Long Overdue Carpenter Star

When we went to Guatemala for Christmas the girls and I helped prep this quilt for my MIL to make for my niece.  I had just made a blue one and she liked the look.  They aren't hard to cut or sew, just tricky to layout.

We figured out the layout and numbered the pieces to help her keep it all straight when she sewed it up.  There was even an extra bed to keep it out on. 
I wrote about the process.

She got the center star sewn and started pinning pieces to sew together when an urgent sewing job came in and she had to set it aside.  I heard what had happened, so that was the first thing on my TO DO list when I went back to visit.

When she unrolled the sheet it had been on I wasn't sure what we would find.  It was a big "wad" of pieces.  I was very pleased with all the pinning.  That helped a lot as far as getting the layout right.  And we found the photos on the blog and I was able to work from that to get it set up again.  Once I got it right, she pinned the pieces to the sheet just in case!  The sewing was pretty easy once I got used to her machine. 

Ta..daaa....  The center is all sewn.  She thinks she will add two borders to make it a little larger.  I am so glad that I was able to help her straighten this out and that it will eventually get into the hands of a cute little girl. 

Now I think I need to make a pink one for me!  I really like this design.

The Carpenter's Star that Wasn't

While we were in Guatemala at Christmas time I helped my mother-in-law prep a quilt for my niece who was expecting a baby girl.  I had just finished the blue Carpenter's Star for baby CW and it seemed like a good idea to make it in pink.

There was plenty of stash to work with.  I did the cutting, my MIL cooked lunch, and the girls helped lay it out and labeled the pieces the best they could.

Thankfully there was an extra bed where it could stay until she got it sewn together.

Unfortunately after we left the layout got mixed up so she didn't continue and made something else.  She is very resourceful so I am sure the quilt she made was just as nice.

I can't wait to get back to Guatemala to see the grand niece and work on this puzzle of a quilt again.

Don't forget to check out the first of the summer giveaways.  

Linking up to Confessions  of a Fabric Addict to show off finishes or almost a finish!

Finally Closing the Books on 2018

I was wondering what to do about the stash report being that I haven't written one on about 6 months.  The stash report really helps me focus on using fabric up and not getting anymore - HA HA HA.  I do love the math of it though.  So I am going to close the books on 2018 even though it is very late.  Then I can start "fresh" for 2019.

Even though I wasn't sewing much I was still thrifting - it's my therapy - so fabric did come in and for whatever reason I kept is all separate since I hadn't reported on it - or used it!  So getting a report wasn't too difficult even though it is low on detail.

Fabric In: 
Thrifting with College E at Thanksgiving I found a bag of 16 - 10.5" squares and 8 unsewn triangles   1.53 yds  $1.50  From the 45 degree angle joins I am guessing these were cut from a "lasagna" type quilt.  I thought about it and figured I could figure out a layout and it would be a bright and cheery donation quilt.

Pink w/ swirls, red solid, blue solid, bears w/ hearts - 3.8 yds  $3.50

Doggy print - Grown Up R asked for a quilt for her dog since I made one for a her cat a few years ago.  This will supplement my few dog prints. 0.41 yds  $0.50

Solid red - always useful  1 yard  $0.50

Cute bright pink - I have made quite a few pink quilts in the last year and this will replenish my diminishing pink stash.  0.65 yds  $0.50

Fabric Out:
Fabric for my sister to make curtains for my niece.  Label said the fabric was from France!  Those will be the nicest curtains on campus.  3.5 yds

Also during the Thanksgiving break I finished the Carpenter Star quilt for my cousin's grandson.   Backing & Binding 3.43 yards

I realized that I did not yet count out the white board "erasers" I made for our class.  25 7" 2-sided flannel squares.  The kids love them and they were the perfect use of random scraps.  0.85 yds

Giveaway - various kiddie print scraps  approx 0.50 yds

Finished the quilt for the Babs, the "GrandDog" at the very last minute before we drove to NC for a visit.  4 yds

Lasagna quilt triangles is a flimsy.  I am thinking to send it off as is to someone who will finish it and donate.  Anyone interested?  I don't have time to work on something I don't love.  I really need to stop buying other people's UFOs!! 1.53 yds

Final numbers for 2018:

Fabric Purchased since last report: 7.39 yards
Fabric Purchased YTD: 128.01 yards

Fabric Acquired since last report: 0 yards

Fabric Acquired YTD: 22.65 yards

Fabric Used since last report: 13.81 yards
Fabric Used YTD 2018: 167.71 yards

Total: 17.05 yards destashed 

Just about break even.  A little bit more out than in!  Good enough.  I'm glad I did the numbers.  It will be interesting to see how 2019 goes since I started it the way I ended 2018 - lots of work and not much sewing.

Linking up to QuiltPaintCreate to keep accountable.

