July 2016 Stash Report

July was a phenomenal month for me! In addition to everything else I've already shared, I'm working on a couple other projects. This is a sample for my piecing and machine quilting basics classes. It's fun to make this from the kit I cut. I couldn't find the perfect border fabric, so I am going to the Sewing Center to get something at lunch today. I need to get it finished up before the 20th.


Good night Irene is finished with binding now. I plan to enter it in the fair and then it will be a sample for an event at The Sewing Center on Saturday September 10th.

UpCraft.club/sewingctr is a new website we are working with at the store, so I thought I would give it a try. I printed out the pattern and taped it together. This weekend I cut out some test material. Of course, I didn't have quite enough, so I had to improvise and have a seam down the back and one through the middle back, but I am making it work.

This is my Trapeze dress so far! I only have the side seams and hem to do tonight. I am loving it, even though I am not a big fan of bias binding. If all works well, I am hoping to make myself a nightgown out of the pattern as well.


I'm really making some progress on using up my stash with this challenge. I have a few different dresses to finish and then all the new projects, except for samples, are coming from stash. I love using up what I have!

July Stash Report
Fabric bought this month: 3.5 yards
Fabric bought this year: 59.25 yards
Fabric used this month: 29.5 yards
Fabric used this year: 170.5 yards
Net Fabric used this year: 111.25 yards!

December Sewing in Review

I started out December strong, well the first hour of it! I finished this purse in the wee hours of December 1. It's the Barbados bag and I'll be teaching it in February. I have one started for me, but just didn't find the time to get it made.

Then the month went rather south and I didn't get a whole lot accomplished. We were gone, working our 3rd job, and sick for most of the month. I did finish this Day Break Sample for a class I plan to teach in January. It's a fun little block to make and the class will be a starting point for the whole quilt if anyone is interested. I'm teaching a series of classes this year using the Hex And More Ruler and the Sidekick Ruler. This uses both.

I've always wanted to do a Swoon class, so I finally decided to do it as a one block class. That way people can make a wall hanging or table topper, before committing to the whole quilt. Since the class is during Stock Show I made a western fabric sample, but I also have modern fabric blocks done as well. I still love this block and now that I've made several I've gotten it figured out how to press to make them easier.

I also made this hexie ornament for an exchange with friends. It didn't turn out how I expected, but it was okay.

I worked a lot on my Buggy Barn hexies during work breaks and have almost all the sashing done. Now I need to figure out how I will finish it.

For our niece and nephews this year I made embroidered towels with the kids names. I think they turned out pretty cool. Mikaela helped pick the colors and she has decided she wants one too, so I'll have to get on that. They are quick and easy to do once I make up my mind to set up the embroidery machine.

I was playing with the V5 software when I was making the towels and designed this sweatshirt for Grandma Leslie.

Then I screwed up and forgot to change the design, so I made a second one for Grandma Ann.

Then I made the one I had originally intended for Grandma Ann. It has all 5 grandkids on it. Ed and Steph are expecting in March and I'll try to add the new baby's name, if it will fit. Someone said they just need to plan to only use either the G or D. Grandma Ann loves to accessorize, so hers have some jewelry she plans to wear with them. The 3 sweatshirts are all from my mom's "stash" of embroidery items, so I just went with the sizes that fit.

One of the quilt shops in town is closing and last week I went for their 50% off stuff. I picked up a new stashbuster ruler, a wall hanging hanger, and some yellow batik that will match some horse batik I already have.

For Christmas I received awesome gifts from my little bro and his fiance. Two rulers, a seam ripper and nippers. It was so exciting to get quilty gifts.

I needed a quick gift, so I made up a fleece blanket with embroidery on it. I plan to give it later this week and then will share the embroidery. I didn't have time to commit to a quilt, so a blanket will do for now.

