Fabric Stash Report-ish

I wanted to share with you what I purchased over the Black Friday sales and due to high volume there was a delay in receiving my package until last week.  My original plan had been to hit Joann Fabric's Black Friday and Saturday Sales, however I was greatly disappointed by the fabric quality of what was being offered.  So I took my money online to Connecting Threads' sale which I am very glad I did because everything except the white yardage was 60% off their already crazy low prices!  I ended up with 70 Fat Quarters plus 6.5 yards (including the white fabrics), which comes to 24 yards of fabric for $63 USD with free shipping!  They just marked a whole bunch of fabrics down to clear out for the new fabrics coming in 2014, so it's worth checking out their clearance section HERE.

While I have mostly been lazy this weekend, I was able to throw that last load of to-be-washed fabric into the wash I showed the other day in my post HERE.  The to-be-trimmed pile also got decimated and folded into my stash.  Everything is looking pretty full right now so I am not so certain that all my fabric stash is going to fit, especially since I pulled all my fabric yardage that was tucked away in a tote out to join the rest of the fabric party!

Well I am off to work on Clue #2,#3 & #4 in Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice Mystery quilt-along, I have gotten slightly behind!  I am also working on my project for the Kona Solids Blog Hop that starts up in a couple of weeks!  I am super pleased with how my projects are turning out, but now I just need to get them done!!  

*\0/* Cheers

Shanna

Really Random Thursday

It's another happy random Thursday!

1.  My husband showed me this wonderful video which was just so joyful that I thought I would share:

2.  I am still working on washing all of my fabrics in my stash as I posted yesterday, though I thought I would re-post the picture of my progress:

3.  I am getting behind on Bonnie Hunter's Mystery which launches Clue #4 tomorrow!  Here are the parts I have completed thus far:

5.  I tried to come up some other random bits to share, but I couldn't quite think of anything so I have a website to share called The daily Apple.  I randomly found this last year when I was searching about a "hip Bath;" this site not only had the answer it had an entire post on the history of baths and the like!  It is the perfect little site to find out random items, histories and whatnot as well!  The blog is quite enjoyable!

Be sure to check out all the other randomness being posted HERE!

*\0/* Cheers

Shanna

What's In Progress Wednesday?

Christmas Time is a wonderful time of the year, but it is also a rather busy time of year as well.  There is the rush to complete Christmas Presents and get them handed out or mailed off.  For those so inclined, it's a time to decorate and celebrate!  For those who craft it is a time of year where you really want to finish up the year well, so perhaps there is a rush to complete whatever might be tucked away in your crafting area.  

For me, every year about this time I get sick, I wish it was an exaggeration, but it's the truth.  As of last year I even started putting it on my calendar to sort of block off the week so I don't expect too much of myself.  Well, my cold came right on time this year so I have really lost my "get-up-and-go."  I did however plan ahead so the fridge is well stocked with food and the house is completely clean.  Now before you think my preparation caused my cold, let me say it did not, it's simply allergies.  Here in Texas the weather goes from rather hot to rather cold almost overnight and then after a couple weeks of cold, it springs back to the 60's again and there seems to be stuff in the air from everywhere.

For the past 3-5 months I have been working on organizing my crafting area in my bedroom.  I think it was about 2 weeks ago that I got it in my head to wash all of my fabric stash so that it would be ready to use when ever I got the urge to create.  Shopping at Target one day with my family, I spied these shoe organizers that I really thought would be perfect for fabric.  The thought, at first, was to put the cubicles on their sides, but by stacking them the way they were intended there are these pegs that join the two pieces into one, plus it leaves enough room on top of them to join a third unit if it is needed later.  The plan is to store all fabric from 1/4 yard upwards, but I realized that fat Eighths would fit in the cubicles as well.

I am finally down to the last half of my stash (Process pictured on right) which makes the whole process go so much faster because I don't even have to think about what I am doing.  It's the perfect project for when one is not feeling so well and yet I don't really want (or have the freedom) to just take to my bed.  Once everything is completed, I know how proud I will be to see all the work that was done, plus I can watch Netflix while accomplishing one of my goals!

I am also still working on the binding for the Time Warp Quilt.  I kind of messed up so that will need to be ripped out and redone, but it's okay, it certainly could have been worse, but I caught the mistake when I have completed only one side.

Well, it is time to take a little nap while Miss Z is still cuddled in her bed taking hers.  Or perhaps it's time for a little bit of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy...

*\0/* Cheers
Shanna

Round 3: The Slowest Horse

Round 2 of Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice Mystery is still in the works, so I decided to skill ahead to Round or Clue #3!  I bought the Inklingo Shapes kit for this mystery to see if it might not work well for me so that i could perhaps bring some of my work out into the livingroom instead of just staying in my crafting area in our bedroom. I have to tell you that Inklingo is really interesting actually.  I just wish we had a better printer so I could make the most of it, but I did not do so bad in my printing efforts.  One sheet will make 6 of the pinwheels and the sewing of them was amazingly quick!  I made these six pinwheels and sewed up the rest of the sheets while watching an episode of The Deadliest Catch so for me that was pretty quick as I get distracted!

