Last Stash Report of 2012

The last stash report of the year--my numbers haven't changed this week.

In Year to Date--158.5 yards 

Used Year to Date--117.75 yards

Stash is ahead 40.75 yards

I'm very happy with my numbers for the year.  I've used +100 yards.  And stash has grown less than 50 yards.  Quilting is FUN.  Tomorrow I'll re-examine last year's guidelines and make plans for 2013. 

Thanks Judy for the Stash Reports, they're both a great tool and entertainment!  Check here to see how many of us have been shopping!

 

Motivation Friday and a Few Pictures

I've been sewing.  

I worked on my paper pieced Double Wedding Ring arcs.  I have 62 done.   The book?  My FAVORITE childhood book--"Gigi-the story of a Merry Go Round Horse".  

Just some random pictures taken at my house---

Theresa and Ruby

Ruby at Ken's feet--life is GOOD!!

4 loaves bread--2 buttermilk honey white, 2 dark rye

Checking the crumb

Homemade Tiramisu--Christmas Day dessert

New snow beside my door

Did you read this on Judy's blog??

"After reading my emails this morning, seeing several interesting quilt shop sales and clicking a few too many buttons, I hereby declare that the last stash report of this year, and all years hereafter, shall be shared purely for entertainment purposes!"

That made me laugh!!  Henrietta--maybe we should go shopping???

I'm thinking about next year--"guidelines" (I hate the word resolutions), projects, and my UFO's.  Have you thought about 2013?  

 

"Twas the night before Christmas.....

Ruby the quilting dog heard Santa might need a spare reindeer.  She's getting last minute instructions from Henrietta.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas!

 

Sunday Stash Report

Only two Stash Reports left in 2012!  How are you doing?  This week I bought 6 yards.

A dark blue, a dark brown with itty bitty polka dots, and a diagonal stripe.  Frugal purchases--all $2.50@ yd or less.    I also made a few more bowlholders and hotpads--that used about 1/2 yd.   So that makes my stash report--

In This Week--6 yards 
In Year to Date--158.5 yards
Used This Week--.5 yards

Used Year to Date--117.75 yards

Stash is ahead 40.75 yards

Check out everyone's stash reports at Patchwork Times.
 
Its a quiet week here.  I caught a stomach flu--and well, that was quite inconvenient!   Henrietta helped me bake cookies--

The cookie stash is dwindling!  

 
 

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

Here are my yoyo blocks so far--

15 complete yoyo blocks

Its slow but steady progress.  Check out the rest of the Design Walls at Patchwork Times.

Goals for the week--

1. one yoyo block
2. finish two pillowcases
3. one large bowl potholder

Its the last week before Christmas.  A bit more baking to do.  Are you ready??

Sunday Stash Report

Two pillowcases, two large bowl potholders, and two flat hotpads used 3 yards of stash this week.

In This Week--0 yards 
In Year to Date--152.5 yards

Used This Week--3 yards

Used Year to Date--117.25 yards

Stash is ahead 34.75 yards

See how everyone is doing at Patchwork Times.

The Christmas tree is up, my angels are out, and the snowman are (mostly) in a row.  We made a double batch of Poppycock.  Mason was LOTS of help.  

Are you done shopping?  (I haven't started)  Baking done?  (shucks--most the cookies are GONE already!)  I do have all the decorations out--I love that part of Christmas.

Ken's been watching all the Christmas programs on TV.  My favorite is
A Charlie Brown Christmas.   Do you have a favorite??

 

Motivation Friday

Its been a busy week!  Time to check the goals--

1. 1 yoyo block--YES
2. 4 Flannel Sheets for grandkids--YES
3. 1 pillowcase--YES--2 pillowcases

The new flannel sheets for Asher and Mason are done, and Mason has two new pillowcases to match his sheets.  

Mason is spending the week with us--we've been very busy!

Mason with sheets and pillowcases

Mason is learning to sew!

Mason is old enough to have a needle and thread.  He's practicing making yoyos like Grandma.  We use LOTS of thread.

We went to see my sister Kathy the librarian.  Mason and Kathy picked out books to bring home, and did the story "Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly". 

Mason and Kathy doing "The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly"

Check out the title on that first book!!

Mason and library books--note the title of that first book!

The weather was very warm and Mason and Ruby played in the snow while Grandma fixed a few outside Christmas lights. 

Mason and Ruby in the snow

Mason and I baked three double batches of cookies.  He unwrapped a whole package of chocolate kisses and only ate two! 

Mason unwrapping chocolate kisses

 

We made Peanut Butter Blossoms, Chocolate Chip Pecan, and Cherry Nut Slice cookies.

