Shocking Stashbusting Attempt

At a certain point in your quilting life you decide you have way more fabric than you will ever need.  I've been quilting about 26 years so you might rightly guess I have hit that point.  

There are three ways of dealing with this: 

1) Don't buy any more fabric.

2) Make more quilts.

3) Give away some fabric.  

I'm sure I've already reached the way more fabric situation.  So, I have adopted all three of these strategies for stash reduction.  (For those family members who don't know what stash is -- it's a quilter's hoard of fabrics.)  I have been holding off on buying new fabrics.   I've been making lots of quilts.  I share some fabric with Jenny and others on occasion.   

This year I decided to keep track of the flow of fabric in and out of my stash.  My rules are -- fabric doesn't get counted as "used" until the quilt is finished.  Anything purchased or received free is in-flow of fabric.  I've been diligent about keeping track of this.  Here's my report on ins and outs since the beginning of the year:

Fabric used by finished quilts or giving away:  8.4 yards

Fabric purchased or received free:      20.33 yards

Net fabric ADDED to stash:        11.93 yards

-oh no, where did I go wrong?

Hum, something tells me I've hit too many fabric stores recently.  Although most of them have been out of my general area. 

And, I think I'd better get off the computer and start finishing some more stuff!  

Happy quilting all! Bonnie 

Quilting with Domestic Sewing Machine

One of the classes I took this weekend was quilting feathers.  Surprisingly, they aren't all that hard.   Or perhaps it is because I've been quilting stuff for a while on my Bernina.  

Here is my sample of feathers and circles. No, don't panic, I didn't do this freehand, although I could now if I wanted to.  

Here's the sample with the markings.  And, yes, I followed the line.  Actually, because you can't see the stitching lines all that well on the sample it looks pretty good.  But, believe me I was off the lines enough to make it obvious. 

And, here's the quilt Jen and I worked on while we learned to use the long arm machine.  Oh, boy, did I like that.  I've often thought it would be a pain to set it up and get it loaded.

  

Maybe because the piece was so 

small it wasn't that big of a deal.  It is about 31" square and will be my monthly quilt for Project Linus after I bind it.  

I didn't quilt at all yesterday.  Actually, I didn't do much except read and veg.  Now, I need to transport all the supplies I took back up to the studio.  And, then I need to work on a block.  

Happy Quilting All.  Bonnie 

Quilting with a Long Arm

Today Jen quilted a huge baby quilt.  (Remember this pic?) She used my machine to do free motion quilting.  I was working on a string pieced quilt on hers.  Then at 5 pm we took a lesson on using a APQS long arm machine, the Lenni Model.  Julia rents her machine through her business Special Occasion Quilts.  I brought down a small streak of lightening quilt top.  In a little over 2 hours we were able to learn how to use the machine, load our little quilt and practice quilting on it.  I will take it home, add the binding and it will be my project linus quilt for the month.  

We both seem to be very focused on what the machine is doing. 

We tried a bunch of different patterns.  So, from a quilting point of view it is a hodgepodge.  Surprisingly enough some of the quilting looks great.  I imagine it is because we both do free motion quilting on our domestic sewing machines.  I wish I could find someone up near me who rents a long arm. 

I am heading backing to PA tomorrow and may stop at one or two of the Amish fabric stores on the way home.  I've had a great time but I am definitely ready to get back to my own house and closet... I am tired of living out of a suitcase.  

Happy quilting all!  Bonnie 

Saturday's Class

WooWee!  Saturday's class from Sharon Schamber was great.

   Lots of fun, an interesting technique.  Nothing like a good class to fire me up!  

Here's some eye candy from the class.

   

First you paste fabric samples.  After cutting out and ironing the fabric you do some gluing.  Basically all the pieces are glued before you sew.  Then sewing should be super easy and quick.  I had a gluing issue and will have to reglue parts of mine.  But, come Monday I will get my block glued again and sewn.  Here are several glued blocks. 

Time to have breakfast and get on to today's class.  Freehand feathers !  More eye candy in the next post.  

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

More Valentine Postcards

My buddy Polly in Maryland grab all three postcards I sent to my stamping buddies and took pictures.  Here are two of them. 

(Yes, I do rubber stamping also.  We -5 of us altogether - used to get together monthly to make cards, books, notepads, gift tags.  For several years we were all very creative.  And, finally we burned out or ran out of time.  Plus, it's hard to use all the things.  Of course, now I need to replenish my stock of cards. ) 

For some reason the other picture won't upload so I will hold on to that one for another day.  

Back to packing for the trip to Maryland tomorrow.  Hopefully the snowy weather will be minor cause I am going no matter what! 

Happy quilting all!   Bonnie 

Road Trip

Today I get ready to go on a quilting road trip.  I am heading to Maryland to take a couple of classes with  Sharon Schamber.   Saturday's class is New York Beauty.  I am hoping to get at least two blocks made in class.  Don't know how many I would like to get done at home... ie, is this a learning experience or a project experience.  (And, yes, it can be both.)  Sunday's class is quilting on a domestic sewing  machine.  

The biggest challenge is to make sure I have every thing needed.  There are some things I am just not getting or bringing.  For instance, I really don't need my iron.  Most class locations can't handle 20 irons turned on and 20 sewing machines. I am staying several more days to spend sewing time with Jenny.  Which quilt will I work on?  Do I start a new one or finish an old one?  

The last thing I am doing is taking a lesson on a long arm sewing machine.  (Jen is getting lessons too as she lives pretty close to the lady who rents out her long arm.)  Note to self. Put in a finished top that can be quilted by an inexperienced quilter. 

It is going to be a busy day and a fun-filled week.  I'm just happy that there isn't a big snow storm coming our way.  Knock on wood.  Darn, where's some wood when I need it?

Keep tuned for packing, traveling and sewing with Institches with Bonnie. 

Happy quilting all.  Bonnie

Actual studio time has been limited so far this week.  But hand work is getting done.  Hopefully by the end of the week I'll be able to show you a block I am making for a group I call Faithful Circle Alumni.  We all moved from the Columbia, Maryland area where we were members of the Faithful Circle Quilters.  We are doing blocks for each other.  This time we received a white on white background fabric and a wonderful print of pansies.  Really springy looking. (now doesn't that sound weird...)  The concept is do what you can do in 4 to 5 hours.  Of course, I can't follow the concept because the fabrics scream floral applique.  So, I'm making a bunch of leaves with some 3 dimensional flowers (with beading).  I'm hoping it looks good when I finish because I am using way too many colors of green.  I'm more than half done and hope to finish it today at the Wednesday quilt group.  

No peeking until the block is done.  Snow is forecasted but not all that much.  

Happy quilting all.  Bonnie