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. 

Thankful Thursday

Sewing + Teaching = Joy !!

I am so very thankful that my hobby blends well with my God-given talent.

I have immensely enjoyed the opportunity to experiment with teaching a sewing class this summer.  I have taught sewing before so it wasn't a brand new experience, but with the exception of sewing projects in the classroom I have not taught sewing here in the United States.  I didn't know if there was in interest and I am not good at marketing myself.

A few of  the ladies grace the opening pages.

When we lived in Guatemala I had a group of women and teens (from a children's home) who came to my house to learn to sew.  We made baby quilts that the church gave to each baby when they were dedicated in church to represent the spiritual covering of the church over each baby. 

A received our first quilt in 1997.  Her first quilt was stolen from the public bus, so we made her another.

Over the years we made hundreds of baby quilts of all colors and styles.  As the abilities increased the designs became more complicated. When we got new women in the group the designs got a bit easier again.  The color combinations depended on what fabrics had been donated.  My favorites were always when someone donated a box of little scraps.  I just love scraps!

Four sisters and their quilts!

As the women really learned to sew and I could tell that they would use their skill either for income or to serve others I gave them a machine.  My favorite story was of one woman who lived in a small village and immediately started making quilts for babies born in her community.  When we left Guatemala I made sure that all the remaining machines & fabric were placed in good hands.  It had all been donated, so it was the right thing to do. 

Three generations.  My MIL, me, Little S working on Grown Up R's Quinceanos Quilt in 2008.

When we left Guatemala one young woman in the group made a photo album of as many kids as she could find and took their picture as big kids (the oldest was 13!!) and paired it with the photo taken when they received their baby quilt and a message from the parents.  As precious as that album is, it is hard to look at because I cry every time.  This post is taking me down memory lane and I had to go back and look at it and include a few of those photos.

Fast forward to 2018.  O is an amazing seamstress, with great attention to detail.

Yesterday was the last day of my experimental summer sewing class so it reminded me of other sewing experiences in the past.  It also makes me think about the next step on this sewing adventure and there are so many ideas that it is keeping me awake at night!  I still don't have a job lined up for the upcoming school year, but I keep applying as openings become available and remain hopeful.  Maybe sewing in the schools needs to make a comeback!!

Thankful today for the women of all ages with whom I have been able to share the love of sewing.

Tasty Tuesday - Carolina Delights

Grown Up R discovered this recipe when we were still living in Guatemala.  It met all the requirements for our recipes back then - no boxes, no bags, no cans and no packages.  It did require some of our well hoarded peanut butter, but it was worth the sacrifice.  Since we could only cook from scratch all of my church lady cookbook recipes using the above mentioned boxes, bags, cans and packages were just not possible for us.  I actually used a lot of my grandmother's recipes from the depression since they were very basic.

Back to the Carolina Delights.  They cook over the stove and then set up in the refrigerator.  Ready in a few minutes almost. Warning - They are very sweet!

You can't stop with just one!

Carolina Delights

Juanita Peek

2 c white sugar
1/2 c milk
1/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 c butter
1 t vanilla extract
1/2 c peanut butter
3 cups quick cooking oats

In a medium saucepan combine the sugar, milk, cocoa, and butter.
Cook over medium high heat, stirring constantly, bring mixture to a boil.
Boil for 1 minute.
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and peanut butter until smooth.
Stir in cooking oats.

Drop spoonfuls of batter onto sheets of greased wax paper.  Let cool.

Mmmmmm!!

We prefer to spread in a greased 13 x 9 and let cool in the refrigerator, then cut in 1" squares.

Store in an airtight container.
Makes 5 dozen plus.

Design Wall Monday

I actually have something on the design wall this week.

A few more hexagons!

I added 2 blocks to the next hexagon quilt.  The pink in the upper right and the 4/6 yellow in the lower left.

I need 8 whole blocks and 2 4/6 blocks in total, so I am making progress.  Several of the colorful large triangle sections for the next hexagons are finished and I just need to add the last white little triangles, so I am getting closer.  I have been making these as my Leader & Ender project, so there is no rush.

Linking up to Small Quilts & Doll Quilts to show what we are working on.

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!