What I'm Working On

How did I do last week?

To Do List for April 13-19:

• make a baking for the HST quilt - DONE
• make binding for the HST quilt - DONE
• prepare the blue/yellow/green baby panel for quilting - DONE
• possibly start the quilting - NO PROGRESS
• prep more parts for leaders and enders - DONE
• think about how to use the orange/blue 9-patches that are on the design wall - PROGRESS

Can I get this quilted this week?!?!

This week is more straight forward since I'm at the beginning of a project.

To Do List for April 20-26:

• quilt the blue/yellow/green baby panel
• prep more parts for leaders and enders
• think about how to use the orange/blue 9-patches that are on the design wall

Random Progress

For a four-day work week I did not get as much done as I anticipated.  But progress is progress.

Backing for the HST Quilt

I got the backing and binding prepared for the HST Quilt.  I had originally planned for just the maroon as the backing, but since I added an extra row all around, it was no longer large enough.  I added the strip of stripe and I think it works well.  The stripe also became binding.

Quilt, backing, and binding ready to go!

Then I got out my next UFO to work on, but I was totally uninspired, so I thought about what to do with the orange & blue 9-patch blocks to make them large enough for anything.  I had an idea that involved scraps, but it turns out I don't have as many orange scraps as I hoped.  So back to the drawing board on that project.  

But that jumpstarted me into the neglected UFO.  I forgot that I had to take out another machine to Frankenstein the batting, but I just took a deep breath and did it.  I got it pin basted, so quilting that should keep me busy for the coming week.

Baby panel ready for quilting.

I missed sewing one day.  Just too tired and that's okay.  

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 6/7

15 minute days/April = 17/18

15 minute days/2025 = 98/109

Success Rate = 90%

Even though I didn't get in sewing every day, what I did do helped my stash numbers. 

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  5.28 yards for HST Quilt backing and binding

Used year to date: 39.91 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 32.91 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

On the weekend I usually try to figure out what I'll work on during the week to keep up my forward momentum.  If I have to decide what to do when I get home from school, it is less likely to happen.  So to take that a step further, I thought I'd write it down to make myself more accountable.  I've seen other bloggers publish their "to do" lists and thought I'd give it a try.

To Do List for April 13-19:

• make a baking for the HST quilt
• make binding for the HST quilt
• prepare the blue/yellow/green baby panel for quilting
• possibly start the quilting
• prep more parts for leaders and enders
• think about how to use the orange/blue 9-patches that are on the design wall

HST Quilt needs backing and binding.

Baby Panel needs backing & quilting.

9 Patches need a plan.

More than enough for the week.  But it's a 4-day work week, so we'll see what happens.  We will be traveling next weekend to see the Savannah contingency, so I should probably pull out some handwork as well.

Neutral Perimeter for the Win!

I got off to a great start with adding a round of neutrals to the HST quilt.  I found fabric that was the same or similar to the existing neutrals and got them all cut.  I sewed the first side in pairs easily enough, but when I started sewing the pairs into fours and laid them out next to the quilt something was not right at all.

No matter how hard you try to be random!!

It turns out I had cut 3.5" squares instead of 3.25".  I didn't check closely enough when I started and I think 3.5 was in my head from all the 3.5 triangle sides.  No big deal.  I only had to pick out a few seams.  Then I just pressed carefully and trimmed up as pairs.  I ended up leaving 3.5" as the width since that would add an overall 1/2" to the length and width of the quilt with no extra work.  In the end it was best kind of cutting error - too big instead of too small.

HST Quilt 
66" x 82"

I am glad I decided to add the extra round of neutrals.  I think it sets off the diamonds better and just gives it a more finished look for minimal effort.  This is another one that will go to a generous quilt finisher who then donates to folks in WNC affected by hurricane Helene.  Next step is to figure out backing and binding to include with it.

I got in 15 minutes or more each day.  Having something planned to work on really helps.  Since this project is so close to a finish I need to figure out what's going to be next.

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 7/7

15 minute days/April = 11/12

15 minute days/2025 = 92/102

Success Rate = 90%

Finishing projects is really helping my stash numbers!

