Saturday in the Sewing Room and Stash Enhancement

Before we went away in the middle of April our street trees were looking rather lovely in their autumn colours. 

By the time we returned home at the end of the month the weather had definitely turned the corner towards winter. 

Saturday was quite cold and Mick was at work (yes, still going to work), so it was a great opportunity to get my sewing room in some sort of order, so that I could actually do some sewing. 

Oh dear!  What a mess. After declaring that there would only be my current projects in there it had become a dumping ground once again, especially after Scrub Stitchin’ and then heading off again so soon. 

First things first, take everything out that wasn’t in its correct home……

This pile of things that have nothing to do with sewing wasn’t very large, so was easy to dump somewhere else to deal with later……well, actually I did put some of it away. 

These two piles were a little larger and all sewing related. Oh my goodness!

OK, now that all that stuff was out of the room it was time to vacuum, dust and get my sewing machine set up again. 

Doesn’t that look a bit better. 

At this stage I had an urge to do some actual sewing before tackling the big pile of mess. 

I had pulled out Mick’s flanny shirts for winter and this one had a big tear across the bottom of the back section. It had been sitting in the mending pile for, ooh, maybe three years. You can’t rush these things.  It’s only an old work shirt, so any sane person would just chuck it, but, shock horror, I decided to mend it and earn some brownie points. 

There you go. All done, be it very rough, and with a gap where the edges were not going to meet.  Mick was speechless, so he said. (Yes, I know that doesn't sound right.) He was wearing it on Sunday. 

So, how does my sewing room look now?

Not perfect, but it is a working room, not a show room.  There is some washing to put away and the big blue bag that was sitting in front of the couch has a couple of my quilts and cushions in it which still  need to be put away. 

On the shelf under the quilting frame there are my current projects. After a couple of years of finishing things, I seem to have a few on the go at the moment.  Having said that, a couple don’t need much doing to them. I’m not going to have any quilts quilted at the moment, rather hang onto them until I learn how to use Monique.  I’ll have to get a big tub to keep them in, together with their binding and backing ready to go.

The bags on my cutting table have clothes I need to adjust for Mum. The rather lovely sewing basket is one I recently acquired. I’m not sure where I’ll put it or what I will use it for, so it is in the way at present.  

However, all in all, I’m ready to start sewing again. I can’t wait. 

Now, a little about that stash enhancement I mentioned. 

I’ll just show this photo again. See the pile of plastic tubs next to the lounge. Well, the two longer ones at the bottom of the front pile and the three at the back (the blue lidded ones and the one below it) are my new stash enhancement. Let me tell you a story. 

On the Sunday morning before Scrub Stitchin’ I was chatting with my next door neighbour and she asked if I had seen the quilt fabric garage sale on Facebook on Saturday. No, we’d had a quick look for garage sales, but had been helping out at the church fete for most of the day, so hadn’t seen it.  She said it was advertised again that morning, so I straight away hopped in the car to see if anything was left. It was quite close to home. 

When I got there, there were lots of tubs of fabrics being sold by weight at a very reasonable price. It turned out it was a deceased estate destash.  There was hardly any yardage, but mainly fat quarters and small cuts. They were good quality fabrics and mainly civil war reproductions. The greens had been sold the previous day. Apparently there had only been four people turn up on the Saturday and only me on the Sunday morning. I enquired who the deceased lady was and it turned out I knew her. She had been in the same beginner class as me at the Home Patch way back in 2003 and went on to make some beautiful quilts. I had also gone to school with her daughter. Small world. I selected a good quantity of shirtings and low volume fabrics as well as a few others that took my eye and went home. 

I told Mick how good it was and I was seriously thinking of going back and buying some more. Now, get this……he suggested I call “The Chook”, as he calls Chookyblue, and see if she would like some. So I did, and of course she would…..so I went back. 

When I returned, they were just about to close it all down. Photos and phone calls to Chooky happened. How to decide what to buy?  Why don’t we ask how much for the lot?  So we did, and yes, we bought the lot! I think they were happy to clear the decks. They also wanted me to take all her magazines, but there was no room for them. I did take a couple of books. They also threw in a hand quilting hoop on a floor stand for anyone who would like it at Scrub Stitchin’, which was very kind.

So, the ute was piled high with eight tubs of fabric when we headed off to Baradine. Chooky and I wondered how we would divide it, but it ended up being rather simple, as there was a general blend of each colour, so we just did a split down the middle, after each selecting a few fabrics we particularly liked. We still can’t quite believe what a great bargain we got. 

I haven’t had a proper look through my tubs yet, but there will be scope to make some lovely quilts using a wide variety of fabrics. I really don’t need to shop for fabric any time soon. 

Well, that is enough blabber for one day. Hopefully I’ll be back soon with some actual stitching to share. 

The Start of a New Month - May's Goals

May has come around all too quickly and it is time to work out what my goals are for the month.  

We were hardly home at all last month, so there are quite a few things needing doing around here that will limit my stitching time, so my goals will be very simple.

It is so good being able to be out and about again, participating in events and travelling, but I do miss that extra time spent at home in my sewing room.  We can't have it both ways.  I will find a balance.

STITCHING GOALS

1.    ONE MONTHLY GOAL

My goal this month is to make another baby quilt using the second small jelly roll that I have had sitting around for a couple of years.  I made one last year and now will make another.  I think I will use the same design, as it was effective and worked up quickly.  No, this one will not be made in just one day.

