Use it up Tues

Still working my way through my scrap bin.  All of the Christmasy fabrics are in one of those plastic bedding zippered bag things. 

It is less full than it once was, but not as much less as I expected after having cut out 5 Christmas stockings.  

Even though I don't have a large stash, it apparently is going to take me at least a year to use it all up.

How are you coming on stash busting?  And if you haven't started yet - what are you waiting for?  

Steadily working on fulfilling my promise to my kids that I would not leave a mess for them to sort once I shuffle off this mortal coil...

visitors

When we first met him, he was a peeping tom.  Peeking and peeping at our bathroom window. Perhaps he saw his reflection and thought it was a competitor.  He visited the window repeatedly.  You could almost hear him saying, "You want a piece of me? Bring it!"

A leisurely stroll around our yard revealed Mama sitting on a nest carefully concealed in a hydrangea bush.  She patiently and quietly sat on the nest. We never got to see any babies though.




Pat snapped this great shot of Mr. Cardinal.

In addition to being entertained by the Cardinal family, I finally finished my black skirt.  Sorry, no pictures, you'll just have to take my word for it.  I bought the black cotton jersey fabric over a year ago.  With great intentions.

Sometime last year I also drafted a pattern that fits me perfectly.  Wish I could remember where I got the instructions for this.  I used this quick and easy pattern to make the skirt.  It took less than two hours.  Two hours and one year that is.

I don't' know why I procrastinate on projects like this.  No doubt, some deep psychological problem.

Use it up projects will be on the back burner for the next few weeks.  We are having a open house for area realtors on Wednesday.  In the spirit of using it up, I'm fixing a light lunch using mostly things we have on hand.

Lemonade
Zucchini/apple muffins (our apples are ripe on our tree - in June! That never happened in the Northwoods!)
Ham/cream cheese wraps
Brownies
Fresh fruit (Peaches?  Grapes?  Melon?)

A few days after our open house, my sis and niece arrive for several days.  And my brother's family will come down to spend time with us all as well.  Don't tell them that there will be shredded zucchini in the spaghetti sauce.

Then a few days after they all leave, my aunt and uncle arrive.  I'll probably make zucchini fritters or quiche.

So no 'use it up' projects until mid-July.   Unless you count using up zucchini.

(Might have to try this recipe.  Supposedly it tastes like pineapple!)

paralyzed by perfectionism

photo taken prior to adding binding

Many years ago (10?) I bought a pretty dresser scarf at an antique store for 10 cents.  No floss, no color chart - just the scarf.  It languished in my unfinished project box for quite some time.  I wasn't sure what colors to use, I didn't know how I would finish the edges....excuses, excuses so I did nothing.

A few years ago after discovering that prolonged 90 degree day heat spells keep one just as house bound as 20 below zero days, I pulled it out and got to stitching.  I finished the embroidery that long, hot summer,  but still wasn't sure how to finish the edges, so back into the box it went.

Then, one day I pulled it out again and decided to make it into a lap quilt.  I cut out bunches of 2.5 inch squares for a border.  Then I wasn't sure how to quilt it, so back into the box it went.

Seeing a pattern here?  When I am unsure of how to do something, I quit.  I don't want to do it wrong, so instead - I procrastinate. 

However failing to make a decision is a decision in and of itself.

Fast forward to the use it up challenge. This project is on the list.  I am doing what I call 'rustic' quilting.  It will never win a prize, but it will keep someone nice and cozy on a cold winter's night as they sit and read or stitch. 

After completing the quilting I sewed the binding on. 

Unfortunately I had a major blond/senior moment (do you realize how difficult life is when you have both of those conditions working against you?). I sewed the binding on the wrong side of the quilt.  I was so tempted to put this thing away (or in the garbage...).  But instead, I stitched the binding to the front with a decorative stitch.  Necessity being the mother of invention and all that.

And another 'use it up' project is completed.

~~~~~~

Next up: a black skirt.  Por moi.

rainbow sherbet skirt

I'm happy to report that my first projects in the 'use it up' challenge are completed.  And just in time too.  Our sweet granddaughter Sadie will be celebrating her second birthday (!) and I wanted to commemorate the day with a few handmade items.

The pattern for the skirt came from Anna Maria Horner's Seams to Me book.

The directions were clear and the skirt went together quickly.  Love the added quality of French seams. But when I finished it, it just looked way too big.  Fortunately one of my piano students has a little sister who is almost exactly Sadie's age.  Her mom  (thank you T.!) brought over one of her skirts for comparison and sure enough, the one I made  was 1/3 again too big.  I searched the internet for errata for that particular book, but found nothing for the Bo Peep skirt.  Could it be that I am the first to make it for a two year old?'

So I deconstructed the skirt (at this point not loving the French seams quite so much as it meant twice the ripping), and corrected the bulk and finished it up in about an hour.  Can't wait to see it on her

The second project was a tote bag to go with the skirt.   Cuz a girl's gotta have accessories.  The pattern for the tote came from Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing Book (thanks Nate and Michelle!).

I've made several things out of this book.  Including this tote.  The instructions call for an interior pocket, but I thought it would be fun to make an exterior pocket in the form of a flower pot.  And yoyos and buttons for the flowers.  So now I've used three buttons out of my button stash.  Only two more quart jars full to go!

It was fun to do a little stash busting with these projects.  I hope Sadiekins enjoys her grammie made gifts!

Project: Use it up.

I have decided to revive ye olde blogge to chronicle my latest project.

We are planning to sell our home,had a ridiculous offer last week, not only really low ball, but they wanted us out in 11 days, we countered in good faith, but they rejected our counter. 

So.  I do not need to pack up all our worldly possessions in 11 days, but I do want to take advantage of the immense adrenalin rush that occurred when faced with that prospect.

Hence: Project: Use it up.

I do not have a huge fabric stash, but I do have an excess of fabric - some of it is in the form of UFO (unfinished objects), some in the form of fabric bought because of a really good sale.

Therein lies the problem.  Something that is bought on sale is only a good deal if it eventually gets used.  And 'eventually' should probably have a statute of limitations, no?  Say 5 years or less?  ~Smile~

The first plan for Project:Use it up. is something for granddaughter Sadie's second birthday.  In 10 days.  I've pulled the above fabric out of my stash and hope to turn it into something wonderful in a few days.

Stay tuned.

Please join me?  I'd love some company in this endeavour.  Most of us have unfinished items sitting around the house.  Dust them off, and turn them into something useful or beautiful.  Leave a comment to let me know of your intentions and if you have a blog, I'll post links to Project: Use it up. on my sidebar.  Don't expect any fancy 'buttons' or linky thingies.  I'm doing good just to get back to blogging.

I'll try to post at least once a week.  My camera is not on speaking terms with this desktop computer and my laptop is not on speaking terms with dial-up internet we have here at home.  So, I need to bring my laptop to a wifi in town to post pics.  If I post more than once a week, it will be something of a miracle.

Okay, no more excuses.  Off to the sewing machine!