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  6.13 yards for HST Quilt top

Used year to date: 34.63 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 27.63 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to share stash movement.

Another UFO is Getting Attention

Illusions at County Clare was finished the previous week, so this week I set about getting the backing and binding ready.  I had a large piece of dark green that I had been given a while back and I hoped it would be enough.  I know I had already prewashed it, but it still had a sheen to the right side which made it feel stiff, so I washed it again.  This time I felt - literally and figuratively - that it was ready to be used.  

Illusions at County Clare

There was enough to make the backing with a single seam and also binding!  This top is going to be donated to a finisher for relief in WNC, so I am glad to be able to also send all the related parts.

All ready to go!

The HST quilt is the next to finish so that I can also send it for WNC.  A long time ago I was gifted a bag of precut triangles and just started sewing light to dark as leaders and enders.  I did eventually ran out of lights and cut more from my scraps.  I worked at it on and off for about 10 years, so there were plenty of HST blocks.

HST Quilt until it gets a better name!

When Little S headed off to college this past fall, I needed a project to keep me busy, but not too difficult, so I started to lay out the HSTs on the floor of her room, which turns out to be a good design floor.  The design I imagined worked out and even allowed for intermediate designs.  There are a few triangles left, but not nearly enough to enlarge the design.  I had to get it off the floor when she came back for Thanksgiving, so that was a good motivator to join the squares.  But it has been hanging in the quilt "time out" closet since then.  

Friday night, I gave it a good pressing instead of grading papers.  Now that it is nice and flat, I like it even more.  I think I might add another round of neutral squares to make it slightly bigger and insure that the points don't get lost in the binding.  That will be a good project for this week.  

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 6/7

15 minute days/March = 30/31

15 minute days/April = 4/5

15 minute days/2025 = 85/95

Success Rate = 89%

The previous week at school ended on a rough note that carried into this week.  Making myself sort, fold, and press fabric and sew a bit each day was really helpful.  15 minutes is not just manageable, but therapeutic.  I just missed one day late in the week when things had finally worked out and my body just gave out. 

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  5 yards for County Clare backing and binding

Used year to date: 28.5 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 21.5 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to show stash movement.

Another Month, Another PhD Finish

Having a monthly goal to finish anything at all from the list is really motivating.  It also helps having a place for my quilts to go, rather than just hang them in the closet.  

Without further ado...

Illusions at County Clare

Illusions at County Clare went from a few leader and ender units to a finished top.  I had a vision in my head and I just kept working at it.  Being able to adapt and use the green & white checkerboard units from the orphan bin was an even bigger bonus.

This is going to join Red, Green, and Fruit as a donated top to be finished and sent on to WNC.  That is even more motivating to me.

Here is my March data.

March PHD Report

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

  

Illusions at County Clare

County Clare is a finished top! 

I can't remember ever making something with this many seemingly unrelated parts "making it up as I go along" so I am rather pleased with the finished product!  All four corners worked and it looks pretty close to what I imagined.

What a relief when the 4th corner matched up!

The final border took a lot more thought that I imagined.  I had a few ideas, but none of them really worked and by then I was committed to the 2" blue, since it was from a shirt that had been cut up and I could not uncut it.  I think larger than 2" would have been better, but I don't know if there would have been enough fabric that way and I really liked this color so this is it.

Illusions at County Clare 67" x 83"

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 7/7

15 minute day/March = 28/29

15 minute days/2025 = 79/88

Success Rate = 90%

Bringing County Clare to a finished top was a huge accomplishment.  So many little pieces.  If this was not already committed to somewhere else, or I didn't already have more quilts than I know what to do with, this would be a keeper!

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  6.3 yards for County Clare

Used year to date: 23.5 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 16.5 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to show stash movement.

Many Hands Make Light Work

Spring Break was very conducive to sewing.  Little S was home from college and helped turned these ...

into these.

Lots and lots of green & white.

