Stashbusting Report -- January

It was a great month for fabric usage.  I finished a UFO and the wallhanging I started in a class at the beginning of the month.  Here are the final results for the month.

2014	Fabric In Month	Fabric in Year	Fabric Out Month	Fabric Out Year	Total In or Out Year
December	4.25	4.25	11.375	11.375	6.125

I've decided to participate in SOScrappy's Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2014.  I've seen folks blogging about this annual challenge for what seemed like years.  So, I decided at the beginning of January to actually jump in.  Except, I didn't get to it until January 31 about 4pm.  Talk about last minute!  I'm not planning on making tons of blocks in a particular color.  I'm thinking more like one block each month.  

I started looking on Quilter's Cache for a block that I could make in all the different colors.  I didn't look all that far before I came to Annie's Choice. Ok that will work, but wait, there's more. I also thought this would be a great chance to try out my Sizzix Big Shot and the triangle die.  I rewrote the directions to come out at 8" finished so I could use the 2" finished triangle die.  It worked really well cutting up to 4 pieces of fabric at a time.  I was using 2.5" strips so I didn't pile on the up to 8 fabrics I should be able to cut with the device.  Here's some pics: 

What you are looking at is the cutting plate (clear), the die (black), the fabric (white) and the top cutting plate.  You can see the impressions left from cutting hearts for my Valentine's day cards. 

You put the "sandwich" on the machine platform until it can be cranked through. The machine is pretty darn heavy (which is why I bought it with Amazon Prime rather than a different retailer.) Once the die engages you put one hand on the top to stabilize and the other cranks. Voila! You have triangles -- see them to the right back of the Big Shot?  And, there is a pink heart there too.  One reason I got the Big Shot rather than the Accu Cutter Go is the ability to use it to emboss paper, cut paper and cut fabric.  And, I have to say, it worked great. I will warn you if you are interested in it, this half triangle die is labeled 2.5" finished size and it isn't.  I'm not sure if all the quilting dies are labeled wrong, at least from a quilters standpoint but it is something to think about.  

Annie's Choice 8" fin. 

I just checked at SOS Scrappy and February's color is Pink.  Fun as I know I have some great pinks I can use.  I have set aside a half yard or so of my background fabric.  I thought it might unify the blocks using one background.  Hum, can I get the next block done before the last day of February?  I sure hope so.  

You can visit other color challenge blogs by going to SOS Scrappy.  I'll be linking to it also.  Hum, how do folks have pink already done when she just announced it?  Pretty speedy folks.

I have a fairly long list of things to get done today and most of them are quilting.  Now I can mark off post a blog!  

Happy Quilting All.