Design Wall Monday, October 30, 2023

Not on my Design Wall yet, but this will be the next up.  My project will be called Katerskill.  It is from a pattern put out by American Patchwork and Quilting in their August 2021 issue called Blue and White Delight.  It is a re-create of a vintage indigo quilt.  I am using Blue Annabella collection by Renee Nanneman (Andover Fabrics) for the blue and a solid white.  The recipe calls for 280 HSTs so I made the decision to use triangles on a roll paper to make quick work of the piecing.  With two strips of both fabrics nearly half of he HSTs will be made.

Two of the strip sets have already been sewn, cut apart, dog ears trimmed away, and papers pulled away.  The other two strips have been sewn at this stage and ready for the next step.

This is a photo of the soon to finish project.  A simple two color quilt that will finish at 68" x 80".  Hopefully this year I will finish another 2022 UFO.

Have a fun Halloween tomorrow.  =^.^=

Sunday Stash Report, October 29, 2023

I was able to accomplish my goal this week.  The twenty five Star blocks were finished "ahead" of the release of the recipe for the Connector block.  Just made it as Bonnie Hunter will release it tomorrow.  These are paper pieced blocks which I enjoy making.  The two middle rows of the Star block are seven pieces of fabric each which takes a bit of time to stitch.  Happy to be in this place today.

These were the last four Star blocks to stitch. 

It is always a surprise to see how much trims off the unit.  This is the trimmings of just those four blocks.

Nothing to change my stash count this week.  The piecing for the Connector block looks to have lots of pieces so they may take a bit of time to stitch up.  In the meantime though I will be starting another older project.  Come back tomorrow to see what I am up to next.

Used this week: 0 yards 
Used YTD: 140.5 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards 
Purchased YTD: 83 yards
Net used in 2023: 57.5 yards

Design Wall Monday, October 23, 2023

My last four blog posts have shown Kauldron...time for something new?  This is the first of the 25 star blocks for Bonnie Hunter's Star of Hope project.  It has one more block design that makes the design.  This secondary block instructions will be available on her Quiltville website next Monday.  My goal is to have all 25 star blocks done before then.  I am enjoying this change of design and color from Kauldron. 

Here I have my dark blue points and the light blue centers in the cutting phase.

I am mostly using white on white and white along with white for the backgrounds.  I did find these fabrics with a touch of blue that I will use too.  I will be needing more than what has been cut so far and these fabrics will add interest.

More light blues were found too that will keep the project more scrappy than by using the same fabrics.

So there is a sample of my change in Design Wall this week.  At this point I am fairly certain another Halloween project will be on it this time next week.  I have at least two kits cut up and ready for the needle!  Enjoy the last full week of October 2024 =^.^=

Sunday Stash Report, October 22, 2023

Kauldron is finished and ready for the beautiful quilting Kerry will do for it.  I will have this one in my home next year for Halloween =^.^=

Don't you just love the backing fabric?  This is the last project I have that used this fabric line.  I think in total I have made four different quilts with it.  Each and every one of them different.

I have the binding all set too.

This very cute pattern by Fat Quarter Shop is all cut and ready to sew.  Isn't much too it, but it is that much closer to its turn under the needle.

In the meantime occupying the needle is Bonnie Hunter's design Star of Hope.  I hope to have all 25 6 1/2" star blocks done by next Sunday.  She will be releasing the second block of this two block design on Monday.

I looked all through my rulers to find the 60 degree angle to make the shapes for the foundation pieced units.  There are three different shapes to make the star block.

I have plenty enough blues to make for a very nice variety.

The first two are done with more hopeful completions the rest of today.  Check me out tomorrow to see how many more this weekend holds for me.

So with the completion of Kauldron I have something to change in my stash count this week!

Used this week: 15 yards 
Used YTD: 140.5 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards 
Purchased YTD: 83 yards
Net used in 2023: 57.5 yards

 

Design Wall Monday, October 16, 2023

On my Design Wall is Kauldron.  A very close to completing 2022 UFO =^.^=  All that is left now is the outside borders.

