new label maker

I have a strange new addiction. My old label maker was acting funny, and, I couldn't read the labels on the project boxes during a search.  I happened to find this label maker at goodwill, and, had no idea if it would work or not. I took the chance and ordered the cartridges.  I really, really like it, and, all I want to do is re sort all my project boxes and add the new labels. 

First, I was happy. Then, I was depressed - I have way to many. Then, I was content to just keep after it.  Now, I am happy to see all my projects again. This time, I am grouping the boxes by alphabet.... more or less. I apparently like to start quilts that start with 's'. There are more 's' words than any other. Instead of quilting, you may find me looking at my nicely labeled ufo boxes. I still have more to go.

In the evening, I have been therapeutically sewing the 16 patches for a quilted twins free pattern called swingin checkerboard. 

24 finished

more here

I am linking to:

midweek makers  

boms away 
Oh scrap

wednesday wait loss

I am linking to:

boms away 

needle and thread Thursdays

rainbow scrap challenge

grassy creek 4 and my project box

It took some time, but, grassy creek mystery quilt at quiltville part #4 is done. I was pleased with how the pieces fit together, but, after ironing, I am wondering if they are a little wonky. Time will tell.

As part of the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy, I am working on pink ufos, I have finished  two love pillowcases and a flannel donation quilt. I am nearly done with flannel quilt #2, so I indulged with choosing another pink ufo - zuckerwaite from Bonnie Hunter book string fling. All I have finished are the string blocks. I made them in 2017. This quilt uses a massive amount of  HSTS - ( half square triangles ). So I need to get cutting. Even if that is all I get done this month, it is progress.

While I had the project box out of storage, I took some pictures to remind me of what was in there. I have Bonnie hunter's dawn's early light string blocks made.

And a Christmas sparkle quilt all cut out, including backing fabric. I found this as a quilt along here. I cut it out in 2018 while I had my Christmas fabrics out for something else. It looks like I have a few happy sewing days ahead of me. I love my project boxes.

my grassy creek mystery quilt at quiltville

clue 1

clue 2

clue 3

Clue 4 A

Clue 4 B

clue 5

clue 6

clue 7

I am linking:

Monday Making

design wall monday 

oh scrap

boms away 

needle and thread Thursdays

project box

I opened another project box thinking it would be an easy decision. This quilt kit was a Joann fabrics block of the month called peaceful paisley from 2013. It was not an easy decision. All the Joann kits come with precut pieces and instructions. I like that, sometimes, as an easy piecing project when other projects become stressful. I found a complete set, and the setting kit, and the precut binding in the box. But, I also found several other block kits.

What I think I did, was use coupons to buy the original set, and, then, I bought odd blocks when they were clearanced. There was not a complete set, so, I just bought any 12 to make another quilt someday. I have 6 sewn together, but, one was missing the pieces for the brown border. I had a couple of fat quarters that I can cut to make the missing borders.

I am a spreader

I took this project box to Friday quilt group so that I could spread it out, and, see what I had. I decided to trade some of the hand applique blocks for pieced ones in the original kit. I plan to finish it and, then, decide about the rest. I am not sure I want to invest the time for an additional donation quilt. I did piece one more block at our meeting. I will take it today, and, play around some more, and, see if I can make a more concrete decision. 

Linda brought her beautiful quilt to show us.

Linda's quilt

I'm linking to:

TGIFF

TGIFF different     here  and here

Whoop Whoop

creations

phd 20
peacock party
oh scrap
from bolt to beauty
UFO busting

to do: new project box and giveaway

 I decided it was time to sort another project box. This one was a bit confusing. I am trying to be very hard core on making decisions, but, it is very difficult for me not to finish everything I come across, or rather, to believe I will finish everything. But, reality, says otherwise. 

I have labels on the boxes to help figure out what I was planning. Still, The black elastic doesn't appear to belong to anything in the box.hmmmm

I don't remember where I bought this panel, but, I loved it. I have had it in the back of my mind for a few years, trying to find a way to turn it into a quilt.

I have collected a gaggle of fabric that I thought would go with it. My first thought was that, of course, I would keep this panel, and work on it to finish it. But, the more I thought about it, I decided it was time to move it on to someone else.

These pretty blocks are labeled granny's flower patch. I don't remember them. I don't have any pattern on my records list by that name, and, a google search hasn't found anything like these. And, they are put together rather badly. But, there are 70+ of them. I am hoping, they aren't mine, but a garage sale purchase. I spent one evening of tv watching taking the centers apart. I thought, maybe, I can put them together better. 

I found this fabric pull with a pattern. I do remember this and I liked it. I am keeping this project and putting it in a newly organized container for future sewing.