She got all the black corners unsewn and I was able to get white corners sewn on in no time at all.  I had thought the unsewing would take all week and the replacement corners another week, but not at all.  Days uninterrupted by work and "Many hands make light work" resulted in good productivity.

While she was unsewing, I got the County Clare blocks sashed and joined and into the center of what I am imagining.

Big blocks ready to join.

Next up are the green & white borders.  The first short one went on as planned and fit perfectly.  I did catch myself before I sewed on the other short end.  I have to make the colors in the corners line up, so I have to work my way around the quilt.  That part I did not plan, so we will see how it goes.  I should be able to get three out of four though.  I have the second side clipped in place and will continue working on that this week.  

I'm really liking the look!

Saturday we took Little S back to school and stayed the night to see Grown Up E preach in church on Sunday.  I took hand-sewing for the trip, but didn't get to it on Saturday. Family time is more important!  Now that we are back, I'm sure I will get in 15 minutes today after I get my lesson plans ready for back to school tomorrow.

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 6/7

15 minute day/March = 21/22

15 minute days/2025 = 72/81

Success Rate = 89%

I am so close to getting this top finished.  For sure next week I will have numbers to report.  I did go thrifting with my sister and even though there was cute fabric - including one that brought back a LOT of memories from decades ago - I did not buy anything.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  0 yards

Used year to date: 17.2 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 10.2 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to show stash movement.

Slow and Steady

That's what I tell my students all the time, but this week it applied to me as well.  Last weekend I decided to unsew and fix the County Clare units that needed resizing so that the 12" finished block layout I planned would actually be 12".  It worked out well since this was the last week before Spring Break and there was a lot going on a school to finish out the quarter.  Remaking one or two units each evening was great for decompressing.  Coincidentally, the book I am listening to referred to County Clare today!

The vision in my head is definitely not showing up on the wall!

Now I am starting the sashing.  I have two ideas and fortunately I can try one without waste if I decide to go with the other.  Largest possible finished quilt is the determining factor.  I think I have it mathed out properly to allow me to use the units that were found in the orphan block bin for a border.

Block #2 Ready for Sashing

Little S is on her way home from college for Spring Break.  I am so thankful that our Spring Breaks coincide. This will be a true test to see if I can still work in 15 minutes of stitching each day, while I have something more interesting to do than school.  She is a cross-stitcher, so maybe we can stitch together.  Or ..... she likes to unsew, so maybe I can get her to unsew the black corners on the border units!!!

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 7/7

15 minute day/March = 15/15

15 minute days/2025 = 66/74

Success Rate = 89%

Remaking blocks did not cause any change in the stash numbers.  Maybe next week if I get them sashed during Spring Break.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  0 yards

Used year to date: 17.2 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 10.2 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to show stash movement.

County Clare Has Been Promoted

March started with a good cleaning of the sewing room work space.  I really missed out on a good before and after photo!

After rediscovering the table top, I decided to promote the Leader & Ender project "County Clare" to focus project.  I had originally thought I'd just make 9 blocks and turn it into a baby/kid quilt since that is what I most often need, but I have good stash of those now.  The new possibility of making quilts for North Carolina has me very excited.  But I want these quilts to be larger.

The last few County Clare units.

So I prepped enough pieces to make 3 more large blocks and working on those was my project all week.  When I joined the 4 smaller blocks to make the 12" block, I noticed that the blocks that I had sewed as true leader & enders were not as well made as when I sewed just them this week.  A few adaptations came to mind, but in the end I just started unsewing and adjusting seam allowances on the ones that needed it.  That will take another day or two, but I think will give the best finished product in the end.  It was a good reminder to check sizes more often as I work, especially with such small pieces.

The beginning of an idea.

My idea is a 3x4 layout with sashing and blue setting stones.  In my cleaning I rediscovered these units from Grand Illusion that I'd like to work in as a border.   I think the math will work.  I'm not sure about the black corners and may switch them for white or just go with it.   So many of my blues in County Clare are dark, it might work.  We'll see when I get to that step.

Can I use up this pile in the process?!?!

