Plenty of Variety

It was the last week of school with students.  I had thought maybe I would not get much sewing in, but I was motivated to get the dragonfly brick quilt top finished this week.  No lesson plans or papers to grade worked in my favor.  I got a few columns ironed and added each day and then it was done!

Not the best randomization, but it will do.

My progress was interrupted by cutting up the remains of t-shirts from a huge t-shirt quilt for dog toys.  Most of the books we read aloud in class this year had a dog, so it seemed fitting to make dog toys.  I had intended for them to be donated, but the students were so excited and quick at making them that they each took one home - and there are still plenty left for donation.  

Lay out the strips and tie around the tennis ball.

Super successful!  I will write a detailed post about that project later.  Since the t-shirt remains ended up in my stash after giving the quilt to the client, I am going to count that as fabric out of the stash as well.

Choose 3 and braid!

I was distracted by a last minute call for help from an old friend who needed a formal dress hemmed.  Thankfully, it was a relatively simple hem.  She didn't want to keep the train and the lining was not attached at the hem.  Bonus: time spent catching up while pinning!

I surprised myself with 100% stitching time in May.  Woohoo!  All those little bits of time are adding up to finishes.

 15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 7/7

15 minute days/May = 31/31

15 minute days/2025 = 155/169

Success Rate = 92%

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  5.37 yards for dragonfly brick quilt + 10.5 yards for dog toys

Used year to date: 62.34 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 55.34 more yards used

Linking up to Life In Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to share stash movement.

What I'm Working On

 How did I do on last week's list?

• plan & add borders to the Hexagon Baby quilt  NO PROGRESS
• prepare a backing for the Hexagon Baby quilt  NO PROGRESS
• send the red & green fruit quilt, the Illusions of County Clare quilt, and the HST quilt to the quilt finisher who will then send them on for hurricane relief in WNC  PROGRESS  
• prep more parts for leaders and enders  NO PROGRESS 
• reclaim the sewing room  NO PROGRESS

When I was packing up the quilts, I saw that I could fit another quilt in the box.  Not wanting to waste the space I made a quick decision to start a new quilt.  I went with something quick and that took all my sewing time last week.

Columns are ready to join. 

Here's the list for May 26 - June 1:

• sew the columns for the impromptu dragonfly quilt
• prepare a backing for the dragonfly quilt
• prepare binding for the dragonfly quilt
• try again to pack that box to send out to the quilt finisher!
• cut 300 2" squares from linen for a VBS craft project
• cut strips from t-shirt for students to make dog toys
• prepare hand work to take on our trip the following week

Hmmm.... Considering it's the last week of school I might have over-planned.  But some of it has deadlines.  We'll see!

Unexpected New Project

Things took off in a totally different direction this week.  I was packing up the box of quilt tops & backings to be sent for finishing and was surprised to find that I potentially had room in the box for another quilt.  I didn't have anything larger than a baby quilt that was in progress.  Starting a new quilt was not on my radar, but why not?!

All that is left of the original focus fabric.

I had just seen a video of a simple looking quilt made of layer cakes cut in half and arranged like bricks.  I didn't have a layer cake, but I could cut fabric in bricks.  I found a focus fabric and built from there.  I cut my bricks 5.5 x 10.5 to maximize the amount of fabric I had available.   

Placement has undergone many changes since this first try.

It turned out that what I pulled from my stash that remotely went together were not large pieces, so it got all used up.  A few bricks needed to be pieced, but I doubt they will be noticed in the end.

Barely anything left.

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 7/7

15 minute days/May = 24/24

15 minute days/2025 = 148/162

Success Rate = 91%

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  0 yards

Used year to date: 46.47 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 39.47 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to share stash movement.

What I'm Working On

This was truly a slow week of just getting the bare minimum done, but even that saw some finishes!

How did I do on the list for May 12-18

• bind the dog panel quilt  DONE
• prepare binding for the red & green fruit quilt  DONE
• send the red & green fruit quilt, the Illusions of County Clare quilt, and the HST quilt to the quilt finisher who will then send them on for hurricane relief in WNC  NO PROGRESS 
• prep more parts for leaders and enders  NO PROGRESS 
• reclaim the sewing room  NO PROGRESS 

To Do List for May 19 - 25

• plan & add borders to the Hexagon Baby quilt
• prepare a backing for the Hexagon Baby quilt
• send the red & green fruit quilt, the Illusions of County Clare quilt, and the HST quilt to the quilt finisher who will then send them on for hurricane relief in WNC    
• prep more parts for leaders and enders   
• reclaim the sewing room

All Binding, All Week

A bit poofy, but cute!

The binding on the dog panel quilt was interrupted by a simple fix on College S's dress for a job interview, but otherwise it was all binding, all week!

Backing has white rather than cream, but it works.

The binding is made for the red, green, and fruit quilt.  I realized why I had not made it when I finished the top & backing - there was not enough of the red dot border fabric and there was nothing in the stash that worked or was enough of.  I am usually very open-minded about what "works", but this one had me stumped. 

Works on the front!

I ended up thinking way outside the box and digging deep into my mother's stash.  Yes, she has been gone 12 years this week and I still keep her fabric separate from mine.  I came up with this succulent fabric that she had used for a kitchen curtain.  The colors are right and I think with just 1/2" showing it will work.  It is just dark enough to finish off the quilt, but not too dark like the black was.  I know my mother would especially approve of its use for this project, since it will ultimately be given as relief for Hurricane Helene.

Works on the back!

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 7/7

15 minute days/May = 17/17

15 minute days/2025 = 141/155

Success Rate = 91%

Since I have some finishes, I have some movement!