 I found bag kits with no pattern. uh oh. They were labeled by the quilt store, so, a quick google search, revealed what the pattern looks like, and, it looked familiar. The one on the left is suzies's sack. I found the pattern right away in my pattern folder. I don't know, what I was thinking, that, I didn't store it with the kit. The two on the right are- what is in your bag pattern. That took some digging, but, I did find it. I don't do these kind of projects any more. 

patterns were not with the kits

I have a hard time letting things go. I can't do everything I want to do. 

now, from the last box, I have a gift away for any one who might want it. There are enough quiltsmart panels for 9 blocks. free to good home just leave a comment.

I am linking:

Monday Making

design wall monday 

oh scrap

I am linking to:

to do tuesday

chameleon color linky _

oh scrap

project box

Last week was a workshop with our quilt guild. Our resident quilt queen had agreed to teach her 2 nd last time 4 patch posey class. I needed to find the two I had already started, to take and finish at the workshop. I, certainly, did not need to start another one with the class, but, it was a committed time to work on finishing. I went through every ufo bucket twice and no luck finding it. I gave it one more try Friday night, and found the bucket. All my buckets are labeled, why was it so hard to find "the" bucket? - too many buckets.

The black floral was Sharon's 1st last time to teach the class in 2016. 

This was the 2015 class, and, my first 4 patch posey quilt. The fabric I chose, wasn't busy enough to make some of the really awesome combinations that make a 4 patch posey unique. That is why I took it again with a different  fabric.

While I had the bucket out, I decided to reacquaint myself with the projects that were stored together.

I guess I was hoping they had become friends and finished each other. sadly, no. But, I had learned one thing, I have too many ufo projects. I had an actual number, and it was scary. I can't share kind of scary. It's time to make the tough decisions.

This was a cute bug quilt kit I purchased a little while ago. I had forgotten about it. I still want to make it. I think I will make this next year's rainbow scrap challenge. Any color that comes up in a month that is in this fabric, I will at least get started that month. I should have plenty of months as options.

This was an I spy quilt made like a polaroid picture. I hadn't gotten much done on it. I have a large quantity of I spy fabric and scraps. But, do I want to work on it? yes and no - that is always the problem. First, I think I will ask my friends if they want to take it, and see if I can pass it along.

This is a zigzag quilt that uses 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch pieces. I think I have 49 blocks. I bet there is enough of the blocks for a baby donation quilt- undecided.

This was a veggie jar quilt kit, that I thought was already made into jars, but, no. I will offer this to friends first.

These are the string blocks for Bonnie Hunter's blue skies quilt from her book string fling. I definitely plan on finishing this someday. It goes back into the project box.

I have 2 of these panels that I had hoped to make into donation quilts. Asking friends if they want to make a donation quilt from these panels.

And a quiltsmart package for the double wedding ring. I looked at the plan for this, and, I have leftover wedges from my dwr quilt that I could make use of with this. This needs to go, and, I need to move on.

I had cut for a book quilt for my daughter who has always been a  bookworm. I do want to do this. Another rainbow scrap challenge by color and month.

And, finally, this project was a kit I bought and spent more money than I should have on it, and, it is all pieced. I just need to decide how to finish it. It is smaller than I like, so it stalled. I will finish this and not work on anything  else until I do. No cutting, no piecing, no other quilting fun, until I have this finished. Let's see if I can do it. This will part of my one monthly goal and phd 20

I'm linking to:

TGIFF

TGIFF different     here  and here

Whoop Whoop

creations

phd 20
peacock party
oh scrap
from bolt to beauty
UFO busting

one monthly goal

stash report january 5, 2020

I haven't done a stash report since July. I had back surgery in July and most of my routines fell apart.
I enjoyed watching the statistics through the year, so, I hope to make this a regular part of my blogging again.
I typically count the fabric that comes in the week of the stash report, but this is an exception. I bought this fabric as a jumbled scrap bag last year at a quilt show. I knew it was hefty, but as I unpacked the bag and folded it, I discovered 10 yards of very yummy fabric.

I rediscovered this scrap bag in an attempt to clean up my fabric room. I didn't want to just put his away on a shelf to be lost again, so, I did a little search of my ideas and patterns, and, decided to use a new pattern with this fabric. I am not even pretending to put this on the list for this year, but, it is ready now, if I should I get the urge to work on it. And it was pretty exciting to have made a plan for it, rather than just wish I had a plan for it.

Stash report 

Fabric Used this Week 0 yards

Fabric Used year to Date: 0 yards

Fabric Added this Week: 10 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date: 10 yards
net fabric: 10 yards bought more than used

I have been at the sewing machine at least 15 minutes each day. The day is not complete without it.
I had a quilty friend over for New Year's eve and we celebrated by sewing. It was a great start to a quilty new year.

I have had a hard time starting my rug hooking after surgery.
This little project was a class in November. And it is time to finish it on slow stitching Sunday.

I am linking to:

Slow Sunday Stitching

Oh scrap

sunday stash at quiltpaintcreate

15 min to stitch at life in pieces

more sand castles

I am certainly late today, as my youngest had his wisdom teeth removed. He is 24 and has aspergers, and doesn't like to be uncomfortable, oh my. He is certain he is dying. I will not give him a bell to call me LOL.
I am moving along on sand castle blocks. I would like to have a top by the end of January.

