Use my stash year : 2010

Use my stash year was a great success.

I certainly bought a good amount of fabric.....I was surprised to look back over my spreadsheet and find that I bought 117 yards this past year.

It started with 38 yards at the Fabric Shack last January.  Two big 13-17yd months of impulse and hawaii souviner fabric.  Then the rest in dribs and drabs.

But, just like any fast, you crave things less when you haven't had any in a while.  So even though I filled MANY a virtual shopping cart, I learned not to push the BUY button.  

Since week 32 I have only bought fabric twice, for a total of four yards.  

Hurray!  

I really want to USE my fabric before I no longer love it.

Made all from stash fabric

With the 5.75yds used in the last couple weeks to make four tree pillows (one more for Caleb's religious Ed teacher) the grand total used this year was a tad over 120 yards.  

I used 3 more yards than I bought in 2010

My fabric cabinet is in no way empty, so I have lots more to use in 2011.  I'm going to continue logging for the new year.  I started the year out with another trip to the Fabric Shack one again.   I'll share the results of that fun once I get it all organized.

  

Here's to using all our fun fabric in 2011!

Use my stash year : catch up edition

I've been doing quite well with using my stash.  I have had an online cart filled at least three of four times.  But I wait a bit and then look over at my cabinet, and decide I don't NEED the new fabrics.  Even though I really WANT them!

I've moved from using up some purple to the colors I like best.  My greens and blues.  I cut a bunch for a scrappy boarder on a baby quilt I'm doing.

Since week 30, when I last reported, I added only 4.75 yards - solids I was really needing.  Really.  

I've used nearly 11 yards.

Busted (wk 31-40): 10.822

Purchased: 4.75

Net YTD: (13.025)  I'm getting closer to zero!

 

 

This helps, too - I have defective shingles on my roof and am having to do a full replacement today.  UGH.  That crane (run by the dude on the left with a remote control- cool!)  was unfortunately delivering shingles early Saturday morning.  Not fabric.

Usin' my stash

 {from the last post, I found my super yummy pumpkin bars here - use a big jelly roll pan, that isn't mentioned in the linked recipe} ....ok, now I'm using this new blogger editor and can't get that crazy highlight to go away.  so I changed it to a nice, pumpkin color.

I had fun the last couple of days just using my stash!  

(It's been a while....I'll have to do an offical update on that this weekend)

I have an owl quilt that was started.

 And I'm trying to push myself a bit with some quilty things

so I thought I would try out some purple. 

I had literally pulled out the fabrics I wanted to make a huge wonky star, then put them back and pulled out my purples.

Plus some green.  I loved the purple and green that Audrie used.

 

But I got to the point of sewing the nine parts together and wasn't sure!  I couldn't tell if it was my purple bias, or it just wasn't right.  Usually I'm like - wow I love this thing I just made. Not as much with this one.    

So I tested out the birds....

Seeing it posted now, I agree with Julie when I asked for her help - this is totally wrong.

It sure it a challenge working with colors that aren't your favorite.  

Fun! (And feel free to offer your thoughts on the purple star)

Use my stash year : {I made it!} week 30

We made it! And all 56 boys are officially checked in and allowed to stay. My paperwork job was a success! All the tents are set up and card games have begun.

They had their first meal, complete with roaming councilor hand-motion sing-alongs.

Caleb can't wait for me to leave.

( In a stash note I cute and sewed a bunch of pillow cases. One very important one for Kenton to use for his first week of boy scout camp. I'll have to share them when I get back. But I used over 11 yards of stash this week!)

Use my stash year : week 29

Much fun was had this weekend with my Gram and cousins. But first an update on all the sewing I did last week as gifts for my sister in-law Laura's birthday and my Gram.

I bought this pattern before we went to Hawaii, intending to make a camera case for myself but never got around to it. Laura likes to take lots of pictures of the kids, so I pulled it out again last week. It's the camera case wristlet by Keyka Lou. A really well written pattern.

I cut the pieces and made one for myself at the same time. Since I hadn't made the pattern before, it was good to have my own to 'practice' on before doing each step on Laura's gift. It hangs perfectly on your wrist and my camera fit perfectly.

