come on in!

have a peek at my new home.....no, i didn't vacuum but hopefully you can overlook that...LOL....here is a pictorial tour of where i now live....it's home sweet home!  first, inside the front door....storage closet to left...

a peek into the galley kitchen...enough storage for what i need and easy reach to everything...a quick turn into the (almost) empty bedroom and fabric store...LOL...a desk will be going here for the printer and laptop....

yes, that IS fabric on the floor waiting for more shelves....the head of the bed (when it arrives) will be on the left side wall and that lone star is going up on that wall....

bathroom is located just after where the desk will go and opposite the lone star is a large walk-in clothes closet with shelves on one side...plenty roomy...back out to living room where the elfa sits just after the kitchen entryway...the little vintage book table has a small quilt made by janet!

going clockwise is the rocker...so glad to have my rocking chair again....and the jo morton wallhanging is going up on the wall next to the 1930s piece....

next comes the futon chair that unfolds to a twin bed at night where currently sleeping....it is sooo comfy to sit or sleep....a wise acquisition it turns out....my apartment faces the front of the complex and the street,  but being on the 5th floor i'm above the tree line and most of the noise, plus i get any breezes that are aloft....the cedar chest with TV and VCR which had to unearth until cable is installed....have many tapes of "simply quilts" that are fun to rewatch....

continuing clockwise, just beyond the cedar chest (with TV) is my grandmother's sled (that is her vintage picture) and some little quilts....trudy treadle, more wall decorations

here is a view of the entire area....really larger than it looks in this photo....under the treadle is my pillow, sheet and quilt for nighttime.  the ottoman (under the quilt frame) gets put up against the unfolded chair so my feet don't hang off the end....this was a freebie that i recovered as the matching ottoman for the chair was about $160....on the treadle is my "F" pile..meaning finish....some are basted and some just flimsy that i'm determined to at least get basted, but ideally would like to finish them all...

on to the sewing studio area....just beyond trudy is the design wall and a peek at the sewing space...the ironing station on risers and the other table with the machine, ottlite, cutting mat, etc...have to work at keeping this area from becoming a catchall....

the tables, sewing chair and behind is the shelving unit, corner is drawers with UFOs...well some of them....

everything is pretty handy....on top are shoeboxes with precut units  and strips....the sewing basket belonged to my late aunt, the box has patterns for the rare occasion when garments get sewn.  next comes books, a large tote for cross stitch stuff,

storage for threads, some miscellaneous mags that are saved and my 2 CD storage racks.  as of now, there is no place else handy for them but may go under the desk in the future....on the very bottom shelf is my collection of quilters' newsletter magazines which i'm keeping for the present.  so you can see it's very work er play friendly....and yes, there is no table for meals....emily post would be mortified but often just sit in the rocker with a dish or in the chair if i have a glass too....in the bedroom under the lone star is the antique sewing table that folds down, so that may get moved to between the chairs when the bed arrives....not sure when that might be.  picked out a serta "leola" extra firm, which is just over $800 at sears....definitely not in my budget right now.   oh, and the little sign that says "sew blessed"?  from vic in NH last christmas.....a perfect finishing touch don't you think?   hope you enjoyed the tour!

whoops!  forgot one!  this is the other side of the bedroom where majority of fabric is shelved....plus the roll of batting (bathroom door on left)...fabric is shelved according to color mostly except for solids, kaffe fassetts and quite a few "not quite neutrals" that have a white or beige background but lots of color besides....when i get another set of shelves, will space these out some but for now easy to find and reach!   on the floor are reds, greens, cheddars/oranges, plus the larger pieces of yardage for specific projects....

design wall monday

the design wall is UP and the apt is nearly ready for its closeup....a couple more things to go on the wall, a vacuum and dust and photos will be taken for your viewing.  meantime, this sewing got done yesterday...

westering women blocks 3 and 4 ready to join the others currently in a mailing box in maine....they'll get here soon i hope!   also finished this little wallhanging made entirely from scraps/stash....

even the binding was leftover from another project...the lone star i think...quilting on the modern amish continues....and do you watch "call the rmidwife"?   really like it but always makes me tear up at some point.....

thanks...

for all the wonderfully kind comments about my Hawaiian quilt.  one thing I failed to mention is this:  I bought the video from Pacific Rim Quilts on Hawaiian quilting.  worth every single penny it cost as it gave me lots of info about the needleturn applique, the construction, type of batt, etc.  I already knew how to hand quilt ok but decent applique was daunting as it's a skill that had so far eluded me until this project.  Having the video on hand allowed me to return to it time and again to double check my technique.  Without the video, I am sure the result would be far less satisfactory.  The quilt has the right amount of "puff" between the quilting lines and the applique became very easy not too far into the project.  Again, the thanks should be shared with Nancy Chong and her excellent video! 

