the "new" ironing/cutting space

we had this table but it was a bit concave in the middle, so i purchased a board, covered it with batting and ironing board fabric to give me more ironing and cutting space.  i can leave the iron up all the time (as you can see) plus there is storage room underneath.  the tote has finished quilted items as well and you can just barely see the bulletin board in the corner on the right.  only 4 more pics!

clothes storage

this chest was found on the roadside with a "free" sign on it, so home it came.  it isn't my choice really, but it works until i can find a tall chest of drawers that will free up some floor space.  the wallhanging matches the fabrics in the double irish chain, it just needs to be moved. 

the quilty shelves

here are the UFOs in shoeboxes, plus some stash and kits as well.  the bottom shelf currently has CDs and LP albums and my tape deck/tuner.  on the right is my stack of quilters' newsletter mags that i like to look through now and then for inspiration.  the top shelf is now piled high with finished projects and some projects basted waiting for quilting.  there simply isn't any other place to store them.  

the bedroom part

the wall piece is one i made a long time ago with mostly repros but a few real vintage fabrics.  right now i've the double irish chain quilt and pillowcases on the bed. 

end of the grand tour

this is the last photo of my sewing space/bedroom/TV room, etc.  the antique photo is my grandmother.  i never knew her as she died when my mother was a toddler. 

friday night success

here is the friday night finish!  i know, it's tied and not quilted but it's done.  this was the first time i tried a buck-a-block from the quilt shop and it came out ok.  i did it because i loved the fabrics, not my usual color choices.  it'll get donated at some point with another quilt i have on hand.  so, now i'm going to work on the next UFO, the sewing machine applique with spools, another official UFO.  after a few household chores this morning, i might baste the lovers' links as that is to be hand quilted, a gift, and get started.  ideally i'd like to finish the links and another hand quilted piece before the end of the year.  that might be a modest goal, will have to wait and see. 

it's friday and that means.....

well, it could mean a lot of things, like payday or shopping day or fish day, but for a certain group of quilters it's FRIDAY NIGHT SEW IN!  yes, this very night i will be at home sewing for a change (NOT) since i sew most every day and evening too.  if it isn't done by then, i'll be finishing the binding on my buck-a-block quilt, but it might be done by then.  if it is, then it could be the hawaiian or the christmas scrappy or the spools or some other lucky project that gets chosen for this hallowed evening.  until tonight, i've got a few things to do of the household variety and, of course, more sewing.  i might even be inspired to get out the vacuum and suck up all the little threads on the floor!  did i say i hated carpet in the sewing room?  i believe i did but i'll say it once more!!!

binding day

today is the day this UFO gets bound and put in the done pile.  it's a buck-a-block quilt through a local quilt shop.  i chose to participate because of the colors, not my usual palette.  this quilt, along with another i have that is also tied, will get donated to someone/something at some point. **** thursday all ready?  it's amazing how the time goes when one does nearly nothing every day.  sure, we do hit the beach now that the weather is good (yesterday and today), but as for doing anything of consequence or importance, just don't.  the sewing stuff is fun to a point; sometimes it does get tedious and my life is cavernously empty of anything that feeds my work passion.  if all work and no play makes one dull, all play and no work makes one completely worthless.  i never was a workaholic, but i loved my medical secretary work.  it grieves me immensely and leaves a huge void in my life.  back to playing, i guess.....

spooling around

now this is an official UFO from my list.  it is in homage to the old viking, the machine that has served me so well for over 30 years now.  yes, the paint is a little nicked here and there and it's had more than a few tuneups and repairs, but it's still going strong showing no signs of getting retired.  my only issue with this machine is that it weighs a TON; it's a fully steel, swedish-made machine with way more bells and whistles than i'll ever use at this point in my sewing career.  sure, i used the fancy stitches--ducks, flowers, hearts, diamonds and zigzags, but not for quite a while now.  do i drool a bit over those newer, much snazzier machines?  a little, but until the old viking goes to the old machine folks home, we'll remain a daunting duo, giving the energizer bunny a run for its money.  like, why not?

a birthday remembrance

today would have been my dad's 88th birthday.  my mom would have made his favorite dinner, like she did for all birthday celebrants.  it could have been most anything as he was not a fussy eater, but no canned tomatoes and no chocolate.  dessert was often the same thing:  a plain cake in layers with fresh strawberries, topped with whipped cream and more strawberries or maybe a strawberry shortcake.  we're pretty certain his new residence is way better than maine, but we don't think there is any cake, though there is also no pain, sadness or tears.  can't say that for this residence, especially today.