the colors.  Most of what is sewn is folded under from the top, pinned to the wall, and ready for the next rows to be determined.  I am stitching two rows at one time, which makes the construction a bit faster.  There are lots of units ready to go together.  Kitty nap times are the best!


We have reached hump day.  The rest of this work week will slide by in no time.  Enjoy the things you love.