Some Sewing, Cutting and Stash Report-Week 13

I am thrilled to say that today was a very productive day...it rained and rained and rained today, and I loved every minute of it...well not the minutes that we had to walk dogs, that really didn't want do what we were out there for, because they were getting wet...Zack got distracted with the rain coming down and Howie just plain didn't want to be outside...he hates water. Don't ask, Yes he's a lab and he hates water. But the rest of the day I was upstairs having some fun!

I finished the borders on my Spice Cake top...a big thank you to Nicole for her inspiration...she posted this quilt back in January and I just loved it...I ordered the pattern by Mary's Cottage Quilts but then I e-mailed Nicole and she got me started on the cutting because you I just couldn't wait until the pattern arrived...got it all cut and then it got pushed to the back of the table, there were other things that needed to be done. So late this week the "guts" as Darlene says got done and today I put the borders on. I used Hopscotch by Chloe's Closet/MODA...I didn't have a layer cake, but I had fat quarters and made my own 10" squares... and KONA Snow...it is so much fun. It will be going to my friend Mary...she's going to be a grandma for the 4th time...I made her a quilt for the first grandbaby but I think she'll be needing another. This is a big quilt, so it will be great to throw on the floor when the grandkids come.

Then I've been seeing all these Whirlygig quilts in blogland...I bought the template a while ago when I saw Stephanie over at Loft Creations do her first one. I've had the template tucked in a very safe place. Well, this was the time to cut all the white pieces out...so I have half of the quilt cut...now I just need to get the colors cut and I'll be ready to rev up that old Bernina. A tip I learned from Carrie, of Miss Rosie's Quilt Company, was to use this Nexcare Flexible tape on the back of the template to keep it from shifting...this was one of the best tips EVER! that little template didn't go anywhere...my sewing room will never be without that tape...she has a picture of it over on her blog...I found it in Target. LOVE IT!

So cutting (I didn't count this back in January when I cut it...I guess I wasn't sure it was really going to get busted) and borders and cutting some more I used some stash this week...makes me very happy.

Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 10.75 yards

Fabric Used this Week: 8.75 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date: 79.5 yards

Total Busted: 68.75 yards

I'm heading downstairs to watch some NCAA Basketball...love March Madness!

Backyard Flora and Shuttle Surprise

Just a quick post this evening...I wanted to share this beautiful rose from the pool deck...the sprinklers were on and when they turned off and the sun came out really bright this is what I found...I just loved the way the water droplets were so clear.

The news this morning said that the shuttle was going to be returning today at 1:48...I was up sewing and cutting and realized that 1:48 had come and gone...it was a bit after 3...I had the rotary cutter in my hand and BOOM! The sonic boom of the shuttle entering the atmosphere...I jumped, the windows shook and the dogs went nuts, barking, barking, barking! Andy had the TV on and yelled up to me that the shuttle was coming in. I was actually quite surprised that it landed in Florida today...they didn't come in at 1:48 because of lots of wind and heavy clouds...the wind was still blowing and it was still pretty cloudy at 3:14 but it's home...safe and sound. Much to be thankful for.

National Quilting Day & Stash Report -Week 12

Kim asked us to tell what we did for National Quilting Day...I had 2 months of a BOM from Homestead Hearth to get done...this is Belle Meade by Bonnie Blue Quilts. I have admired this quilt for a very long time and could have very easily done this from my stash but when they offered it, I took the easy way out. I like all the fabrics that they sent and I'm able to make it nice and scrappy...just the way I like it..and I didn't have to take a zillion fabrics off the shelf.

Now for my Stash Report for this week...not anything really earth shattering but I've moved a bit more off the shelf....it really has been fun to use some of this I have.


Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 10.75 yards

Fabric Used this Week: 5.75 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date: 70.75 yards

Total Busted: 60 yards

When will the shelves start looking like I'm using yards of fabric...just a little dent will make me really happy.

Spring has Sprung

Spring has sprung here in our little corner of the world. The top right picture is the azalea the I had my blog back in the winter with the ice hanging on it. The petunias are blooming...I have new geraniums in pretty, pretty colors and my yellow tree is in full bloom.
I love this time of year!

Mary E Baby Quilt Is DONE!!!

Quick post to show the Mary E, Friends and Flowers, baby quilt top...DONE!!! Well, not really done, done but the top is done and ready for the quilter to work her magic on. It was a really fun one to do...those tumblers go together pretty quick and easy...all 500+ of them.

