Belated August Stash Report & Goals Update

Wow, August kind of got away from me. My goals all went by the wayside when I decided to quickly make my ailing brother a quilt. Then we were on vacation for over a week, so no sewing got done on those days.  Let's see if I can catch up.

August Stash Report: 
IN this month: 7-5/8 yards (4 yds backing for Marty's quilt; 1-3/8 yds for Emerald Isle Sashing; 1/4 yd for Emerald Isle cornerstones; 2 yds from Stitchin' Post, Sisters OR)
OUT this month: 12-3/4 yards (Marty's Quilt - 8-1/4 yds for top; 3-3/4 yds for backing; 3/4 yd for binding)
IN YTD: 81-1/8 yards
OUT YTD: 94 yards
YTD Net Change: 12-7/8 yards OUT

Backing for Marty's Quilt

Sashing for Emerald Isle

Still doing well with stash reduction for the year, so no guilt when I acquire some stash enhancements. I plan on some shopping in September at a shop that I only get to once or twice a year.

Goals Update: 

August Recap:
1. Bind, label, add sleeve and photograph KBFG quilt to enter into guild show. Partially done; still need to attach label & sleeve. 
2. Finish making blocks for Emerald Isle. DONE, and also added sashing. 
3. Post Snake Quilt tutorial. DONE
4. Find suitable sashing fabric for Solstice Challenge blocks; cut and kit up sashing pieces for future retreats, etc. Not touched.
5. Make progress on Roman Road UFO. Not touched.
6. Work on WIVSP hand piecing project. Not touched.
7. Keep up with bee blocks. DONE

Other: Started, completely finished, and mailed a comfort quilt for Marty.

Marty's Quilt, 60 x 84", Four Corners from Cut and Shuffle Quilts

OK, so some of August the goals had to fall by the wayside when I dropped everything to make my brother a quilt. He's out of rehab now and staying with one of his daughters for a couple weeks, and doing outpatient PT. He really likes his quilt and he was blown away that I made it for him. Again, it was more about the gesture - no one really needs a quilt in Phoenix in August.

September Goals:
1. Finish Emerald Isle flimsy
2. Make pillowcases for Harvey victims (Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict is collecting them)
3. Find suitable sashing fabric for Solstice Challenge blocks; cut and kit up sashing pieces for future retreats, etc.
4. Assemble QOV top
5. Work on WIVSP hand piecing project.
6. Plan and prep projects for retreat in October
7. Keep up with bee blocks.
8. Stretch Goal: plan &/or work on improv project from Jean Wells's book Intuitive Color & Design

When we were in Oregon I was able to visit the Stitchin' Post in Sisters. What a beautiful shop! Lots of books and patterns not carried at my local shops, and gorgeous fabrics, including some collections I hadn't seen yet. I got the license plate as a souvenir. I also got this wonderful book by shop owner Jean Wells. Many of the photos in it are local to her area and remind me of our trip, with scenes of the Oregon coast and central Oregon. I picked up a couple of prints because I like the deep russet and bronze colors.

If you know me or you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I'm pretty precise in my piecing, and improv or string piecing are so not my thing. Set in my ways? Inflexible? Rigid? In a rut?  Yes, yes, and yes...

I'm going to try some of the assignments in Jean Wells's book to force myself to loosen up. I'll try them on a small scale, maybe 12" square, so it won't be too overwhelming. Some of the exercises are about journaling and that'll be new to me, but if it's inspirational, I'll give it a go. So I've added a stretch goal to my September goals to start working on this, and I plan to continue in future months. Wish me luck!


Link-ups: Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Em's Scrapbag, Love Laugh Quilt