Today's UFO progress

Today I have been bee bopping here there and everywhere on projects and tasks I wanted to do.
I did some organizing in my sewing area. Sorted a basket of scraps.
Made a couple Pineapple blocks and a couple more Crumb blocks. The 9inch Crumb block will be turned into a hotpad. All this was made from the above scrap basket and it is still kind a full but everything has been sorted and pressed, nice and neat again. Tomorrow I will make some more pineapple blocks and might throw in some crumb blocks too.

Cut backing and batting for this table runner I found while sorting the other day. I have it pinned and ready to quilt it tomorrow. This will be a new runner to use on the old Singer Cabinet in my living room.

I have enjoyed this first day of 2010. I hope you had a good day too. I am happy with the progress that I made on my UFO projects and my chores around the house. I need to tackle taking the Christmas tree down tomorrow (bummer ... I love Christmas and when the tree comes down the magic will be gone)

until next time ... happy quilting

Stash Busting Report Week 10

Here's my weekly report for the 2009 Stash Bustin Challenge I joined on Judy's blog. You should check out the other's blogs and see what they are up to. Here is the link for week 10's reports. They are doing just great.
This week I didn't get much sewing done but that is okay. But I did make progress sorting those pile of scraps .. and had a yard sale and made three little crumb blocks.

This week's usage includes - 3 little 6.5 inch crumb blocks and the backing fabric I sent along with my aunt's HUG quilt. That is all I used this week. Hope to get some sewing done today. I need to complete the next step on the Quilt Along on Judy's site. Might have a photo to post later on.

Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Fabric Used this Week: 1.75 yards
Fabric gifted this week: 0 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date: 27 yards

Here's my thread usage report --I started with 34 total spools of various sizes and colors on hand on last count. (still nothing finished off )
Spools added this week: 0 spools
Spools used this week: 0 spools Total
Spools used to Date: 3 spoolsTotal
Spools bought to Date: 2 spools

until next time ....

setting aside the scraps for now

after making a small dent in the pile on the table I have to put those scraps away for now. I need to get ready for a yard sale this weekend and work on blocks for the Quilt along on Judy's site. I did make some nice progress on this and am happy with what I got done. I now have a small drawer of strips/strings for string blocks. I have a small container of 2.5 inch strips for log cabin blocks. I have a small drawer of odd size and shaped pieces for crumb blocks. All are nicely pressed and will be ready for me to work on those projects without alot of time sorting, pulling and pressing. I will get back to sorting and organizing this container at a later date.
I got the Scrappy HST quilt back from being quilting yesterday. Tirane did a wonderful job hiding my waving border on this one. She is a wonderful quilter ... ya'll need to check out her blog and pictures She is sure to please. Now I need to get the binding done on this one to be able to give it to my sister when I see her on the 19th for a mini-vacation with her family. This will be my first 2009 finish!
until next time ....

scraps scraps and more scraps

Tuesday's Update ... Trying 30 minutes of Progress a day ...
I have been making myself do 30 minutes at a time of working thru this mess. I have a good start but not anywhere near done. I have a nice stack of various size strings, a stack of 2.5" strips for log cabin blocks, lots of smaller pieces/ odd shapes pressed and put into a shoe box for crumb blocks and then there are larger pieces of fabric I found while digging and those are pressed and set aside waiting to be cut down to whatever I can use. I didn't want to stop pressing to cut yet. I have made some progress - there is a dent in the pile on the table and I am not giving up. When this is done I will be able to pull a tub or box and sew on whatever scrappy project I want to without having to sort and press. Think of all the time I am saving myself by doing this now.

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My only sewing related goal for this week is to press, sort, cut and organize this huge pile of scraps. Think I can do it?

I'd like to cut down these scraps into usable pieces: squares, strips and strings. So that way they are ready to use when I am ready to sew. So many scraps ... so little time to sew ...
until next time ....

Saturday Sewing time ...

