LOL Martina! I needed that after today...got up this morning early to watch the total lunar eclipse, but by the time it started turning color, it had gotten too low on the horizon to see, so watched it on NASA TV... next, my 9 yr old laptop decided not to reboot after an update.... spent 2 hours doing every trick I can think of before giving up and heading out to get my allergy shot... came out of the allergist office, got in my truck and dead battery.... called DH to come give a jump, then remembered that we have roadside assistance through our insurance company... got ahold of roadside assistance just as my cell phone decided to die...apparently it is not charging properly... fortunately I gave them DH’s number so they were able to call him and verify where I was and that they needed to bring a portable unit as there were cars parked on either side and in front of my truck... got truck started and headed straight to Advance Auto... one look at bulging sides of battery and corosion on terminals= new battery, test confirmed that. $135 later got home...laptop still not coming on, cell phone still not charging....hope I don’t have to replace both of those too- I’d rather spend the money on fabric:shock:

Rob

Rob..just go back to bed and start over. What a calamity of mishaps. I'm laughing with you not at you. Laughter is the only thing you can do.

i watch over my 90 year old neighbor (for 30 years). His son lives in Washington and, based on the many mental/cognitive changes, we are getting ready to move him up to his son's. At 1:30am this morning, the Calif Highway Patrol called (we put our contact info in his glove box for emergency contact info) and told us he was 30 miles away, lost, confused, and drove the wrong way on a road and crashed. He's unhurt, no other cars involved. They revoked his license, towed his truck, and called us to get him. They were really cool and met us half way. Bless his heart. So spent most of this morning on phone with insurance etc. to take care of vehicle. We called his son and told him it was time to come get him, went grocery shopping (which was where he was headed when he got lost), fed him, and sat with him for awhile. He had been lost for over 11 hours and never called us. He had been declining, mentally, for a few months so we've been working with son to move him North. This latest incident was a game changer. We call him everyday but didn't yesterday because family was here. We had no idea he wasn't home. Now, we are checking on him several times a day. I will move him with me, if necessary, until son comes for him. I make him several meals a week but he does good preparing meals. It's so hard to witness this with someone you love.

Thanks Teen-- I was laughing too by the time all was said and done-- Nothing else to do. Spent 3 hours this morning doing various other tricks and got the laptop working, spent lots of time last night wiggling cell phone charger and it's now charged so all's good again LOL

Sorry to hear about your neighbor, we went through the same thing with DH's mother-- it's very hard watching cognitive decline. You're a good friend to him. I hope his son is able to come get him sooner rather than later since the more advanced the cognitive decline, the harder it is for folks to adapt to new surroundings.

Rob

Well, here it is, February 1st, and I made it through all of January without purchasing any fabric or thread. I had a gift card to the LQS, and I bought a specialty ruler with it.

However...
Tomorrow, I'm off from work (already worked 40 hours, and no OT allowed) and Foust Textiles "open to the public" sale starts tomorrow.
But I have plenty of fabric, wide backing, thread and even batting, so should I even go?

I've been working on the commission quilt, and since I effectively have a 3-day weekend, maybe I'll focus on that, and finish it up before Sunday. Then I can either work on a UFO, or reward myself for not buying and start a new UFO.

I've been thinking about going back to an embroidery-quilt UFO, and really wanted some prewound bobbins, and Foust has those too.

What do you think, Moratorium folks?

Whoa, you are in a quandary: finish a project, buy bobbins to finish a UFO and be tempted by fabric, or start a UFO....decisions:D

I finished another box the other night and have cut out two more...they fit so nice in the drawer...I'm tickled pink about them. With these four boxes that will be 2 yards out the door. Adding that to my previous usage, I'm at -17 yards.

RSC18 challenge color is purple and lavender. Not many scraps of either. Thinking of making a modern mini with the bright purple and something for Spring with the light colored fabric that has lilies of the valley on it. Thinking of making baskets.

d
Well, what will make you feel the best and most accomplished at the same time, at the end of your 3-day weekend?

I cut out my next quilt (for my 100 year old 2nd cousin).... I have everything for this, including backing. I did go to LQS a bit a ways from me to look at their reproduction fabric for that Baltimore Album quilt (the only quilt fabric I committed to buying this year), and did not see anything I liked. I am not going to settle since this is a huge investment of money and time. I saw 1 possibility for green but I didn't get it OR anything else. Woohoo! I'm going to another shop next week to look more. I will start it when I start it so I'm not stressing. I'm just excited to start this project. All good here!