Carpenter Star for Baby CW is Finished

Little Baby CW is the first grandson of my cousin.  Our grandfather was called CW.  It turns out Baby CW's initials being the same is a coincidence.  He was born premature at just over 1 pound and has been in the hospital gaining weight.  I can't begin to imagine how difficult that must be.

My sister asked me to make the Carpenter Star that I had made previously for her.  I am not really a fan of repeating a design so I found this design that is also called Carpenter Star, but is different.

I loved making this one.  This was all fabrics from the stash.  The top went together so quickly.

Then the quilting slowed the process down.  I have to get better at quilting since sending them out to be quilted is not in the budget.

I am very happy with how it turned out and I think maybe I really would make another of this design.  I can envision it in brights or pinks or just about anything!

My goal was December 1st since Baby CW was expected to go home in December.  I got it done by my date, but he went home early, which was very good news!!

Linking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict to share finishes.

Stash Report

I did not do very well this week.  College E wanted to go thrifting.  My favorite little store had some amazing deals.  I know I had just told myself that someone else might want that great deal and I could leave it there, but it didn't work this week.  One of the volunteers even said, "I knew you'd be back!"

 Fabric In:  Not all of it was fabric, but it was all useful and "a great deal".

Unopened packages of double wide binding! $0.25/each

Iron - on interfacing/stabilizer.  3 yd / $0.50

Whites & neutrals & a fun fabric for a burp cloth.

The deals were so good I have to tell you.  The turquoise sheep was 1/2 yard for $0.25.  The solid white was just shy 1 complete yard for $0.25.  The white on white was one yard exactly for $0.50.  The dark brown was 2.8 yards for $0.50.  The best deal of the day was the beige 10 yards 15 inches complete and uncut for $2!!  I say I have plans for all of it, but you know how that goes.  If I end up giving it away no great loss either.


Fabric Out:
Finished and bound the Carpenter's Star.  I counted out the backing last week, so this week I can only count out the binding.  0.36 yards

I like this design a lot.

Recovered a little stool, which I will post about later this week.  0.25 yards

This stool got a complete makeover.

There were a few other odds & ends, but I was busy sewing and not keeping track so they will get reported another week.


Fabric Purchased since last report: 15.84 yards
Fabric Purchased YTD: 71.51 yards

Fabric Acquired since last report: 0 yards

Fabric Acquired YTD: 22.65 yards

Fabric Used since last report: 0.61 yards
Fabric Used YTD: 105.27 yards

Total: 11.11 yards destashed

My numbers took a hit, but I think the fabric stashed will be very useful.  Overall I am sewing more and using more, so I am not too worried.

Don't forget to check out the July Giveaway to see how you can help me get a cute piece of  fabric out of the stash!  A winner will be chosen on Monday!!

Kate over at Life In Pieces has challenged us to try to stitch 15 minutes each day.  I was a busy bee this week getting things finished, preparing samples for my sewing class, and a few more items to sell at the Market Fair.  I even got a good start on the next quilt in the "needs to be quilted" queue.  Going great guns on that and then ran out of thread.  White!  Of all colors to run out of.  Oh well.  No deadline on that one, so no need for the longish trip to buy more thread.

Days stitched since last report: 7/7
Days stitched this year: 193/209
Success Rate: 92%


Linking up to QuiltPaintCreate and Life in Pieces to keep accountable.

Carpenter Star is Finished

I was so close to being finished that I pushed through yesterday to get the binding on.

The sun is coming up over the clothesline.

I had used up all the polka dot fabric, so had to find something else for the binding.  There wasn't enough of the handkerchief or the woven squares fabric, so I went with the blue with tiny white details.  It is the exact same color of blue as the polka dot border and backing so it works well.  

Corner detail

I like the thickness of the quilt since it will likely go on the floor for baby to play on, but it was a bear to work with.  I think I'll stick with my Florida thin battings from now on.

Receiving the first morning's rays of sunlight.

This was a commissioned quilt and isn't due until October, but it is good to have it off my plate.  I would definitely make this design again.

Linking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Busy Hands Quilts to show off finishes. 

Stash Report 072218

Fabric In:  Not a bit.  I even drove past all the thrift stores on an errand, but it was pouring down rain and I had a very heavy load of bathroom tile in the back of the van (dealing with mold, yuck) so I was already driving super cautiously and I didn't want any extra stops.

Fabric Out:
I got the Carpenter Star quilted so I can count the backing fabric out.  It was the same polka dot as the border and one of the star points.  Now it is all gone except for a few small scraps.  I get sad to see favorites get used up, but that is the point of using the stash, right?  2.5 yards out for backing

Almost finished

I thought I would get more sewn this week because Little S was away on a mission trip with her youth group, but household things and a migraine got in the way.  I am satisfied with the carpenter star progress though and the reality is there was a lot of time and prep involved in the quilting of that.


