June Stash Report and Goals Update

It's indoor season here in Arizona. With temps over 100 degrees and sometimes over 110, we stay inside in the air conditioning as much as possible. That means lots of time spent in my sewing room, and it shows in my accomplishments and my stash report. 

I have a retreat coming up in mid July, so I've been prepping projects to take. I have a bit more cutting to do for one of them, but I think I'm in good shape. 

The first priority to work on at retreat is a Christmas tree wall hanging, a shorter version of this one, and it's all cut and kitted up in the large project box pictured. 

I taught an X and Plus class at the end of May. Several of my students are going on retreat with me and they were inspired to make X and Plus quilts to work on at retreat. I know of one person using all Kaffe fabrics and another using black for the background color, and possibly another in patriotic colors. So I cut out another one to take with, totally different, using pastel florals and greens for a hospice charity quilt. It's all kitted up and ready to sew when I get there. 

I had planned to work on a second Diabolical Jane at retreat, but I got carried away and started working on it at home. It's partially sewn now. Scroll down to the previous post for progress. 

I was able to finish the Mary's Triangles top I've been working on at social sewing. I decided to make it smaller than originally planned. It's 45" square, wheelchair size, and will go to hospice. I found backing for it from my stash and I'll turn it in for someone else in the club to quilt. They like to have small projects like this for long arm training. 

Because I made it smaller, I had leftover Mary's Triangles. I made a few more and I'm taking them along for another retreat project. The new one will also be small and will not have the low volume alternate squares. 

I had time for piecing this month, and I had purple fabric that I wanted to use. It was originally Edna's but it didn't work for the project that she had in mind for it. She had four yards of wide goods, a lot of fabric! I bought it from her (thanks, Edna!) and planned to use it for the back of my original purple Diabolical Jane. Then I found something I liked much better for Jane, so I wanted to use Edna's purple print for something else. Some of it was used for the back of Amber and Aubergine last month. I used some of it to piece two more simple wheelchair quilts this month, and there's enough left to back them both. They will fit side-by-side on 108" backing with enough left over for binding. 

Speaking of the original purple Diabolical Jane, I was able to quilt it last week. When I get it bound I'll post final pictures of it. 

I feel like I accomplished a lot this month. But like I said, this is the time of year we stay indoors, so I had lots of time for sewing. 

So, with all that cutting, kitting up, and sewing, how does my stash report look? Well, I can't count the kits yet, not until they're finished tops. Likewise the second DJ. I can count the first Mary's Triangles top and the two purple wheelchair tops. I'm sure I'll have plenty I can count out after retreat. 

June Stash Report: 

IN this month: 3-7/8 yards (1-1/4 yards from Hobby Lobby.  2-5/8 yards from Mulqueens.)
OUT this month: 10-1/8 yards (Diabolical Jane back, 2 yards wide backing. Mary's triangles top, est. 2-1/2 yards; back & binding, 1-5/8 yards wide backing. Two purple wheelchair tops, est. 2 yards each - 4 yards.)

IN YTD: 66 yards
OUT YTD: 65 yards
YTD Net Change: 1 yard added.

Still slightly in the red for the year but so close! We're only halfway through the year so I have plenty of time to use more. I'm sure I'll add more too, especially from the little shop there at the retreat. 

Goals Update: 

June Recap:

1. Finish prepping the collaborative project to hand off for my partner to do the hand stitching. DONE.

2. Quilt Amber & Aubergine. DONE and donated. 

3. Finish designing DJ2 to take to retreat in July. Finished designing and started piecing. (Changed plans for retreat in July)

4. Plan and prep an extra project for retreat. DONE, pastel floral X and Plus.

5. Make progress on the walking foot quilting on the Kaffe Gradient project. Progress, all the diagonals in one direction are done and I've started the other direction.

6. Make progress on the Mary's Triangles social sewing project. Yes, first top completed, second top kitted up for retreat.

7. Piece a simple charity quilt top using purple print. DONE, made two tops. 

July Goals:

1. Finalize and print the label for the confidential project.

2. Go on retreat and have a good time. Enjoy Cherie's visit before and after. 

3. Piece the Christmas Tree top.

4. Piece the pastel floral X and Plus top

5. Finish piecing DJ2

6. Quilt the two purple wheelchair quilts. 

7. If time permits, assemble the second Mary's Triangles top

8. Look at parts previously cut and rejected for DJ 1 and 2 and figure out something to do with them. 

9. Make progress on the walking foot quilting on the Kaffe Gradient project. 

That looks like a lot for one month, but a lot of it is planned for retreat where I'll have four days of sewing time. I'm looking forward to a busy and fun month!