New Tools

After the addition of my new machine in December, I did some major rearranging.  I'm really happy with how my Sewing Lab looks now, but I don't really have a place for my other sewing machines.  

With my constant obsession with rearranging, I need my furniture and accessories to be flexible.  With that in mind, I purchased a table insert for my SewEzi table which will allow me to switch machines at will rather than having custom inserts for each machine.  The insert just arrived, and I think it's going to work great for me.

 I still have the custom insert for when I use Nina (my Bernina), but when I want to use my Featherweight (still unnamed) or my little Juki (freebie with my new Juki and also unnamed) I can just pop in the SewEzi table insert.  The two little machines will be used for piecing blocks rather than quilting, so I don't think the lack of an extension table is an issue. 

These books also arrived while I was gone this past weekend.  I am super excited to learn how to take better photos of my quilts, and really needed Denyse's new book since she'll be the keynote speaker at QuiltCon (like anyone needs a reason for a new book!).

Happy stitching....and reading!

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I saw this on Pinterest and thought it would make a funny birthday card for a friend.

On a more serious note, did you know that today is World Alzheimer's Day?!  

Read more on this blog post. 

 I went to quilt class again yesterday.  My Mom asked if I was getting all A's...I told her it was a good thing we weren't being graded ;-)  Our textbook is Karen K. Stone Quilts, and our project is the Cinco de Mayo quilt.  Since it is just a four lesson class, only the toughest parts of four blocks are being taught...otherwise it should be a five year class ;-)

Seriously though, I am learning a lot about paper piecing.  I think I am ready to tackle that Dear Jane quilt now....just got to clear up that long list of WIPs first.

I don't think I'm the only blogger who gets excited to receive an email notification that a comment has been left on their blog post.  Am I alone in being disappointed when NO ONE comments?  Probably not.  For some reason yesterday, I was really disappointed that no one commented on the lovely swap package I received.  I worried that I hadn't done justice with my words to the gorgeous quilt made by Jessica.  

However, last night I discovered comments HAD been left on my blog....just no emails to let me know!  I don't normally look on my blog to see if I have any comments....I rely on my mail inbox to let me know.  Has this happened to anyone else?  Not sure if it is a Blogger thing, a Mac thing or something else.  I usually get a stray comment now and then that lands in my Junk folder, but this hasn't happened before, at least not that I am aware.  Hmmm, better look into this...

In other news....my aqua seam ripper finally arrived!!!  

Yes, Amy, it was definitely worth the wait!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

New Stuff

Take a look at my new ironing station!

The idea came from here and during my virtual retreat time yesterday I took a break from sewing and made my own!  Covering the board was surprisingly quick and easy.  

I.do.NOT.like.guns...but I have to say I was having a good time with my newly acquired staple gun ;-)  This project also gave me a use for the Amy Butler home decor fabric I accidentally purchased a long time ago.  I love this Paradise Garden fabric but mistakenly ordered the heavier weight.  Now it brightens up my studio!

This project also provided a use for one of my way too many  Longaberger baskets holding my Best Press, scissors and other important odds and ends.  The shelves hold my WIPs in a highly visible place so I can be reminded to pick up the pace ;-)

I am very proud of this new gadget...isn't it pretty?

Can you guess what it is?

Why yes...a beautifully sophisticated, handmade un-sewing tool!  Thanks to Cindy for alerting me to these cool seam rippers made by Amy's husband.

You know how one thing leads to another, right?  Well, while investigating the seam rippers, I discovered Amy's blog (really don't know how I missed it) which led me to order this book after seeing the wonderful blocks she made.  I love my enabling friends!!!

My two days of virtual retreating didn't go as planned, but I managed to get started on this mini quilt.  My car wasn't cooperating and required a visit to the dealer (which ended up taking the entire day) so not much sewing got done on day one.  However, I did take advantage of some down time in the waiting room for exploring Pinterest and found some funny word-themed pins such as  this one that might make a funny birthday card, this sisters sign and even a Hogwarts saying.

While my studio is getting a makeover, so is my front yard.  This mess greeted my daughter after school yesterday!

What new stuff are you sharing?

Have an amazing day!!!

Domestic Diva

is not something I have ever been called....diva maybe...domestic....hmmm....no ;-)  However, lately I have been called a Goddess!!!

Priority: Alzheimer's Quilts made by Beth

Fellow OMQG member Beth made two more Priority: Alzheimer's Quilts.  I just love it when she does that, because every time she makes a quilt for AAQI, she'll say "here you go Goddess" ;-)

The "before" picture

Actually, this weekend I could have been called a Domestic Diva...I cooked, I cleaned, I sewed. 

I spent most of two days organizing and cleaning my quilt factory (as my daughter has taken to calling my studio) including (don't faint now) VACUUMING the carpet!

Mediterranean Chicken with Potatoes

I also tried a new recipe for dinner.  I actually do cook, but lately if you came to my house (or talked to my kids) you would not have thought so ;-)  This mediterranean chicken dish was yummy!  

