SillySusan.....the mystery #18 is actually on the Blocks of the Month thread...sorry...my boo boo..

SillySusan: Welcome!

Oksewglad: I had not heard the saying about a robin and snow. I thought I heard a robin last week but I couldn’t see it so that doesn’t count. Lol!

I have one more seam and another donation quilt top is done. I’m in the negative right now but I don’t have my LQS fabric yet for my BOM. I hope, however, to finish the BOM top by the end of March so I can get on the longarm list at my LQS for them to do it.

Connie

Glad you've joined us SillySusan!

I spent part of the weekend working on an art quilt top that used up a large piece of bright kelly green linen (?) that came from my grandmother's house and a bunch of long skinny scraps and some tiny scraps too. I'm at a stuck point with it right now, so it's on hold on my design wall so I can see it while working on other things-- I'm probably going to use more scraps on it and some thread painting before quilting, we'll see. It was fun to pull that piece of fabric out of my stash and try to figure out what to do with it since it's not a color I care for.

Rob

Rob....looking forward to seeing your new art quilt when finished...

I am so glad that I chose to use 2 bolts of fabric that have been in my stash for over a year for the Sylvia Bridal Sampler as the main focus fabric. I am really loving the blocks and believe this will be an awesome quilt when done. I have used a bunch and will use the whatever I have more of for the backing. Already thinking about borders and think I'm going to appliqué. I have finished 61 of the 140 blocks so far.

Welcome SillySusan.

I went to my LQS and did not follow my plan. I p/u my barn block, and 3 free fat quarters. The store was celebrating there 1st year anniversary. They had 3 yards of fabric for $15., and a bundle of 1 yard pieces with 3 fabrics for $10., both projects are for a charity quilt. So that is an exemption. I bought a roll of 2.5” for swap and left overs goes to my stash. I figure 1/2 of the roll will go to my stash. I also bought 1 pattern card for $2.00. So not bad I guess.

I used 2.25 yards from my stash for my 40” blue charity quilt. So that is out of stash. Then I made a small mug rug from stash, about 8” by 11”s times 2 for both front and back. Yea. See UFO’s challenge link for my pics.

I drove by LQS twice today. Almost turned in and thought about the pile of scraps at home. Whew! Made it home without new fabric. BUT I forgot to put gas in the car. I think there's enough to make 5 mi to the nearest station.

:D:D:D:D too funny

Lol!!! You were so focused, petthefabric!! Make sure you take your cell phone when you get gas...jus saying...

Yes, it takes mental concentration and talking to myself to pass up the LQS. The "needs gas light" isn't on yet, so I should be OK.

Made the train ride #18 from my scrap box and 2 stash pieces....yeh! [ATTACH=CONFIG]590445[/ATTACH] And it'll take 2 yrs to back and bind. Using up that stash!

Well done!! Love the purple splash in this colorway. Wonderful eye for scrappy color!!!

Gorgeous petthefabric and congrats on using your stash!

Nice job, PTFabric...stash fabric gone....

Lovely quilt top, petthefabric.

Very striking, Petthefabric! The random pink squares seem to pop.

That’s gorgeous! Congratulations on both using stash And getting a head start on your March 2020 Finish for the UFO challenge :D

Rob

After two days of working on sandwiching a quilt using elmer's glue and alcohol (pesty dental appointments) I would have to say it works better for me.

While I love the way the adhesive spray works, I have breathing issues and am bothered by the spray in the outdoors with a slight breeze so I needed to find another way (without going back to pins thank you very much!)

For some reason the glue (drizzling) just never worked for me. I found a u tube video where they sprayed a glue/water mixture with a mister spray bottle (think self pumping ones like for oil). I have tried a glue/water recipe but still couldn't get it to work for me.

Saw another website where the lady made her own basting spray using rubbing alcohol with flour. So after making sure Elmer's glue and alcohol were compatible I mixed a 50/50 water alcohol mixture and sprayed the quilt with that.

