Five Shadows

I saw the badge for OPAM, One Project a Month, on Melissa’s blog. And I got to thinking - I could do this - I have a long list of WISP, Works in Slooooooow Progress! - I have another list of projects I’d like to complete this year - I have a list of projects I’ve unearthed as I moved and organized my ’space.’ So, I took the jump and signed up! It is all for fun. A kind of motivation to complete projects. Hosted by Kris and Peg. Read all about it on their blogs or the OPAM blog.

On New Year’s Day my two teen daughters woke up with the question, “What are we doing today?” I answered that they had the go-ahead to swap rooms. Youngest gets the room left vacant by an older sibling moving out. Next-in-line gets to move into the spare bedroom we have set up as a library/sewing room. Library moves into the room the girls are leaving, called the bunkbed room. It has two sets of built in bunkbeds, two built in desks and a built in dresser. Three closets, one a walk-in. I get just over half of the space in the bunkbed room as my sewing room! Should I call it my quilting studio?! The upside for me is my former sewing space was 6′ x 6′ in a 10′ x 16′ room, and it will be a 13′ x 13′ space in a room that is 13′ x 24′.  True it does have the disadvantage of two sets of built in bunkbeds. But hmmm. That could be more storage space, right?

Here is my former space.

There is usually a love-seat in front of the bookshelves full of fabric - but it moved with elder child moving out. So I just counted the 6′ x 6′ square of space of the white cabinet and desk that my sewing machine sits on.

Here is half of the vacant bunkbed room waiting for all the library stuff and my quilting stash!

There is a built-in dresser to the left of the desk and then the room is a mirror image of this photo. You are looking into the room from the doorway. At first I thought I’d set up the quilting in this right half of the room. But sons want this half for the computer desk. I get the other side of the room. I’m not showing my new space in all its disarray right now, but I will show the new set up once it is organized!

Melissa has received her gift and is pleased with it! I can’t wait another second to show off the gifts because I’m so excited about them!  So hopefully Lenna has received hers as well!  I really like them and will be making more as gifts. In fact I made one yesterday to be my One World One Heart gift. Here is what I made for Melissa:

And this one is for Lenna - she just moved to Florida so I went with the palm tree theme:

These are 12″ x 12″ totes, with a fabric  collage of my own design as the cover, and then on the inside are plastic baggies to hold your art/sewing supplies. I suggest NOT storing scissors in the baggies! There is ribbon to tie the tote closed. No matter what your art/craft, I think these are good for traveling. I have kept my hand quilting supplies in one for years. I just grab it to travel on trips and to take classes. Mine was a gift from a quilting friend years and years ago. If a baggie blows out, just cut it out. If they all get worn out, cut them out and add more in by sewing another center strip of fabric in place.

Happy New Year all!  2010  A new decade!

I’m not doing a ‘resolution’ this year, not even claiming a word or phase to live by for the new year. Last year I decided to live ‘guilt free’ by not taking on projects that I really did not want to do - by not letting people ‘guilt’ me in to doing things, and I can say I’m pleased with how the year turned out!

Here are some of the things I did take on and am pleased with the results: participated in Swaps hosted by Creative Lenna,  took part in Lisa’s One World One Heart project, hosted a five day quilting retreat for 20 some ladies with two other friends, directed the planning and hosting of a formal dance (the kids call it a prom) for 179 teens, taught Sunday School for 5 year olds for two months (what a fun age!), organized a canvas bag swap with a group of 12 quilting friends (results should be up soon, this ended up being a true challenge just getting the bags swapped out!), went on a summer quilting retreat with 4 friends (that was a blast!), offered a generosity project, organized an on-going community service class for the teen group, moved one adult child out and one back home (the eldest ran out of money while in grad school - he is responsible and this is only temporary - that is   what I keep telling myself! LOL!), helped a friend organize her house, pack and prepare to move to SC. I signed up with the paper/cloth group with Belinda (but alas, have not enjoyed the process - ME, not the group! I love looking at what they have created!), took part in 3 Creative Studios BOM.  That’s the list I can come up with  for last year. I’m thinking it looks pretty good!

For the New Year, I’m continuing the 3 Creative Studio (3 CS) BOM, have signed up for the 3 CS Quilt Challenge (first word for the challenge was revealed today!), have promised to teach two months of 5 year old Sunday School, will join the One World One Heart Project, am planning another formal dance for the teen group, and have joined a collage group. Tis it for now!

But lurking in the background is a possible out of state move. My hubby’s job ends in mid-May. Who knows where we will end up!

I hope you will all have a prosperous, guilt-free, and happy New Year!

I’m late, I’m late for a very important date!

Actually, I’m not THAT late  …   yet! I offered a Generosity Project on my blog back in June and I stated that I would make a gift before the end of the year! I never thought I would procrastinate on this! But here it is, just days (2!) before the end of the year and I have my projects ready to mail!

Here is a sneak peek:

and here:

I wonder what they are?! I’ll reveal as soon as I hear they have reached there destinations!

Hi Lenna! and Melissa!

Here is my fourth Block of the Month (BOM) for the program sponsored by 3 Creative Studios. I like this block! But I fussy cut the center piece to show off the butterfly instead of cutting and piecing 4 pieces. I’m sticking with the same color-way and will have a nice set of block for a quilt top once this BOM is complete!

If you are not familar with 3 Creative Studios check out their website! They are offering word prompts, BOM, quilt challenges, free projects, classes, and more!

While cleaning out my sewing area - not hardly a studio! But one can dream!  - I found several forgotten unfinished projects. Some dating back at least 12 years! That was my big stitching phase. Big stitching is where you quilt using Chenille needles and floss or Perle Cotton. The stitches are big - 1/4″ or less in length. I’ve decided that I must finish up these quilts!

Yesterday I completed the big stitching on the quilt below, a Fons and Porter pattern. The picture is of the quilt as I found it, can you see the threads hanging in their uncompleted stage? I use a 22″ round frame on a stand. The quilt has to be shifted to complete the quilting as the flags are larger than the 22 inches. It is now stitched and binding is attached, waiting to be stitched down on the back. This quilt is lap size. The rest are wall hanging size - I think there are five more to complete. The plan is to complete these quilts in the beginning of 2010.  I feel a New Year’s Resolution coming on!

is having a giveaway this week! Go check out Judi’s blog for details. She does lovely longarm quilting, designs patterns, and has an online store. She has Hello Betty Retro line of fabric and one of her new patterns, Flower Patch, in her current giveaway!

Have you heard the news? Terry and Sue over at 2 Creative Studios have just expanded by adding Vicki to the team and they are now 3 Creative Studios! All the more goodness to prompt us on to be all the more creative!

I’m taking part in their Block of the Month (BOM) and here is my third block. Go to their website if you would like to join the BOM, or to check out their on-line classes, or their free projects, and the new quilt challenge they are hosting starting in January 2010!!

and not one picture to show!

The once-a-month quilting group I attend just finished up 12 baby quilts. We meet at a church free of charge. The only request is that we make a few baby quilts for charity for the church to donate as they see fit. This time we did whole cloth, panels, & pieced tops. Then we did the pillow top method with tying the quilts instead of binding them. We had a great time working together on these projects!