I set a budget each year on how much I want to spend on fabric....I've gone over quite a bit...can't believe it as I get a discount at work and very seldom buy regular price when I go to other stores....Now I know I need to hold off in 2018!

OK this is one I just have to join. I have given 2 boxes away last year and was very proud of myself until I started really looking at the the fabric totes I have filled. I HAVE to get rid of some of it. Started a crumb quilt and have tons of blocks and still more scraps.

It will be helpful to not buy anymore and maybe find others to give some of this away to.

So count me in.

It would be hard for me to part with my fabric...I've only been quilting a couple of years so my stuff is still pretty current....ask me in a couple of years...lol!

Purpleprint...Mystery Train #18 starts tomorrow and it's a scrappy quilt... Wasn't sure if you were aware...

A few more hours before the next clue comes out for next clue. Sounds like the cutting and sewing begins. Yea. I can use up more scraps. Now to spend the next few hours sorting out fabric scraps. I’ll spend 1/2 day on this project, then back to BHMQ. I did finish Twilling a small heart for a scrappy very small w/h for Valentine’s Day. I’ll post pic when done.

I'm so happy to be doing the mystery scrappy....feels good to cut into some of those bags of scraps. I have a lot of fabric on the bolt to go with a scrappy so a I should be good for backing, too.

I’m happy because yesterday I dropped off almost 9 yards of fabric to my church quilting group and about 5 yards to Salvation Army. I also used 3.4 yards in a quilt. Wahoo!

I did get a lot of fabric from a donation to my church group but I am the go between person to deliver it to a baby charity. It can sit in my car or garage until I can get it delivered. Lol!

The center of this quilt is my 1/3 version of the latest Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt.

Connie

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You are all doing great. I think prewound bobbins are worth the money. They are filled tighter than bobbins we wind ourselves, which makes them time savers.

Teen, you'd be surprised that fabric (colors and styles) come around again if you just wait long enough. lol

I helped my BFF getting her quilt sandwiched today. She has never FMQ'd so she decided that I need to quilt it. I supposed that what friends are for.

I had a niece come up for a sewing lesson yesterday- she had fun, did great and used up 2 1/2 more yards of my stash for me. :)
she made a 16” pillow and a 20- minute pillow case after spending some time practicing/ getting comfortable with using a sewing machine. She started on my Viking- but it decided it truly needs a hospital visit ( I’ve used it so much and neglected it ) so I had to get out my little 1956 Singer for her. She still did great — learned the basics on a very basic machine.
Now she wants to make a quilt. YEA!
Since my machine will be going into the shop Monday & will be gone at least 2 weeks ( they are backlogged) I decided I really need to start working on a mess I’ve had for way too long....
my closest aunt passed away over a year ago,I wound up with garbage bags of clothes I’m supposed to make quilts out of- I hadn’t dealt with any of the clothes, then lost my mom this past Christmas, so more bags added to the pile.
I decided last night it is time to start deconstruction and organizing- I can’t take the mountain of stuff that buried the whole end of my room anymore. I got through one whole bag plus an arm load last night. Of course this is going to ( replenish) my stash again....it’s never ending. But, I feel as if I’m ( finally) moving forward again.

Oh ckcowl, I think you are training the person to take over your stash when you are gone! No worries then about how much fabric you leave behind:D. That's my story when I teach my Grands! And you are being proactive while the machine is on bed rest. What a lovely way to remember 2 important women in your life.

Just saw this episode of NZ's. A wonderful personal story of quiltmaking.

https://wpt.org/SewingWithNancy/Vide...on-quilt-souls

ckcowl....so sorry to hear of the loss of your mom & aunt. Were they siblings? And, mom was so recent. Keep yourself busy. We all heal in our time so I'm glad you are finding things that help with this for you. The quilts for your family will be awesome....and love that you are sharing this wonderful hobbie with your niece. She'll have awesome memories as you do with your aunt. Love it!

