Time For A GIVEAWAY!

The best way to motivate yourself to clean your sewing room is to show a picture of the mess on your blog!  I spent a whole day getting organized and going through all my fabric and taking stock of all the UFO's, etc.  I still have to work on the closet, but I'm pleased with how much I got done.  In celebration of organization I've decided to give away the entire bundle of fabric in the top picture. About 95 percent of it is Denyse Schmidt fabric from her various lines including some Flea Market Fancy.  The pieces range from fat quarters to long strips to little pieces.  What a fantastic quilt this would make.  All you have to do to enter is be a follower of my blog and leave me a comment telling me what you're currently working on.  My international friends are welcome also.  I will leave the giveaway open until Thursday at midnight and announce the winner on Friday, Feb. 21.  Have a great day!

Smiles,

Log Cabin Block

Yesterday one of my oldest, dearest friends came for a visit.  Amy and I were college roomies and have stayed very close all through the years.  She brought me these beautiful flowers.  I cannot tell you how the flowers and Amy lifted my spirits.  I love roses and hydrangeas.  When we moved to our house in June one of the first things we did was plant roses and hydrangeas.  The flowers are a wonderful reminder that spring, though buried under several inches of snow, is not too far away.  Today I completed my log cabin block for Clara.  We are part of Donna's Sew Sweet Bee.  I loved making this as it is one of my favorite blocks.  Amy was lovingly teasing me about my sewing room and the explosion of fabric and books.  She encouraged me to show you a picture, so here it is in it's messy state.  Notice the cute bins stacked for organizing but I haven't filled them.  So much to sew...so little time. Blessings!

Xoxo,

Pretty Color

There is nothing like a good jolt of pretty color to start the day.  I'm currently binding a quilt that I made using Trish's pattern.  I can't wait to show it to you.  Have you seen the latest Romantic Homes? The cover is so gorgeous!  You could make a whole quilt using the cover colors as inspiration.  I've been able to get a little sewing done this week.  I made a valance for the kitchen.  I used a decorator fabric that was in my stash (sorry, no name on it) and added trim and a ruffle using Paris Flea Market. A house is being built behind me so my screen is in permanent dirt status until it's finished…a pretty valance makes it so much better!  My sewing room is coming along s-l-o-w-l-y.  I'm still trying to figure out where everything should go.  It is fun to open another box and find pretty retro cake decorating items.  Have a blessed day!

Smiles,

Seeing Pink

The painters finished yesterday.  I closed the door and looked around at a freshly painted blank slate.  Now the fun begins.  I want to decorate slowly, to allow myself time to find pieces that I really like.  Many of my furniture pieces did not come with me because they were too big for this space.  I spent some time in my sewing room over the weekend.  The walls are PINK!  It's a beautiful color named "Possibly Pink" by Sherwin Williams.  I love it, it's soft and pretty.  One of my biggest challenges with this room is book storage.  I parted with a big cupboard before the move which housed my books so I've decided to use the closet.  As you can see, I still need to purge and organize, but the books are out of the boxes which was the goal.  Putting my fabric in the cupboard was like taking a walk through a lovely garden.  I was back in my happy place.   The view from my window overlooks the neighbors backyard and I can still see the pretty barn.  Lots of birds, bunnies and even the occasional coyote pass through that field so I plopped my sewing machine right in front of the window as to not miss any of it.  I'll have better pictures when I get more done.  Have a wonderful day!

Smiles,

Sewing Room

I tried to get some good pictures of the sewing room but the sun was not cooperating with me.  I snapped a few anyway.  I also avoided the mad dash around the room to clean up.  It is what it is, as the saying goes!

This room is located off the kitchen and is separated from the dining room by french doors.  Actually, this used to be the dining room.  It's pretty small though, so after some room swapping it makes for a sunny (on a good day!) spot to sew.

I have some wonderful storage, thanks to my friend, Keith, who took vintage windows and built the cabinet around it.  For being on fabric lockdown, I still have much to use up!

I'm very happy for my own space to create.  Everyone should have a little spot of their own.  For me, that has sometimes been a corner of the family room and that's okay too, as long as you've got a place to dream.  Blessings!


With joy,

Snippets for Tuesday

I'm puttering around in the sewing room today.  Do I clean it or do I sew?  It's hard for me to be creative in a messy environment so I'll probably clean.  I found these vintage spools of thread while I was poking around in my mess.  Look at the brand name on the bottom two, "Fast to Boiling".  I love it!

It's so much easier to baste a quilt with curved safety pins when you can actually find them.  A pretty canning jar does the job perfectly.  Now I won't be hunting all over for stray pins to complete a quilt.

I took some time to group some of my collections.  Of course they all have a pink theme, you know me.  Just looking at this shelf makes me smile.

Still madly in love with the pink "Sew Master" toy machine that my friend, Diane, gave me.  It even has a vintage spool of thread on it.  Tickled pink for sure!

The vintage pink "Wolverine" metal kitchen pieces are a favorite.  "Kleanser Kate" keeps a watchful eye over all.

Often when I need a burst of creativity I just look at the jar of vintage cake decorating goodies and all the colors and themes are the jolt I need to get inspired.

As I work on a t-shirt quilt for a dear friend, I take breaks to work on this ottoman cover.  The colors are just dreamy.  Hoping creativity flows from your fingers today in all that you do!

Smiles,

Sewing Room Redo

On Friday, my daughter and I met up with my dear friend Amy for a trip to Ikea.  It was my first time there and I think I walked for hours with my mouth open.  Fortunately Amy knew the ropes and directed me towards my intended purchase, a new cutting table. 

After looking and measuring and weighing all the pro's and con's, I bought a kitchen island and chair.  Saturday I removed everything from the room except the big cabinets.

sweater garland by Joyce

I did a major inventory of my goods and confirmed again that I'm on a purchasing lockdown until I can use up a great many items.  I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I even found things that I forgot I had..

Then I began putting the island and chair together.  It was not as difficult as I thought it would be but we'll see if they actually stay standing.

I like all the open spaces I have now, hopefully it will encourage me to keep things organized.

The quilt I hung in the room is the first needle-turn applique and redwork quilt that I made back in 2003.  I thought I would never get the leaves and vines attached.  It is true, the harder and longer a quilt takes to finish, the more you love it in the end (not so much during).  The Victorian saying reads,

"Remember me at twilight hour

when all around seems sweet and fair

when mirth and jest have lost their power

O! I would be remembered there!"

With joy,