Alooooo-ha!

just early this morning, took the very last stitch in this quilt.  so happy to see it finished. now for washing and it'll be ready to use....busted 11.5 yards of fabric on this....

and, as predicted, it isn't perfect.  the pattern got basted down on a banquet table and one corner is a tad off but am not disappointed or sad.  i loved making this quilt from the very first stitch and it'll be one of my heirloom quilts that i'll keep forever....just try hawaiian quilting if you haven't....it is so relaxing and rewarding.   and to keep the momentum going, immediately put this little quilt in my frame and started the quilting...it'll be a quick finish.  tackling the UFO list with a vengeance here at home....studio photos soooon!

doll quilt swap

from danice, this lovely little doll quilt that is just right to cover trudy and keep her dust free!  danice also included this personalized pinkeep and a handkerchief/church doll that she made....handmade gifts are so wonderful, don't you think? 

it's another gorgeous day here....breezy and warm and sunny oh my!   almost done with hawaiian binding, also working on a table runner pattern i recently found.  the only glitch in having my own apartment that i can see is now i have to do housework!!!  yes, laundry and dishes came first today....isn't that revolting?  fortunately free lunch today at senior center so no dishes there...sewed on another sleeve for a wallhanging that is going up over the treadle and got my flannel design wall also washed.  by next week should be ready for the big reveal.....the shelving unit is together but alas, does not hold ALL my fabric, about 2/3rds i would say....a few color families are left on the floor but now have handle on how much there is and what can be done to use it up.   what a lovely task!

thank you jan patek!

a recent giveaway on jan patek's blog was this adorable pillow kit...lucky, lucky me! i adore her patterns and have the christmas nativity one waiting....a couple of years ago, won a FQ bundle of jan's fabrics from cyndi at busy thimble that i've been saving for just such a project. this kit, though, has everything, including the backing fabric.  poor jan and her staff were ill and then i moved, so it took a while to arrive but so worth the wait!

can't wait to get started on it, but first the hawaiian needs to be done. binding is getting sewn down so another few days should find it officially OFF the UFO list!   cannot recall exactly when it was started but has to have been 3-4 years ago anyway.  might even get another small project done this week too!  *** in the meantime, things are getting to be normal here in maryland.  been hanging photos and wallhangings this weekend.  the shelves have arrived for the fabric, so that is next on the agenda.  DD came for a visit so my hug tank is full for now.  busy week upcoming with a few fun and FREE things to do since the budget is on life support.  am blessed to have enough food and shelter and fabric! 

the studio is open!

at last, 8 days after landing, the final box is in the recycling dumpster and *MOST* everything has found a home.  sadly, the bulletin board was DOA but a replacement will be made at some point.  clothes are clean, folded/hung and in the closet....and yes i have plenty of sox again!  printer arrived with toner intact--after a year in storage i was impressed!   FWS foundations were printed and managed 2 block finishes yesterday....Left to right, Em (for misery no doubt) and Fanny for your viewing pleasure!

and it WAS a monumental task, all that unpacking, left to be done are things to hang on the wall and find more places to display quilty items.   big thank you to Marge at Delaware Quilters...this little tool was invaluable in my success!

this is the flathead side, the other is phillips....the larder is next on the list.  some of my herbs replaced but all other staples still waiting.  once the bookcase is arrived and organized, will post the formal photos of the new studio....sometime next week....until then keep calm and quilt on!

egad!

add 2 more UFOs to the list....these were lurking in the bowels of a box among scraps don't ya know....

the snowman candle mat and these batik scrap star hexagons....getting put aside while the binding on the hawaiian continues.....and it's summer here in maryland!   84 yesterday and 80 today....they call it spring but in maine it doesn't get this warm until late june or july....the gals at the complex tell me to wait a bit, summer will come.   ***  the old viking is set up and was so fun this morning right after breakfast to sit and sew a bit....the transition has been smooth as silk and almost everything has a place now.   trudy is still waiting for her belt, then all the sewing gals will be operational....as mrs. goodneedle always says "life is good"!

making progress???

already feeling overwhelmed, quilt project wise....ok far left is a stack of yardage for backgrounds and some garments, clear bag is muslin/white scraps, green bag is batting scraps, middle pile is basted items, far right is flimsies, and lastly the print bag holds large muslin and white backings....tired yet?  I sure am!  and by special request, am showing again the milky masquerade flimsy aka sparkle pattern...

still putting things away and trying not to think about the UFOs calling my name...and yesterday took a break and watched "Brooklyn" while quilting on the Hawaiian, which is just about ready for its binding....april finish maybe?  I hope so.....

unpacked but....

this was taken with flash but there is no lamp in that room yet....well, there is a lamp but no bulb...but this will give you an idea of how the stash organizing is coming along.   yes, those are PILES of fabric but really, looks like a lot more in this photo.  the reason it is just tossed about is that a lot of fabric was used as packing material, and so to get at other stuff, just flung the fabric aside for the time being.  a bookcase will arrive next week to get it off the floor.  actually, for 3 days out, the apartment is looking pretty good...the kitchen is almost all done, 2 of the sewing shelves are done and the cedar chest is now packed with its usual stuff.  still a lot piled around for which am slowly finding spaces.  first up had to assemble the elfa drawers, then the other set where my UFOs reside and get the antique sewing table up that is currently being used as a desk.  printer is functional (no internet yet), drawers are full.  surprised that toner cartridges were not completely dried.   found 3 packages of computer paper, 2 of carol doak's foundation PLUS the ream from amazon.  clothing is mostly in the closet now and nice to have something other than fleece pants to wear.  my 2 pairs of sox that have worn over the past year are getting a much-needed break!  Tuesday night after movers left and I had spent the day unpacking, slept an incredible 10.5 hours without waking at all!  that is unheard of for me.  last night another 9 hours, a testament to how exhausting this process has been.  even so, thrilled to be here and to have an apartment in such a lovely place.   ***  today's quest is to find a source for herbs by the ounce.  usually whole foods or organic markets sell them and my collection that was in storage for an entire year are gonzo.  ***  lastly let me sing the praises of Allen & Coles moving company out of Portland, Maine.  everything--and I mean EVERYTHING--arrived in tip top shape save for one shelf of an old side table that is easily repaired and the plastic cover to a stoneware pie plate that cracked.  it is only used in the refrigerator so some wide clear tape fixed it good as new.   things that were old and fragile and of huge sentimental value all arrived in pre-move condition.