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 7/7

15 minute day/March = 8/8

15 minute days/2025 = 59/67

Success Rate = 88%

Mindless sewing was really what I needed this week, but not enough got done to move the numbers.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  0 yards

Used year to date: 17.2 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 10.2 more yards used

Linking to Kate's Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking to quiltpaintcreate to show stash movement.

February PhD Report

Here I am at the end of February with two finishes.  Having a plan makes a huge difference.   

The Carnival Quilt had not been on the list for long and had a due date, so it got finished quickly.  I make an auction quilt with my class each year, and I think this is one of my favorites.

2025 Auction Quilt

After that I decided to work on my least favorite on the PhD list - the red, green, and fruit squares. Once I started getting the borders on, I began to really like it.  

Red, green, & fruits!

All in all, this turned into a nice quilt.  Definitely no longer my least favorite!  This is as far as I'm going on this one.  I will pass it off to get finished and sent on to someone in need in Helene ravaged North Carolina.

As tired as I was on Friday after school, I made myself finish the backing so that I could call this one done in February.  Having goals really helps move things along!

Now to decide what to work on next.  The bar has been set pretty high to get another finish next month as well!

Linking up to Ms. P Designs USA to give a PhD Update for February. 

Another Finish

This week I kept working on on the red, green, and fruit squares.  Once I started getting the borders on, I began to really like it.  

68" x 78"

It turned out that with the extra inner border, I did not have enough backing fabric.  I pieced some of the red dots into the truck fabric and brought it up to large enough.  All in all, this turned into a nice quilt.  Definitely no longer my least favorite!  

Not quite what I envisioned, but it will work.

This is as far as I'm going on this one.  I will pass it off to get finished and sent on to someone in need in Helene-ravaged North Carolina.

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 6/7

15 minute day/March = 1/1

15 minute day/Feb = 24/28

15 minute days/2025 = 52/60
Success Rate = 87%

The red, green, and fruit quilt top and backing are finished!

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  6.89 yards

Used year to date: 17.2 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 10.2 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to show stash movement.

Week of February 16

It was a strange week, and I worked on a mix of projects.  One day I didn't feel good so came home from school quickly and after a 3 hour nap I looked at old magazines to find inspiration.  I ended up finding a good project for my next leader & ender project.  So the next few days I cut out pieces to get me started.  

Seems like a simple but cute project for leaders & enders!

Over winter break I had seen this cute hexagon hot pad pattern and thought it would be fun to make for the girls.  I still had extra hexagons from the baby quilts I had made a while back and they turned out to be the right size.  On the first one I made the mistake of trying to do it in a QAYG fashion over the batting, and that did not work.  I made it work, but I won't do that again.  The pieces were just too small to manage easily.  

Halfway done!

This morning I made myself finish the first one since I had all the parts ready to go.  I was nervous about binding the angles, but it came out fine.  Next time I will make sure the binding ends meet farther away from the loop.  I have the next top ready.  These are definitely not on the front burner and once I finish the 3 of them, I pretty sure I'm done.  Super cute, not hard, but just not my thing.    

I also worked on this quilt that was made from donated squares and then set aside several years ago since I didn't really like it and didn't have anything that remotely coordinated to add borders or finish or anything.  Well, when I went to use up my Joann's gift card I found the red polka dot that I thought was close enough for a border.  

Top is intended backing, black is for another project, red is the borders and maybe binding.

When I washed the fabric I got that day, a black for another project was next to the fabrics for this quilt and it looked good together.  So I added a narrow black inner border with a black grunge from my stash.  I think it makes a huge difference.  I actually almost like this now.  I will work on the red borders this week.

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 6/7

15 minute day/Feb = 19/22

15 minute days/2025 = 46/53
Success Rate = 87%

Not enough movement this week to affect the stash, but hopefully next week I'll have some finishes.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  0 yards

Used year to date: 10.31 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 3.31 more yards used

Linking to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking to quiltpaintcreate to share stash movement.

