Design Wall Monday 01/28/13

On my Design Wall today is a table runner that I pieced this week.  I really need to get these two runners layered and quilted soon.  Once the tops are made, I tend to move on to the next project and leave the quilting til later.  But later gets to be really later and I end up with a pile of unquilted tops.  A runner should go fast, though!  I won't be able to get it done this month, but maybe I should make a goal to get it quilted by the end of February.  We'll see how that goes!

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what everyone else is working on today!

Stash Report Week 4

I can't believe I didn't even make it through January without adding fabric to my stash!  I planned out a new quilt this weekend and I bought 2 yards for the border.  The center will be all from stash/scraps, but I needed something to tie it all together in the border.  Then, my sweet husband bought me the three fat quarters shown above.  He was visiting his family over the weekend, and since he knows my absolute favorite quilt shop is in the same town, he stopped in and picked me up a little gift of fabric.  Just the right colors, too!

This week wasn't all acquisitions, though.  I finished a table runner top during the week.  It only took about 3/4 yard, but it was all from stash.

Fabric used this week: 0.75 yards
Fabric added this week: 2.75 yards

Fabric used this year: 1.50 yards
Fabric added this year: 2.75 yards

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see how everyone else is doing!

Design Wall Monday 01/21/13



Well I'm finally over the bug that's been going around.  I was pretty much down for the count last weekend, but I'm feeling much better now.  I must be feeling better - I did some sewing!

I'm working on another version of the XOXO table runner that I posted a couple of weeks ago.  I thought some Asian prints would look nice with a black background.  I pulled a few from my stash and started experimenting.  I thought maybe it would look interesting if the blocks were on point.  But I'll probably stick with my original layout.

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see everyone's Design Walls today!

Design Wall Monday 01/07/13



Well I had a heck of a time uploading this picture!  Fortunately I read Vicky's  (LA Quilter) blog post today.  She also had the problem and some of her readers came to her assistance.  Apparently this is something that Blogger is working on, but in the meantime, I was able to add the image through the HTML screen.

This is the runner I finished piecing.  Now to layer and quilt.  I do plan to finish this one all the way (instead of leaving it as a top like most of my projects).  It is very pink.  It is intended for Valentine's Day, but I think if I make it again, I'll use lots of colors.  It was fun and easy to make.  I'm writing up a pattern for it for class.

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see everyone's Design Walls today!

Stash Report, Week 1, 2013

My first post of 2013!  Unfortunately, there is no picture to go along with it. :(  I'm starting up the Stash Busting reports again.  As always, the goal is to use more fabric than I buy in 2013.  I got lazy last year and forgot to log my uses and purchases sometime in the middle of the year, so I gave up on 2012 because it had gotten so far off.  Realistically, I think about broke even.

For this first week of this year, I did not buy any fabric.  You would think that wouldn't be so difficult seeing as it was a short week, but there were a lot of sales going on.  But I didn't buy any!  In preparing for class, I did finish a table runner top this week (picture to follow on tomorrow's post).  If I believed my EQ software I used about a yard of fabric.  I'm not sure that's accurate.  I'm going to call it 3/4 yard.  Once I layer it with the backing I can count another 1/2 yard out, but that's not done yet.

So far, off to a good start!

Fabric used this week:  0.75 yards
Fabric added this week:  0.00 yards

Fabric used this year:  0.75 yards
Fabric added this year:  0.00 yards

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see how everyone else is doing!

Design Wall Monday 12/31/12

This is my last Design Wall post of 2012!  This year has gone by so incredibly fast.  December was a little overwhelming and not a lot of sewing got done.  With the holidays, overtime at work, and a passing in our family, time got away from me.

But I'm hoping to get my sewing mojo back now!  I designed a Valentine's Day table runner for my class that is starting -- next week!  You can see the beginnings of it above.  I'm off work today, so my goal is to get the whole top finished.  However, it's already noon, so I'm not sure if I'll achieve that particular goal!

There are a lot of exciting projects starting on some of the blogs I read.  Hmm.  Can I fit any of these into my schedule??  We'll see.

I wish everyone a happy and healthy new year!

