{Post 1,340} Back to Granny

This AM I am riding with a friend about 3-1/2 hours to pick up his old car.  He got a new one and left the old one at the dealership.  I will be driving the new wheels home ;)

Some of the fabrics have been fussy cut.  Others were just stack and whack.  I am enjoying the process.  I want more blue in the quilt, so I'll be on the lookout for some fabrics I like.  I use a 2-3/8" wide strip for the hexagons, so I need very little of each one.

I am taking the 3 unfinished blocks above to work on while he drives us up.  So here's a before picture.  I'll post a new one when I get home.  The top red block (second from the right) has the green diamonds sewn onto it.  I plan to use those for a path, but have to wait for final layout to see where they need to be sewn.  Since this is a queen-sized quilt, I've obviously got time!

{Post 1,339} Fabric Bookshelf in Place

Many hands do, indeed, make light work.  My husband, two sons, Rachel, and I got this moved up and into place and all the fabric bolts replaced in a very short amount of time.  I think I can fit all the other bolts down in the garage on the top of the green-curtained shelves.  I will remove the curtains and use the top section.  That will leave a wide shelf on there in the middle for some bins or boxes.

Tomorrow, I'll be painting a pegboard sheet to match my bedroom walls.  I have gathered some ideas for getting some things off of my cutting table and on a pegboard.  

{Post 1,338} Moving This and That

Amazingly enough, the gi are all hemmed and ready to be returned.  I hope to get a lot more as the days go on.  Easy money for me.

I did some rearranging since I was on a roll with the sewing stuff.  I figured since my youngest and I were the only ones home, it would be easiest to do it now.  He was a huge help and accepts payment in milkshakes.

Below is a space where I hope to put one of my fabric bookshelves.  When I cleared out my sewing room to make way for my daughter's new bedroom (the renovation you are probably tired of reading about), I sent a fabric bookshelf and many boxes of books to my daughter in Florida, thinking I would have built-in bookshelves in my new sewing room (that I know now isn't going to happen).  So I have to find space for all those bolts that were on the 2nd bookshelf.  Not to worry...I have a plan.

Here's my ironing station.  I put it where my cutting table used to be.  It is narrower, allowing more walk-through space between it and my bed.  I added the two black plastic crates in the middle.  Not only do they support my ironing station better, but I can put all my quilt books, magazines, and single patterns in there, freeing up another shelf elsewhere.  If I find my leftover green curtain fabric and have enough (it is over 10 years old), I have a plan for making curtains to hide the multitude of drawers and whatnot in here.

When I was originally picturing my new set-up, I thought I'd have to sacrifice my L-shaped sewing table.  Years ago, my husband cut a hole the exact shape of my sewing machine base in the left side, and it now rests on what was supposed to be the keyboard drawer.  It is the perfect height for a large flat-bed area for machine quilting.  With being able to keep the whole table (instead of taking off one leg of the "L"), I can keep my laptop set up in here for blogging, grading school work, and watching the occasional movie or listening to live-streamed music. 

My cutting table.  My husband made me a riser for it, and that has saved me so much backache, I'm sure.  Next to it is an empty *gasp* 3-drawer unit.

Here is the ugliness under that table.  Thank God for curtains!!  The pizza boxes have watercolor squares in them by fabric.  The center two boxes on top have mailing supplies and special fabric collections.  The drawers have a multitude of precut triangles and squares, binding pieces, templates, and the like.  I hope to clean out this whole area as I go through and purge and straighten.  If I need the space, I plan to raise that shelf 4" and put bolts of fabric sideways up there.  We will see.

{Post 1,337} Beginning of Sewing Room Space

Here is one of my bookshelves I used to keep many things stored in downstairs.  I am going to take off the bottom curtain and store bolts of fabric in the bottom.  The top will hold my books and individual patterns.  I will be giving away a lot of books and magazines in the future for postage only.  Stay tuned!  

On top of the file cabinet on the left is a small 6-drawer set.  It holds trim, thimbles, notions, sewing machine feet, machine quilting supplies, needles, etc.  All neatly labeled for easy access.

Last night my husband attached my cone and spool holders on the side.  I am going for maximum storage in minimum space.  I'd like to get everything except my quilt frame in my bedroom.  It used to be in a 24' x 18' room, so wish me luck!!  For some reason I find this challenge hilariously impossible.  Baby steps!

{Post 1,336} Gi...

Gi...it's what's piled on the bed.  My oldest 3 children have karate classes at least twice a week.  Gi (pronounced with a hard "G" like in "get") are their outfits...jackets and pants.  I have 18 pieces to hem before Monday.  A few need to be done for Saturday.  As in the day after tomorrow Saturday.  I have a hemming service for their dojo ("place of learning").

I told my husband I'd have to set up a sweat shop in the kitchen where the lighting is better.  He came up with the lighting in the first picture.  I am happy to say that gi #1 is nearly finished!  I might be able to piece in this light!!  Many more gi to go though!

{Post 1,335} Red Door Looks Pink

Hmmm...something fishy happened between the paint chip and the roller.  The paint I picked out at the store was a dark red, like my kitchen.  This looks more pink.  But it is finished, which is more important than a particular shade, right?  Just like a quilt that took a long time but didn't turn out just like we had hoped.  Finished is good!!

Very little left to do on the room.  We've had a heavy week with illness, emotional crises, and work.  But the end is in sight, even though we didn't get as much finished today as we would have liked.  A tad more touch-up painting for me and one more coat of poly on the mantle and hearth.  

Wes has to put the closet system in the hall closet and install the ceiling fan in the room.  The window will be replaced, but it is not in yet...special order.

So glad we could afford to make this special place for my very special daughter and grandson-to-be.

{Post 1,334} She's Still Alive!

It has been so long since I've posted.  Everyday life has been very daily lately.  

I stayed home from church tonight because of my cough, so I added a little to one of my Grandmother's Flower Garden blocks.  I don't even know where the other ones are right now!  Still packed away somewhere.

This past Monday I got up at 5:30 AM to make an 8-hour trip for my husband's company to pick up something in Atlanta and delivery it to Charlotte.  When I got up, I had just the very beginning of an allergic reaction rash.  It was popping up as I watched, so I took Benadryl every 6 hours all day and just slept the whole day away.

Today I have been coughing so much that my throat and chest hurt.   

I did a little hand sewing tonight.  If I have the energy tomorrow, I hope to reorganize some things in my bedroom (my new sewing space) so I can access the things I need to get some sewing done.

Elisabeth's room is all but finished.  Handles on the closet doors, ceiling fan assembled and installed, and a little touch-up painting, and it will be finished.  It turned out so lovely.

I have committed to watching my grandson once Elisabeth goes back to work (about 8 weeks after he is born).  I will watch him full-time until he is mobile (crawling well and/or walking), and we'll see if I can keep it up then.  She has looked into a day care setting if I end up needing it.  I am so glad to be able to help her and proud of her decision to raise her son.  What a trooper she is!  I love her.

While that may mean much less time to call my own, what is more important than supporting family?