The Carnival Quilt that wasn't a "Carnival" Quilt

Two hours from finishing the Carnival Quilt I found out that there is no Carnival Auction this year.  We have new administration this year and we were told of the change 10 days before the Carnival.  I guess I should have been suspicious that there was no information about, nor requests for, auction items or teacher experiences.  But after decades of Spring Carnival Auctions I never thought to confirm before I started this year's quilt back in December.

47" x 55"

So ..... now what do I do with it?  Personally, I do not need a reminder of this year's class.  But how do I decide who gets it?  Do I just pick someone?  I do have a student in mind who would benefit from an emotional connection and confidence boost by having it.  But how do I make it seem fair and non-partial?

It was with mixed emotions that I finished the last of the quilting and the binding today.  I love the quilt.  The backing fabric had been in the stash for forever and is just what this quilt needed to tie all the colors together.  The backing and binding are the perfect combination and the whole thing is just so soft and cozy.  

I missed sewing last Sunday due to a trip to Savannah to see the girls.  Then on Thursday I came home from school and just plain forgot that sewing was a thing to do!

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 5/7

15 minute day/Feb = 13/15

15 minute days/2025 = 40/46
Success Rate = 87%

With the Carnival Quilt finished I have some movement.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week: 2.12 yards for Carnival Quilt backing and binding

Used year to date: 10.31 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 3.31 more yards used

I dropped off a load at the thrift store and then went in to look for a fish tank filter to replace the one at school that stopped working this week.  No aquarium equipment, but I did find this - 2 unopened packs together for $5.  I don't usually use fusible, but figured I'd find a use for it somewhere at that price. 

Linking to Kate's Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking for quiltpaintcreate to share stash movement.

Carnival Quilt Continued

The students and I are still working on the Carnival Quilt.  This week we got the center of the top quilted.  It came down to the wire on Friday afternoon, but everyone got a chance to sew so I could finally bring my machine back home.  I had every intention of finishing it this weekend, but that hasn't happened.

Between sewing at school and prepping the back for the Dear Jane quilt at home I was able to work on projects every day this week.  

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 7/7

15 minute day/Feb = 8/8

15 minute days/2025 = 35/39
Success Rate = 90%

No finishes this week, so the Stash Report remains the same.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week: 0 yards

Used year to date: 8.19 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 1.19 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to report stash movement.

PhD January Report

When I started I never imagined I would have a finish already for my PhD January Report.  But here I am with my first PhD finish.  Woohoo!!

Being more organized is certainly helping me stay on track to get some starts all the way to the finish line.

I have liked this color combination for forever.  It feels good to have this one finished just because I like it so much.  

It is destined to be gifted either to a child in need at church or a child in need in Teacher E's school.  I always keep kids' quilts on hand.  It seems harder for me to make "boy" quilts, so this is a good addition to the kid quilt pile.

Carnival Quilt

Here is a big project that I totally forgot to put on my PhD list.  Every year I make a quilt with my class to auction off at the school's spring carnival.  The quilt is due in mid-February, so I needed to move it to the front burner.  Most of the kids made their blocks back in December, but I had one straggler and one new student and me who made blocks in January.  They make a design on paper and then copy it onto the fabric square using fabric markers.  For as much trouble as I have with this group, they understood the idea of "details cannot be too fine" better than previous classes.  There were no tears, repeats, or disasters.

A good smile from someone I have a hard time challenging!

Everyone picked their own border fabric. The colors are not uniformly distributed because the blocks are placed in the line order of the students.  When they look at it, they see a pattern of sorts and it makes them happy.

Bright and Cheerful!

The kids had already joined most of their blocks back in December, so I finished it up this week with the remaining blocks and added inner and outer borders.  This fun stripe has been in my stash for ages.  This is the perfect project for it and I think there will be just enough for backing as well.  Backing will be next week's project.  I will sandwich it and then take it all back to school for the kids to use the machine to quilt it with the walking foot.

Little S (probably should be referred to as College S now) has been cross-stitching for a few years.  She is slowing working through kits that have been gifted to her.  This one she finished at Christmas time.  She has been wanting to give it to her Abuela in Guatemala.  Well, Senor G is going down next weekend, so the ball was in my court (an appropriate idiom we used at school this week!) to do the finishing.  We had found a metal hoop the right size at the thrift store in December.  The yellow gingham was still out from the Beachy Words binding, so I used that to add a little color to the trim and I think it came out perfectly.

