A very proud mama!

My oldest son, Chad, was just notified that he is the Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year for Virginia.  I am so excited and so proud of him.  Chad is not only a great son, loving father and husband, he is also an incredible teacher.  He teaches full time, has written two books and is a guest presenter all over the country. 

Enough about my kid!  I finished most of the blocks yesterday for the three by three swap.  I have to make a few more tonight and then off they go in the mail.  I used scraps from some of my bags so no extra fabric had to be purchased! 

Friday, however, was a different story.  A couple of us from our quilt group went to the barn at Weaver’s Dry Goods in Lititz.  I set a limit on how much I was going to spend so I only got enough fabric to make 6 bags.  The warehouse is open at the end of every month during the summer and also next weekend for the holiday.  I think I will be back on Saturday.  I saw so many pretty fabrics at really great prices. 

I STILL have not finished the quilt for my bed.  Maybe I should start a “to do” list for sewing/quilting projects.  Wonder if that would help?

Moving my base of operations!

Good grief!  It is hot in the studio.  Really, really hot!  It is to be expected as it is on the third floor in what was originally attic space.  I have a ceiling fan and a fan in the window pulling out the hot air but other than really early in the morning, it is unbearable.  In an effort to reduce my electric bill, I have decided to move down to the dining room to sew at night.  I bought an inexpensive “personal” size folding table that is height adjustable. 

It is perfect for my Brother machine.  If you live near a Big Lots and need one of these, you just can’t beat their sale price of $18!  I am seriously thinking about going back to get another one to use for a cutting table so that I don’t have to clutter up the dining room table.  Everything can easily be tucked into the closet & out of sight. 

Sadly, I can’t say that about the studio.  What a disaster area…again!  Since I get up between 4 & 4:30 every morning, I think I will get it all straight and organized tomorrow morning.  I have decided I do not need a little refrigerator up there for sodas and water.  A co-worker and her husband are coming by to pick it up on Monday.  It won’t make a lot of difference in the floor space but every little bit helps.  I keep thinking there is a better layout but with the shelving already installed and permanent, I need to put on my thinking cap.  (I can feel my head starting to hurt already!!) 

It's not easy to treasure hunt in the rain!

The yard sale adventure with my sister was not a complete bust, however, it started at 7 and we were back at my house around 9. I am looking specifically for old plates, platters, tea cups, etc. I have also been looking for something substantial to put under my enormous television. My son bought a fancy, shmancy HD flat panel television and gave me his 32". Because it has a glass tube and is so large, it weighs 182lbs. I kid you not! I have had it sitting on an antique washstand since I got it. My mother has been terrified that the washstand would collapse under the weight, fall and crush anything in its path to the floor. As we were driving through a neighborhood I saw a treadle sewing machine...or I thought it was a treadle until we got up close and I saw the sewing machine was gone but the base and cabinet had been turned into a table. The table top was large enough for the heaviest part of the TV and I figured wrought iron legs should hold up pretty well. Here it is under the television

From Little Nest

I know the stereo crap under it is atrocious and how DO you hide all those cables? (Another project will be taking the middle shelf out of the washstand and cutting into the back to hide the stereo.) I picked up a couple of other things but this was the best find. A REAL television stand would set me back a couple of hundred dollars. My reclaimed treadle base was only $10....SCORE!!

I only managed to get 2 more rows sewn on the quilt top. Much gnashing of teeth as I matched up seams so I started cutting fabric for another bag. I am SO easily distracted!! Doesn't this look yummy?

From Quilty stuff

I am going to force myself to get another row or two on the quilt today and then play with other fabric for a while.

It's my sister's turn to have my parents over for Father's Day dinner so this evening the rest of us will arrive for dessert and gifts. That will be my only foray out of the house today, I think. Looks like rain again. I am not complaining. I love rain and the cool weather. Beats the heck out of hot and humid!!

Truckload fabric sale!

What quilter doesn't react to something like that?!? I left work early yesterday and met up with a couple of women in my quilt group. We had a fabulous time! I found lots of fabric for bags and baby quilts. I will stack it all up for a little "show and tell" this weekend.

Just when you thought I had given up making quilts, I have started sewing the rows on the quilt for my bed. Once the strips are sewn, I will just have to slap on 2 borders and get it on the longarm. Originally I was going to make curtains for my room but have decided on inexpensive tab top panels. I am going to make valances out of some of my "Chocolat" fabric that is leftover. I also have enough fabric to make a bed skirt, pillow shams and pillow cases. Just in case I run out, I found a local shop that still has that fabric line.

Today is the Robesonia community yard sale. My sister and I are heading out in about 30 minutes. I'll be back with treasures later!!

Mama's gotta a brand new bag...or 2!

I have been working steadily making purses and totes. This one is near the top of my "favorites" list. This is my first "Big Bag Theory".

From Quilty stuff

I used a charm pack and some coordinating fabric that I picked up at a LQS. The fabric is "Fig Tree and Plum" from Judy Figueroa and Moda. I love how the darkest fabric looks like polished cotton. (I have finally purchased buttons for all of my bags!)

These two were just finished the other evening.

From Quilty stuff

I used all scraps on the smaller one. The large bag is another BBT and I used another Moda charm pack. This one is Louisa by Terry Clothier Thompson.

I am using up so much fabric that I needed to go shopping again. This group I purchased on line for a really great price.

From Quilty stuff

They will be in a quilt that I want to make for my dining room table. I need two or 3 more pieces of fabric so I am still searching. All of this next group were purchased on sale.

From Quilty stuff

Sauders is having a huge fabric sale this weekend and I am sorely tempted but I am not going to buy an additional fabric until I use up at least half of these...or maybe a quarter of these...ok, one or two of these!

Something new in the stores

***EDITED 7/24/09 - I have had some response about the Rotary Cutting Machine and the consensus is DON'T BUY IT!!***

Well, maybe it is just new to me because I had not seen them before. ANYWAY, has anyone purchased the Simplicity Rotary Cutting Machine and/or the Simplicity Bias Tape Maker?

The bias tape thingy isn't something I would really need but that rotary cutting machine looks cool. Everyone knows I HATE cutting...and I love using 2-1/2" strips of fabric. This baby looks like it could make me very happy. On sale at Fabric Depot it is only $55. The retail price is $74.99. They have the 50% off one item coupon at Joann's right now. I think I could "justify" spending the bucks on that baby.

SO - if you have bought one, please let me know what you think. I have a coupon burning a hole in my pocket!!

A give away at Twiddletails!

Anina at Twiddletails is giving away a charm pack if you tell her whether or not you talk to yourself. You KNOW you do! Check out her blog!!

This isn't the first time

and it certainly won't be the last! I will be taking lots of breaks between postings. I have been working like crazy - at the office - and I am just about worn out.

Every day I am attempting to get just a little bit more of my bed quilt pieced together. I have a lot of other UFOs but this quilt really needs to be finished. The quilt on my bed now is starting to fall apart. I bought it when I lived near Seattle and I have loved it since I first put it on my bed. Grace sleeps on it every day after I leave for work so it needs to be washed often. The washing has taken it's toll!

Hopefully things will slow down a bit at the office (until the next acquisition in July!) and I can get back into the studio seriously. Thanks for reading. Photos next time!!