 I will be trying to get these finished up tonight once Miss Z goes down to sleep.  Every single one of my points are perfect for the first 6 squares which is not always the case for me, so I am very pleased so far!  I also am working on getting Clue #2 completed before Friday, if I can, as well as finishing up some Christmas Gifts as there are only a couple more weeks left!!  Although, if any family is reading this that hasn't already gotten your presents, then yours will be a little late this year...but I am not telling what they are!!

This is my first Clue round again:

Thank you all for stopping by today!

*\o/* Cheers
Shanna

I am linking up to:
Celtic Solstice Link-up #3 with Bonnie Hunter@ Quiltville
Design Wall Monday with Judy@ Patchwork Times
BOM's Away with Lyn @ What a Hoot Quilts

STASH REPORT--sort of

I have really been horrible about keeping track of fabric this year. I actually haven't bought very much, but I also haven't used up all of my stash as well.  November/December are always bad months for the count because that is when I pick up fabrics on sale and balance out my stash a bit.  For 2014 "balance" will be my key word.  I had the not-so-brilliant idea of washing, ironing and trimming ALL of my fabric.  It has been a week since I started the process; I have 1/2 of my stash washed, 1/4 of the stash has actually been ironed and trimmed.  I should have done it in small batches, but I learned that lesson the hard way!

I picked up some fabric(above) a couple weeks ago from Westwood Acres for a project I am calling The Healing Quilt.  There is just something that spoke to me about these fabrics that I thought it would be a joy to work with them.  I will tell you that I already am hoping that I will be able to get the Fox line for my birthday in March.  Both Lines are Tula Pink, which I have always been a big fan of, but it has been hard to get my hands on some.  Westwood Acres are not sponsoring me or anything like that, I just like to tell about a place when I have found a place with great service and an excellent product, not to mention a great price!  I have found a few other Etsy shops that are definitely worth telling you about, but that will have to wait as Miss Z is only offering up a short nap to me today!

*\0/* Cheers,
Shanna
**PS-My blog posting will be a little spotty the next few weeks, but I will be back to normal at the new year.  Thank you all sincerely for reading!

Finishes: First Peek of Christmas

Wonky Christmas advent Calendar-Front

Wonky Christmas advent Calendar-Back

My first packages for Christmas went out last week.  In one of the boxes is a project that I have literally spent 3 years trying to complete.  I have ripped out the FMQ stitches 3 times; it was pretty much put on the shelf in frustration.  A few weeks ago I felt like I got this burst of energy and it popped in my head that I should make it my goal to get this completed this year.  The stitch done on the front is a swirly loop bit in between the pockets.  This was my very first attempt at making something "wonky" which is why it is not very wonky, haha!  I tried to figure out where I got the idea, but I honestly cannot remember after 3 years.  The Advent calendar went to my Sister-in-law, her husband and family, along
with a quilt for our nephew who is 5 months old!  I was trying to remember why I never sent a quilt for the older children and it finally dawned on me that I hadn't started quilting yet!

I also made a Valentinesy Popover dress to send to my friend's little girl (She has a February Birthday like Miss Z) along with a baby quilt for her newest little one which is due in February.  Being early is definitely a new idea for me!  I find it fantastic that both her girls and mine, who are all second cousins as well, will share a birthday month!  My friend was one of my college housemates for a bit of time but she also happens to be my husband's first cousin as well.  I have two matching dresses for Miss Z, and for one of her other 2nd cousins that I have almost completed.  You can find the pattern for free HERE is you are interested in making one of your own!

I have the FMQ completed for the Time Warp lap Quilt, the binding has been attached, I just need to finish hand-sewing the binding to the front.  I got a little behind as I got the sudden notion to wash all of my fabric in my stash.  Why I decided this on the eve of a coming ice storm I haven't a clue, but, I'd better get back to that and I will save the hand-stitching for when the power goes out instead!

*\o/* Cheers
Shanna



I am linking up this week to:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Fridays with Laura @Quokkaquilts
WHOOP, WHOOP Fridays @Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Link A Finish Friday @ Richard & Tanya Quilt

Finish It Up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts

*\o/* Cheers
Shanna

Leaders, Enders, and a Little Progress

I have been a little quiet this past week..part of it has been some health issues, but most it has been Bonnie Hunter's fault!  I say that part in jest as she has been truly wonderful to us all in sharing her free patterns and developing a mystery quilt, also for free for her followers.  I have finally completed Clue #1 and it only makes my excited for the next clue.  I have to admit, last year I struggled a lot with jealousy over how quickly everyone seem to be handling the steps for the Easy Street Mystery; their fabric and their points were perfect.  It was silly to feel insecure about my own work, but I didn't really know anyone (but Mary) who was making the quilt.