Fabric Purchased since last report: 0 yards
Fabric Purchased YTD: 55.67 yards

Fabric Acquired since last report: 0 yards

Fabric Acquired YTD: 22.65 yards

Fabric Used since last report: 2.5 yards backing
Fabric Used YTD: 104.66 yards

Total: 26.34 yards destashed

Slow and steady.  I am headed in the right direction and that is the important thing.  Little S is away again this coming week at a church camp, so I will try to be more productive!  College E heads back soon, so I am also trying to take advantage of every moment I can with her.

Don't forget to check out the July Giveaway to see how you can help me get even more fabric out of the stash!

Kate over at Life In Pieces has challenged us to try to stitch 15 minutes each day.  I was able to sew every day.  The quilting of a quilt is not my favorite part and is tedious, so I worked at in in spurts each day.  Every little bit moves a project forward!

Days stitched since last report: 7/7
Days stitched this year: 184/202
Success Rate: 91%


Linking up to QuiltPaintCreate and Life in Pieces to keep accountable.

Friday Finish 072018

I have a near finish.  I got the carpenter star quilt sandwiched on Tuesday.  The batting is thicker than what I usually use and it gave it great texture.  I used a variegated blue thread for the blue sections and cream for the background.  I used my walking foot for the straight lines.

I love the walking foot.

I tried some free motion shapes in the small background triangles. 

Some curves to work with all the straight lines.

For the oval in the larger background triangles I marked the oval first since I didn't think I could free motion that. The oval was large enough that I could use the walking foot for sewing it and an echo line inside and outside of it.

Echo stitching around oval

I need to finish up the borders, but that will be more straight lines and should get done today with no problem.

Lots of texture.

This is a commissioned quilt.  It isn't due until October, so I way ahead of the game.  Woo hoo!

Linking up to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday and Busy Hands Quilts to show off (near) finishes!

Stash Report 062418

Fabric Out: The deep deep cleaning of my sewing/project room resulted in some unplanned outage.  As I put all the fabric back on the shelves I removed fabrics that were not appropriate for quilts and I was unlikely to use for anything else. It is amazing how a little stack of fabric can be so much fabric - 11 yards!!

Non cottons to donate

I also trimmed down the remains of denim jeans for use in future projects.  That saved me half a bin of storage.  Who knew.  I saved the zippers and back brand patches since it seems like they must be good for something, but I don't want them.  If you have a use for them let me know and I would be happy to send them to you.

Free to a good home!

I finished a flimsy for a commissioned project.  2.63

Good use of large scraps!

And I found another piece of beach/surf fabric to add to the June GIVEAWAY.

Surfers to go with the beach fabric!

Fabric In:  I found this cute pink & gray flowered fabric at the thrift store.  2 yards for $2!!  These are the colors that my sister is leaning towards lately when she asks for baby girl quilts, so I figured it was a good piece to have on hand.

Delicate for a baby girl.

Fabric Purchased since last report: 2 yards
Fabric Purchased YTD: 41.26 yards

Fabric Acquired since last report: 0 yards

Fabric Acquired YTD: 22.65 yards

Fabric Used since last report: 11 yards purged
Fabric Used YTD: 66.96 yards

Total: 3.05 yards destashed

At last I am really, really making progress.  It didn't all get sewn, but it is no longer on my shelf.

Kate over at Life In Pieces has challenged us to try to stitch 15 minutes each day.  I was in the sewing room every day either sewing or cleaning or trimming scraps to usable sizes.  I finished the top for a commissioned quilt, found good border fabrics for a WIP that was stalled, and now have the space and motivation to get going on some other WIPs. 

Days stitched since last report:7/7
Days stitched this year: 158/174
Success Rate: 91%


Linking up to QuiltPaintCreate and Life in Pieces to keep accountable.

Friday Finish 062218

I have a finish.  This one went from idea to completed flimsy in less than a week.  That doesn't usually happen.

Finished Flimsy

It is a commissioned quilt and isn't due until October, but I firmly believe it getting things done while you can.

Linking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict to show off finishes.

Design Wall Monday 061818

My sister need a baby boy quilt.  She tried to find the Over the Moon fabric that she used for the big sister a few years ago, but it was no where to be found.  You can see that quilt HERE, HERE and HERE. So we went with Plan B - stash fabric.

Auditioning Fabrics

I wanted to try a large Carpenter's Star, but with something in the middle.  The pinwheel worked well even though the math was more than I had bargained for.  I just made the triangles in question larger than needed and then mathed my way done until they were right. 

Just before the triangle math got intense!

The inner border I had actually cut first since the neutral had a nice length that was perfect for what I knew my star would end up at.  It was nice to finish the center and move right on to the border.  Usually I have to audition more fabrics and think on it a bit.  This one I knew in advance exactly what I wanted.

First border is on!

Next up is wide border of the blue polka dots with small stars in the corners.

Linking up to small quilts & doll quilts to show what we are working on and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework's  Oh Scrap! to show something made with scraps..