I have most of my household chores done for the day so I plan on sewing today. I need to make a potholder set for a swap I am doing and then I can play with all these strings ...

Hope to have a good day for string reduction so I can post a good report for this week. Follow the link to find out more about the challenge Judy's Stash Bustin Challenge. I need to find fabrics for Judy's newest Quilt-Along that I am going to try and do too. Should be fun.

I didn't get to work with those strings today but ... I did get these potholders and this hotpad set done for a swap I am doing. Whatcha think? They can be reversible I guess if you'd like. She wanted sunflowers, greens and yellows and this is what I came up with. Hope she likes them.

until next time ....

Stashbustin Challenge 2009

here we go ... just to update with some pictures of my sewing area after I cut, sorted and cleaned up yesterday. I still need to go through the stuff on the top of the smaller cabinet. That is mostly patterns and such. I have two binders to organize those but that will be another day.

Picture #1 -- my cutting table before the big clean up. It is all sorted, cut and put away now. Nothing is on my table but two small baskets of projects I want to work on over the next couple of days while I am off work; my sewing mat, the scrap catcher and my machine.

Picture #2 - look how much neater the area is. I bought the rolling cart the other day at Fred's and it got me motivated to clean up my sewing area.

Picture #3 -- same area - maybe a better view?? See the pile on the smaller cabinet I was talking about - that will be my next declutter task. That will take awhile to sort and punch and put into binders.

Picture #4 -- the cabinet opened and a view of the UFOs/BOBS on the top of the cabinet and on the top shelf of the cabinet.

Picture #5 -- my sewing area from a different view. See those tubs - one has 30s prints in it, one has scraps to be cut into squares, the small tub has strips for more string blocks and the basket is full of various parts, pieces and scraps of fabric.

onward I go ... tackling the 2009 Stash Bustin Challenge from Judy's site.

Goals would be as I posted before but I'll bring them forward to the first post of the year for this Challenge. So ... let's start using it up quilters!

until next time ...

Jacob's Ladder quilt is completed

Oh my - the mailman made my day I can tell ya!! He brought me a package and in it was this wonderful quilt (my scrappy Jacob's Ladder Quilt) my friend Tirane quilted for me ... isn't it lovely. She did a fabulous job on the quilting. I am so happy with it.

Update .... The binding is now completed and I can mark this one as completed!!!

I have been pulling fabrics today to cut some charms for a swap I am doing and while cutting charms I decided to go ahead and cut 10.5 inch squares to piece the backing for my scrappy sampler I am working on. I think I have enough cut to piece the backing. Need to be in there sewing instead of playing on the computer but I needed a break. I plan on sewing some more tonight and finishing up the sampler over the weekend and hopefully the binding on the Jacob's Ladder quilt too. Am I ambitious or what??
I have been cleaning up my sewing area today to get ready for my company that is coming on Wednesday. This means to clean up and put everything away that is normally sitting on the breakfast room table and under the table and on the bar to the left of it. I have claimed this area as my sewing area. While cleaning it has come to my attention that I am totally addicted to scraps (as if you didn't know). I found lots of great scrap pieces to add to a scrap box to make blocks later. I also found lots of pieced blocks I totally forgot I had made. I took advantage of the cleaning mode and put all the made blocks along with the fabric I had been using into large baggies with directions if I had them. I have found enough BOBs and UFOs to keep me sewing throughout all next year - even without starting another project. Which you know will happen. I have quilter's ADHD - I can't stay focused on one project for long if I see something else I'd like to try then I wander off and start that one. I know I have got to work on this. My plan for 2009 will be to work on my BOBs and UFOs before starting another project. Let's see if I can stick to this.

I am so thankful for my quilty friends who inspire me when I need a kick in the tail! I am so thankful for all the fabric I have been playing with today. I have enough fabric in my stash to make several more scrappy quilts. I am so thankful for Saturday's to play catchup and some downtime. I am so thankful for my Father in-law who is so supportive and encouraging even with the loss of his dear loved one.

until next time.