To end the year...

Goal #1 was to use 50 yards more than I bought.  While I did not accomplish this goal (only 13 yards more), I did use more than I bought, which is good.

Goal #2 was to donate a charity quilt.  DONE!

Goal #3 was to use up a box of yuckies.  DONE!

Goal #4 was to learn and execute a new quilty skill.  I will consider my wool applique project as fulfilling this goal, as I learned to do embroidery stitches for future quilts!

It was a good year, all in all.  And, after all, with three beautiful kids, goals are only goals.

Goals for 2011

1. Have a media and internet free day one day a week.  While this is not exactly a quilty goal, it will help me spend more time with my kids and have quilting time.  The internet free day worked fairly well in 2010.  And maybe, it will help me be more focused when I'm on the internet - then I could have time to write more insightful blog posts, or take time to develop my stash reports for Sundays... living simply and living deliberately.

2. One car-free day a week.  Sometimes this will just mean not running errands, sometimes it will be walking where we need to go.  It seemed to help us with cooking and baking at home this year - if I will be at home all day, I will start something rising, or chill some cookie dough (or learn how to make bone meal!).  Again, living simply and deliberately.

3. Make one charity quilt.

4. Finish my UFO list.  "Finish" of course, is flexible according to the project, but ultimately, this should help me bust a significant amount of stash.

5. Go no-buy as long as possible (in January, I will shop with a 25% off coupon, in October, I'll go on the shop hop, and if my husband says I have to buy something to make a gift, I will buy).

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.

Stash Report Week #52

10 1/2 yards in this week... I had pictures, but forgive the lack thereof due to unforseen circumstances this evening (the Screamer just destroyed DH's paycheck).  I will be ending the year only 13 yards OUT, but since my stash is small to begin with, I am okay with those totals.  I'm still not sure that I'll be aiming to decrease my stash significantly next year, but I know I will be aiming to FINISH some projects that have been waiting to be begun for several years, hence the UFO list from Judy's.

We had a lovely Christmas together.  The Assistant loved to tear into (and distribute) all the presents, and Q loved the paper.  The Screamer found some toys with which to build, and her day was made too.

Check out the other stash reports on Judy's blog.

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.

We just finished decorating the tree as a family.  Now I am scrambling to finish our... not Christmas letter, as it is never ready to send by Christmas, but our Epiphany letter.

Bear Cub Q is feverishly teething, the Screamer is dancing with her new bunny, and the Assistant is regaining her dignity.  We are all well and thankful.

a blessed celebration of the birth of Christ to you all.

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.

Stash Report Week #51

N this week: 0 yards
IN YTD: 156 3/4 yards

OUT this week: 3/4 yards
OUT YTD: 179 3/4 yards

YTD Total: 23 yards out

I finished the Pink Things top.  It is now basted, with my DH's assistance.  (Just don't tell him I may have to undo all the pins he helped with - he lifted the quilt top up to close pins, so the bottom wrinkled!)

I am still working on the Favorite Things blocks for the 4th border.  All the other borders are pieced at cut, so once the 78 blocks are done, I'll be cruising (until I get to the backing, that is).

In wilder, non-sewing news, my brother moved this weekend, my DH's dad is in town, and we had a someone come back to look at our house again!

Check out the other stash reports on Judy's blog.

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.

Judy's UFO Challenge

To see what other people are doing, click on the UFO challenge button on the left.  Strictly speaking, I don't have many UFOs, but I'm going to work on long term projects and unstarted projects!  I'm hoping to do some serious stashbusting by working on these projects (all from stash!)

1. Charm pack from Connecting Threads.  It was a freebie from something, and I think it's the Root of the Madder line (something like that).  As it's not my ordinary fabric choices, and there's not much of it, I've struggled to find an appropriate project.  I want this gone!

2 & 3. Favorite Things and Pink Boxes.  I don't know when these will be chosen, so the goal will vary.  It may be "hand quilt two rows" or, Favorite Things shows up early, it will be "finish border and baste."

 4. My baggy of 1" squares that have been sewn together, is sorted, but what am I going to do with it?  I need to use up or get rid of these in 2011.

5. This is a long term project: a scrappy/charm double wedding ring quilt.  My goal will be to make sure I have templates made, and cut these scraps into their pieces, so I can use the rest for other projects.  I might also go through my stash and cut a piece from each.

