New Year -- New Room Reveal

A few months back my hubby decided that he wanted to move our bedroom back downstairs because our room upstairs is better for winter sleeping the only problem with this is that this would mean moving the craft room to the upstairs. He agreed that he would take care of all the moving and in the future when I am going to classes or sew ins he would bring the machine and supplies downstairs for me -- OK buddy you got yourself a deal. In the mean time my sister calls me and has decided to make a day trip to concord mills and wants to know if I can meet up with her -- so I head off to Concord and leave him to it.

(sis on the left and my niece Emily on the right)

I come home and the house is a mess but many of the things have been moved up from the sewing room and once I help move the mattress the organization in the new crafting space can begin. It's taken me a while to get things all moved about but I think that I am mostly there in getting the room set up the way that works best for quilting. So here are a few pictures of things in my new space.

When you enter the room you see the armoior on the back wall with fabric scraps by size in the bins and folded fabric in the drawers -- fabric groupings on the top shelf (top rate on the top shelf). The back wall also has 2 large windows that let in a great deal of natural light and in the far corner is the bookshelf that houses books, magazines, embroidery supplies and works in progress. 

In the middle of the room is my work station with all my most needed tools right on the table and even a thread catcher mug (Lee, I'm trying to be better about throwing stuff in the floor). The fold out desk being supported by a set of drawers my grandfather made. Nothing in those yet but perhaps this will be my new WIP storage. 

Behind the sewing desk is the cutting table which doubles as more room when FMQ or as a work area for another quilter to come and play. I have a large basket on one side of the table to catch scraps and a trash can on the other (wanna guess which sees more action?). My rulers will eventually be hung on this wall for easy access -- I tried the command hooks but they just wouldn't stay up with the type of walls that we have it kept pulling the paint and crash to the floor so we can't go that route. 

On the wall beyond the cutting table is my design wall and it's also the wall I look at while sewing. I love it because it is big enough to put a queen size quilt on but removes for easy storage. (Don't mind that craziness on the wall -- it's a scrappy quilt back in progress.)

That brings us back around toward the door and tucked in the front corner of the room is the other dresser and this one is full of fabric. On top of that is the tool chest with all the other quilting tools that I have that get used less often. 

There are a few small things still need to be completed

• new ironing surface or recovering the board that I have (seriously ick -- this is disturbingly gross) 

• purge out 85% of all scrap-booking supplies (I'm not scrap-booking any more so I need to find someone to make use of these goodies.) Then I will have room for the batting roll to come back in the room. 

• hubby is talking about wall mounting a TV in my room which I am not sure about -- I kinda like not having a TV in there, it's quiet. 
• paint over the mauvey pink wall 
• hang the rulers on the wall and get them off the floor 
• hang wire line from Ikea to display smaller projects

purge fabric in the upcoming 6 months so that maybe everything will fit in one set of drawers -- I'm shooting for the armoir then the other dresser may be able to leave the room and I could get a comfy chair. 

I hope you all enjoyed the tour, it feels good to have thing settled in once again  and I look forward to getting some of these things accomplished very soon to make the room more perfect for me. 

Anniversary posting

It's been a year of blogging and I have managed to keep all my goals I set forward with and for that I am appreciative to my readers. I hope in the next year blogging (and blog reading) will continue to drive me forward in my creative endeavors and maintain my goals as another year is winding down. My next post will be post 90 --- (actual postings not including traveling stash postings) and that is much further than I though I would reach in this last short year.

As I enter this 2nd year of blogging I hope to accomplish a few more things .....

1. post more regularly --- at least 2 or 3 times per week
2. complete 25 projects this year
3. purge a great deal of the stash
4. try more items from Pinterest
5. continue to promote the art of quilting and get involved with more events

I am sure that there are plenty more but for now I will just thank you all again for sticking with me this year.

Twas 2 days before Christmas

and the sewing room is a mess --- I know you all can relate. 

I've been working on some UFO's and am happy to announce that the star wars quilt is all quilted and waiting for trimming and binding. 

I wanted to do a full quilt shot but it's been pouring rain this weekend but Christmas day is supposed to be nice. 

I also got all my Block of the month blocks completed and up on the design wall -- awaiting sashing and boarders. 

Here are the 3 blocks I completed this weekend 

The state has given us 3 days off for Christmas and my hubby has to work all but Christmas day so you all know what that means -- more sewing days. Tomorrow I'm hoping to finish these 2 up and even baste the Lazy Sunday quilt and another one for charity. If I finish up these projects in the next week I will enter 2014 with 1 started UFO -- the block of the week project and 2 pending swap projects -- DQ14 and Shirts. 

I am also wanting to get things straightened out so that I can share the new room revel on my anniversary posting this Saturday. 

my refuge and my fortress

I like word play and a paraphrase of Psalm 91.2 sums up quilting for me -- befitting my 91st post. 

The busy holiday season has meant lots of time working on goals and reading the fun blogs of others but limited blogging on my part. I have been doing really well on my goals and even got the 3 from last week completed. 

custom Mug Rugs completed 

Ornament Swap items sent out 

Little fish is completed and bound. 

This week the goals have been -- ignored, for lack of a better word. I went to the sew in last weekend and couldn't find motivation to work on my projects and with holiday preparation for this weekend the sewing machine has sat quietly waiting for me to return. I'm hoping since the plans for this weekend have changed that means time at the machine and not facing the crowds of last minute shoppers -- so here's my lofty goals what I want to finish up by New Years. 