The 3" strips are sewn together.  The trusty tape measure, ruler, and rotary cutter ready for the next step.  Wait till you see the fun back waiting for the top to be done...next post you will see it!

I hope to cut out Boo!  I have found that it is such a pleasure to have projects cut and waiting to be sewn.  Kerry taught me this and am I happy she did.  So anyone plan to do the Bonnie Hunter Star of Hope Sew-Along?  The Intro and Part 1 are available now.  Part 2 will be available in about two weeks.  I plan to make it.  Paper foundations have been printed...fabrics pulled...sewing time not quite!  And by the way her Winter Mystery Intro comes out on 10/31 with Part 1 posted on 11/24.  A very busy time for Bonnie.

Enjoy your week ahead.

Sunday Stash Report, October 15, 2023

I have Kauldron to the row assembly.  There are 1 1/2" sashing strips to be added between the rows.

With Kosmo's assistance I am getting the strips together.  The project is wider than the usual WOF so the seams of the strips will be a bit staggered which I believe is a good thing.  They would be more visual if they were stacked up.  There will be three rows of sashing.

Nothing to claim this week, but perhaps next week as this project looks pretty close to done.  Just a bunch of long seams to go.  It gets outer borders of the same background fabric.  Getting anxious now!

Used this week: 0 yards 
Used YTD: 140.5 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards 
Purchased YTD: 83 yards
Net used in 2023: 57.5 yards

Design Wall Monday, October 9, 2023

Up on my design wall is Kauldron.  I am working on the cutting the background that will pull this project all together.  This is a 2022 UFO that will finish pretty soon.  It will be nice to get this one done and ready for Halloween 2024.  I had hoped it would be for this year, but realistically I do not see that happening.

I put the stem on Kianti.  I used three strands of embroidery floss in a chain stitch pattern as called out in the pattern.  I am not so sure it is thick enough for the size of the flower and leaves.  Might have to try this again with six strands.

This is the kit that came in the 2023 Spooky Box from Fat Quarter Quilt Shop.  I do like this one...it is already in work.  It will be ready for Halloween 2024 too.

I learned from Kerry a way to store embroidery floss that I though ingenious.  In the back you can see how I had been storing my collection of floss.  I had floss from Lilly, American Thread Company, Coats and Clark, and DMC.  This collection came mostly from my grandma and a bit from my mom.  My grandma was quite the cross stitcher in her day.  Anyway, today you can purchase plastic bags with a hole in the bottom corner and loop them through a key chain.  I sorted everything by color into several key chains.  When a project is started it is easy to identify if you have the design color and put all the project's floss on a separate key chain.  This allows for a portable way to keep the floss you are using right at your finger tips and store partially used threads in an organized manner.  There is also a white label to use a marker and pen in the color code if you wish.  My sorting is all done now and ready for the next cross stitch design that interests me.  I sure ended up with a lot of brown American Thread Company #1047.  I wonder what grandma had in mind...

Tomorrow is October Sunshine Quilt Guild monthly meeting.  I will be coordinating the October BOM and a scribe for the question to the members, "What was your best quilt-related gift?"  There are also challenges to sign up for since I missed the September meeting.  It will be a busy night for me for certain =^.^=

Take care friends and have a wonderful week.
 

Sunday Stash Report, October 8, 2023

Starting off with a completely finished Kaper.  This project just didn't look so cute until the buttons were in place.  In hindsight perhaps a different binding might have been a better choice...what do you think?

Karess also finished.  This will be a nice addition to the small collection of Valentine projects I have in my collection.  This is a 2023 UFO.  If you look close there are "woodies" in one of the fabrics.  Some of you may know that I am slow to get this popular theme in my home during the holidays.  Speaking of holidays...yesterday had me at Hobby Lobby to purchase a new artificial Christmas Tree.  With some help deciding between two different, but similar trees, I came home with a great one at a half off price.  Christine and I also split a box of three "woodies" ornaments in two colors, white and red, at that same half off price.  Neither of us wanted six "woodies" and the color split was perfect.  Maybe between now and then I will find the "woodies" tree skirt pattern have it for this year with the new tree.