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  3.25 for dog panel quilt and red fruit binding

Used year to date: 46.47 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 39.47 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress. 

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to show stash movement.

What I'm Working On

I didn't get it all done, but I made progress and that is just fine. 

Quilting is finished, ready for binding!

 How did I do on the list for May 5-11?

• decide on additional borders for the dog panel DONE  No more borders.
• prep for quilting DONE
• quilt the dog panel DONE
• prep more parts for leaders and enders NO PROGRESS 
• think about how to use the orange/blue 9-patches that are on the design wall  NO PROGRESS
• reclaim the sewing room after shoving stuff in there to make space in the guest room two weeks ago NO PROGRESS  I just worked around the boxes!

This will probably be another slow week, but I am likely to finish the binding with time to spare, so having a plan will be helpful.

TO DO LIST FOR May 12-18

• bind the dog panel quilt
• prepare binding for the red & green fruit quilt
• send the red & green fruit quilt, the Illusions of County Clare quilt, and the HST quilt to the quilt finisher who will then send them on for hurricane relief in WNC
• prep more parts for leaders and enders
• reclaim the sewing room

A Slow Quilting Week

I thought about borders for the dog panel, but it turned out that I had already added the wide cream border and the narrow black border.  Thinking back I remember the black was an existing strip and was all that I had.  Absolutely nothing else in the stash that was remotely close to match, so this is as big as it gets. I had already purchased a potential fabric when I used the last of my Joann gift card, so I just got right to the quilting process.

39" x 41"

I did the diagonal cross-hatching in the center since I liked it so much on the baby panel.  At first I thought I would try something new in the borders, but because most of them were part of the printed panel, I ended up just following the lines as much as possible.  The batting was leftovers from a while back and was thicker then what I have been using lately, so it ended up a bit poofy - but comfortably so.

Diagonal Quilting in the Center

All in all I am pleased.  The binding is made and ready to attach the next time I sit down to sew.  These baby quilts are finishing quickly, so I don't know why it takes me so long to get them done.  Now I have to think of what is next.  

Despite a tough work week with some long days, an after school appointment, and picking up College S later today, I managed to sew every day.  Those 15 minutes are really quite manageable and motivating.  Knowing what to work on makes it the perfect combination for progress 

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 7/7

15 minute days/May = 10/10

15 minute days/2025 = 134/148

Success Rate = 91%

No stash movement to report this week, but definitely next week when I finish the dog panel.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  0 yards

Used year to date: 43.22 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 36.22 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to show stash movement.

What I'm Working On

The end of the month was very motivating.  I eeked out a finish just as April was finishing!

So how did I do on the list for April 28 - May 4.

• finish quilting the blue/yellow/green baby panel DONE
• trim & bind the blue/yellow/green baby panel DONE
• prep more parts for leaders and enders  PROGRESS
• think about how to use the orange/blue 9-patches that are on the design wall NO PROGRESS
• reclaim the sewing room after shoving stuff in there to make space in the guest room this past weekend PROGRESS

A big finish last week means I need a new focus project to keep up the momentum.  I think it will be the dog panel.

Next in line for finishing!

TO DO LIST for May 5-11.

• decide on additional borders for the dog panel
• prep for quilting
• quilt the dog panel
• prep more parts for leaders and enders  
• think about how to use the orange/blue 9-patches that are on the design wall 
• reclaim the sewing room after shoving stuff in there to make space in the guest room this past weekend

Here's hoping for another productive week!

April Finishes Bring May Motivation

I have to keep saying it because it is true.  Having a list is really keeping me focused.

My focus project this month was the HST Quilt.  I got the top all finished, and prepared a backing and binding to send with it to a generous finisher on its way to WNC for hurricane relief.

Then there was time left to get busy on the baby panel quilt.  Just enough time to push myself to an April finish!

Linking up to Miss P's Designs USA to share PHD progress.

Sewing Chicken Soup with Rice

At school when the kids need to hurry up, I will sometimes say "going once, going twice, going chicken soup with rice."  This week one student asked "why do you say that?"  Yesterday we had a Buddy Drill where we practice going to a classroom on the adjacent K-2 campus in case of an emergency on our campus.  While there, a student found an old copy of Chicken Soup with Rice.  It turns out that "going" is not actually in the poem!  But as I was thinking of other things that work, I landed on "sewing"!  I might need to come up with an sewing version of the poem!  Cutting once, ripping twice ...

Since it was the end of the month, I was motivated to get a finish.  I got the quilting and the binding done just in time.  I tried something new by quilting diagonal lines in the center and straight lines in the borders that resulted in cross-hatching in the corners. I am pleased and I think it helped to accent the center rather than distract from it.  Senor G really liked this one, so will take it on his next trip to Spain for friends there who are expecting.

Baby panel is done!

Thursday was my "day off" this week.  A very long day and I knew the best thing to do was just go to bed!  

The backing was exactly the right size.

Friday I rebounded and got the bucket of scraps dealt with while I listened to an audio book.  After that I was in a better frame of mind to grade papers. 

Processed scraps ready to join their like-sized friends.

I dug out the orange & blue project again, but I still don't have an plan I love, so I think I will pull out a different UFO to work on next.

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 6/7

15 minute days/April = 26/30

15 minute days/May = 3/3

15 minute days/2025 = 127/141

Success Rate = 90%

Since I got the baby panel finished, I have stash movement to report.  

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  3.31 yards baby panel quilt

Used year to date: 43.22 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 36.22 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to show stash movement.