Mama Cristy is going to love it!  

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch Challenge at Life in Pieces has us tracking how many days each week we get in at least 15 minutes of stitching/sewing/quilting time.  I am satisfied with my week.  One night, I had a late meeting an hour south of school, which is 30 minutes south of home, and that ended up wiping me out the next night also.  I went to bed at 7:30 pm and didn't wake up until the alarm went off at 6:00 am for work.  My class thought it was pretty funny that I was asleep before they were!

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 5/7

15 minute days/Jan = 27/31

15 minute day/Feb = 1/1
15 minute days/2025 = 28/32
Success Rate = 88%

Stash only moved out this week.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  2.85 yds  Carnival Quilt top & Cross-stitch trim

Used year to date: 8.19 yards

Acquired last Week: 0 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 1.19 more yards used

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to show stash movement.

First Quilt Finish for 2025

I started the week feeling like I had not prepped enough to keep moving forward each day easily, but it turned out just right.  The previous week I couldn't work on one of my PhD projects because I didn't have batting or a machine that could zigzag and create a frankenbatting.  So, instead of putting it off I went to my sister's one day after school and used her machine and got the batting ready.  Then last Sunday I sandwiched the quilt to work on this week.

Baby Beachy Words All Finished 40" x 40"

I am getting into a better routine after school now that I am deliberately aiming for 15 minutes.  By setting the timer, I am sticking to my goal and getting in a brief amount of "sewing therapy."  After sewing, I move on to whatever home or school task I need to do.  I think it used to be either sewing or tasks, but never both.  You can tell where my preferences are! Using the timer is helping me balance it better and proves that I can do both.

I'm really glad I could also back it in the wordy fabric!

I originally thought I would just use the walking foot and make a big X through each rail fence block. While doing that I noticed that I had pieced a lot of the rails (I made this top at least a year ago!), so I decided to go back and stitch in between the X as well for extra stability.  I think I started with some random blue and yellow strips that I had been given and then added the other yellow gingham and just made it up as I went along.  I love the colors even with it's imperfections. 

Over the course of the week I got it all finished.  I wasn't able to sew one evening due to a lot of urgent tasks for school the next day.  But I moved it forward enough that Saturday morning I was able to finish it up.  It is only 40" square, but still that's progress.  Without the 15 minute challenge and the PhD challenge, it would still be hanging in the closet in limbo.

Not perfect, but finished.

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch Challenge at Life in Pieces has us tracking how many days each week we get in at least 15 minutes of stitching/sewing/quilting time.

15 Minute Report

15 minute days/week = 6/7

15 minute days/Jan = 23/25
15 minute days/2025 = 23/25
Success Rate = 92%

The Stash Report has lots of movement this week.  I finished the Beachy Words baby quilt, but I also went to Joanns to use up a gift card.  I got fabrics to help me bring some tops closer to the finish line.  As hard as I tried I could not find anything even close in my stash.

They go well together, but the black is for another quilt.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week:  2.9 yds

Used year to date: 5.34 yards

Acquired last Week: 7 yards

Acquired year to date: 7 yards

Net used in 2025: 1.66 more yards gained

Trucks for the backing.  Dots for a border.

I was given the red, green, and fruity squares years ago and turned them into a top.  It is smaller than I'd like, but I didn't have anything to make it bigger so it languished in the closet.  The dots were as close as I could get for a match.  I think it will work for a border.  The trucks were on clearance.  I think it will make an acceptable backing.  This is not even remotely in my comfort zone for fabric choices, but I got this far and I'd like to see it finished. 

Not sure what I will work on this coming week, but I am confident that I will figure it out.  Maybe this red/green/fruity/dotty/truck combo and just be done with it!

Linking up to Life in Pieces to share progress.

Linking up to quiltpaintcreate to share stash movement.