These are the 2008 Retreat Swap Blocks. The block is from Block Central’s 2007 Block of the Month. It is installment 3 B and is called Glenwood Avenue.  I ran out of steam before finishing the center of the top, but all of the remaining pieces are prepped and ready to go.

This past week I also finished up another 20 of the flying geese blocks for Sew Scrappy.  I got distracted by the bag and the swap blocks.  This top may end up going to retreat with me next month.  After I get the rest done, I have a ton of 9-patches and 25-patches to make.

While all this sewing was going on I managed to make another 20 spool blocks.  This brings my total to 170 of the 310 that I currently think I need (this number varies depending on how I think I’m going to set them.)

Check out the links over at Patchwork Times to see what others have been up to.

This week I finished the Bellenca Bag, but the vast majority of that fabric was previously counted.  I made another 6 Scrappy Trips blocks, worked on Sew Scrappy and even though the plan was to take the 2008 Retreat Swap Blocks to another retreat next month, I started working on them.  But all of this fabric will be counted when I finish the tops.

Fabric Added Since Last Report: 2.0 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 102.169 yards

Fabric Used Since Last Report:  0.38 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 30.22 yards

Net Used for the year -71.949 yards

This week I hope to finish the swap top, make a pillow case and I’ll be quilting a top for my sister.  She’s taken to piecing like a duck to water.

To see how others are doing check out the links over at Patchwork Times.

Tonight was Stitch and Chat, so I pulled out my DWR and did a bit of hand quilting on it.  I really do need to take at least one other night during the month and do more hand work.

Yesterday I made a coin purse and tissue cover.

And I have settled on a layout of the swap blocks and the fabric I’m going to use.  (Note to self add 2 yards to stash report for Sunday.)

I found the black fabric in my stash – it was left over from the backing of No Blue Geese in My Tropical Garden, but I didn’t have enough white on white fabric for the sashing. There’s not enough fabric to bind the quilt so who knows what the binding will be.  But that is getting a head of myself.

This evening I conquered the grommets on the bag I’ve been working on (and off) for the past 17 months.  The bag calls for 16 grommets.  The pattern recommended hammered grommets purchased from Home Depot, which I bought.  But the thought of cutting into the bag terrified me.  That and it was December and wet (not that it’s been wet for the last 17 months) outside.  The pattern recommended cutting the holes out side.

Oh, the pattern – it’s The Bellance Bag by Lila Tueller Designs.  My niece picked out the pattern and the fabrics when we were on vacation summer before last.

Anyway, last week when it was pretty outside, I got gutsy enough to cut the holes.  I got 7 of grommets in before I tossed my hands up and worked on something else. But tonight I got the remaining 9 grommets installed in less time that the first 7 – or at least w/less frustration.

The solution?

Painter’s tape!

The cool grommets I used are Silver Grommets from everything Mary.

I read the brief instructions which came in the package, but I HIGHLY recommend reading the instructions that are on their webpage.  I’m sure I don’t know if they’ve been updated since I read them 17 months ago or simply didn’t remember what I read.

The grommets are held together by 2 tiny screws.  I removed them and taped the front portion of the grommet over the hole on the outside of the bag.

This held it in place long enough for me to put tiny slashes (don’t do this, follow the instructions on the website) in the fabric and screw the back on.

Now, to find the rest of the instructions.  I think all that is left is the drawstring and shoulder straps.  Oh, and that incorrect label.

UFO progress does not always mean stitching.  Next month I’m going on a 3 weekend day retreat, so I’ve started planning what I’ll be working on.  As I was studying my list of possibilities, I started playing in EQ7 with various layouts for these swap blocks from 2008. I think I have a layout.

I’ve printed foundation papers for the square in a square blocks and have put together my cutting instructions.  All that is left is for me to find the fabric I’ll use.  I think I have enough  white in my stash, but I have no idea what I’m going to use for the black fabric — or if it will even be a black fabric.  I see a trip to the LQS with my blocks and notes sometime in the next 4 weeks.

On the other hand, those screw in grommets on the Bellance Bag are giving me fits.