Design Wall Monday 12/10/12

On my Design Wall today is the Mystery Mondays project from Little Bits of This and That that is finally finished.  Well, just the top.  I added the final borders this weekend.  I took the picture late last night, so unfortunately the lighting is a little dim.  I'm happy that I finished this up before the holidays.  It is only a top, but I will still have it out on display.  I'm hoping to finish a couple of other projects before the end of the year so I can start fresh in January.

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what is on everyone else's Design Wall today!

Dear Jane - M4

I'm not sure why I do this, but this is another block that was almost finished and left undone.  I pieced most of it over a month ago and left the corner triangles off.  Tonight I trimmed it to size and added those triangles.  All done!  The center area got a little wonky.  I paper pieced the center sections, so I'm not sure why they are crooked, but once it is in the quilt I don't think anyone will notice.  Except me, of course.  Lots of very tiny pieces in this one!

Dear Jane - H3

I felt like doing a little sewing tonight so I worked on this Dear Jane block.  I really didn't think I was going to complete it.  My goal was just to start it.  Then all of a sudden it was done!  This one went together pretty smoothly.  A strange little block, though.  I kept wanting to turn those top and bottom sections around to make a star.  Glad I figured it out before I sewed them on!

Design Wall Monday 12/03/12

Above is what is on my Design "Floor" today.  It's been raining endlessly for days here in Northern California, so the lighting is not great.  I'm pleased with how this is turning out.  Now I just need to add borders and the top will be complete.

This is the project that my Mom put together for my birthday.  She chose the pattern and fabrics for both me and my sister (we have different fabrics).  She couldn't decide on the color of the half square triangles which make the chevron shapes.  She gave me two different fabrics in my kit and let me choose.  So of course I decided to use them both!  I think it looks great!

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what every is working on today!

Happy Thanksgiving 2012

Design Wall Monday 11/12/12

I had a stressful week at work last week, but I got in some good relaxing sewing time this weekend.  I'm plugging away on the project my Mom put together for my birthday.  The nice big blocks make for a great, easy graphic quilt.  All blocks are now made, so I can start putting them together.  Hmm.  Maybe I'll make myself a deadline...  Okay, I'm going to commit to getting this top together before Thanksgiving.  That should be plenty of time if I do a little each night.

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what everyone is working on today!

Handmade Holidays 2012

It's November already, and with that means another year of Handmade Holidays over at Sew, Mama, Sew!  Every day in November they post links to fabulous tutorials for items that can be used has holiday gifts.  They have daily themes and lots of links to great ideas and products.  I get a lot of inspiration from this blog every year.  Be sure to click back to the first of month so you don't miss anything and check in daily for new ideas.

BTW, no affiliation here, just an enthusiastic fan!

Design Wall 11/05/12

 I have a couple of projects on my Design Wall today.  The little purple block is a Dear Jane block that is almost finished.  I need to trim it down and add triangle corners.  It sure makes my other project look gigantic!

Speaking of the other project, this is one that my Mom put together for me.  Every year she plans a project for me and my sister's birthdays.  We plan a date and all get together to sew.  We work on the same project in different fabrics.  I should have put the rest of the fabrics out - she pulled all the colors from the large-scale print.  I love it!  I still have a ways to go on it, but I'll be working on this tonight.

Also my sister made me the tissue box above - it is so totally me!!  Several months ago I had pinned this project on Pinterest, and she downloaded the pattern and made it for me for my birthday.  In case you are not a nerd like me, it is the TARDIS from BBC show, Doctor Who.  (Bad Wolf refers to a particular storyline.)  I totally love it!!

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what everyone else is working on today!

Design Wall Monday 10/29/12

On my Design Wall today is my Mystery Mondays project.  I was behind, but as of Sunday I am all caught up.  However, another clue will be posted today.  I think there are a couple of pieced borders coming up next.  Can't wait to see what it will look like in the end!  I ran out of the very pale green fabric I was using for my "light", so I'll have another print in the border.

Other than that, not a lot of sewing going on lately.  During the day I get all motivated to sew after work, but by the time I fight traffic and get settled, I'm too tired to sew.  So most of my sewing is in class on Monday nights and on the weekend.  But I keep plugging away!

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what everyone else is working on today!