Cherry Nut Slice cookies

You can find the recipe for Cherry Nut Slice cookies at Judy's blog.  They are now part of our holiday baking--thanks Judy!!

Saturday's forecast is rain, snow, and ice.  We're staying inside but hope the roads clear on Sunday so we can drive Mason home to Mankato.  His parents MISS him!!  

  

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

I'll have help in the sewing room this week---

Mason is spending the week with us and I KNOW he'll be lots of help.   He's already scoped out the sewing room looking for projects.  We plan to make new flannel sheets for him and Asher.   We've also planned some cookie baking and perhaps we'll dip Ritz crackers in chocolate.   Making Poppycock is fun too.   Please check out everyone's design walls at Patchwork Times.

Weekly goals---

1. 1 yoyo block
2. 4 Flannel Sheets for grandkids
3. 1 pillowcase

I'm sure I won't get them all done.  Have you started thinking about next year?  I liked my 2012 "Guidelines" (resolutions are just SO stuffy sounding)--they worked for me.   I've really enjoyed my quilting this year.  Do you have 2013 planned?  Any special projects?  Its so much fun to read your plans!

  

Sunday Stash Report

A bit of stash was used this week--5 yards for pillowcases and another half yard for bowl potholders.  Not much--but every little bit helps.

In This Week--0 yards 
In Year to Date--152.5 yards

Used This Week--5.5 yards

Used Year to Date--114.25 yards

Stash is ahead 37.75 yards

I'm pleased with my stash reports this year.  Over 100 yards used.  And although it appears that my stash has grown--it's not.  I can see a definite reduction in my storage cubes.  Where did it go?  Last week I counted--there are 20 finished tops to be quilted.  Almost all my tops are queen size or bigger.  Several of those tops have backings already made.   That must be at least 250 yards of stash!   I'll keep puttering away and yes--stash reports will continue next year.  I find it a great tool to guide my purchases.  Have you found stash reports helpful??  Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Ruby the quilting dog has a new look.  This was her last week---

And this is today--

 

Where is the rest of the dog??  Honest--I think she lost 10 lbs~!!  She still has her sleek girlish figure (she's 12yo).  Her head and ears were only trimmed, and her tail feathers are still long.  And I got a discount from the groomer because she said Ruby is a DREAM to work with.   Ruby was able to do one of her favorite things last night--

Ruby was in shoe heaven!

The view out my front door today---

Yes, the white stuff is here!  The wind has gone and its 9F and expected to drop to -4F tonight.  UGH  

 

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

Lots of sewing here this week.   I made four pillowcases--

These will go with the QOV when I send them off.

Next I read about these--

Bowl potholders!  We often have bits and dabs of leftovers to warm up in the microwave and we've juggled those hot bowls.  Now we can pick them up by the "ears".  Thank you Karen--the tutorial worked great.  You can find Karen's tutorial here.  Check more Design Walls at Patchwork Times.

Last week's goals--

1. One more yoyo block--YES
2. Two more sailboat blocks--YES all 12 done
3. Three more Trip Around the World rows--No

New Weekly Goals--

1. One more yoyo block
2. Sash some of the sailboat blocks
3. a pillowcase

That's all my goals for this week--Nick, Laura Beth and boys will be here Thursday nite--we're celebrating Asher's 1st birthday.  Hard to believe he's already a year old.  

The weather was unseasonably warm today--60's and parts of South Dakota saw 70's.  Ken and I worked outside pulling up flower stakes and cleaning flower beds.  We even mowed!  No grass--just mowed some weeds off! 

Have you been Christmas shopping?  Cookies baked?  Tree and decorations up??  We're putting up the tree after Asher goes home.  And--I never took down last year's decorations!  What you say??!!  Is she crazy??  Most my decorations are quilts, or small plaques and snowman.  I love them all, and just never put them away.  We have lights around our big window in the living room--clear lights--and they stay up year round.   I stockpile boxes of clear lights at Christmas time--my walls are white and its hard to find white wires on lights except at Christmas time.

Have a great week!!

 

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

I have something new on my wall---

Sailboat blocks!  I have eight made.  The sailboats always drew me, and I just had to try making some.  Check the rest of the Design Walls at Patchwork Times.

How did my goals go??

1. One more yoyo block-YES
2. Bind Henrietta's quilt-YES
3. work on a UFO-YES

Henrietta's quilt is already in the mail to its new home.  The UFO I worked on was the Trip Around the World--which is behind the sailboat blocks!  More rows to be sewn together--but progress is progress.  

