Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it...Go

I ran out of time yesterday at home, as paying the bills and "moving the papers" from one place to another took all day. On my list of things to do was to cull some fabric. I was reminded to do so when I received my order from Hancock's, and 4 of the fabrics I'd ordered were, well, awful. It's very hard to gauge how much metallic is in metallics, and the "Gilt Trip" fabrics from Dear Stella were a mess of metallic, reminding me of the old Floridian grandmother-wear, that is, before Floridian grandmothers started looking hip and much younger than I remember them :)
When receiving these, I immediately went into my mother's mode of "what can be done with this?" wherein she relegated really ugly clothes into a "wear it around the house" collection. I'm not doing it. Anything ugly is not worth sewing, and one woman's ugly is another woman's treasure. I've heard tell of women at the Goodwill coming close to blows over the fabric that is donated, so I'm starting a collection of "Let it Go" fabrics, some of them really expensive good quilting stuff, that just isn't going to make the cut when I'm quilting.



The last one I also have in Navy.

Stash used: 4 yards
Stash used total: 36.5 yards
Stash acquired: 0 yards
Stash acquired total: 62.25 yards

A weekend without sewing...

Is a weekend without sewing necessarily a weekend without joy? Absolutely not, though I did find myself longing for the leisure creative time in my studio. I went, among other places, to my sister's open studio in Somerville, Massachusetts, where an entire old factory building has been re-purposed into artists' studios. It was inspiring to see so many people who make art such a part of their lives. Many of the people there are exclusively artists, but many create art as their hobbies.
I've always so envied people who could use their hands and some sort of paint or writing instrument to make art. Clearly, Christine got that talent in our family. I'm glad she is making use of it and creating beautiful art to share with the world.
I kept busy enough not to buy any fabric, so at least my stash count is stable for the weekend.

Quick! Use More Fabric!

It's clear to me now that the fastest way to use stash is to prepare backings for already-pieced quilts and get those babies quilted. Quilting has been a bit of a challenge since I've been holding myself to unattainable, (for me,) standards. Today, I put the Tulane Picture Frames quilt onto the frame and made the backing. I quilted it up lickedy split with free motion spirals, which came out even bettern than I'd hoped. I was inspired by Denyse Schmidt's quilting book that shows a lot of great modern quilts with really simple or monotonous quilting. It really is ok for the fabrics and the piecing to be the stars of the show. Since this is a casual, "throw it in the car for impromptu picnics," quilt, it is perfectly adequate.

Stash used: 4 yards
Stash used total: 32.5 yards
Stash acquired: 0yards
Stash acquired total: 62.25 yards 

Busy weekend

Despite the holiday, I was able to steal upstairs to work on a few projects. This is a computer case for Lizzie, Alexandra's friend.
I also finished this mini quilt, Little Red Goose Migration. It's been awaiting quilting for almost a year.
Another quilt, Stars and Fish, finally got put on the frame with a backing, and is now quilted. Binding is attached but not hand stitched.

Stash used: 5.5 yards
Stash used total: 28.5 yards
Stash acquired: 0 yards
Stash acquired total: 62.25 yards

Black Friday

Even though I'm working today, I've succumbed to some cybersales. I have wanted to make this quilt, and the kit was reasonably priced to begin with, but I wanted to use stash. I figured out the pattern, but then the kit went on sale for 60% off, and wouldn't it be a waste of time not to buy it? Yet I won't then be using stash to make it. Too bad.

and while I'm at it, I love this quilt and the fabrics...

connectingthreads.com is a weakness of mine. I know, I know. This stash blog isn't curbing my temptations much, but at least it's keeping me honest. 18.25 yards for $52. That's $2.85/yard and 2 patterns to boot.

Stash used: 0
Stash used total: 23 yards
Stash acquired: 18.25 yards
Stash acquired total: 62.25 yards

Hancock's of Paducah

But they were having such an awesome sale!! Lots of Dear Stella, and a few other Kona prints I could not resist...18 yards for $95. That averages a little more than $5 per yard. I'll try to consume faster!! Perhaps backing a few quilts and quilting them will get me out of this hole I've dug.

I've made a few little squares using FQs and scraps, amounting to very little consumption. Also, I finished that Scrappy Star top. Photo to follow...soon.

Stash used: 1
 Stash used total: 23 yards
Stash acquired: 18 yards
Stash acquired total: 44 yards

Scrappy Stars with Pat Harrison

I had a terrific time in a little quilt class at the show in Manchester, formerly held in Nashua, NH called A Quilter's Gathering. It was taught by Pat Harrison, who has her own method of piecing these blocks. I am going to count the fabric scraps that I used as stash busted, since there was also a lot of yardage that I had to tap to get it scrappy enough. I may not be an enormous fan of the scrappy quilt. I like other people's more than mine, which tend to just look like garbage. Others in the class had fabrics that read more like solids. As I am learning, that is not what I tend to be putting in my stash...good information to know.

 This is Pat's prototype, with the four-pointed Friendship Stars in Yellow

 These are mine. A little busy, but Pat says to just keep adding more scraps to scrappy. I must try to have faith.

These are some made by classmates. My favorite are Jane's which read as solids, in the middle. Alison, a perfectionist, planned every batik (right) and ended up with much more intentional blocks. She judges quilts, organizes shows and retreats, and was an information analyst for the NSA at one time. Cool.

 For stash count, I'm going to count the approximate yardage for top and borders. Much came from the scrap bin, but that should count, no?

I also bought some fabric from Lola Pink. They've got a few PUL fabrics, meant for diaper making, that I'm going to experiment with for lunchboxes and maybe pencil cases. I love new textiles! I love old textiles, too. 

Stash used: 5 yards when taking into account the piano key border. That thing is a lot of work.
Stash used total: 22 yards
Stash acquired: 6 yards
Stash acquired total: 26 yards