Mixed it in water bottle (with label off) then into the mister where I pumped it up. I also tried it in a regular spray bottle and it was at least more of a drizzle. In the mister bottle it was a mist though. The alcohol also helped in the drying process

Haven't started quilting it yet but will keep you posted on my findings though And, oh yeah, I used 3 yards from stash for the backing :D

Conchelea, retiredTeacher, OK elley, teen & ryder; thank you for your comments. Did Show and Tell last night at guild. A friend sitting in the back said it showed up very well. And it didn't stay home long enough to be UFO. I donated it to Comfort Quilts and got a great reaction from the crowd. Susan will quilt and bind it.

Had so much fun with that one that after Guild, cut out another in browns.

Petthefabric...lovely gesture to gift your quilt top. This is a cool pattern. I typed it up and put in pattern book cuz I'll be making this baby again, too!

I willfully & gleefully leapt from the train yesterday! I found a notebook in which I’ve copied & saved quilt patterns & in it is a quilt I fell in love with a few years ago but had forgotten. My skills weren’t really up to it then, & may not be now, but I’m going for it anyway. I had 5 of 14 fabrics in my stash so off to Joann’s I went. Fat quarters were on sale, $.99 each, thread was buy 1 get 1 free, & the bolt fabric I wanted was also on sale! Plus I had a coupon for 25% off total purchase, even sale items. I hadn’t even been aware of the sale. I got 10 FQ’s, 1.5 yards of fabric, & 4 spools of thread for a total of $29 & change! It normally would have been $76 or so. So I’ve added 4 yards to my fabric collection, but I’m planning to use it almost right away. I’ll use 2.5 yards of stash fabric, plus most of what I bought yesterday. So in the long run I think I’ll come out having used more than what I brought home.

Conchalea; sounds like mindfull shopping to me. I think that's what this thread is about.

I have a tiny peace left of a fabric I've loved using. It's probably still out there and keep thinking of getting more. The yes/no scale is tipping again.

Great purchase, Conchalea!!! You can really save with their coupons. They have inundated me with emails, flyers etc but a I have not been inside the store since around the first of the year. I'm going to need to purchase a new cutting mat soon. I've used the heck out it and I can tell it will not self-heal anymore in some areas. Plus, I want to buy a smaller cutting mat for traveling....

petthefabric.....if you want it...get it...and plan a project with it right away. See? Justified! If you stick it in your stash just because...well....drop and give me twenty... Lol!

No way am I able and it was going into stash, so I guess that's my answer. LOL

Two backings made today from stash fabric (and nothing bought recently). I'm on a roll.

But one backing is annoying me. The remnant I had said "38"x108" on the label. My quilt is 60x60, and I figured I could make it work if I pieced a 10" strip into the backing. So, I found my leftover fabric, cut it all up into strips and made a piano key insert for the backing. Then I opened the remnant - it's 48"x108". Yes, I know, don't complain about 10 free inches of fabric. But I didn't actually need to make the insert! All that work spent needlessly. Oh well, I'm using it anyway!

The other backing was much easier. Picked a fabric I liked, opened it up to discover it was a wide back, the perfect size for the second quilt. Done!

I loved my Sweet 16, but finally succumbed to the longarm call just over a year ago. However, on the height issue you mentioned MadQuilter, apparently HQ has leveling feet or something they came up with to adjust the height of the machine to fix that problem. Personally, before I knew about that, I just cut a piece of craft foam to go around the throat plate and shoved it under the overlay. Just around the gap not covered by the overlay, I added a piece of plastic, actually old X-ray film I had on hand and taped it over the exposed foam just so it would be slippery and not catch when using a ruler. I used a ruler a lot on my Sweet 16 without a problem with my little fix. As for the stitch regulator, I never had one and didn't like how they worked when I test drove them. I think I got pretty adept at obtaining consistency in stitch length with practise although i never aimed to be a show quilter ;).