I’m getting on board the Fabric Moratorium train. I’ve finished 2 quilts in January, using only stash fabric.
Currently working on a scrap quilt to try to tame the small scraps, each bar is 1.5 by 4.5 inches, 944 bars.
Sewing the blocks into rows now, so piecing will be done this month. Will do a scrappy back if necessary.
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I like this OhC:thumbup: The diagonal setting is really nice.

The guild just finished their show, with vendors. I bought 2 pairs of bamboo socks.

Then I went by the Bernina dealer who has fabric. I've been making quilts from panels and offered to make a demo for them. SO.... got fabric, for free. The panel is peacocks and a bird. Found some of my stash to go with it. But....what was I thinking! Offering quilting time. I've got plenty to work on. Must be a brain fart!!!!.

OhCanada....that is a fantastic quilt. It's going to be gorgeous. Well done on the stash use.

Petthefabric..you crack me up. Until you fall flat on your face, you can do it all... Lol! You got free stash so go for it..

Oh Canada: I like that diagonal setting.

Petthefabric: Free fabric and I have the feeling it is a beautiful panel.

Connie

Who can pass up free fabric even if there's a trade off! Oh Canada welcome aboard. Love your scrap quilt.

I am currently working on taming the scraps as well. Having a lot of fun with it though it makes such a mess of my sewing area.

Also hoping to sandwich a UFO today as well. Using my stash for the backing. So while I added FQs last month to stash, the backing is two yards used.

I've used 2 jelly rolls that I have had in my stash for over a year for these last 2nquilts I've made.. One was the patriotic quilt currently at quilters, which I needed to use....the other for quilt I'm working on now....my stack is dwindlin....which is sad cuz I like looking at that stack of possibilities. Oh well.... I can never have too many precuts..geesh...

Looking at this again...did you use 1 1/2" strips for a 4" block or 2" ones for a 6" block? TIA.

I've decided..... big event..... I want to clean out my stash of everything I'm not passionate about. And don't want to give it away. So the first thing I pulled out to finish is a fabric printed as a log cabin. Sandwich that sucker and get it quilted, bound and off to comfort quilts.

OhCanada I really like your quilt. I just showed it to my DH and he asked me if I was going to make one. LOL
I got thru January without buying fabric. Even went to Joann's with my daughter and left the store empty handed. I think that is the first time that has happened. Then I needed fabric for a swap soooooooooooooo went back to Joanns and bought bunches of grays for the swap. I don't feel too bad though because that is the one color I didn't have and I bought just what I needed.

Each individual strip is cut 1.5” by 4.5” , so a unit of 4 strips finishes at 4.5”, then sew 4 units together to make 8.5” blocks. The setting triangles are cut a little larger than needed, at 14” blocks for sides and 10” blocks for corners (each block is quartered). Makes it easier to square it all up if there’s some wiggle room in the setting pieces.

Thanks, OhC. I like to over cut the setting triangles, too. Sometimes there's extra on the edges to let them "float". Just makes the quilt an inch or so bigger.

ok so this is dorky but my name is Austinite and I haven't bought fabric at all in 2018! and that includes when my absolute favorite LFS had a flash sale last Saturday and she has a whole collection of crazy fun Japanese prints that I've drooled over...so I'm kinda proud of myself :D

You should be proud of yourself, Austinite (such a pretty name)! Temptation is so hard to resist. And Japanese fabric? Yikes....hard to walk away from. Welcome to the moratorium.

I have this odd bolt of fabric that is gold metallic and cream and I have no idea why I bought it last year. It was $3.50/yd on the bolt and is Windham fabrics from their Christmas Tiding collection. So far, over the months I've made table runners, aprons, doilies, the odd piece here and there...but, there is a ton of yardage left. However, today, I was so excited that I remembered this bolt cuz the quilt top I finished today has gold metallic in fabric and cream background...so, I'm using this fabric instead for backing. It fits the fabric design elements perfectly. Don't you love it when that happens?

Great commentary, Teen!!
It turns out I was a week early on the Foust sale, but that was ok too, as it gave me some time to dig through the stash and see what's what. And the result is that I don't NEED anything...but I may go anyway, and see if they have any pretty panels. I've been watching some YouTube videos on One Block Wonders, using panels, and since Foust usually means buying a whole bolt, I may just give this a try to "freshen my perspective". And maybe look for other yardage that would for for OBW quilts. And I want to try their prewound bobbins, so... we'll see how that goes. And since I did get a really good look at my stash, I don't feel like I'm depriving myself if I end up not buying anything after all.

