Sewing the Day Away

Yesterday I met up with the Quilting Angels and had the best time!  Unfortunately, I spent most of my time chatting instead of sewing, but I was able to start a new project which is always fun!

I have wanted to make "Outside the Box" from The Modern Quilt Workshop since I bought the book, so yesterday was the day.  The process wasn't as easy as I had hoped.  The directions call for pieces cut out at the 3/4 mark instead the standard 1/2 that I'm used to, so that threw me off a little at first.  I'm pretty sure the cutting will go better at home because I'm usually not trying to have a conversation while I'm doing it.  I find I'm a much better quilter when I'm not distracted!

I'm so excited to see the way this one turns out!  If it actually looks the way I picture it in my mind, it's going to be really cool!

Here's a picture of my first block, shown off by my little assistant:




Does anyone else have a child that refuses to smile for the camera?


Hurst has been playing with the block every since I took it out of my bag to show my husband.  He thinks everything I make is for him!

Sadly, this quilt will have to wait until I finish a couple of projects this week before I can start working again.  I need to start quilting my butterfly quilt and Saturday I'm going to a baby shower for my sweet cousin and I'm baking about 50 elephant shaped sugar cookies for the dessert table.  Who am I kidding?  I probably won't touch the quilt until I meet with the ladies again in February!

I am looking forward to finishing the top soon.  This will be my first Quilt of Valor and I'm so happy to finally be able to work on one!  I look forward to sharing the process with all of you! 

Sunday Stash Report

I can't believe another week has gone by!  So far, so good for my 2012 stash report.  Other than to drop off my machine for cleaning, I have stayed out of my local quilt stores and I've been deleting the online fabric store's emails as soon as I get them.  I figure if I need something I'll buy it, but no browsing!  It tends to just get me in trouble!

With my machine getting it's yearly check-up I haven't been sewing, but I've been a cutting fool!

I have more than enough purple tumblers cut out for a top that fits the qualifications for the Quilting Angels.  I think these will make a really pretty quilt!

I've also started cutting out triangles.  Not as many as the tumblers, but I'm sure I'll have enough for a quilt top by the end of the day.  The Go Baby cutter sure does make the cutting go fast! 

My only problem is I still have a ton of purple fabric leftover!  I had really wanted to eliminate more from my stash!  I'll have to think about what else I can do with it.

I also haven't decided how I'm going to count this fabric on the stash report.  I'm donating it, but I don't meet with the group again until later in the month.  I think I will count it out then!  See I have a rule that any fabric that comes into my house from them doesn't count.  So even if I bring one of these quilt kits home to work on later, they still technically aren't mine.  Does that make sense? 

So until I count anything out my numbers are the same as last week.

Added this week: 0 yards
Added YTD: 0 yards
Used this week: 0 yards
Used YTD: 0 yards

Net added/used YTD: 0.

It's still early, so I'm pleased.  I still have plenty of time.  To see how everyone else did this week, go to Judy's.

Keeping Busy

I'm a little disappointed I can't sew this first full weekend of the new year.  On Wednesday I took my machine in for it's annual cleaning, so no sewing for me until it comes home.

While this isn't helping me to finish any of my projects already in progress, it has allowed me to start cutting out new ones!  Oh, how I love a new project!

My son and I have been playing with the Go Baby for the past couple of days and it has been great fun!  I have to been very careful when using the rotary cutter because Hurst, like most toddlers I imagine, is very curious and always eager to "help".  He hasn't hurt himself yet, but he has gotten ahold of the cutter a couple of times which makes me so nervous!  This is the best of both worlds: he gets to help and I don't have to worry about his little fingers!

I have been cutting up my stash of purple calicos/prints that I have had since I first starting quilting, but now are no longer my cup of tea.  So far I have over 300 tumblers and we are still going.  I think this weekend we will start cutting out triangles.

Once these are finished, I am going to take them to the next Quilting Angels meeting.  I thought it would be fun to have a couple of kits on hand for anyone looking for a quick and easy project.  Don't be surprised if I'm not the one working on them later this year!

I also thought I might take advantage of this down time to start cutting out some baby quilts.  I know at least 8 people who are having babies this year, so I need to get working.  Needless to say, I don't know that I will make 8 baby quilts this year, but I will be making several!

I hope everyone else has a wonderful weekend!  Anyone else have any quilty plans or are you still burnt out from Christmas?