Design Wall January 24

Oh, who am I kidding, there isn't much on my design wall. My sewing area is a mess.

To see what other quilters have on their design walls go to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

Before I talk about the mess though I did get more piecing done for Dinner Plate Dahlia.

Now, on to the mess. This room has been a work in progress for a long time. I waited a few years after Son moved out before I turned it into my sewing room. I leave the bed there for when he visits. I can't get it organized in a way that makes it easy to work in. I know that part of the problem is that I have too much stuff! You can see in this photo that I can't use the big ironing board because it has piles of stuff as does the bed.

I started with this four-drawer filing cabinet. One drawer holds sewing machine parts and manuals.

One drawer has counted cross stitch kits and fabrics. The bottom two drawers held the embroidery floss. I was given a lot of boxes of DMC thread. I decided I didn't need all that thread. I pulled a few skeins of each color and will donate the rest. I now have an empty drawer. I am sorting through my buttons, organizing them by color. I've ordered small clear plastic bins. I think they will all fit in the bottom drawer with some room left to store various trims.

Next, I chose patterns to go with bundles of fabrics. These got put into bins and labeled.

I got smart and taped labels to the handles. That makes it much easier for me to see what is in the bins.

I also decided what patterns I wanted to use with fabrics that I bought to make some tops.

Husband bought these baskets for me thinking they would be good for storing fabric in. He was right! I got them better organized. They are actually meant for use in the garden. You can find them here.

While going through things, I found this project. Several years ago I intended to make Roman shades for the bay window. I actually got one made for one of the side windows. It is lined with an insulating curtain liner. The only thing left to do to finish it is the hem. 

I decided not to make the curtains and now I don't know what to do with this. Take it apart? There are more panels made that haven't been sewn to the liner. I might just sew the panels into a quilt. I am also thinking of making a quilted jacket. That blue sweatshirt in the photo above was purchased at a very good price and would make a good base for that.

I had some split 9-patch blocks left from a quilt I made. Sewn together they make a 30-inch square. Small baby quilt? Table topper? Wall quilt?

I also found this old UFO. I had started hand quilting it. I am working on finishing it. It is called Magna Chroma and was bought as a kit. I have appliqued our last name initial in the center of mine. 

Do you see my helpers?

This is a photo of one made by someone else.

I'll get back to organizing today.

Stay safe and well.

Happy quilting!

Wed., Jan 18

 To see what other quilters are up to go to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

I'm a little late, but I have been working on things.

I got the next units pieced for Dinner Plate Dahlia.

And the next blocks 6 - 9 of the HST Scrappy quilt, large and small.

Smaller 6-1/2 inch size

Larger 13-inch size.

I will be donating the larger quilt, but I think the smaller one might make a great doll quilt to go with it.

I cut fabrics for some more 365 Challenge blocks.

I made two of the Little Wallet by Valori Wells for my lovely SIL.

 

She had seen mine and mentioned to my son that she liked it and liked that it fits in a pocket and would be nice when she doesn't want to carry a purse. Exactly why I like it; it holds all the essentials. Her favorite color is green. It is the best color, after all! My niece may like the sunflower one if SIL doesn't want it. I sent pics to my son and he happened to be with my SIL and her husband at the time. Turns out she does like them both, but...

There is always a but isn't there? She would like a pocket on the back big enough to hold her folding phone charger and another pocket for her earbuds. Sigh. So I Googled her charger to get the dimensions. I will have to make the wallet a little bit bigger. I guess I will make a sample to see if that will work for her. 

We find life fun and entertaining with these two crazy cats!

Husband and Hoppy have a routine every morning. Hoppy wants some cuddle time before Husband goes out to do chores. He falls asleep in his arms! Hoppy only wants to be held like this if Husband is standing. 

Both cats have done this, but Skippy does it the most now. 

This chair is situated in the travel path from the bathroom, kitchen, and living room. They hop up in this chair if they think someone is going to sit in it. Then they stick their paws through and want to play 'footsie'. Of course, we always oblige.

Stay safe and well.

Happy quilting!

Progress Week 2

To see what other quilters are up to go to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

Here's what I've been up to...

Another snowman appliqued.

More blocks made for the HST Scrappy Quilt.

13 inch without frames. I am undecided about these still.

6 inch with scrappy frames.

Work continues on the Dinner Plate Dahlia quilt.

The center is under constructed.

Stay safe and healthy.

Happy quilting!

New Year

 To see what other quilters are up to go to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, or whatever you celebrate. I hope the New Year brings you health and happiness.

I got another Snow Happy snowman block done. I felt like it was too plain so I added the star, but I still feel like it needs something more. Maybe a hat?

I got all the cornerstone squares cut and all the HSTs pieced and trimmed for the HST Sew Along.

This is the first block. 

Instructions for the next four blocks will be posted on January 9. Each block will have a dark skinny - 1/2 inch - frame around it. I haven't decided if my frames will be scrappy, one color, or one different color around each block. I am going to get a few more blocks made before I make that decision. 

I got some piecing done on the Dinner Plate Dahlia quilt. It is the Mardi Gras colorway.

I love the Quiltworx quilts, but some of the steps take a long time and so I sometimes move on to other things that are quicker to make during the process. I am not, never have been, one of those people who finishes a project before starting another. I just can't do it, I've tried.

This kitty, Hoppy, loooooves my husband. This is the routine every morning before Husband goes out to do chores.

He picks the cat up and before you know it Hoppy is on his shoulder or back. He greets him at the door most of time when he comes in, too.

Stay safe and well.

Happy quilting!