1. finish star wars quilt (12/25)
2. Apron Kit (12/25) --maybe
3. block of month quilt for 2013 (1/6)
4. Doll Quilt 14 (1/13)
5. Unwind Charity Quilt (1/28)
6. Shirts Swap Items (2/25)
7. ironing board cover (ASAP)
8. Lazy Sunday (ASAP)
9. BOW blocks (ASAP) 

OK, so that may be unreasonable considering there's only 12 days left in this year but putting a dent in that list will feel great as the FA challenge starts up. I cleaned up my room a bit recently and got most of the fabric refiled and picked up a few solids for filler next year (still need to get white) -- so hows about a little eye candy as inspiration?

These and plenty others just waiting for me to become that list of projects  -- oh and to make things more fun Hubby picked up this Go Baby accutter for me. I've got my eye on a few other dies and maybe they will be under my tree for Christmas. 

Happy Holidays and happy quilting everyone. 

Fabriholics Anonymous check in #1

One of the big goals that is a part of the challenge is to complete projects that we have been thinking about for a while and use the fabric on hand so here's the first link up party where we list out the projects that we want to make as a part of the challenge. So ya'll may remember my Fabrainbow from earlier this year and of course I have plenty of ideas floating out there on Pinterest -- here's a brief list.

1. Make a quilt for my bed -- not sure what pattern, this has been the hold up for the last 3 years
2. gypsy wife -- with the guild gals
3. Scrappy Trip Along
4. Wonky Stars 
5. x + quilt
6. Scout quilt with Teri (here) 
7. churn dash quilt -- or large churn dash (here or here)
8. work on Project Lotus
9. Triangles quilt -- for Allison due in 2015 (here) 
10. Clam Shells (here) 
11. giant star quilt -- so many options
12. Giant chevron
13. medallion Quilt
14. New York Beauty
15. Elven Garden Sampler (here)
16. Swoon Quilt
17. Steam Punk Quilt
18. Pluses Quilt
19. Taffy Quilt with Lee (here)
20. Blooming Nine Patch or Split nine Patch

 In non quilt items I would like to fit in

1. Tripple Zip Pouch
2. Duffle Bag (here) 
3. Open Wide Pouch
4. Stuffed Animals
5. Pillowcases
6. Noodle Head Bag
7. Scrappy Table Runners 
8. Cross Body Bag
9. Throw Pillows
10. More Mug Rugs

Ongoing projects in 2014

1. Shirts Swap (here) 
2. finish Large Lazy Sunday
3. string blocks 
4. charity quilts 
5. custom orders 

So I think 35 goals are good enough with the other ongoing projects that I will be finishing in the new year. 

Happy Quilting Everyone -- let's bust some stash. 

So long, George. See you in the funny pages.

So it's been 3 weeks since a real blog posting and for my dedicated readers I am sorry to have been missing but things around here have been difficult and busy. December starts with my birthday and with it falling right after Thanksgiving this year that meant a long weekend and on the way home hubs and I stopped at 5 shops in Raleigh as one of my gifts.
I have also been finding solace in quilting but as usual am lacking focus -- but I do have a few finishes to share. 

My mini Lazy Sunday -- it's 24 by 29 and adorable 

Scrappy Swoon is finished

November Block of the Month blocks are completed -- 3 more to complete them all (by 1/7)

4 more bible studies blocks -- 7 or 8 to go and they will all be done and ready for assembly. 

The UFO list is quite lengthy and some deadlines are quickly approaching but I am sure to work diligently and strive to complete those and more to enter 2014 on a cleaner slate (lower side of the single digit range), I have only 13 things on my list -- most are on deadlines so that helps right. 

My first deadline is this Friday -- ornament swap items need to go in the mail (started and ready for embellishment) 

and a custom Mug Rug order -- tops are ready for embroidery and then quilting and binding 

I want to put binding on a baby quilt this week as well -- I've been putting it off over a week now.

Next deadline is 12/21 --- finish star wars quilt (like for real this time), make a new cover for my ironing board and put together an apron for my MIL. I am also responsible for planning the Christmas meal to be eaten on 12/22 -- Pinterest here I come. 

We are off 3 days for Christmas and because the family is coming in the weekend before there could be a lot of quilting happen during this time. My first thing to tackle at that time will be the 3 block of the month blocks left they meet again on 1/7 to start the new one but I would like to get these finished by then and maybe assembled (that may be aiming a little to high). 

Next up would be the Doll Quilt swap item that I have designed and pulled fabric for but not started yet due in mid January. I am finding some frustration in the fact that my swap partner is showing a limited amount of participation in the group and didn't provide much info during sign up other than she dislikes orange. 

I am also working on a charity quilt and want it finished in time for the Jan meeting. (notice how exhausting quilting is for kitty helpers).

If I am able to get all this completed and not start anything new that would have me entering Jan or at least finishing Jan with only 3 UFO's and one ongoing project -- and that friends would be awesome. 

January also starts the fabric fast for Fabriholics Anonymous and we shall see how that goes but I tell you I am actually looking forward to it and have a few classes that I am looking into to start on my journey of destashing.

Hope everyone is having a great December and lots of quilting is happening, I know it will be at my house. I'm hoping to post more frequently and hopefully with more finishes as I push on to stay on track with these UFO's and deadlines. 

Happy Quilting Everyone. 

sorry for the silence

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving -- mine was great. It was celebrated 2 days late because my hubby's company does not close on the Friday after so we travel to see family that following weekend. Incidentally this year my birthday is also shortly after so we are celebrating that this weekend as well. Hubby and I are making a trip back on Monday and stopping at many of the great shops in Raleigh that I visited during Quilt Carolina and that should be a lot of fun -- many pictures coming soon.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am still here and plan on posting a blog update very soon about the things I have been making progress on but other things are going on right now in my life that have derailed my blogging but more on that at a later time.

Happy Quilting Everyone.