Not organized

Someone asked me how I stay organized. Who--ME??!!! Nope, not me. The first picture is of a few heartstrings blocks I've been working on. Then--the trimmings box at the end of my cutting table. And then--the cutting table. Yup, that's STUFF piled on it!!

Judy asked "how do you feel about using your stash" and it made me think. I have gotten more projects done in the last few months than in a year. Why?? Is it that I had to count (and look for) them for the UFO challenge?? Or was it my personal goal of "you have to finish two UFO's before you start a new one". The Heartstrings quilt group with goals of get it done and donate it SOMEWHERE!!?? I'm not sure why, but I am having more fun finishing items than I would have shopping for fabric. It is much more satisfying!! My quilts will have a purpose--donated, given to a friend, etc. Maybe that is it--I lacked direction!! And I have realized I do not have to have the "perfect sized border" or "perfect fabric" to finish something. Less perfectionism--more finishes! What do you think??

Stashbusting report and Birthday Supper

It's been a long day. I was going to spend the whole weekend sewing. Then I thawed a turkey out. A 23# turkey. And there's only two of us. So had a light bulb moment and since yesterday was my oldest sister's birthday--let's have a bunch of people over for supper to celebrate! (This way I will get rid of some of that turkey.) But that also means we have to clean, bake, and cook. Okay--that's fine. DH helps A LOT!! So tonight we had big supper, turkey, dressing, all the fixings and four kinds of pie. Yup, we are all full. And there is still turkey left. Darn.

Stashbusting report. Hmmm--total for the month. This is projects I finished in January, and just an estimate. Okay, I was surprised--are you ready?? 66 yards! Except for a border, I used only my stash. Yes, I feel good about it, some of that fabric I had forever!

A UFO is Found

Yesterday I got brave and opened the door to the closet where I store UFO's. I found this bargello quilt. All it needed was borders, so off to the stash I shopped! There was enough of the multi-colored border fabric for backing too. I had totally forgotten this top was in there. I used Bonnie's scrappy bargello pattern, only I used two strips of each fabric to continue the pattern across the quilt top. All from my stash.

It was a good day

Today I didn't finish anything, but got several things done. Pieced the backing for a chinese coins top. Sewed the blocks together on my apple green heartstrings quilt, it is now a finished top. And I measured out, ironed, and prepared the apple green top's backing. So it was a good day. Oh, all from my stash!

Sunday Stash Report

Stash Report--Finished Happy Quilt--5 yds. Finished Red & Blue Heartstrings Quilt--8 yds. Bought 5 yds of pastels. Do I feel guilty?? Nope!!

Pink Lemonade blocks

Cold. Yes, I'm cold!! All I want to do is snuggle down in my bed. Yesterday and today I worked on the blocks I am going to swap with my best friend. They are a challenge!! No, they're not hard to make, they are not "my" colors. Pastels. I have 12 done. I need 48.

Ahh--finished the binding and labels on the Happy Quilt and a Heartstrings Quilt. Not sure what I will do next. Start working on another UFO?? The block swap my best friend and I are doing?? Tomorrow is supposed to be cold and windy, I ran errands today so maybe I can stay home and keep warm!

Internet problems

Oh, how I hate internet problems. Today the serviceman came and replaced my modem. I am no longer isolated! I have been hand sewing the binding on the Happy Quilt and a Heartstrings quilt. Hope to have them done and pictures taken in a few days. I also brought my holiday cactus up out of the basement. Had it in the dark for 6 weeks, hoping for a huge set of blossoms. Sigh Two

Baking buns

Today was quiet. Ken found a recipe in a magazine he wanted me to make--cheeseburger soup. And I made homemade buns. I use my bread machine to mix, knead, and raise--then take the dough out and make buns. One recipe in the bread machine makes a dozen buns. I am going to eat one with the homemade apple butter I made last fall. The Christmas party was fun, hey--free food--no cooking!! And I did get the "Happy Quilt" quilted today, maybe tomorrow I will work on the binding. Tonight feels like a good night to read.

Happy Quilt

Today I loaded the "Happy Quilt" so I can quilt it tomorrow. Tonite we have a Christmas party. I love this quilt, I think its very cheerful. And I had just enuf fabric, blue with purple flying dragons and rainbows, to make the backing. So the whole quilt is out of my stash!! Hmmm--3.5 yards backing, 6 yards for the front, and I'll need another 3/4 yd for binding. Wow--that makes over 10 yards from the stash. The batting was left over from another project also. This has been a good day!

Today I allowed myself to start a new project. I saw it on Annie's Quilting Adventures and is called a "Happy Quilt". It will be a chance to use up some I Spy squares and make a Linus Quilt. January is a good month to make donation quilts, and I plan to use every last minute! Here is the start of my "Happy Quilt".

Tale of Two Table Runners

This is called "tale of two table runners". At least, they started out that way. Those blocks hung on my design wall for a year. Since my goal last year and this year is FINISH IT I decided these blocks maybe would make a small donation quilt. It's now put together, quilted, and bound!! Hooray!! Not a big quilt, but 2 yds for the top and2 yards for the backing. More or less!! Some stashbusting! I have been on a roll pulling out projects and finishing them. 2 1/2 bindings left! Then that pile will be finished. Whee! I have a new project I want to start, but the rule is to finish TWO UFO's first! It's been hard but the UFO's are getting done. And stashbusting is going fairly well. I did buy some fabric the other day for a block swap. It's true, no matter how hard I dug here were no PASTELS. The whole quilt is made using lights, pastels, and mediums. Think this stash is home of the "darks". But one of the other resolutions I've made is to "get out of my box". So working with lights, pastels, and mediums will be good for me!!

Heartstrings Quilt

Pictures!! Gotta remember to take pictures when the light is good. This is a Project Pink for breast cancer awareness quilt. It will be donated to a cancer unit to a breast cancer victim. I made it from fabric I had in my stash. I have been working steadily on donation type quilts the last few weeks. I have seven completed or waiting for binding. They will be donated to Project Pink, Project Linus, Quilts of Valor, and a local cancer unit.
Almost all the fabric used in these quilts came from my stash. Wow--not sure how to figure out how MUCH stash was used. This quilt is about twin size--so maybe 7 yards with backing?? And my friend Julia made the label!!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!! It's cold outside, a good day to sew! Yesterday I quilted my "eyeball" top and today I am quilting "fishy fishy". A good start to the New Year and my UFO projects. We had a quiet holiday season. Now we can concentrate on NOT eating all those goodies! I am using up my stash, I get so much more done since I am not gone shopping!! January I will concentrate on a quilt for project Linus.