Stash Report 5/15/16

A finish this week means I get to count the backing and binding out. And no new fabric in this week - yay!

Framed Nine Patch, 44" x 44"

I cobbled together the backing, and I'm estimating that it used about 2 yards. The binding used 3/8 yard.

This Framed Nine Patch was made entirely from stash, front, backing, and binding. If you're interested in the tutorial for the Framed Nine Patch, Part 1 is here and Part 2 is here. I'll try to get better photos later; the wind was helping too much when I took this one.

So, stash update:
IN this week - 0
OUT this week - 2-3/8
Monthly and YTD totals to come at the end of the month.

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times

F9P Finished!

I've had a lot going on lately and haven't been able to spend much time in the sewing room, but I managed to get my Framed Nine Patch quilted and bound.

I quilted it with an allover stipple but left the "frames" in each block unquilted to emphasize them.

I'll be able to count out the backing and binding on my next stash report. After Paducah, I need all the finishes I can get to use up stash!

Linking up with Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

What I'm Working On

I didn't spend much time in the sewing room last week. Last Monday my design wall looked like this, where I'm piecing the backing for my orange Framed Nine Patch:

Backing for F9P in progress

Today the only change is that the rows are sewn together. Maybe I can get this layered and basted this week. 

Today I'm getting together with my friend and long arm quilter Sandy to pass this quilt and its backing to her. Sandy does beautiful custom work, but she has a very long waiting list. I'll put my name on the bottom of her list again even though I don't have a quilt in mind for it today, because by the time she's ready for me in 9-10 months I'll have something for her. 

Maple Leaf Star top, going to the quilter today

I'm excited to be planning a new version of Positivity, one of the quilts in my book Cut and Shuffle Quilts. I found this really cool Australian print at my LQS. I'll use it for the focus print and use Grunge for the accent colors. I need to get some more colors of Grunge, but here's the Aussie print and the ones I have so far: 

Australian print and Grunge

Here's an EQ mock-up of what it will look like. 

EQ mock up of PAussietivity

I just love how changing up the fabrics & colors can make a design look so totally different! I always think of my pink Positivity as a great quilt for a breast cancer patient, but the Aussie version doesn't have that connotation at all. 

Original Positivity

Linking up with Patchwork Times

Stash Report 5/8/16 - Aussie Acquisition

You would think that after bringing home over 40 yards of fabric from Paducah last month, the last thing I should be doing is buying more fabric. Not so! I have a plan for this:

Australian print with Grunge

I purchased two yards of the Aussie print at my LQS yesterday. I'm planning to make another version of Positivity from my book, Cut and Shuffle Quilts, and this will be the focus print. I acquired the Grunge prints in Paducah, but I need some more colors, which I'll look for locally. I'm planning for this to be a shop sample for another Cut and Shuffle class later in the year.

This is the original Positivity, and I'll use the Aussie print where the speckled print is in the original.

Positivity

So, on to the Stash Report: 

IN this month: 2 yards

OUT this month: 0

Moving in the wrong direction; I'll calculate the totals at the end of the month. 

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times. 

Backing in progress

It's been awhile since I've been able to post a work-in-progress post. Last month I posted tutorials for my Framed Nine Patch (Part 1 and Part 2), and completed a new top. Now it's time to cobble together a backing for it.

Framed Nine Patch with Border

To plan the backing, I put the top on my design wall, and I'm building wide strips of fabric from stash that will be big enough to cover the top. Here are the strips (rows) but they're not sewn together yet. The fabrics are whatever I found in my stash in the orange and yellow bins that would work, that I could use up.

Backing for F9P in Progress

Hopefully I can get this little quilt finished up this month.
Linking up with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts

Goals Update

Usually I post my goals update along with my month-end stash report, but I ran out of time yesterday, so the goals update had to wait 'til today. May is going to be like that - I have some family stuff etc. going on so sewing time will be limited. April was a very productive month, though.

 Black & Tan Quilt for Hands2Help

Framed Nine Patch top (without borders)

April Goals Recap:
1. Layer, baste, quilt and bind black & tan quilt for Hands2Help. DONE
2. Write tutorial for Framed Nine Patch
     a. Make new sample, with in-process photos. DONE
     b. Post part 1 on Apr. 6. DONE
     c. Post part 2 on Apr. 13. DONE    (If you're interested, you can find the Framed Nine Patch tutorial in the tutorial tab above, then click on the link.)
3. Make new demo samples for AQS Author Demo Booth, Paducah. DONE. Also made pillowcase-style bag to carry the small foam core boards in. 
4. Make one doll outfit. DONE
5. Keep up with bee blocks. DONE
6. Have fun in Paducah. DONE!!! Oh, yeah, so much fun. 

Me, demonstrating blocks from Cut and Shuffle Quilts 

at AQS Quilt Week, Paducah

May Goals: 
1. Layer & baste at least one existing top. (If time permits, start quilting).
2. Prep backing for Maple Leaf Star top, and take top & backing to long arm quilter.
3. Plan a project to piece during Sew-In in June.
4. Make one outfit or accessory set for doll.
5. Keep up with bee blocks.

This is the Maple Leaf Star top that's going to the quilter this month. I don't know if she'll get it done this month, but at least it's percolating to the top of her list. Her list is usually several months out, and in early April she told me she'd be able to get to it soon but not until after Paducah. This quilt is destined to be a Christmas gift.

Maple Leaf Star, going to the quilter in May

So although I don't actually have anything on my design wall today, I certainly have plenty to keep me busy in May, so I'm linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times.

April Stash Report

Okay, time to account for my splurge in Paducah. DH says I'm no longer measuring fabric by the fat quarter (he's so tickled by that phrase!). He says I'm measuring it by the cubic foot. He may be close to the truth....

My 2016 Paducah Haul

So, the accounting:

IN this month: 40-3/4 yards  (FQ from STLMQG;  40-1/2 yds from Paducah)
OUT this month: 9 yards  (3 yds for F9P with borders;  3-1/2 yds backing & 5/8 yds binding for Black & Tan H2H quilt;  1 yd for Cut & Shuffle Demo blocks;  1/2 yd for Bag for C&S Demo boards;  3/8 yd for doll dress) 
Month change: 31-3/4 yards added

YTD IN: 54-1/8 yards
YTD OUT: 50-1/4 yards
YTD Net Change: 3-7/8 yards added

Not too bad. My goal for the year is to break even, and I'm pretty confident I can manage enough finishes to make up four yards over the rest of the year.

Usually I combine my month-end stash report and my goals update, but today I'm pressed for time so the goals update will have to wait for tomorrow.

Linking up with Patchwork Times; check out everyone else's stash management efforts over there.