For Stash this week are three one yard piece adds.  The white on white has "cats" imprinted and the black will be for yet another Halloween themed project from the pattern in the 2023 Spooky Box that I received during the week.  The red fabric will work although it is not what I had hoped for to be the binding on Kortland from the 2023 Liberty Box.  I had wanted a small red with white pin stripe, but it just could not be found at Rosie's.  The quantity was just too small to consider an online purchase at Fat Quarter Shop...heck the cost of shipping would have been more than the cost of the fabric!

This was my birthday week and two fun gifts came from Kerry.  The first is quilty fun with a matching tray and scissor holder made so professionally by Kerry that I had to ask her whether she made it or not =^.^=  It also included binding spools that she received and liked so much that I had to have to try too.  The tin holds coordinating clips.  The second are soup and dip spices from an Arizona shop that uses the famously known for chipotle chile pepper.  Kerry has sent me products from this shop before and happy that she gifted me more.  Thanks Kerry!  I also received gifts from Mom and Dad, DH, and my teammates at work.  DH took me out for a special dinner at King's Fish House where I enjoyed two soft shell blue crabs.  Cards and well wishes came in from family and friends both near and far.  Thanks for making my birthday special.

So I will close for now with the new Stash Report stats for this first full week of October.  I want to get the binding all prepared for Kortland so there is something to keep my hands busy during the football games today.

Used this week: 10.25 yards 
Used YTD: 140.5 yards 
Purchased this week: 3 yards 
Purchased YTD: 83 yards
Net used in 2023: 57.5 yards

Design Wall Monday, October 2, 2023

I have not had my machine running this week except for making the Sunshine 2023 September BOM coordinated by Kathy.  

Most evenings I have been hand sewing.  

I do have Kauldron to put up on my Design Wall when I can get to it.  Mine will look just like this as I purchased a kit with exact fabrics.  I only have the background pieces to cut.

Hope you have a great week.  Mine will be a little special because Thursday is my Birthday!

Sunday Stash Report, October 1, 2023

 

The last two blocks of Kauldron are finished.  Next comes cutting out all the background pieces and transferring the project to my Design Wall.  We have company coming over for chili dinner and the late football game so not certain I will have time to move this any further.

I did do some stash damage with Hobby Lobby's 40% discounted week.  This was probably the best find.  It is a white on white star at 108".  I got all of what they had left on the bolt or 3.25 yards at $4 a yard.  This will take me a long way on projects down the road.  This was the only fabric that does not have a reason to be purchased except that it was a TERRIFIC buy.

You know about Popstar needing a back.  This one is perfect.  I will be sewing the back to fit the project and off it will go to Maryland.

Next is the sashing and back for the finished cross-stitch project.  I selected a complimentary color, but really it could been any number of colors as there is everything in the project.  I liked the light teal.  The back may also become a second sashing...the decision has yet to be made; there is enough fabric should I decide to go this route.

How perfect could this fabric be as the sashing for the next story book panel project.  A you can see it will be all about angels.  The blue with the white dot couldn't be any better.  I may put a tiny inner border around the blocks in yellow...again a decision pending once on the Design Wall.

Lastly, three fabrics that will make good "books" for the project I have been gathering cute fabrics for.  There is enough of the two top fabrics for the sleeve of a pillow case and the bottom will have two big end parts of the pillow case.  Time to search my stash for fabrics that will match them.  Get them assembled into kits and mail to Maryland.

So 16 1/2 yards added and soon to be counted as used with most of it going to Maryland.  Back to the second half of the Chargers game for me with DH.  I have a very cute Halloween project to hand stitch...must keep the fingers busy.  Enjoy the first day of October!

Used this week: 0 yards 
Used YTD: 130.25 yards 
Purchased this week: 16.5 yards 
Purchased YTD: 80 yards
Net used in 2023: 50.25 yards