Friday, February 24, 2012

Fabric Reboot


I had fabric everywhere and my sewing area was/is a big mess.  It's too embarrassing to show you just how messy my sewing area had become, but this is a sample of what it looked like.  So I resolved to tidy it up (reboot), beginning with refolding and organizing the stash. 


I started with this (above) about a week and a bit ago - after finishing off Trade Winds.  Folding, folding, folding.  It took me until tonight to finish. 

Two rows deep times four on the counter, stacked as high as I could get it.

I bundled up all the discrete quilt projects I have - 14 of them - and tied them, put them up in the top cupboard - when I get sewing again, I'll start with those.

This is what it looked like after I'd folded everything up.


Then tied them up - either by colour or theme.  And put them away in the drawers.

 Sew... fabric fills the two upper cupboards and the two big drawers below.  I estimate about 350 pieces altogether. 

My next job is to clean up the rest of my sewing area.  I'm the first to admit it won't last too long, but it does need to get done from time to time. 

Then I get to start sewing again!  I have a lot of fabric to use up!

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And speaking of fabric, here are a few close up shots of the fabric used in my last two quilts (see previous post).

First - the nautical collection from Trade Winds.  Celtic knots, shells and sailboats.




Then the Partridge Family fabric. This is the one where the lady who cut it said it reminded her of the Partridge Family - I just picked it out because I liked it.  So that's what got me going on that particular quilt.  Then with that in mind, when I saw the next piece, I thought it sort of reminded me of feathers and the colour would work, so I picked it up, too. 

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Partridges, Ships and Divas

I selected some fabric that I liked and the lady who cut it told me it reminded her of the Partridge Family.  Well -that was awhile ago so I had to look it up to figure out why she made this connection.  But when I did, I realized the fabric had the geometric feel of the painted bus in the TV series, so I decided to design a "Partridge Family" themed quilt, which I call "Come On - Get Happy" - after one on the songs. 


Just after I started quilting a couple-three years ago, I picked up some nautical themed fabric so I've had it kicking around for a couple of years now.  I really need to start turning my piles of fabric into quilts so designed another quilt to use this fabric.  I came up with "Trade Winds", below.


I had some left overs so decided instead of putting them in a bag an using them later, which is what I usually do (only "later" doesn't come all that often), that I would make a table runner out of them right away - so this is what I came up with. (front - then back)



Brenda joined us today as an Honourary Diva, but I think she had enough fun that she wants to become a full fledged Diva - hope so!  I gave her these two small table toppers or over-sized place mats as her retirement gift, as she's into the retirement count down. 

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So today was a Divas day.  Naturally we can't have a DD without Gourmet Diva Sue's culinary talents.  This was today's delicious lunch!  Savory muffins, salad, stuffed peppers and awesome mac and cheese.  We also had a fabulous dessert, which I failed to get pix of - not the first time!  Take my word for it - delicious. 

And we did actually do a bit of sewing - completed one quilt top and blocks for two others.  Just to prove I do some of the sewing, some Diva took this pix of me when I obviously wasn't paying attention!