Shoofly Block

Monday night the OMQG is having a three hour Sew Evening, and instead of bringing my sewing machine, I think I'll bring my AccuQuilt Go. 

Wonky Star Block

Before going to town cutting up hundreds of HST's for two different graduation quilts, I made a few sample blocks to make sure I was on the right track.

I think my AccuQuilt Go! will earn its keep with these projects ;-)

Have an amazing day!!!

Wonderful Wednesday!

I found a little bit of time to play with my new toy.

The AccuQuilt Go was much easier to use than I thought....and I haven't even watched the DVD yet ;-)

In under ten minutes, a charm pack was transformed into 86 triangles!  Brilliant!!!

I can't wait to play with my other dies...

...but for now I'm off to have coffee and lunch with friends I haven't seen since last year ;-)

 Have an amazing day!!!

Look What I Got

I must have been a good girl last year

because there were all kinds of goodies waiting for me when I got home from my trip!!!

Look what Santa (aka Mom) brought me.....

 I now have my very own Accu Quilt Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The UPS man also brought me these dies to go with my Accu Quilt....

these are from my husband....he just doesn't know it yet ;-)

Great quilting books from Amazon for inspiration.

I won this great solid charm pack from the Portland Modern Quilt Guild, and

the nice folks at Robert Kaufman sent a box of solid charm packs for the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild.

I see even more solid quilts in my future!

What quilting gifts did you receive over the holidays?

Now, if only Santa's elves can help me unpack suitcases, take down the Christmas decorations, do the laundry and grocery shopping, I could play with my new toys!!!!

Friends

Aren't friends the best?!!!  Old friends...new friends....quilt friends...non quilting friends...bloggy friends met...bloggy friends you'd like to meet...they are all wonderful!!!

I don't title my Wednesday posts Wonderful Wednesday! for nothing ;-)  Yesterday (as I try to do most Wednesdays) was spent with friends.  Our sixth Orlando Modern Quilt Guild was held yesterday, and we had another awesome meeting.  Here are some of our members showing off the "ugly" fabrics they received.  Can't wait for Show and Tell in October to see what they come up with.

Kathryn gave us a way cool demo on soy milk/watercolor painting on fabric.  Everyone got a chance to try the technique, and we went home with the recipe, instructions and too many new project ideas spinning in our heads!

Cara also brought her brand new baby Daniela Marie to the meeting which thrilled us all.  I resisted the urge to take a picture as Daniela was sleeping so peacefully.  We all agreed it's best not to wake sleeping babies.

Since moving "back to this side of town" as some of my friends put it, I've gone back to having them over for "Wine Down Wednesday".  Now if only I can convert them to quilting.  Hope, where were you when I needed you?

Yesterday, I received this oh-my-gosh-so-fabulous hand made card and needle book from my bloggy friend Anne.  Thank you Anne, I love it!!!  I saw the pictures on her blog, but never thought it was for me...the camera is just perfect for her Film and Thread blog.

Here's the inside ready for my needles!  I have seen these cute needle books all over blogland and have been meaning to make one.  This is one project I can mark off my to-do list....Yeah!  Thanks again Anne, and hope we can get together soon IRL!

Toni, a bloggy friend I did get to meet, sent me this great Brooklyn Revolver after hearing I didn't have one.  It is great for cutting smaller pieces of fabrics...hexies for example.  Between Angela and Thelma's posts and tips on making, traveling, and storing hexies, Anne's needlebook and Toni's Brooklyn Revolver I now have no more excuses to put off making these adorable hexies.  

As you can see, I have made ONE....how many hundreds more to go?

Have an amazing day!!!

Sashing and Cutting

I was cruising with the pinwheel sashing...until my realtor called and said she wanted to show the house.

This is as far as I got before I had to pack it all up and make my studio look tidy.

I'm still loving this clever ruler.

I used it to cut triangles for Hexagon Block 3.  Maybe tomorrow I'll be able to sew these together.

Have an amazing day!!

Hexagons...finally

After unsuccessfully trying to figure out a hexagon quilt design myself, I was thrilled to see Julie's Hexagon Quilt Along pop up over at Old Red Barn Quilt Company.

The instructions seemed straight forward enough.  Sew sets of two strips of jelly rolls.  She gave instructions for cutting the triangles using three types of rulers.  I went with the mack daddy cool looking 60º Double-Strip Equilateral Triangle Ruler.  This being the first time making hexagons I figured I could use all the help I could get.

I don't know if it was the fancy dancy ruler, but these were pretty easy to figure out.  They look pretty cool, don't you think?   

Above is the suggested layout of Block 1. 

 This is the layout that Julie used to make her original hexagon quilt.  I really think this layout is pretty cool too.  I went back and forth until finally deciding which one to use.

I had enough triangles to make ten blocks.  Here are the two halves....waiting for further instructions.

One more picture...just because ;-)  

Keeping up with the hexagon quilt along is my goal #1 of Jacquie's Spring to Finish Challenge 2010.

Have an amazing day!!!