There's even a little pocket on the back. This would also be cute to carry around some change and your lip gloss if you didn't need a camera. But I'm glad I made them both at the same time - I may have never gotten to my own if I had waited. I forget how MANY fiddly steps and thick seams are involved with bags.

Laura also loves flannel pillow cases - she uses one year round. I loved the funky butterflies! And her 4yr old is always asking to use her favorite flannel pillow cases, so I made a second with some crazy cupcakes that they can share.

The cool thing about these is that they only have 3 seams - and that includes the french seam! (I hate strings, especially in pillow cases. So I always do french seams.) And even better, there's not a single: evenly turn under raw edge in a cylinder step. Besides adding long boarders and loose strings, my least favorite sewing thing is turning under an even edge on any size tube. I learned this pillowcase method from a friend and I'll be sure to share it this week!

I learned and tried all kinds of things last week. On my Gram's table topper I did straight line quilting that kind of looks like bead board. Appropriately summery I thought. And since I was running out of time, I gave a machine sewn binding a try. It wasn't too bad! I like the look of hand stitched much better, but this certainly was quick.

Overall a very good week!

Busted: 4.396

Purchased: 0.66 - Dream On charm pack win

Net YTD: (31.014)

Use my stash year : week 28

I cut and finished this cute, quick baby quilt top. I love it!

Becket was my holder today - perfect size for him to help. It's 36" square. Now I just need a quick back /quilt it / and I'm thinking a bold pink binding.

Not sure on the quilting yet, but since it's so small I'm considering pebbles. I haven't done them in a while. Straight lines are so tedious and I may be able to stomach doing them on a quilt this size, but I don't think it would do anything for the design. You'll know I couldn't make a decision if it ends up stippled!

Busted: 1.19

Purchased: 0!!

Net YTD: (34.75)

This week I'll be visiting my grandma - so I hope to get a table topper whipped up. And my sister in law will be there, it's her birthday in a week, so a couple of little gifts are on the list, too. I have a bunch to get done in the next few days!

Use my stash year : week 25

...super late this week.....and super bad.....


Since leaving for Hawaii I haven't sewn a single thing on my machine. I have some bee blocks to get on, but those won't count. And I'm not counting any of the hexagons I'm making until they are made into their final product. Otherwise I won't be able to keep track, really.

in:
half yard bundle of Tufted Tweets
16 FQs from Kerri - crazy amount of cuteness there!
3.5yds of Hawaii fabrics
3.5yds from Pink Chalk - most for free!

While I was away I won a prize in the Blogger Quilt Festival - a gift certificate from Pink Chalk. I was so excited, as I had been eying a bunch of things. Especially these bicycles, and the tiny zoo.

And these wonderful FFAII prints. Look, an orange one for my hexagons!

And I found these, too. Had to add them into the order. The print on the right is a new favorite. I have three more pictures of it for you, since you need even more than that to get it all!

I only bought a half yard and that was barely enough. It is Michael Miller's Tasty Escape and I would say it embodies the family summer vacation perfectly.

It is so jam packed with cuteness that within the half yard I barely have the full repeat. There's a donut shop that is just hanging on each edge that I would have liked more of.

Looking at these pictures I can see that I missed a ton of the cuteness. You'll just have to get 3/4 of a yard for yourself to see it all.

The total damage:

Busted: 0!!!

Purchased: 17 - eek

Net YTD: (35.94)

I'm Chuffed & Use my stash year : week 21

I had that lovely echino come in, and did just a bit of travel-crafty sewing sewing this week, so the stash report isn't too exciting. But I was excited to page up and see that I've actually used over 72 yards so far this year!

Busted: 1.029

Purchased: 5

Net YTD: (19.052)

I never use 'chuffed' in daily speech but I always love it when I hear it and I'm super happy with how my new traveling netbook sleeve came out!

I used Elizabeth's tutorial that's on Sew Mama Sew. Her tutorials are always so well written. It only took me an evening, start to finish. I used Joel Dewberry home dec weight and a soft flannel for the lining.

Oh, hello!
I had to add him as a happy little face each time I opened the flap.

Now look at this awesome zippered pocket I added under that flap. It turned out perfectly! Izzy inspired made a cover for her iPad and linked to a great tutorial that I used, too.