 6. Placemats for the atrium.

 7. 19 placemats for my family.  It won't be finish them, but cut the backing so my sister can embroider names on them, then make the tops and lots and lots of binding (and cut batting too, while I'm at it).  Basically, I need to make significant progress, and then return the extra fabric to my stash!

 8.  Snowflake hexagons.  I'm making a charm quilt out of snowflake and star fabrics.  This is a long term project, again, so the goal will be to clean up all the pieces I have ready - cut the yogurt lids into the hexagon templates, baste the fabric I have, and assemble what I can.  I still new 100s of stars and snowflakes, but I will use what I have!

 9. ABC applique quilts.  I need to make plastic templates of each of the letters (my paper templates are a bit worn), and cut out as many complete sets of letters as I can, so I know what fabrics to put on my "when I'm out and have nothing better to buy" list.  I'll have everything ready to make a few quilts when I need them!

 10. Slippers.  I have all the materials, but don't know if I even like the pattern.  I really should try a few pairs.

11.  Pillowcase for DH's Memaw.  This isn't a UFO, but I won't do it if it's not on a list.  It requires some serious fabric hunting.

12. Runners.  I need to make 14 table runners for Christmas next year.  Some I will be making through Judy's monochromatic quilt challenge.

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.

Stash Report Week #50

I went shopping this week, buying two yards of red and a yard of blue snowflake.  The reds were on the clearance rack, so I only paid $4 or $5 a yard for them.  I'm currently ticked at JoAnn's, so I'm going to see how much shopping I can do affordably through quilt shops.  (I'm always frustrated when you try to buy something on sale, only to have it out of stock... as well as any and all alternatives.  And it's not like I was shopping on the last day of the sale, either.)

IN this week: 3 yards
IN YTD: 156 3/4 yards

OUT this week: 0 yards
OUT YTD: 179 yards

YTD Total: 22 1/2 yards out

While it would be exciting to find a way to get back to my goal of 50 yards out by year's end, nothin' doin'.   At least I was there at one point this year, and I have definitely used more than I bought.  My stash is not large, so I think I'm doing okay.

The blocks are done for my Favorite Things quilt (a la Judy's Peaches'n'Cream quilt pattern), and I have begun to add borders.  Normally, I am NOT a border girl, but I am dutifully going to add all the borders Judy calls for.  I want this quilt to be BIG ENOUGH!

The pink quilt blocks are done and stacked up for sewing into a quilt top.  They will not have borders, as the whole point of this quilt top was to use finicky sliced up strips of the Assistant's pink stash.  Mission accomplished (at least until she cuts into something else!).

We went to an auction today, and therefore have depleted our savings to buy a tractor.  Gulp.  I don't like having little-to-no savings beyond the emergency fund!

I almost have an apron for church complete, but not yet.

I am percolating goals for next year.

Check out the other stash reports on Judy's blog.

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.

Happy Things

... A day free of screaming tantrum/panic attacks from the Screamer.
... Bear Cub Q unrolled the roll of toilet paper in the bathroom and laughed the whole time.
... Bear Cub Q took a three-hour nap today.
... I made Mexican Spaghetti using homemade chili powder and homemade taco seasoning.  My lips tingled.  The meal was accompanied by homemade corn bread using the last of our home-grown corn.
... My mom was here today.
... My mom is going to spend a week with my sister in Colorado, who's had the flu.  I'll miss Mom, but am glad for Sis.

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.

Stash Report Week #49

My lovely older sister, over Thanksgiving weekend, went to a bed and breakfast with her husband.  While they were out exploring sans-child, she found a quilt shop and bought me a yard of blue-on-white snowflake fabric!  Isn't she sweet?


I finished my socks, but need to wash them before I show a picture (besides, I lost one while I was "cleaning" for a house showing [only two hours after I found out they wanted to come!  Agh!]).


I finished my candle mat, san ferns, as my stem stitch was HORRIBLE.


I have 29 blocks of my "Favorite Things" sewn... only one left!  I have 20- 12" blocks for the Assistant's pink quilt.


I think I need to start my Christmas letter.  My goal is always to get it out by the Epiphany (my birthday!).


We visited the land.  I found a potato.


"Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat.  Please to put a penny in an old man's hat."


IN this week: 1 yard
IN YTD: 153 3/4 yards

OUT this week: 1/4 yard
OUT YTD: 179 yards

YTD Total: 25 1/2 yards OUT!


Check out the other stash reports on Judy's blog.


from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.

Thanksgiving

San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio

Bear Cub Q, DH, the Assistant, me, and Screamer at the Alamo

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.