I’ve spent the last week cutting fabric, working on the bag and piecing flying geese, but there wasn’t anything on my design wall. So, I sat down and pieced 6 more Scrappy Trips blocks on my treadle. There is no deadline on this quilt so I’m not rushing the process.

I’ve finished 100 of the 178 flying geese blocks used for the sashing in the new quilt I started from the Kansas Troubles scraps. The other 78 geese have one sky piece.  Doesn’t everyone start with pieced sashing when making a quilt?

10 more spool blocks were completed, but now I’ve decided I need 30 more than what I have cut. I’ll worry about cutting the last 30 when I get some of these off my sewing table.

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

Since I didn’t get my report written last week, the totals this week are for 2 weeks.   There was the 2nd set of “scraps” in the first week and this past week I finally finished the Black and Bright top.  Although I’ve cut fabric for my l/e projects and a new quilt, that won’t be counted until it makes it into the top.

Fabric Added Since Last Report: 19.44 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 100.169 yards

Fabric Used Since Last Report:  66.99 6.699 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 29.84 yards

Net Used for the year -70.329 yards

To see how others are doing check out the links over at Patchwork Times.

Do you do leader and enders?  Bonnie Hunter has a great explanation on her website HERE.  I love the concept and have made a couple of quilts completely using this technique and many others were started that way.

I currently have two L/E projects.  One is my postage stamp quilt.  I’ve got a note that says I need 4520 1 1/2″ squares.  With the exception of 8 4-patches to be sewn into 4 pairs everything I’ve cut for that quilt is shown above.  I have a way to go. That’s 540 1 1/2″ squares, so I need to cut some more.

The second L/E project is the 3″ Spool Block.  Since each stack is 20 blocks, I only have 140 made (and no more cut)  and I need a minimum of 288 if I set them on point with a 1″ sashing which I’m considering.  Needless to say I needed to cut some more spools.

So, tonight I pulled out my 1 1/2″ strip box (another one of Bonnie’s great hints – Scrap User’s System) and started cutting spool blocks and if there was 1 1/2″ left over from my strip I cut a square for the postage stamp quilt.

A few hours later,  I now have 90 spool blocks cut and 64 squares for the postage stamp quilt.  My 1 1/2″ strip box is pretty much a 1 1/2″ scrap box now. I’m thinking there may be a lego quilt in my future.

Now that I’ve spent the evening cutting fabric, I’m ready to start sewing.  Wait, I really need to get those gromment in the bag which was supposed to be a Christmas 2011 gift.

April 24th

April 29th

Yes, the Black and Bright Swap blocks are now a quilt top.  Although it was a sunny day, the wind was blowing.  The colors are still not right, but I’m not going to worry about it right now.

But this was not the only UFO I worked on this past week.  I pulled out the Bellanca Bag.  I’m not sure when I worked on this last, but here it is as of April 15th.

I’ve made the holes for the 16 grommets (this is what stalled the project!) and have 7 of them installed.

Silly me.  I love the look of the screw in grommets and the fact they are silver, but what a pain.  If I’m not dropping the tiny screw, the grommet is slipping so the raw edge of the fabric is showing.  After the grommets are put into the purse all that will be left is the drawstring and shoulder straps.  Oh, and figuring out what to do about the label.

To see how other fared this week on their UFOs check out the links over at Patchwork Times.

E is for Easy Partial Seam Block – the fourth block of Dorothy Young’s alphabet block-of-the-month.  It’s hard to see, but there is orange in the dark green plaid, which is why I selected it.  That fabric may get replaced before it goes into the quilt.  But since this is a 26 month project I’m not going to rush in to it.

If you wish to quilt along, join the group by clicking on the “Join Now!” button.

Click to join apocketfullofmysteries.

Well, apparently I’m rushing into replacing the fabric.  Since I wrote this post, but before it “went live”, I pulled out another green w/orange plaid.  The fabric is just laying on top of the dark green.  I’m not sure it’s right either.  What do you think?  Do I keep digging?

How about a third choice?