Organization

Like nearly every other quilter, New Year translates into "organize your sewing space". Many quilters are finding all their PIGS and UFOs and are making plans to finish projects. At this point, I would really like to be able to FIND my unfinished projects! Behold - my studio:

Why (you may ask) is there a hole punch on the ironing board?  I DON'T KNOW!

Yes - that is a multi-function printer on the corner of my sewing table.  Why is it sitting there?  I DON'T KNOW!

I am only showing you 2 corners of the room.  You really don't want to see the other two corners.  My plan is to attack this a bit at a time over the next few days so that I can actually sew again over the weekend.  Usually when I take on a project like this there are lots of things I "think" I need to purchase to help with the organization.  Not this time.  I have all the containers I could possibly need.  I just need to actually put something into the containers!

There are rumors of snow coming this weekend.  With snow I would be forced to stay indoors and do something constructive...rather than take my 40% off coupon to Burkholders to buy jelly rolls and charm packs!  (Though I do have a container for them...)

2011

So, what's new for 2011?  Well, I cut my hair.  Seriously cut my hair.  My mother declared me "too old for long hair".  (Love her but she makes me crazy!)  I actually had been thinking along those same lines but I let her believe it was her idea.  Next week will be the color change.  I have been talking about it for YEARS and I am finally ready.  Be gone strawberry blondish hair!  I am going to ease into my natural hair color.  I think it is mousy brown with a whole lot of white.  The transition will be interesting.

I am going to finally open a little Etsy shop and start advertising on some blogs.  I am doing the Dave Ramsey thing and 2011 is the year to reduce debt.  I really want to be able to create full time and work part time (mostly for insurance benefits).  This is a long term goal and I am a long way from being able to declare myself financially independent but this is the year to begin.

2011 will also be the year of the real vacation.  I am not sure where I am going or what I am going to do but I will vacation this year.  I do love Holden Beach, North Carolina but Seattle keeps calling my name!

2011 is the year of finishing my stack of UFOs!  I have so many quilt tops that just need quilting.  I have way too many quilts that just need binding!  I have all ready made blocks that just need to be assembled.  I am not going to lose my mind over this. I am going to be methodical and practical (neither are my strong suit!).  First thing is the binding on a quilt I made for my son and daughter in law.  I am binding it this weekend and checking that one off my list.  (I love checking things off lists!)

How about you?  Any plans for 2011?  Do tell!!

I did it!

Remember me complaining about a camo diaper bag I had to make?  Well, I finished it and it looks great.  I made it like a messenger bag as that appears to be more "manly" than my standard diaper bag.  (My son wholeheartedly agreed!)  The front flap is secured with hidden magnetic snaps.



There is a large pocket on the back (not pictured) and I made elasticized pockets on one side (interior) for bottles and such and the opposite side has a pocket for diapers. 

It really looks more like an ammo bag or one of those bags that hunters put birds in after they shoot them.  (I know - gross!)  The important thing is that the customer loved it.  She now wants a messenger bag to use at school so it all worked out pretty well in the end.

Granddaughter Emily is with me this week so I am not doing a lot of sewing though I just received a new quilting book from my sister and there are several fat quarter friendly quilts that are calling my name.  I also have a bug in my ear and am giving some serious thought to making a "modern" quilt with lots of open spaces for quilting.  I am still waking up at 3am so I will be cutting something tomorrow morning.  It will be a surprise to all of us!

Wrap it up

Like everyone else, I have been busy for the past several weeks and most especially this week.  I did sew on Friday night, made a beautiful overnight tote and didn't take one picture!  In the past week I also made two quilted table runners, another black & white bag (with fabric flower) and finished another check book/sun glass case set.  I am exhausted and feel like I haven't slept in days.

Our office Christmas party is today.  We do a crazy gift auction in the morning and then everyone starts eating and that lasts all day.  My contribution this year is a huge casserole of macaroni and cheese that I made last night.  Because the refrigerator is so full, it spent the night on the front porch!

Tonight I am going into reflective mode.  My youngest son and his family arrive late this afternoon.  I assembled the lasagna last night so all I need to do tonight is pop it in the oven.  My Christmas tree still isn't up but I am OK with that because my family is going to help decorate it tonight.  I have the stereo loaded with my favorite Christmas music and I am ready to just take a long, deep breath.  The most important thing right now is to be with family and celebrate the birth of our Savior.

I know my postings have been sporadic (at best) and there may not be another one for a while.  I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

Blessings and peace,

This time - really!

OK - I am signing up again for the Friday Night Sew-In.  I am going to do it.  No hanging out with my friends.  No wine drinking.  (Well, maybe just a little!)  The balance of my Hazelnut Deux orders are due to be delivered by the 19th and I have 4 more big bags to do...and some Christmas gifts that I need to make...and a crib quilt.  My mom is coming over on Saturday to sew.  If I have the quilting done, she can start putting pieces together for me and that will be a huge help.  I am so thankful that my mama is such a good seamstress and taught me how to sew!

I have a whole lot of nothing!

I had such good intentions. I was going to sew all night for the "Friday Night Sew-In". Instead, I went out for dinner at Boca di Beppo, had two of these

Photo credit

and you can guess the rest. I would feel badly about it except that the food was terrific, the conversation was outstanding and the wine was...well, the wine was pretty darned tasty!

It is 6:45am in my little corner of the world. I already have the sewing machine turned on, the iron is heating up and there are lots of strips of fabric on my cutting board. I just made a pot of coffee and put a load of laundry in the washer and one in the dryer. There are no other distractions. I am ready to sew!!

I hope you have a wonderful and productive day!

Making my head hurt

Have you ever been asked to make something that so goes against the grain that it makes you absolutely dread doing it?  Someone has asked me to make a diaper bag out of camo fabric (and wants the inside "girly"). Can you imagine? Is there such a thing as pretty camo fabric? If there is, I haven't found any. I picked up some at Joann's yesterday but I can barely stand it!  I choose a sage green fabric with a tiny chocolate dot to use for the changing pad. I decided to line it in a very neutral beige because I simply could not put anything remotely "girl" for the lining. I think they will like the finished product. I won't! This is the most hideous thing I have ever made. I will share photos when it is completed.

Christmas decorating has begun at my house. It will be a really long process this year as I am "keeping" Advent and the tree will not go up until December 19th. I have started putting out my Christmas houses and some of my Holy Family collection. I am also waiting to put out my nativity collection until the 4th Sunday in Advent.  I keep my Christmas decor up until Epiphany so I will have plenty of time to enjoy it.

I have been a member of choirs since I was a child. I had an illness about 10 years ago that took a toll on my vocal chords and I lost a lot of range at that time so I no longer am able to sing in a choir. I do, however, appreciate the music so much and this time of year, I miss singing more than you can imagine. My DIL sent me the link for this wonderful celebration of song and season.  Enjoy!!