Too much excitement around here this past weekend to get the quilt finished.  I’m guessing I’m halfway finished — unless I decide it needs more quilting.

Follow the links over at Patchwork Times to see what other quilters have been working on.

Just a bit of fabric used for the mystery quilt.  Since I’m not quilting it until after I get my notes transcribed, I’m not counting the backing fabric I’ve prepped and put with it.  On the other hand, I am counting the two tablecloths as inbound fabric — which pushes me over 100 yards purchases. Even so, I’ve still used more fabric this year than I’ve purchased and that is a good thing.

Fabric Added Last Week: 8.5 yards (in the guise of two tablecloths)
Fabric Added to Date: 108.134 yards

Fabric Used Last Week: .833 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 143.161 yards

Net Used for 2011: 35.027 yards

See how others are doing with their stash by following the links over at Patchwork Times.

While walking down the Clearance Aisle at the neighborhood WallyWorld, I spotted this tablecloth.  Actually a whole stack of them.

100% cotton, 60 x 102  $10.  I bought two.  I need a backing for my QIAD Birthday quilt.

I found this fabric in a box of fabric I gathered up from Mom’s estate.  There’s roughly 6 yards and it’s 54-inches wide!  It’s perfect for the back of the mystery quilt.  Once bound in red, it will make the quilt reversible.

Now, to start the tedious process of translating my notes into usable directions with illustrations.

This is the Fall 2011 Retreat Mystery Quilt.  Since the retreat is underway and there is no internet access (and sketchy cell reception), I’m safe posting this now.  The table runner measures 17 1/2″ x 47 1/2″.    Wouldn’t this be cute for a birthday quilt with 12 “bows” done up in pastel on white or light yellow?   Or how about brights on black?

I’ve made my decision.  I’m going with Option #5.  There are plenty of things I should be working on, but now that I’ve made my decision I can’t wait to start on this.  I’m afraid I won’t be able to show any more pictures until the end of April as this is a mystery quilt.  Well — maybe I’ll show the back after it is quilted like I did for “Gift Wrapped“.

Stop back tomorrow to see “Gift Wrapped”.  I can finally reveal it.

I love working with my stash — but then I love scrappy quilts.  This is good since I have very little yardage in my stash — it’s mostly FQs.  However, there are occasions when FQs simply won’t do.  My next new project is one of those.  Fortunately I only need 1/4 to 3/8 yard of 4 different fabrics.  I’m keeping this simple – red, blue, gold and white/cream.

I’ve found the red, blue and gold and now have to pick the white/cream.  Who knows by the time I finish this post I may have my decision.

Option 1 and 2 (left and right)

Option 3 and 4

Option 5

I tried to keep the lighting the same.  I think I’m leaning toward Option # 5.  While I try to make up my mind, I think I’ll see about cutting the red, blue & gold fabric.

File this under “Stuff”.

I have two Black Walnut trees in my front yard.  Some years there are an abundance of walnuts and others not so much.  I’ve figured out why this year is not a good year.

Squirrels.

All day long when I look out my window I see the squirrels running across the yard gathering the nuts.  Yesterday afternoon I took my cell phones (I was waiting on a call), Kindle and camera and sat out on the front porch.  The pictures will enlarge if you click on them.

Heading Up the Tree

Around he goes

Do you see him?

There he is.

Made it down with 2 nuts!

Here comes another

No Tail!

By this time my I was on the phone.  We have rabbits in the back yard, so at first I thought it was a baby bunny — but it’s the wrong season.  Sure enough this guy went up the tree. As far as I know rabbits don’t climb trees, to it must be a tail-less squirrel.

At this point I went back inside.  This morning I opened the door to get the mail and found this.

A gift?

I really wanted to show the completed Texas Braid today, but I just didn’t get it done.  I’m about a 1/4 of the way through the quilting and hope to finish it this week.  I’m on call Friday evening and most of the day Saturday, so if I end up running around doing errands all week I’ll at least have the weekend — unless I get called.

Check out the links over at Patchwork Times to see what others are working on.

Quick report this week.  Nothing in.  The good news is I have cut the rest of the fabric for my LeMoyne stars and have Started Quilting my Texas Braid quilt — so I can count the backing this week.   White polka dots on a bright green.

Fabric Added Last Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 99.634 yards

Fabric Used Last Week: 5.222yards
Fabric Used to Date: 142.328 yards

Net Used for 2011: 42.694 yards

See how others are doing with their stash by following the links over at Patchwork Times.