This is a close-up of the border fabric that I bought for the mystery, which is inspiring my color choices

This year I am approaching the mystery quilt differently.  I joined up with 3 different groups, the facebook group has been by far the most encouraging group of people I have ever been grouped with.  For once I was finding that instead of feeling like a failure or being jealous, I was rejoicing that a nice guy and his mom got their blocks done first (It was really sweet, he went over to his mom's to help her cut out her block parts).  I was enjoying the sharing of pictures, colors, questions, and conversation about random stuff.  One of the really sweet people who I have met through other places on the Interweb, organized a spot for people who were in need to provide their addresses so those who have more fabric than they know what to do with, could share and they could then take part in the mystery as well.  Through this process thus far, I met a new fiend who not only lives in my area, but she frequents my LQS, and we are making plans to get together for lunch one day soon.  There is something about quilting in a community that changes the whole dynamics of everything!

There are about 115 block of each; I miscounted but I thought ti would be good to have extras!

Leaders & Enders

It has been asked what we are working on in between our clues for this mystery.  I am working on a baby quilt from the Modern Patchwork, Spring 2013 issue.  It has mini-skinny-pluses in alternating background and print blocks.  This is actually a very fun project, although I have to admit that I changed the size of the pieces I am working with from the ones requested to be cut.  There happen to be perfectly square blocks already cut out for The Dancing Stars quilt (Amy Ellis) that were extra, so my blocks will be quite smaller.  I think this works out better because I can showcase many different fabrics that might fit in the colorway I have selected.  The fabrics come from 2 different Kate Spain lines, and some prints from Connecting Threads as well.  My thoughts at this point is to make one pair of blocks per fabrics, but not assemble the quite until next year, this will allow me to add more fabrics as I add to my stash or have left-overs from other projects!

Adapted from Happy Baby Quilt, from Modern Patchwork Spring 2013 Issue

Thank you all for stopping by today!

I am linking up to:
Celtic Solstice Link-up #1 with Bonnie Hunter@ Quiltville
Design Wall Monday with Judy@ Patchwork Times
BOM's Away with Lyn @ What a Hoot Quilts
Fabric Tuesday With Heather & Megan @Quilt Story

*\o/* Cheers
Shanna

Another Yummy Mystery!

It has been quite a week, the rush to send off Christmas presents, and the big push to organize my crafting area so I was ready to start Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice Mystery the moment it was posted on Friday!  I ended up getting a bit sick so it has been slow-going over here.  I think I spent more time reading posts on the Not-so-secret- facebook group for the mystery and chatting with my new friends than sewing!  So I thought I would show you what my pile looks like now that I have finally gotten all the pieces cut up for Clue #1!

The Purplish brown fabric at the top of the picture is the fabric I plan to use for the border when the quilt is completed.  It is from Soho Chic by Sandy Gervais with Moda.  I wish I had seen this lien sooner as it holds many of my favorite colors, but teh fabrics seem to have gone so fast on the Fat Quarter Shop.  I am using the colors from the yardage for inspiration.  Well, I really aught to get to sewing while my husband is watching a Christmas movie with Miss Z!  It's not too late for you to jump in and join the mystery this year!

*\0/* Cheers

Shanna

Really Random Expressions of My Little Sparrow.

Happy Thanksgiving for all the Americans reading out there!  It's a day to think about all the things we are thankful for, but also to appreciate them.  Having lost 7 children, I am constantly thankful for the miracle of my daughter, my Little Sparrow.  So this week is dedicated to her and her goofy expressions, she is a really ham!

"Mommy, really?  Why the hat?"

"What chocolate?"

"I am a tiger! ROAR!" (We were at the Zoo on the tram)

"Yum! Root Vegetables and yogurt, such genius!"

"Hmmm...how does this compare to the original apple, apple...interesting."

Here are a couple strange quarks she has:

"I was lonely in timeout."

"Mommy, I sleep better when I have my favorite things around me."

*\0/* Cheers

Shanna

Finishes: Christmas on Easy Street.

I don't have a lot of pithy words today, but I can say how excited I am that I got this top completed!  The plan is for it to stay in flimsy stage until I can rustle up a bolt of batting to bring home.  In the meantime, you will probably see more little projects from me and wall hangings to use up my scrap batting.

So without further ado, I bring you: Christmas On Easy Street.

Mr. Sparrow is holding it for me for the picture!  This is my 300th post, can you believe it?!  My goodness how fast time goes by; I guess it's also a sign I am rather verbose!

I am linking up this week to:

Fabric Tuesday With Heather & Megan @Quilt Story
Thank Goodness It's Finished Fridays with Lynne @Never Too Hot To Stitch

WHOOP, WHOOP Fridays @Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Link A Finish Friday @ Richard & Tanya Quilt

Finish It Up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts

*\o/* Cheers
Shanna

***For International followers I am having a giveaway specifically for you! Please stop by THIS post for more information!***