January - Goals

I find myself sewing in the kitchen simply because my sewing room has become so cluttered! I made a goal to purge, re-organize, de-clutter my sewing room this month. It is almost the end of January, so this weekend I made my move.

So I spent most of Saturday emptying the cardboard boxes I had stacked in the middle of the room. There were photo albums from my parents house; all my daughter's high school memorabilia and odd and ends that really needed to go! It is a terrible misuse of this space - but I find myself dumping things in my sewing space that I just don't want to deal with.  Then I run from the room closing the door behind me!  I am such a procrastinator.

So nice to purge - really it is,  and now that I have cleared everything that was in the way, satisfying to see what really is important to me. 

I spent hours pressing, folding and wrapping all my fabrics.  Sigh.... I love vintage style fabrics.

 This is what my cupboard looked like after I reorganized. It is like playing 'doll house'; at least that is what it feels like.  All my sewing accessories: my vintage patterns, pins, button tins & bolts of fabrics are like the 'doll house' furniture.

I may need a bigger cabinet.  Happy new year all.

Quilt Retreat ....Outcomes

My essential tools.

 This past weekend was spent at my first quilting retreat - I loved the experience. My one regret, that I was unable to absorb of all the great information that was flying around the workroom....  the best  thread; great quilting teachers; the project discussions..... it was phenomenal!  But I was so determined to complete the blocks for my 'Basket Case" quilt pattern that I dare not leave my chair.  Oh and it was humbling to see some of the talent! Such talent in that room! Quilting retreats are about more than just quilting! There were so many impromptu sewing demonstrations, tips, advice, more, more, more than I could have imagined! Wonderful.

But I tried to remember what my goal was, to complete a 'vintage' inspired quilt top, in a pattern that I loved, all the while trying to forgive myself for my sewing errors! See the picture of my inspiration below! Next retreat, I promise to make time to learn more!

This pattern is called Basket Case from Cluck Cluck Sew.

Hello Betty

I know I am repeating myself, but I began sewing during the early 1970's.....I don't know why I enjoy acknowledging that, but I do.  Kind of like yesterday, when hub took me out for lunch and I suggested the new Denny's in town.... I just had to let the hostess know that I used to waitress at Denny's during the late 1970's, again..... I don't know why but it was fun to admit that.  And on the subject of Denny's, good 'diner-style' food !  And the decor has definitely improved, ha!

"Hello Betty" is the name of a line of fabric from Moda, and I love it big time and covet my collection (not that you could tell by the way it is shamelessly tossed into a big basket in my sewingroom.  But the truth about quilting & decor fabrics today, opposed to yesterday is that new design lines come out all the time and hence fabric lines have a short shelf life and then are discontinued.

So "Hello Betty", which I have a big crush on, is discontinued....but I do have lots and I intend to make use of every. little. scrap. of. it.

There seems to be some type of 'Scrap Happy' type of fever going around the blogosphere, a la Jodi at Pleasant Home, no doubt! You should check it out - Jodi is awesome and has really started something. So I have been creating little scrappy 'Mod Mats' as I like to call them endlessly. Some are only 10 inches square, others are a couple of blocks put together. There is something very satisfying about using up little bits & pieces of scrap fabrics - just letting color choice be my guide. Fun!