I'm sorry for being MIA. . .

Gee, I can't believe that it has been more than a month since I last posted.

Things have been a bit crazy so even though I have been on the computer I haven't been blogging.

Since my last posting I have completed one of the doilies I was working on -- here's a picture:



It's approximately 10 1/2" in diameter and I can't believe it took me so long to finish it.

In addition to finishing that I have completed 20 blocks for the Color Block Swap (put them in the mail to Margaret today); completed the last Birthday Block that was due in the Birthday Block Swap from Quilting Forum, and wrote 3 letters for the Quick Pen Pal Swap from Swap-Bot.com.

Next up on my plate is a belated afghan for the daughter of one of my customers. Katie has become an almost teenager, and feels that the teddy bear afghan that I made for her before she was born isn't really appropriate now. So I am making a new afghan for her.

I also have the 40 Disappearing Nine Patch blocks to do for Aunt Pitty Pat's swap. I'm thinking that I will work on those this weekend while away at camp. I have all the 5" squares cut, they just need to be sewn & sub-cut.

And, of course, there is the Wedding Quilt for my sister that needs to be completed soon.

I have also, true to form, signed up for another miniature quilt swap, and the Twisted Mystery #5 swap was a "have to do". . .but for that I just need to get the fabrics together & sent out. I don't have to worry about getting something together until I get the fabric that I will be working with (and the final deadline is in October) so I have some time for a design to "percolate".

Hopefully the next posting won't be a month from now. . . . and will have more pictures!

In peace and pieces,

Do you know how many projects you have????

I was working in the basement all day yesterday while my DH took his daughter to NYC as a belated birthday present.

I haven't been able to get to my sewing area, or my fabrics, since we unloaded the PODS unit and I have just gotten "plain ol' disgusted" with the situation.

Now I know that I have WAY more fabric than one person needs. In fact I definitely have SABLE (Stash Accumulated Beyond Life Expectancy) unless I really start getting in gear. But I can't believe the amount of projects --- of ALL types --- that I come across each time I start re-organizing and sorting.

For instance, I found a crocheted doily that was within 7 rows of being completed stuck in with cutting scraps. I also found sets of blocks that I must have gotten from a swap, but I have no memory of the swap or why my blocks are in the colors that they are in!

As I stated in my previous post for Judy L's stash busting report. . . I think instead of worrying about how much I'm using I may just start worrying about getting SOMETHING accomplished. . . .that would be moving my stashbusting efforts forward and would also give me a visual of the progress that I am making.

Oh, that doily, it is now within 3 rows of being completed. . . no, I'm not slacking, I'm working with thread & the stitches are TINY. . . you'll see it within the week (I hope) as long as my hands hold up!

So, do YOU know how many projects you have lurking in your creative area?? I certainly don't. . . and I'm almost afraid to think about it!! he he he

In peace and pieces,

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,