I'm glad I didn't commit to buying that embroidery machine - I came home, and looked around... there is literally nowhere to put it... at least for now. Hubby is building a shop for the tractors and other equipment, so once that's done, it should free up some space in my sewing room. He's got equipment in here so it's locked up at night. Otherwise, if he left it out in the barn, it would disappear. :(

Well!!! I gathered up all the leftover blocks and bits from my January UFO finish, and some other bits and pieces and mailed them off to a friend (clear across the country) who really IS into scrappy. I have come to realize that I'm just not a "real" scrappy gal... by that I mean if I don't use those "bonus HST's" within the project they came from, I'm not likely to use them at all. I'm not organized enough with my fabrics to do Bonnie Hunter-style of scrappy, although I have done her Pineapple Blossom pattern in the past. I just tend to be very OCD about colors and arrangement and so on. Which would be another good reason to do a OBW - it should shake me up from that color compulsion.

While digging, I realized that I have PLENTY of wide backing to do for quite a while, and I also have about 9 kits (never started). Since I'm also on the UFO train, I'm trying very diligently to finish at least two UFO's before I start anything new. One of my UFO's was intended to be a jacket, made from jelly roll strips. But I've gained quite a bit of weight, so I'm adjusting the plans for the jelly roll and making a JR quilt that will look scrappy - but again, since it is a JR, it's still organized, so my OCD tendencies are ok with this.

Leta, I think we need to recognize what we like when we quilt. Scrappy isn't a part your quilting experience so why try to make scrappy quilts. I saw a scrap quilt on a blog this last week that defined the term "looks like dog vomit". And even though I like scrappy, this one didn't cut it for me. And yes, Teen hit the nail on the head with her comment. I've bought some lovely fabric in the past...now is the time to use it.

I did well with my moratorium in January-not only did I not buy any new fabric, I did not not purchase a single craft related item, not even when I exchanged some leftover yarn at Hobby Lobby! I do get to go fabric shopping this next week, tho.

My son brought me a quilt I had made for him and asked me if I could "fix" it. The top is literally in tatters, and beyond repair. It was a BOM from Joann's in 2002.

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However, the backing, though faded, is still in decent shape, and the many years of washing have given the batting (W&N) a fabulous drape, and he really like the quilting design. So, after much discussion, mostly him telling me it's his favorite, we decided to make a new topper, tie it to preserve the existing quilting, and replace the binding.

He wants a semi-scrappy patriotic theme, and I just don't have enough in my stash, so I must do some fabric shopping. Hopefully, I will be able to resist the urge to buy anything else, or more than I need! Wish me luck!

Connie- I love your take on the BH-- those borders really make ORL pop!

OhCanada- very cool scrappy, I like the diagonal setting!

Great resolve, everyone. I have been good too.

Leta, I imagine you sharing your space with tractors and farm equipment. It gave me a good chuckle. As long as the live stock isn't in the room, I suppose it's all good. lol

Everyone is doing great. Keep it up!!

I have 4 bolts of fabric that Inhave not used but for a piece here and there and a couple of backings. It's really not fabric that is as versatile as other colors/patterns. I have had these for over a year and decided to do the Sylvia's Bridal Sampler using 3 of the bolts that go together as the main focus & accent fabrics. Adding some mixing colors to this and I should use a good bunch of it. Did my first blocks today. Only 138 more to go. Ugh! Fun, though...

A little slip here..was out of town and stopped at a favorite shop...brought home 2 sacks of sorted scraps...repros and Kansas Troubles. Nice variety of colors to mix in with what I have for miniature and little quilt making. Still at a negative of buying versus usage so it's all good.

Thanks, Rryder.

JJBlaine: It must make your heart sing to know how much the quilt means to your son!

A super slow start to my morning since I got up at 4:10 am to get my BIL and his wife to the airport a little before 5. I did sleep some once I got home but a nap will probably be needed later today. Lol!

However, since I cleaned for their arrival yesterday, I am giving myself permission to sew as much as I want today. :)

Connie

My studio is finally usable again. (moved my office desk in here and everything had to be rethought. It's always darkest before the dawn.) I'm still in dawn, so there's a few things with no home yet. I'm ready to start the down sizing of my stash. No purchasing needed.