I am digging through a box of scraps from a quilt show in June. I had surgery in July, and, then, I forgot about it. I found some interesting treasures. I bought this pattern in the fall, and found enough fabric in the scrap bag to make a project box for this quilt.

I found this orphaned block of the month, with 3 blocks included. I don't know if there will be enough to finish it, but, I think so. I made a project box for it too.

The very first quilt I made was a sunbonnet quilt for my oldest while I was pregnant in 1978.
So, I really wanted to make another, for sentimental reasons. It has everything precut and ready to go, but, I am sending it to the "someday projects" area.

I am linking to:

creative compulsions

needle and thread Thursdays

Oh scrap

A new goal for October

About 5 years ago, my daughter and a friend, Lucy, and I swapped baskets made from scraps for Bonnie Hunter's quilt called Lucy's baskets. I have a total of 230. They have been in a project box all this time. I am not sure I want to set them the same way that Bonnie Hunter did. I want to make this my One monthly goal for October. I would like to make it to a top, but I will be happy if I can figure out a plan and make a decent start with them. There is a lot of time invested in these and happy swapping memories. I had included this as one of my goals at the beginning of the year hoping I would not let another year pass without making a plan.

They are very small at just 3 1/2 inches. The basket handles are hand appliqued.

Bonnie set hers with a plain square in between. The pattern is in her book More adventures with leaders and enders. I have 9 out of the 12 quilts in the book started and, I finished 2 of the them, Easy street and lazy Sunday. I actually saw this quilt in person at one of her lectures. It was lovely.

I am linking to:

creative compulsions

needle and thread Thursdays

WOW

midweek makers

boms away 

Oh scrap
One monthly goal

carolina chain

Surgery on my back went well. I am still down more than I am up. I have to find the balance of pain meds that controls the pain, but, not so much that I sleep all the time. But, I am healing. Thank you for all the good wishes and comments. They were such an encouragement.

I am so close to finishing my garden party blocks, that I thought I would decide what project I would want to take with me as an away project.
This box has 2 Bonnie hunter quilts in it. Carolina Chain and midnight flight. I was glad I could tell the difference. I cut Carolina chain in 2017. It is from the the book addicted to scraps. It was also in the quilltmaker  magazine, June/ July 2010.
I cut for 154 blocks in dark and the same in light, I also need 154 sets of three squares in the light And matching sets of three squares in the dark.

I had to try a few for fun.They are very cute and easy to get a rhythm going, perfect for an away project.

I am linking to:

Monday Making

Moving it Forward Monday 

design wall monday 

Main crush Monday

boms away 
Oh Scrap

I am linking to:

to do tuesday

chameleon color linky

I am linking to:

WOW

midweek makers

boms away 

faux hexagon

When I opened a project box a bit ago, I found this Christmas table runner project in strips. I had to study it again and decide where I had ended, and where to go from there.

That evening, I sewed them together and added the borders. This was a workshop 7 years ago. We used a trace n create template from Nancy Zieman. The set includes a set for tumblers as well as hexagons, and in several sizes.

And this pattern

We cut strips and then traced the cut line with the template for the piece. Then we could just cut along the strip and had pieces that looked like this.

After, a visit to the design wall, I decided on this layout of fabric.

It's ready for quilting. And I can take it off the ufo list. I'd like to think this is one of the oldest ufos, but I doubt it.

I am linking to:
Free Motion by the River

to do tuesday

chameleon color linky

Oh scrap

project box reveal

The tomatoes are ready. It was a good year for them. They are tasting really yummy, and the thick core we had last year did not plague us this year. Last year it was too cold and rainy for a bumper crop. This year our big problem is the mosquitoes. My hubby dons a mosquito hazmat suit when He visits the garden.

I found this little quilt at the goodwill this week. It's cute, but, apparently, the quilter didn't want to quilt it. It will be great to finish for a donation quilt.

Since, I needed to put it away in a project box, I found one already occupied with enough room.
It was fun to look through it and remind myself of all the great projects yet to be.

A start of a lego quilt

These use the measuring tape for a closure.

And I am always hoping for more organization. I just can't get organized enough to get organized - haha.

This is a complete kit for a bog coat from the 90s.

Why haven't I made any of these? I think because they are not routine. And I don't have any reason to need them. I have been focusing on finishing quilts, and most are not quilts or even started. They have slipped off the radar.

So, I studied the bog coat pattern, and I do not see myself making that. But there is probably 4 yards of fabric that I have a project in mind for it. More on that later.

The lego quilt I will change into this great string quilt if I can.
The snappy bag I will send to my sewing area and try to at least pick the fabrics.
 The rest will go back in the box for another day of discovery.

I am linking to:

TGIFF

Finished or Not Fridays   

Whoop Whoop

Oh Scrap

crazy mom quilts