Loser Monday

It's been 2 weeks since my last Loser Monday post...last week had no change one way or the other...this past week...1/2 pound lost. We've still been going to the gym 3 days a week and walking 3 days a week...I'm feeling great and I think that is the best side effect of this whole challenge...it's made me much more aware of what I eat and how much I eat...and my clothes are fitting better now...YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Space Shuttle & Stash Report Week 11

We just saw the Space Shuttle go up from our front porch...I think it was the prettiest one we've ever seen...wishing them a very safe journey!

Here's my report for this week...as I wrote yesterday I'm working on a baby quilt from a kit that I had on my shelf for a year...was hoping to get it done today, but we did some yard work that took way more time than I thought...isn't that always the way?!


Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 10.75 yards

Fabric Used this Week: 4.75 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date: 65 yards

Total Busted: 54.25 yards

Half Way

I power sewed this afternoon and got half of this baby quilt done...the fabric is by MODA and Mary E..."Friends and ?" how pitiful is that? I can't remember the name. This was a kit I got from the Country Threads booth last April at the quilt show in Chicago...Sharon showed the kit on her blog a week or so ago...we both bought one...mine aged almost a year...it's really fun to do and this is happy, happy fabric. I hope to get to sew a good bit tomorrow...maybe I can finish...I'd be a very happy girl!

Caught UP!

It's a happy week here at Brown Quilts house...my BOM's from Fat Quarter Shop arrived in this week's mail...I cut them and sewed them and I'm all caught up...YIPPEE! I loving both of these BOM's...Designer Mystery....
Simply Sophisticated... I also cut another baby quilt out today and got a few rows done...I'm planning a power sewing day tomorrow...so hopefully I'll have a picture to share. See you tomorrow!

Hampton's Quilt and Stash Report Week 10

I'm happy to say that Hampton's little Fire Truck quilt is done and the back is all together...the backing is that black piece with the old fire trucks on it. I've had these 12 fat quarters and 4 yards for backing since the kids lived in Chicago...Hampton loved the fire station that was right down the street from their condo in downtown Chicago...so now in Birmingham he doesn't have a fire station close to him but he can have his own fire trucks right in his house.The pattern is a Terry Atkinson...it's the cover quilt from her book Happy Hour...very, very quick and easy...really showcases those big prints.
So here's my report for this week...much better than last week...

Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 10.75 yards

Fabric Used this Week: 11 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date: 60.25yards

Total Busted: 49.5 yards

OK...that's it for me today! I'm heading to bed early...this time change has me all out of whack!

Little Miss' Top is DONE!

I'm so excited...Little Miss' quilt top is done...this picture isn't the best...sorry...I'll try to do better after it's quilted.I have to share a Hampton story...Katie said she and Hampton were sitting on the couch together reading a book...Hampton was leaning on Katie when Little Miss decided to start dancing...Hampton looked and Katie's tummy and said..."Hi baby sister, big brother here!" Katie said he was so serious and giggly at the same time...she said she thought it was probably the cutest Hampton moment ever.

I'll be back later with my Stash Report and hopefully another finished top...I decided Hampton needed a quilt too...don't want his feelings hurt...so I found some firetruck fabric on my shelf that I had ordered a long time ago with some coordinating fat quarters and whipped up a quick one.
See you later!

Quilted...Binding On...Just need the Baby

I showed this when it was a flimsy...it's back from Mary with beautiful quilting and I got the binding done so it's all ready for the baby to come. This is for a couple that used to work for Andy...he's supposed to arrive at the end of this month...so all it needs is a label. This one was taken inside the house so the colors show up really nicely...This one was taken out front this morning...the sun is shining on it and really shows off the quilting. I just love the swirls...it gives the very angular design in the blocks such nice movement.A finish...YIPPEE!

Loser Monday

Sorry but this Loser Monday post is going to be just as boring as my Stash Report...nothing gained...nothing lost. Actually I'm very thrilled to say nothing gained...after our Saturday tree trimming job we met friends for dinner at one of our favorite local Italian Restaurants. We had wonderful bread...a huge antipasto platter that the 4 of us shared...a wonderful pasta/chicken dish...several glasses of wine and all topped off with a yummy cannoli. I guess all that cutting, sweating, bundling the branches and limbs, and hauling them to the back of the house until the trash man comes Wednesday. So I guess I did OK this week!

Stash Report Week 9

Nothing in...nothing of any consequence out...Nothing changed since last week.

Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 10.75 yards

Fabric Used this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date: 49.25yards

Total Busted: 38.5 yards