Stash Stewardship and Giveaway

 Simplify Sunday

 

In the interest of my family's sanity, I'm working on fitting The Stash into a couple dressers and a few boxes (instead of spread out on all 3 floors--that's another post). I read somewhere that we should only have 6 months worth of fabric. I don't know how to measure that, but I do know that I would like to wrap up all my WIPS in the next 6 months. And that I'm trying not to start something new unless I have finished a WIP.

In a wonderful little AHA moment, I realized I could give away sets of fabric for someone else to use (!!!). Someday soon I hope to give away large sets from The Stash, but for now, I'm having fun giving away bits and pieces. 

So here's the deal: Even though I love The Stash, I want to sew more and dig less, AND I want all this perfectly good fabric to be used. It has something to do with stewardship.

If you think you could use the pink fabrics above (or know someone who would), enter this giveaway by Tuesday, March 2, 10:00 pm. Leave a comment sharing one way you care for your stash.

I know, the photo color isn't perfect, and all the fabrics do not go with each other--although they all go with at least 2 of the other pieces. But these pinks are so sweet. All together, someone will receive at least 1 1/2 yards of fabric (the first 5 are fat quarters). Good luck! The winner will be announced Wednesday, March 3, 8 am. Giveaway now closed.

Gratitudes

• Stash abundance soon to be stash reasonable-ness
• Hubby sweetness--he really does put me first, or at least lets me go first.
• Hot coffee first thing in the morning. I LOVE that.

DQS8 Finished!

Sew & Tell Friday

 

 I'm so excited to be finished with my Doll Quilt Swap 8 mini. It will be in the mail today to someone special somewhere in the world (it's still a secret!). Go here to see some other great doll quilts.

Lessons Learned

1. When what you thought was linen is really just stretchy (yet beautiful Daiwabo taupe) cotton, it might not be the best choice for whirlygigs or other blocks with anything like bias edges. Three of these turned out to be enough.
2. Lace edging is beautiful, but when you are just showing the tiiiiniest bit of it, it just might shrink so much that your partner won't even notice it--after all the tries it took to get it straight, etc.
3. If you continue to use pink fabrics because you really think your partner will like it, be prepared to be teased mercilessly by your friend at the LQS about your so-called hatred of pink (BTW, we will be giving away pink on Sunday).

 

Successes

1. I really DO like all the texture in this little thing, which shrunk to smaller than the required size :(
2. I really DO like the taupes and pinks here, my two least favorite colors (never say never!)
3. When your machine seems to hate all pink/red threads (justifiably so, I think) and produces only ugly stitches with it, it is indeed a good idea to try a little hand quasi-quilting with some of the heavy threads you've been hoarding.

Come back for Simplify Sunday's Pink Giveaway! Check out the other Sew & Tells here.

Graitudes

• Finally discovering the secret to excellent French toast--awesome eggs (doh!)
• Ready to sew on the binding for Grandma's quilt tonight while Apolo wins more medals.
• 4 out of 5 days of sunshine to get me through a cloudy weekend.

Wednesday Winner

You all had some fabulous ideas for these sweet fabrics. And you've given me another idea--I'll post about that on Sunday.

For today, the randomly chosen winner is . . .

Kristen who said:

I would love to combine these with linen. So pretty. Maybe a bag or journal cover too!

Check out her blog here. She has some cute little linen mice!

Congratulations, Kristen! Email me your address, and I'll get those out right away.

To be honest, I nearly forgot to announce the winner today--hit the ground running at work. Nearly finished with my DQS8, slightly panicking over my BFF's 50th birthday gift (got to get it in the mail, too). I had wanted to make her a fabulous apron, but I always forget how long it takes to travel clear to Montana. Friday is my main sewing day, but this Friday would be too late. I think I have something else fabulous figured out. (Think olympic doilies. . .)
 
Come back Sunday for ANOTHER giveaway (I'm doing at least 4 in a row). And Friday for Sew & Tell.

Gratitudes

• Incredible sunshine (even if only ZERO degrees!) The birds are still singing.
• Apolo is on again tonight.
• Great respect for the Canadaian figure skater who is performing through her grief--God gives us such strength--his creations are such a blessing.

Girly Giveaway

Simplify Sunday

Posh by Chez Moi for Moda + a bit of Alexander Henry's Aragon Swirl

In the name of simplifying, I'm going through my stash and trying to either (a) use it or (b) share it. So what have I discovered? Even though I bought nearly every piece with a specific project in mind, I have collected too much over the years to ever actually sew up, at least with the time I have. I have lovely sets of fabrics that coordinate beautifully--and I can't even remember what the project was. Sad.

I still like most of the fabric, but really, I'm more interested in a different style now. And frankly, what I need to spend time on is FINISHING those projects already started. My brother, for example, is about to graduate again, and I haven't quite finished the quilt I started the last time he graduated! And I need the space to sew in. Lucky for me, I find the swaps and quilt alongs really help me stick with a project, so that, at least, is progress.

Today I had planned to giveaway some charm packs, but then I found this set of scraps someone else had given me. This Posh line is lovely; I used some of it in this STUD mini. They go beautifully with Kona cotton in stone. The lucky winner of today's giveaway will receive enough scraps to make a doll quilt, or even enough for a baby blanket if you combine it with something else like a fab solid. There is nearly a 1/4 yard of the big piece you see. (BTW, I will continue to giveaway pinks--I really don't like them, I just seem to have them.)

To enter, just leave a comment sharing what you might make from this set--I don't want YOUR stash to become full of fabric just for the sake of fabric :)

Comments close Tuesday evening at 10 pm. The winner will be announced Wednesday 8 am. Good luck!

Gratitudes

• Time with my family watching the Olympics
• Another great band concert--our school has the best music program
• Some quiet time to just putter around (my stash)

A Baker's Dozen

Sew & Tell Friday

Not sewing, but crochet couch potato olympics.
Using stash yarn, I've made 12 plus 3 of these cute little doilies from Crochet Today.

 

I have no idea what to do with these--oh, guess what all my friends are getting instead of cards this year. Really, I love these chunky doilies. Crochet Today has a whole retro thing goin' on in this issue. Next I'm going to try granny squares, since I'm down to just little bits of each color.

Tomorrow is Doll Quilt Swap day for me--I think I will have time to get all the blocks done (come back next week to see). Sunday I will continue the quest to SIMPLIFY--check out my next giveaway--hint: it will be charming!

Check out Amy's Sew & Tell for more great finishes!