Stressed by the Mess II

August 31, 201710 Comments

In a previous post, I mentioned the need to organize my sewing space. Yesterday, I just decided to jump in and get busy! I pulled everything off the closet shelves and just threw it all into a great big pile in the middle of the floor. Talk about stuff!

My sewing buddy, Norma, a Bearded Collie, wasn’t sure what to make of all that stuff on the floor so she decided to mind her own business off to the side…wise girl!

I found a “few” dust bunnies. Hmmm, I really think they are Norma fur mixed with miscellaneous threads from days gone by.

After an hour or two, this is what my closet looks like. Much better, but I need to organize my scraps! I’ll save that for another post!

Norma has now reclaimed her spot under my cutting table! She is no longer stressed by the mess in the middle of the floor.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie?!

January 16, 20174 Comments

Norma, my Bearded Collie and sewing buddy, is not suppose to be on the couch. Righttttttt! I walked into my sewing room and there she was snoozing away!

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What to do? I had no choice but to smile lovingly and take pictures while she was innocently sleeping. She sure looked comfy! Most of the time she is on the floor, right by my side while I sew. She likes the same music and books on CD that I do–imagine that!

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After a few snaps, I think she was on to me–notice she appeared to be sleeping with one eye open! Hah! Gotcha! Totally busted on the couch–but she was too cute to banish!

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Sandy has Bootsie the wonder cat for company while sewing. See her post “The Saga of Boots” from September 28, 2016 and “Snuggling Down” from December 29, 2016.

Do you have a special pet to keep you company?

Richly Repurposed

July 12, 2016July 14, 201612 Comments

I’ve been cleaning up my sewing room, you know how it is after a big project! I had stuff everywhere and couldn’t find anything anywhere! As I was getting re-organized, I realized how many things I’ve repurposed in my sewing space.

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The blue organizer above was made by my uncle many years ago. He and my aunt loved to camp and he made this to use as a tote for napkins and silverware. I put magazines where the napkins would go and the all important TV remote in one of the silverware slots. He painted this a lovely shade of blue and I’ll keep it the same color in his memory.

The above flower vase was a left over from our son’s wedding last month. I liked the shape and it had a shabby chic look so I added a few silk flowers for some bold color. There’s Norma, my Bearded Collie sewing buddy! She was napping and then had to see what I was up to. She’s kind of a nib nose, which is why I love her!

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Another item I’ve repurposed is an old rug beater. I was at a tag sale with mom (who is a pro at tag sales, by the way) and we saw this in the rafters of the garage. This cost me a grand total of $2.00 and serves as a mini inspiration board. I use clothespins to attach thing to the wires. My son made the clothespin with the two hearts on it…I think he was in first grade when he made it for a Mother’s Day gift!

I’m a big copy cat of Sandy even though she is my little sister! She has a big white bowl in her sewing room where she keeps all her pins. I thought her idea was clever and was looking for a bowl like hers. Guess what she found for me at a tag sale? This bowl has a worn blue edge that adds charm and I use it on my sewing table for leaders and enders.

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I was antiquing with a friend and happened upon the sugar mold pictured below. I liked the green color and I liked how some of the paint was worn. There were four sugar slots and I originally planned to use it as a candle holder.

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BUT, you guessed it! I decided it was the perfect organizer for pens, pencils, bias bars, chop sticks and all the other miscellaneous tools a quilter needs. I keep it on a shelf near my cutting table and it’s so handy to have everything at my fingertips!

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I’ve got more repurposed items in my sewing room to write about and can’t wait to show you! Let us know what you’ve repurposed in your sewing space!

A Quilted Wedding Gift

April 28, 20162 Comments

Our son, Tim, is getting married in June! I decided to make a Christmas quilt as a wedding gift for Tim and his new bride. The pattern “All Wrapped Up” by Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Co. called my name.

Tim loves batik fabrics so I search for just the right ones. I found these lovely shades of red and green. Nice patterns and textures!

Next I started cutting and sewing my blocks together. I alternated the red and the green fabrics in each block.

The bow at the top of the package is a flying geese unit with two white rectangles on each side. The green below is one of my favorite prints. I love the movement in this fabric!

This red paisley print is another favorite of mine.

I made 10 green blocks and 10 red blocks and then cut out the white sashing.

I was excited to see all my blocks on my design wall but Norma, our Bearded Collie, well not so much! She matches my rug doesn’t she? She is my sewing buddy and has been known to steal fabric and run away just for the fun of it!

Next I squared all my blocks before sewing them to the sashing strips. The batik fabrics have a tight weave and don’t stretch too much but I did have a small scrap pile…looks like Christmas!

The official layout is 4 blocks across and 5 blocks down so I sewed all my blocks and rows together. This was the easy part!

The white sashing between the blocks and rows really highlights the colors and the fabric designs.

I added a 5 1/2 inch outer border in a batik poinsettia print.

The wedding gift/Christmas quilt has now been turned over to my quilter, Ms. KB. She will work her magic over the next few weeks and I should have my quilt back just before the wedding.

I might have to pull an all nighter to get the binding sewn on and tacked down but it will be worth it! I know the bride and groom will be very happy with their new family heirloom!