Pack Rat with a Plan

Monday, September 15, 2025

What I'm Working On

How did I do on the list for SEPTEMBER 7 - 13?

quilt the yellow backed flower garden DONE
bind the yellow backed flower garden DONE
quilt the red backed flower garden STARTED
bind the red backed flower garden NO
join baby bricks into a top NO
prepare a backing for the scrappy baby bricks NO
start thinking about what project will be next after the baby bricks NO
clean sewing room PROGRESS

Off to a good start.

TO DO LIST FOR SEPTEMBER 14 - 20:

finish quilting the red backed quilt
bind the red backed quilt
join the scrappy baby bricks
prepare a backing for the scrappy baby bricks
start thinking about what project will be next after the baby bricks
clean sewing room
get the scrapbook project off the sewing table

Try again next week?

Saturday, September 13, 2025

Yellow Flower Garden is All Finished

My plan had been to quilt both tops, then bind both, but once I started on the yellow-backed quilt I just kept working on that one. By Friday evening, I was finishing up the yellow binding!

This backing started as a strange 2-sided triangular piece that was given to me a while back. I liked the fabric, but what to do with it the piece? When I was looking for floral backings for these quilts I thought I'd give it a try.

An odd start, but a perfect finish.

When I started to unsew it, what I thought was two triangles sewn together was really square-ish folded in half with a decorative strip covering the raw edges. Parts of it were glued, but in the end I had enough for the backing and just needed a bit of supplemental fabric. I am glad to have that odd piece out of the stash. I think it was perfect for this project.

Since I didn't touch the red-based quilt at all, I already have my plan for the coming week. If I just keep doing a little bit every day, I think I'll have the twin flower gardens done next weekend.

Red-backed flower garden under the needle!

15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days/last week = 6/7

15 minute days/Sept = 10/13

15 minute days/2025 = 235/277

Success Rate = 85%

I can now count out the yellow backing and binding. Still moving in the right direction.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week: 1.92 yards yellow backing & binding

Used year to date: 91.65 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 40.33 yards

Net used in 2025: 51.35 more yards used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces

Donna at quiltpaintcreate

Frederique at quiltingpatch

Monday, September 8, 2025

What I'm Working On

How did I do on the list for AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 6?

join baby bricks into a top NOPE
prepare a backing for the scrappy baby bricks NADA
cut more blocks for twin baby girl quilts for church DONE
determine layout for blocks for twin baby girl quilts DONE
join baby girl blocks DONE
decide on borders for baby girl quilts DONE
prepare backings for baby girl quilts DONE
start thinking about what project will be next NO
clean sewing room NO - JUST ADDED TO THE MESS!
red backing ready for its flower garden top

My B Project became the A Project! I made great progress and got both baby girl flower garden quilts all the way ready to be quilted.

red-backed flower garden ready for quilting

TO DO LIST FOR SEPTEMBER 7 - 13:

quilt the yellow backed flower garden
bind the yellow backed flower garden
quilt the red backed flower garden
bind the red backed flower garden
join baby bricks into a top
prepare a backing for the scrappy baby bricks
start thinking about what project will be next after the baby bricks
clean sewing room
Maybe I'll get back to the baby bricks next week.

Saturday, September 6, 2025

Baby Flower Gardens for the Twin Girls

My week did not go how I imagined since I sewed what I had thought was my secondary project instead of the primary project. My idea for the twin baby girls was to use the remnants of a flowered charm park. There were enough duplicates to have a good start on a plan.

Matching stacks of 5" blocks + a few extras.

I would use those as a starting point and then add from the stash. I was on a roll, so I just kept rolling. I ended up getting the remaining squares cut, tested layouts,

I used a B&W filter for the first time!!

even added flowered borders. I had some ideas for backings and got those ready as well.

The red-based backing from part of a tablecloth

Since I was doing so well, I just kept going and got them both pin basted!

Ready for quilting.

Considering there were two days I just didn't feel up to sewing, I got a lot done! Well ahead of schedule for the baby girl quilts. I've got myself set up well to quilt in spurts after school this week. We'll see how that goes.

15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days/last week = 5/7

15 minute days/August = 1/1

15 minute days/Sept = 4/6

15 minute days/2025 = 229/270

Success Rate = 85%

I got the tops done so will count that fabric as out this week. I'll wait to count the backings out until they are quilted.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week: 3.7 yards

Used year to date: 89.73 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 40.33 yards

Net used in 2025: 49.43 more yards used

Linking up to:

Donna @ quiltpaintcreate

Frederique @ quilting patch

Monday, September 1, 2025

What I'm Working On

How did I do on the list for AUGUST 24-30?

continue to cut pieces for baby bricks in colors to fill gaps - DONE
sew baby bricks - PROGRESS - individual blocks are sewn
clean sewing room - PROGRESS
make a plan for the twin girl quilts for church outreach - PROGRESS

I was going to make another short list this week since I feel like I am still working on getting back into the back to school groove. Little bits of projects have been working so far, so I will stick with it. But then I remembered that it is a three-day weekend! So I'll stretch myself and see what I can get done. Worst case - I add it back to next week's list!

Final Layout ????

TO DO LIST FOR AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 6:

join baby bricks into a top
prepare a backing for the scrappy baby bricks
cut more blocks for twin baby girl quilts for church
determine layout for blocks for twin baby girl quilts
join baby girl blocks
decide on borders for baby girl quilts
prepare backings for baby girl quilts
start thinking about what project will be next
clean sewing room

Saturday, August 30, 2025

Scrappy Baby Bricks

I worked steadily on the baby bricks this week. Since I used scraps only, the color placement turned out not quite right in some color paths. I am convincing myself that it is fine and done is good and a baby won't care.

I will let this sit while I clean up the mess of the sewing room and think on what my next project will be. If it still doesn't bother me enough to remake blocks, then I'll start joining them next week.

UPDATE: I rearranged some of the purples and oranges and I think that helps. I still will not sew them all together yet though.

Better? Maybe?

Open House was Thursday evening. I was at school for 12 hours and did not have any oompf left for sewing when I finally got home. Some days are like that and that's okay. Still good forward progress.

15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days/last week = 6/7

15 minute days/August = 25/30

15 minute days/2025 = 224/263

Success Rate = 85%

Still no stash movement, but I am hopeful that I'll get the baby bricks joined this week and have better numbers next week.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0 yards

Used year to date: 86.03 yards

Acquired recently: 15.83 yards

Acquired year to date: 40.33 yards

Net used in 2025: 45.73 more yards used