Stash Reports in Review

Quite a few who have been reporting their efforts at stashbusting have written me to say they were surprised with their numbers.  The stash reports have been so useful to me because (1) I know that anything I buy I’m going to have to report and (2) I don’t like having weeks of reporting that I used nothing at all.  Sometimes that meant that I had been sewing but the yardage had already been calculated.  Some weeks it meant that I hadn’t touched the sewing machine at all!  This year wasn’t a normal year for us.  Even so, I should have ended the year with a bigger number in the “used” category.  The move took a lot of m y time but there were months that Vince was in Texas and I was still in Missouri, with no real responsibilities so I could have sewn more.  Look out 2012!  And, in the added category, those 25 yards added were yardage bought for two bags that I never made and for Vince’s Texas quilt that I haven’t made yet.

The stash reports aren’t about who has the biggest stash or who adds the most yardage . . it’s simply meant to be a tool for each of us to be a little accountable and to improve in areas where we might need to improve.  Even if you have a small stash, it might be enlightening to do a stash report and see where you stand at the end of the year. I have never advocated “no buy”.  My main goal is to make quilts.  If I need a certain fabric to make a quilt, I’m going to buy it.  If I see a fabric I can’t live without, I’m going to buy it . . but I’m not looking very hard for fabrics I can’t live without.`

I pulled some of my previous years stash reports and was kinda surprised at my numbers.  2008 must’ve been the year that I decided I needed to change my ways.  Considering what I did in 2008, I did really great in 2009.  2010 was the best year yet as far as net figures but I bought less fabric in 2011 but just didn’t use as much.  My numbers may change a bit in the next two weeks but probably not too much.  2012 is going to be my banner year . . few purchases and lots of yardage used.  By the end of 2012, I hope that I really need to go shopping.

2008
Fabric added year to date – 633 yards
Fabric used year to date – 435 yards
Net Used to Date – <198> yards

2009
Fabric added year to date – 457 yards
Fabric used year to date -  464.50 yards
Net Used for 2009:  7.50 yards

2010
Fabric added year to date – 195 yards
Fabric used year to date -  572.5 yards
Net Used for 2010: 377.5 yards

2011
Fabric added year to date – 25 yards
Fabric used year to date – 281.25 yards
Net Used for 2011: 256.25 yards

With the stash reports, no one keeps track but you.  If you report once a week or once a month or twice a year . . no one cares — just so you’re happy with what you’re doing.  Think about joining us in 2012!

Springerle or Biscotti?

That’s the choice I have to make!  And, in the end, I will probably make both.  At Christmas, my favorite cookies are sugar cookies with lots of icing and springerles.  This post talks about when I was making them right after our last move and I couldn’t find my springerle pin.  Last year, while walking around the shops in Lawrence, Kansas, I found another pin so now I have two and I know where they both are.  They have to sit out and dry overnight before baking and I’m thinking . . where on earth could I do that in this little house?  Vince likes them ok but he doesn’t love them like I do.  He loves biscotti.  He’s not crazy about iced sugar cookies so I always leave some without icing for him.  That’s kinda crazy to not like the icing!

For springerle cookies, this is the recipe I use except I use about 4 drops of anise oil instead of the anise extract.

I have a recipe for Anise Cookies from Vince’s sister and that’s the recipe I normally use for biscotti but it’s on a recipe card and I never put it in my Paprika recipes on the iPad so it’s packed and I don’t have it.  I’ve written her and asked if she will email it to me.

The sugar cookie dough is in the fridge chilling and I’ll probably wait til tomorrow while Vince is at work to roll those out and bake them.  I’ll probably mix up the springerle dough tomorrow evening and spread it out on our little breakfast room table after dinner so they can dry overnight.  I’ll wait to hear from Vince’s sister and if I don’t hear back from here by Wednesday or so, I’ll find another biscotti recipe.  Anyone have a good one to share?

The fruit for CJ’s Fruit Cake is marinating and tomorrow I’ll bake those.  My parents are coming so I want to get lots of baking and cooking done ahead so I can enjoy all my time with them.

Vince is away . . he’s out making his daily trip to Home Depot and Wal-Mart.  Seriously . . how does he stand to do that?  I’m thankful though because I sent my grocery list with him.  My bet is he comes home with lunch too . . either a Subway sandwich (which isn’t my favorite but if he brings it and I don’t have to go out . . that’s great!) or if Maria’s is open, he’ll bring home something from there.  My bet is they’re not open on Sunday.  He did buy fresh cold cuts yesterday so maybe he won’t bring home lunch.  Doesn’t matter . . we won’t go hungry.  We’re having leftover beef ribs with cream sauce for dinner so I just need to come up with some veggie ideas.  Vince brought home two sweet potatoes yesterday from his trip to Wal-Mart so my guess is . . he wants baked sweet potatoes.   Sounds like a good idea — no mess, no clean up.  I think we’ll have a salad with it and that’s it!

Now . . really . . I’m going to sew!

 

Stash Report – Week 50, 2011

This week, 4-1/2 yards was used in the sashing, borders and binding for It’s a Wrap.  Nothing was added . . not even any yarn!  :)

Used this Week: 4.50 yards
Used year to Date: 281.25 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 25 yards
Net Used for 2011: 256.25 yards

How’d you do this week?