This year I won the staff UFO finish competition. Per capita we beat the customers and Tammy gave me this great box. It already has my mini professional tote in it. It's a WIP that will turn into a UFO tomorrow unless I get some major sewing time tonight. I have the front and back made. The pattern is quite a bit different than the full size professional tote, so I am learning a lot and ripping a lot when I don't read the directions quite right. It's definitely a pattern where people will want to take a class to make it.


With only 40 hours in so far this month, I just haven't gotten a lot accomplished. Looking back I didn't do too bad though. I have a quilt retreat coming up in January and then sewing with friends in February, so I hope to get more accomplished. I have 40+ UFO's on my list for this year, so I hope to get it down to under 10.

Chevron & Other Quilting

This week has been awesome so far. I've felt more productive in the last few days than in the last month. I finished up making these wine glass shades for my wine glasses. I have them on a metal stand and they are the perfect way to make them look pretty.

I also started on my hexi tablerunner. It's growing nicely, but getting almost too big to carry with me back and forth. I started with the first three rows and then it will grow from there.

This is the chevron baby quilt I made with 5" scrap squares and background fabric. I love how it turned out. Tuesday night I loaded it on the frame and quilted it. I even got the binding on and used up some scraps in the process. I finished just as storm blew in and I had to unplug my machine.

A close up of the quilting. I did really random zigs and zags and squares and other assorted geometric shapes. I really just did a free for all type quilting. I have never done this before and it was different, but that is what I wanted with this quilt. It's a sample for a class I'll be teaching in August. I used an aqua Aurifil on both the top and bottom and thermore for batting.

Another close up of the quilting.


I also made a list of quilt stuff I need to get done. I have 8 blocks for a friendship block exchange to make, so I pulled all the patterns, made a shopping list, and have them all ready to go. I plan to cut them out at lunch today and get started sewing tonight. I also made a list of bags I want to make and I think I can work on those this weekend. I made a "To Be Quilted" list as well in case I get a marathon quilting session in, I'll be ready. My last list was of quilts I have made in the last year that can be entered in the fair. I have at least 11 I still have that can be put in the fair. I think I'll start gathering them in one spot so I don't forget any.

Another Finish!

I have my second finish for March already. I made this baby quilt top last month and then I quilted it on Saturday. I put the binding on Sat. night and got the hand sewing done this week during breaks. It's the Teacups pattern by Jaybird Quilts, but I changed the size up a bit, to use up the scraps I had. It uses the new Tumber Strip ruler from Creative Grids.

Grab n Go Diaper Clutch

Tonight was awesome! I had one of my best teaching nights and the class for the most part went really well. There are always those to get far ahead and go back or skip around, which doesn't always work, but for the most part all the ladies finished their Grab n Go Diaper Clutches. Some will be used for that, while others were made as simple clutches/purses. Diane made this bright one.


Olenka made this bears one. It was such a cute baby boy blue.

Jessica made this super cute owl. It was similar to the one I made for Molly, but had different lining. She used a decorative stitch on her front.

Iva used this floral print, intended for a girl. I'm impressed with how well the flap lines up, because I'm thinking she didn't plan it that way.


Olenka and Heather after class with their clutches. Heather's is for her daughter, so she added some applique patches.

Heather took my Schlep class last week and I love how her bag turned out. I need to rework the pattern a bit, so I picked these up to make another one. I just love her fabric choices. She said it's too big for her scouting bag, but great for quilting.


She made a smaller one for a special girl. These are from her stash. She just started quilting/sewing in the last few weeks! She does an awesome job. Her mom and her both took the class last week and tonight.


I came home and finished up my partially done sample. I had this one made in steps to show the process. It's a race cars fat quarter we picked up on our honeymoon paired with some other miscellaneous fabric. It's for a friends new baby.


The lining and the changing pad don't quite go together, but I think they'll work okay.

