Stash Report --- Week 20

Ok, I will admit it. . . .I'm not doing very well on the stash busting front. But, as means of explanation, I haven't been able to get to either my fabrics or my sewing machine due to the "mess" that occurred when we unloaded the PODS from the flood & the set up of the quilting machine.

Here are the numbers:

Fabric IN this week 19 yards (on order for a commission but I'll count it here)

Fabric IN Y-T-D 57.5 yards

Fabric Donated this week 0

Fabric Donated Y-T-D 212.75 yards

Stash Depleted Y-T-D 156.75 yards

I'm currently in 2 block swaps on-line so even though I will have fabric going out I will have the same amount coming in. . . so I won't be able to count that.

I'm thinking that I should just concentrate on working on some project so that I can see some success. . . however small it might be so that I don't feel like I'm not getting anywhere.



In peace and pieces,

Margaret has posted that she has 25 spots filled (out of the 50 that are open). . .





Here's the link to her blog posting for the full details of the swap:

http://fourseasonsquiltswap.blogspot.com/2009/05/sign-up-4sqs-summer-block-swap.html

Margaret runs a very "tight ship" on her swaps and I had been involved in the first four 4SQS swaps. So, if you would like to be involved in a well run swap check in with Margaret quickly. . . her swaps fill up within days.




In peace and pieces,

Margaret has posted the latest edition of 4SQS!

There's a new swap on the block. . . . Margaret has posted the details & sign up information on her latest edition of the 4SQS! Here's the link to her blog posting:

http://fourseasonsquiltswap.blogspot.com/2009/05/sign-up-4sqs-summer-block-swap.html

She is only taking 50 swappers so if you are interested you best be signing up QUICK!!


In peace and pieces,

14 down. . . . how many more to go???

I just finished reading the 14th book for this year. That averages to 2.8 books per month. If I keep up that pace I'll have read 33.6 books by the end of the year.

That's pretty good with reading mostly during lunch breaks at work & the occasional "down time" (like tonight) that I take.

Of course, I'm not keeping track of the quilting, crochet and other craft books that I read and, of course, the magazines don't get added. . . .I would really have some impressive numbers if I did that!! he he he

I have another book to start reading tomorrow, and the library has a couple of audio books that I requested available for pick up. . .so my numbers will keep clicking higher.

I wish that I had kept tabs of how many books I have read since I was a kid. . . .since my nose has always been in a book I would guess that I have read more than 1,000 books. . .

And before you start thinking that I'm crazy to come up with that number consider this. . . I've been reading for more than 40 years; there are 12 months in each year, if I kept to the average of 2.8 books I year it is conceivable that I could have read 1,344 books so far!!!

Kind of mind boggling when you think about it, huh???!!!

In peace and pieces,

Where does the time go???

I can't believe that the last time I posted was 4/21. . . where has the time gone???

The quilt frame was delivered. . .and even though we have the king sized version we only put up the queen size --- because our basement isn't large enough for the king to fit comfortably!! At least not yet.

There is another swap that I just signed up for. . .details are here: http://auntpittypats.blogspot.com/2009/04/may-swaps-you-can-sign-up-for-them-now.html

I signed up for the Disappearing Nine Patch swap. . .very easy blocks to do & there isn't any specific fabric needed --- as long as it is good quality 100% cotton quilting fabric it can be any design.

Here's a picture of a Disappearing Nine Patch quilt that I did as a charity top for my quilt guild:


Check out Aunt Pitty Pat's blog if you would like to sign up. . .there is still room on the swap.

Hopefully I will have some pictures to show of more current work in a little while. . .but right now I'm on a "tear" to get the upstairs cleared out. . .then, in June, my plan is to blast through the basement so that I can actually start working on my projects & be able to find things (now, if I could just get the DH to help). . .

In peace and pieces,

Gee, it's been a while!

I've missed 2 sign-ins at Judy's Stash Report. . .not so much that I have been hiding (but extra fabric has come in); but more because it is boring for me to just talk & not show pictures. . .and I really don't have much to say.

This past Saturday we took Casey for her first (with us) grooming appointment. I was a little concerned since she does not like men & isn't too comfortable with alot of women. But, the groomer assured me that she did fine. In fact, the groomer's son was the one that gave Casey her bath & did most of the grooming! So we are now thinking that it may just be older men and boys on bicycles that may be "triggers" for her.