I'm glad to re-read the guidelines, since it appears that buying sale fabric for charity quilt backings yesterday doesn't count! I found 8 yards of flannel at 75 cents per yard!
And yes, I AM using up some of my stash but there is so much of it that it doesn't show yet.

A friend of mine just got the dreaded breast cancer diagnosis for the second time. This time it will end in a double mastectomy. She had mentioned a particular quilt that she really liked. I ordered the pattern and realized that I have NO fabric in my stash to sew this pattern in ANY color way. Drat!

Such a problem or is this an opportunity?

So Sorry to hear about your friend Martina. Nice of you to make her a quilt. I'm sure it will comfort her when needed.

I've been busy working on five quilts. Three UFOs that the fabric came from my stash. It is a nice variety of blocks however it means all of them are slow. Hoping to get one of the quilt tops done this week and then to find some backing for it from my stash.

Madquilter...how very scary about your friend and sweet of you to make her a quilt. You'll pick out something fresh and new and I'm sure will be beautiful. Lifted up a prayer for her and for you as you support her in the coming weeks.

quilting cat.....great bargain! Cannot beat that except when free. You done good!

I will try to use what I have, which is a lot. I am weak for batiks.

Use of Stash
 

Here is the table runner I made for my best friend. We met in May, 1969, through riding horses. She still has horses, and longhorn cattle, and lives on 200 acres near Abilene, TX. Her home was built in 1910 by her great uncle, and she has a decidely western themed home. I found the center panel in my late mom's sewing box about 8 years ago and knew then it was destined for my friend's house. I just didn't know what form it would take. I found the chevron table runner pattern and knew immediately it was perfect for the cowboy panel. All the fabric in it was from my stash, and the light denim was from my old jeans I wore out when I rode my Harley to Yellowstone in 2011 and 2012. I practiced FMQ on scraps as I read on this site, and then jumped in and did that for the center panel of this runner. I think I figured out it used about 0.67 yards of stash fabric. Now to get out there to deliver it...

That is so cool! You are working through mom's stuff really well.....her legacy lives on!!!! As a Harley girl, I appreciate the personal denim feature...lol! Love it and I'm sure you BFF will too...wow...1969? Now, that is commitment. Righteous!

I realize it's nearly the middle of March, but I've decided to join you. So far this year I've purchased a horse panel and a coordinate - the rest will be from stash - and 3/8 yard yesterday for a quilt I'm starting for a friend. Two years ago, i was on here and it did help. Hopefully the horse panel will be used before July (birthday gift).

Nice job, Conchalea..and speaking of horses....welcome back Irishrose2...it sounds like you are on the right track...just a minimal purpose that you have a plan for.

Thanks, Teen. My BFF & I agree we’ve had a longer relationship with each other than with any non-related man we’ve ever known!
I have a few pieces of mom’s fabric left, but I’m not sure any is suitable for quilts. I’m not sure what to do with them.

Good for you, Petth... you are honoring the pledge!

Martina- I'm sorry to hear about your friend, it's very thoughtful of you to make a quilt for her.

Conchalea- that's a cute quilt and I love the story you told about your friendship and how that relates to the quilt + congratulations on using up stash!

Martina and everyone else who responded to my query about Sweet Sixteen- I found a used one near me and was able to negotiate a great price. It has all the add ons I wanted and none of the ones I didn't want or need (think Stitch regulator). We pick it up tomorrow! Thanks for all the great info.

Rob

I ordered $200 worth of christmas fabric for the merry merry snowmen pattern. I couldn't find the fabric of the original but found something that will work. It has a bit more green. As far as I'm concerned, I'll wing it.

Rob, I am so happy for you. Just remember, the Sweet 16 likes her oil. I clean and put a drop on with every bobbin change. Actually I clean more than that since my Connecting Thread is very linty.

Cute runner, Conchalea. Happy fall colors.

Thank you rryder & madquilter, for the compliments on my runner. I think I finished it in 2 or 3 days, I was so focused on it.