I'm so glad I finished this one up. It only took me a half hour to finish tonight when I got home. It's probably a 2 hour or less project, including cutting. It takes 3 fat quarters, fusible fleece, a bit of interfacing, a snap, d ri ngand swivel clasp. Such a cheap and easy gift, but will get lots of use.
I've had a busy night and it's time to catch some sleep.

September Quilting Accomplishments

September was a very productive month for me! I made several samples for the store and even realized I'm missing a few pictures. I made this name tag holder for Groovy Girls.

This pillow is for Oct. for GG's.

Another Pillow for GG's

A QAYG baby quilt with prairie points sample for the store.

A Diaper Clutch for my cousin Molly.

Patti's block for the Friendship Block Swap

Bound a Mug Rug for Kim at work as I passed on the Atta girl award to her.

Bound a wall hanging my mom had done in a mystery quilt night at our quilt retreat last year.

Quilted Jenn's Hunky Dory quilt

Made Jacque's block for the Friendship Block Swap

Made two Diaper clutchs out of the sandbox fabric.

Made the blocks for the Crown Royal quilt.


I got 66 hours in and I feel like I accomplished a lot. I've already set goals for October.
I plan to make a baby blanket for our friend Jory's little boy Bridger.
I'm working on putting my Blush quilt together and would like to get it finished.
I'm finishing up a quilt for our daycare lady out of the Wanna Be a Cowboy fabric.
I'd also like to work on mom's Jim Shore quilt and my Mocha Meringue quilts. We'll see how well I do, since these are all big quilts.

Professional Tote Class

The last couple Wed. nights I've taught a Professional Tote class. With 13 students in the class I was hopping all night long, which I love! It's so fun to see different bags come together.

The students were very busy working on their bags.

Emily got to the stand back and admire it section!

As did Dorothy.

All the bags looked great and each was unique in color and fabric choice.







I really enjoy teaching, especially when I have such great students and they make it fun to teach!

Lots of Dots Schlep Bag

Tonight was very productive in the sewing studio! I was able to sew from start to finish the Lots of Dots Schlep bag. It turned out really cute and I'm loving it. It took just 1 hour 15 min. to complete this bag. This one is a bit bigger than the other one I made. The squares are 6.5" square and the handles are 2" wide. I spent quite a bit of time fixing the pattern, designing the layout on the computer, and realigning the pattern  so it's easy to understand. I am teaching this class tomorrow night and I know some of the students are very visual, so I've adjusted accordingly.
Now that my samples are done and classes are starting, I'm itching to quilt. I have two wedding gifts to make in the next month, but they are table runners, so shouldn't take too long. I have a fabric book to make too. Hm mm I'm just not sure what my next project will be.

Virtual Quilting Retreat - Sunday

Sunday I started out slow with the quilting. I got sucked into the Nascar race with Paul and ended up napping till the last half hour or so, just long enough to see the best wreck of the day! Paul's guy Kevin Harvick won too, the first time in 3 years, so he was excited to say the least. I put away the Jewel box quilt and worked on the Grids and Grommets bag. I'm teaching it in May, so wanted to get the sample done soon. I did grid quilting on it using my walking foot and a 60* angle. I really like how it turned out.

By supper time it looked like this. With two layers of fusible fleece, it's got lots of body.

By 10 last night it looked like this! I still had to put the grommets in and make the handle. I just didn't want to do grommets so late, so I waited till tonight.

I got the grommets in with no trouble and the handle made up faster than I expected. I would have done it different, but it worked out. The directions were aweful to understand, but I worked my way through them, one step at a time.

I put in the option magnetic snap. It works great and adds that extra piece of closure that really helps in a purse.

I changed up the pockets and used a different fabric than the lining which I really liked.

I'm actually loving it now that it's done. It's so springy and fun.

It was a fun quilting weekend and I'm looking forward to my next project. I'm making the Charisma pattern out of yellows/oranges/corals/pinks/black/whites. It's going to be awesome. It's a store sample so I'll make it up quick and then get back to the purple jewel box quilt.