2.    RAINBOW SCRAP CHALLENGE

The colour this month is Forest or Sage Green.  I will make my butterfly, nine patch and HST blocks.  They shouldn't take too long.

3.    ONE PROJECT A MONTH

My baby quilt should tick this box.

4.    LEADER AND ENDER

I finally have a new leader and ender project on the go.  Well, it is actually a continuation of the one I started a few years ago, making the black and white HST blocks. Not having this sort of project for a couple of years has rather annoyed me, as it seemed a huge waste of potential productivity.

And that is all I'm aiming for this month.  I have quite a few other things I would like to work on, but any progress will be a bonus.

NON STITCHING GOALS

1.    READ A BOOK

It will have to be an easy read.  (Last month I actually read three books in three days - that is the first for a while.)

2.    TRY A NEW RECIPE

I was given a recipe last month with an unusual ingredient for what it is.  I want to give it a try.

3.    FRIDAY FUN DAY

Yes, that is happening tomorrow.

4.    WEEKEND AWAY IN THE CARAVAN

Having just returned home, we will be off again shortly.

In summary, I have so many things needing attention.  I'm at one of those points where there is so much to do that I don't know where to start and end up doing absolutely nothing.  My sewing room has become a dumping ground again, following Scrub Stitchin', our recent trip away and a massive stash enhancement event (but that is a story for another day).  I haven't even unpacked my sewing machine and can't get to my cutting table.  It is really annoying, so hopefully on the weekend I will make some inroads and actually stitch something.

I did make a list for today and have ticked off the basic things needing doing around the house and now can tick off this blog post.  Next to head to town and try and tick off some of those jobs before doing some more around here.  It will take me a while to catch up.  I just need to do one thing at a time and finish it before moving onto the next.  I'll get there.  Wish me luck.

Scrub Stitchin’ - Make It, Bake It, Fake It

A feature of our retreat each year is the Make It, Bake It or Fake It swap.

I like to make something each time, but always seem to leave it to the last minute, which is not good.  As a result I generally make something simple.  Last year I made a cute little zippy pouch using some orphan blocks and filled it with some bits and bobs.  You can see it here.

This year, I decided to make another one, but with a different design.  I used quilt as you go crumb piecing.  Something quite new to me.

It was fun selecting colourful scraps and making them fit, and doing some rather organic straight line quilting as I went along.

I think I may try this method again.

Once again I filled the pouch with some bits and bobs.

We did our gift swap at the Red dinner on Saturday night.  I had quite a chuckle when I saw my gift being placed in front of Harriet, as she was the recipient of the one I made last year.  She chuckled too.  Fortunately, she was quite happy to receive a second one, as she uses the first one I made and actually had it with her at Baradine.

I commented to her mum, Tina, that I will have to make something different next year, but Tina says another pouch will be fine, so long as she is the recipient.

So what did I receive?  Well, I’m not at home at the moment and haven’t taken a photo, so will just provide a link to show it. The gift came from Annette.  It is one of those very handy stands that you can stick scissors, pencils, quick unpicks etc in. I was very happy to receive it, as it is one of those things that I see and think would be nice to have.  It is also pink, which suits my sewing room and will sit nicely on the shelf above my cutting table.

And that about covers everything from our wonderful weekend away.

And, I now have something to share for One Project a Month hosted by Kris - bonus.

Scrub Stitchin’ - Show and Tell

Show and Tell is always a feature of the weekend.  

Di shared another of her machine embroidery pieces.  Stunning.

Tina shared her progress for the weekend.  So colourful.

Miranda shared her minecraft quilt.

And her Elmer block.

And her jelly roll quilt from last year’s weekend.  This was the first quilt she had made.

Brenda had been very busy.  This bag is super cute.  It is a pattern I have been wanting to make for years.

This quilt was made from a kit she purchased last year.

And a mini quilt.

As well as making her table runner, she did nearly all the quilting on her “Letters to my Daughter” quilt. It is beautiful, with some blocks customised to suit her better.

Harriet pieced this quilt last year, and quilted it this year.

She has made this quilt recently.

Julie has made a beautiful sashiko table runner.

And a nice chevron quilt top.

Mary made a sweet Liberty fabrics draw string bag.

And a beautiful Tilda jelly roll quilt.

And continues to work on the Field Journal stitcheries.

Lea continues to make stunning quilts.

Gail had a couple of beauties.

Jenny;s hubby bought this panel when in the US.  Her borders are perfect.

Jenny had finished this top that was started some years ago in a stitch along.

She also completed her table runner from Nundle (shown here by Gail).

Her final one was this colourful HST quilt.

Sue shared her Sylvias Bridal sampler.

And the quilt she made from the kit she purchased last year.

Jo’s self designed quilt was beautiful.

Di had these two beauties.

And finally mine…

This is one I haven’t shared before.  It is a yo yo quilt made by my Mum.  I have a photo of her working on it in 1983. When packing it up for this weekend I discovered a label saying it was finished in 1994 and has 2600 pieces.  I can identify several fabrics from things that existed in my childhood.

Most importantly, did anyone finish last year’s project from Scrub Stitchin’?

Yes, I made the cushion, Brenda stitched the block and turned it into a bag and Sue appliqued the wreath to the back of a shirt.

And that completes show and tell.  There are some rather talented ladies, aren’t there.