New goals--

1. One more yoyo block
2. Two more sailboat blocks
3. Three more Trip Around the World rows

 And there is not a fourth goal!!

Thanksgiving is over, we spent the weekend in Minnesota with Laura Beth, Nick, Mason and Asher.  Grandparent time--Ken and I feel much better.  Asher looks like such a solemn baby--

Life is tough when you keep sliding out the bottom of the high chair.   He's a very cheerful baby--he's just solemn when he sees the camera!   

Do you Black Friday shop?  Not me!  Ken did one stop for me--

An Infrared heater with a digital thermostat and a remote.  I'm often cold and Ken is not--so I can have this close to me or in my sewing room and stay toasty. 

I did stop at JoAnn's with my coupons on Saturday--no fabric, just thread, rotary blades and a package of rulers.  Today I stopped at another store--8 yards of flannel to make crib sheets for Asher and Mason.  I won't count this in my stash report--it will be "in and out" and not used in a quilt.  

Are you preparing for Christmas?  Time to get the decorations out! 

 

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

I'm still putting yoyo blocks together.  Once in a while this happens---

Ooops!  See what everyone is working on at Patchwork Times.

Weekly goals---

1. One more yoyo block
2. Bind Henrietta's quilt
3. work on a UFO

Sunday I laid out the 36 patch blocks and the additional scrappy blue bargello blocks and have them ready to sew together.  Forgot to take a picture.

Saturday we ate at my nephew and his wife's -- it always tastes better when someone else cooks it.  Thanks Brian and Judy!  Although you're not supposed to play with your food Hannah decorated her fingers.  That's OK--she loves olives.  

Checking Weekly Goals

Saturday is here again, I need to check on my goals.

1. Lay out 36 patch blocks--nope
2. Load a top on the Princess--yes
3. 2 more yo yo blocks with sashing--yes

I haven't laid out the 36 patch blocks--but maybe I can work on it yet tomorrow.
 
With Henrietta's help two small tops were quilted.   While clearing the quilting table and other flat surfaces Henrietta found a remnant of blue left over from a backing.  Yippee!!  I needed it to finish a UFO that had that exact same blue in the blocks. 

Two more yoyo blocks were completed--

Six Completed YoYo blocks

Tonight is Thanksgiving at my nephew's, I'm to bring sweet potatoes.  We all love sweet potatoes--I hope I've made enough!

Precooking the Sweet Potatoes

First I peel and precook them a bit.  

Sweet Potatoes in Crock Pot

Next they go in the crock pot covered with a sauce made from butter, brown sugar, light syrup, water, and corn starch to thicken.  Then its flavored with lots of nutmeg.   This crock pot is the 5 qt size and it is completely full.  I'm also making a small simple salad.  Sliced red grapes, walnuts, and sweet whipped cream.  Yes, real whipped cream.  Its a nostalgia moment--my mother made that salad on holidays.  

Do you have a "nostalgia recipe" you serve on the holidays?  

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

4 Yo Yo blocks are complete with sashing---

I like how these look, this week I'll make more completed blocks.  Each block is only about 11 inches.   See everyone's design walls at Patchwork Times.

Weekly Goals--

1. Lay out 36 patch blocks
2. Load a top on the Princess
3. 2 more yo yo blocks with sashing

I think that will be enough--can I add make a batch of cookies to the list??  I've been hungry for some Double Chocolate Walnut Drops.  

Ruby the quilting dog is "my" dog.  I feed her, pet her, I WANTED her and picked her out as a puppy  But--her heart belong to Ken.   Ruby has the peculiar habit of "guarding" Ken's shoes when he's home. 

Got all the shoes in sight

 

Well, I'll lay on  one pair and have a pair at each end

I wish she'd put that camera down--I'm busy here!

  

OK--I'll ignore her.

BLISS!!

But her favorite spot in laying on his feet.  Whenever he puts his shoes on she anxiously awaits being invited along.  She's very polite, she isn't pushy and waits to be asked.  And when he leaves her behind there is much sighing and flopping down in disappointment.  She doesn't pay any attention when he leaves for work--she knows the difference.  If he is asleep (Ken works nights) and I'm in the sewing room--she lays in the hall looking both ways--she's always anxious about keeping her flock together.   And when Ken leaves she trots down to the sewing room and comes in to check on me--then lays in the hallway by me.   If Laura Beth and Nick are here with the boys--she does lots of getting up and finding a better vantage point to keep track of all of us! 

Its COLD tonight, low of 18F and only in the 30's tomorrow.   BRrrrr!!!!  Its good sewing weather.