The only other change I made to the original pattern was to add these d-rings. I want to make a strap for it.

Happy, safe netbook!

I'm getting twitchy.....

I haven't posted on my stash use lately. Mainly because there isn't much to say - good or bad. I haven't bought a single thing for a couple of weeks. {This will change once Tuffted Tweets is available - I'm thinking the whole FQ set is in order}

Anyway, I've only used about 2 yards because I've been making lots of bee blocks in my available time. Bee fabric in/out doesn't count either way.

First there's Jacquie's cool red crosses.

I just finished Penny's pretty, scrappy, huge tulip.

And I made two more cross blocks for my vintage bee.

Finally, I'm almost done with Flying Geese for Amy in these wonderful solids. I have a flying geese phobia, and she said we could make our geese in any shape - even wonky if we wanted, so I took the liberty of drawing up a big paper-pieced block 'o geese.

The last row will have to wait, as it seems I'm missing something. Oh, it's my machine!

My machine was taken to the shop. It skips more stitches than it makes. I'm hoping that it only needs a tune-up and will be back quickly.

Good thing I took up hexagons!

Use my stash year : week 17

The back for my shoo fly quilt was pieced this week, and I'm heading in the right direction again!

Busted: 3.667

Purchased: 0

Net YTD: (17.476)

Giveaway & Use my stash year : week 16

First, the required accounting of my stash. Still going the wrong way.

Busted: 2.417

Purchased: 6

Net YTD: (21.147)

no, seriously - some day this will be a positive number

And what is this mob of quilters doing? I'll share the fun from our Modern Guild meeting later this week.

Now this little package for you will help me with my stash. Along with gobs of other quilty bloggers, I turned 1yr old yesterday. That first blogger quilt festival really kicked many us into action!


Besides being a log of what I've finished, I've found lots of great, quilty friends! So for you, I have two fabric favorites - a FQ of lime dandelions and nearly a quarter yard of Heather Ross' cute bagged goldfish. It's just a little short on one end, hope you don't mind.

Just say 'hi' and I'll pick a winner on Friday :)

Use my stash year : week 13

I was good again this week and didn't buy anything. I've also made some progress on my friend's quilt. Just needs the binding done now.


But it's spring break and I think the sun may actually be out this week. Glad I only have the hand work left to do!

Busted: 3.361

Purchased: 0

Net YTD: (8.782)

Use my stash year : week 11

I'm off to camp Friday and Saturday nights with my newest boy scout.  It's their first official camp out and they learn how to pitch the tents and use knives and cook for themselves.  It's supposed to be low 40s, raining, and 40mph gusty winds.  Should be interesting!  

I'll post my week's stash report now, as I may not be functional on Sunday.

So I told you I reshopped my birthday money - it was used up on these three fabrics.

A bunch of wonderful, original Heather Ross Mushrooms.

 

And some Flea Market Fancy that was being sold to benefit patients with cervical cancer.  A full yard of each.

 

FMF from 2RedHens

 Busted: 1.319

Purchased: 3.444

Net YTD: (12.143)

Use my stash Year : week 10

After all the testing and drama with the Spoonflower fabrics, I ended up having them all refunded. So that fabric came back out of my stash. (I did reshop with my birthday money - it will be in next week's stash report I expect.)

And just a tad of fabric came in from Kerri's etsy shop - I had to have a couple pieces for a special quilt I started this weekend.

Today a friend of mine is having a mastectomy and will be starting chemo soon. (I just got an email and her surgery has gone very well this morning.) I wanted to make something fun and sunny. I think there will be days where she's very tired and feeling down and thought a happy quilt could be nice.

I'm having a great time making fun blocks! And I'm having a good stash week.

Busted: 9.701

Purchased: 2

Net YTD: (10.018)

Use my Stash Year : week 7

I've been working away on all these auction quilts, so I gave into the need for more fabric. This lovely stack is from Hawthorne Threads - I've been wanting more of that ice blue Heather Bailey Bijoux for a while and found it in their shop. Since I was paying for shipping, may as well make it worth while!

Busted: 6.069
Purchased: 6.5
Net YTD: (19.293)

Happy Valentines day! And come back tomorrow - I'm going to throw a little party for myself and also show off my Ticker Tape parade.