Here are a couple of pics, post grooming:


They shaved off enough fur to probably make at least one Chihuahua! LOL Here are a couple "silly" pictures . . .more as a comparison to try to show just how much hair she had:



She is on meds for her separation anxiety & seems to be ok. . .except that she wets & soils in her crate when we go to work; she's fine other times (like church, shopping, etc.) but it just seems that the span in a work day is too hard for her.

Hopefully, with time, she will realize that we aren't going to leave her. I had considered returning her to the rescue group we adopted her from. . .but my DH loves her & wouldn't think of doing that. And, truth be told, she is a good dog in all other ways; although I still miss my Bogart desperately.

I don't believe that I mentioned that my parents have a new dog. . .a French bulldog. Her name is Sheba. She has gotten a bit bigger since I took these pictures, but they are the most recent that I have:



It's funny because the groomer that we use has several Frenchies & I had never realized what they were.

On the quilting front. . . I'm once again working on the blocks for my sister's wedding quilt (and NO, the top won't be done in time for their 7th wedding anniversary in May).

I'm finishing up the last of the swap blocks for the birthday swap from a quilting forum I'm on. Once this swap is done I have two easy swaps on Swap-Bot then I think I will take a break from swapping --- even though you could say that I have already been taking a break since I am not feverishly working on completely multiple swap items at the same time! he he he

I want to get my sister's quilt really going, plus the quilting machine is supposed to be delivered later today so there will be a need for making space & practice time on that.

All in all things have been going well, just been busy.


In peace and pieces,

Stash Report --- Week 13 & Week 14 combined

Gee, if I didn't know better I would think that I was avoiding 'fessing up to my fall off the wagon last week by not posting to Judy's link.

Nah, wasn't that. . . it was just that DH & I went to the Mud Sale at Gap, PA with the trailer (left Friday night, returned Sunday night -- sans trailer) and then we left again this past Thursday night and just got back home (with trailer) at 4PM today.

Ok, to answer the obvious question --- What is a Mud Sale? What, you weren't going to ask? You shouldn't be upset with asking --- everyone does! he he he

In Lancaster County the Fire Department are all unfunded; therefore, in the Spring & Fall they hold auctions of all kinds of things that are donated by the Amish, Mennonite and "English" folks in the communities that they serve. We are talking about anything from livestock, horses, buggies, trees, plants, quilts (YES, quilts), knick knacks, quilt racks, antiques, baskets, lawn furniture, cast iron fencing and hangers, in short, anything you could possibly auction off!

This is the 3rd year that DH & I have attended the Gap, PA mud sale. . .and since it is always around the same time as the Quilters' Heritage Celebration show in Lancaster, PA we have taken the trailer & stored it at the same campground for both weekends. . .saves time, gas & toll money.

Ok, so now to the status of my stash. . . .it went up. By 18 yards, but it is all my husband's fault!!! That's MY story and I am STICKING to it!!! he he he

After we left the Gap mud sale we went to Obie's General Store (Route 23, in either Churchtown or Goodville, PA).

If you have never been to Obie's you HAVE to go . . . at least once. Words cannot express the vast number of bolts of fabric that are crammed, stacked, piled & sometimes just plain tossed in that store.

Suffice it to say that you can only walk single file in the aisles & it is like a maze. . . but if it can be found, it will be found at Obie's!

When we went in I told DH that I only needed 2 pieces of fabric (both for a swap). . one that was either violet or had violets on it & another that had ferns or was green.

I came home with 2 fabrics with violets on them, one fabric that is a violet color, 4 fabrics that could possibly pass for being either ferns or be green. That was ok, since I needed the fabric for a swap I am in.

But I also came home with: a cartoon-y flamingo print, a Hoffman swirly print that would be wonderful for borders, a yellow with 1930-ish butterflies, and several other fabrics that the DH thought "I just needed". he he

Of course, he also added to his own stash. . . but since I'm not counting his stuff I won't talk about it.

So, here are the numbers:

Fabric IN this 2 week period 18 yards

Fabric IN Year To Date 38.5

Fabric DONATED this 2 week period 0

Fabric DONATED Year To Date 212.75

Fabric DEPLETED Year To Date 175.75


I'm still way ahead of where I would have been if I hadn't been keeping account. . .and my purchases are WAY down. . .so I'm sure that by the end of the year I will be in even better shape.

In peace and pieces,