December Stash Report and Goals Update

This is my usual month-end update. For the 2018 recap and 2019 goals, scroll down or click here, and check out other quilters' 2019 plans and goals at Yvonne's 2019 Planning Party  at Quilting Jetgirl.

December was, of course, super busy with holiday preparations and festivities. I spent way too much time eating treats and not enough time in the sewing room! I also treated myself to a little year end stash enhancement, thinking my stash report showed a good reduction for the year. Then I discovered, after my new fabrics had arrived, of course, that I had counted yardage for a quilt backing out twice, and when I adjusted the stash report, I found that the stash is up for the year. Not too bad, the goal is to break even or reduce stash, but certainly not the win I anticipated.

Stash Report:
December: 
IN this month: 16-1/2 yards (15 yards Connecting Threads sale order. 1-1/2 yards Christmas gift from Sew Bee It friend.)
OUT this month: 12-1/8 yards (5 yards Mercyful Plus flimsy. 1-1/4 yards doll quilts for Maddie. 5 yards Star Spangled Spiral (star print & w-o-w). 1-1/4 yards tree potholders made for 12DCIJ and given to STLMQG ticket raffle.)

2018: 
Total IN: 155-1/8 yards
Total OUT: 150-3/4 yards
Net Change: 4-3/8 yards IN

I succumbed to a year-end sale at Connecting Threads (no affiliation) and stocked up on mostly basic blenders and solids. I'm currently loving spicy paprika, basil, and cinnamon colors and I found some great ones, although I don't yet have a project in mind.

The spicy colors don't read "Modern" but since I'm pretty eclectic in my tastes I stocked up on some modern aqua, turquoise and red, too.

So I ended the year having brought in more fabric than I used up, although I think using 150 yards in a year is pretty good. I spent $929.24 which averages out to $5.99 per yard. (At least 10 yards were wide backings.)

I definitely will continue the monthly stash reports in 2019 because tracking my usage and purchases keeps me mindful of what I'm buying and helps impose a bit of discipline.

Goals Update:
December Recap:
1. Make two doll quilts for great-niece's doll bunk bed for her Christmas gift. DONE; she got a new doll as well as the bunk beds and she was playing with them at the family Christmas gathering. 
2. Make one side of checkerboard border for the Red Project. Calling this one done with a change of plan; I made enough nine patch blocks for all four of the borders. 
3. Use the FQ bundle from Bernie (Needle & Foot) as the starting point for a Mercyful Quilt for her, and get it to the flimsy stage.  DONE
4. Work on quilting Pickle Dish: get all of the SID for the background done and a good start on the stippling. SID is done. Will defer stippling until after arcs are quilted to minimize chance of puckers. 
5. If time permits, make another donation quilt for Operation Shower. Got as far as pre-washing fabrics for Paddington Bear baby quilt. 
6. Hand stitch on WIGSP Piecing Group project. Not touched. 
7. Keep up with bee blocks. DONE

Mercyful Plus from Blogger Bundle

Other: Sewed with friends on two occasions and together we pieced my Star Spangled Spiral QOV top.

January Goals:
1. Add checkerboard borders to two sides of the Red Project.
2. Continue quilting Pickle Dish.
3. Make a backing, layer, baste, quilt and bind Mercyful Plus.
4. Look at UFO list, select a project to work on, make some progress on it.
5. If time permits, start Paddington Bear baby quilt for Operation shower
6. Hand stitch on WIGSP Piecing Group project.
7. Keep up with bee blocks.

That should keep me busy.

In addition to continuing the stash reports, I plan to continue the monthly goal updates because doing so helps keep me focused. I'm not saying I won't chase the occasional squirrel, but at least I can track progress on priority projects.



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