Coming up for air

What a couple of weeks! Again, no stash usage to report,  I'm still working on getting the stash organized and confined to the new sewing room.

( It's a little slow going as we officially moved to the new facility at work and the commute  now takes an additional 3 hours of my time).  I keep finding boxes and bags with more fabric! sometimes duplicate cuts of the same fabric, I must of really liked it ;-). 

The positive side?  I'm figuring out what colors I have excess of, what colors need to be replenished and most importantly what fabric I no longer love or want.  This is very liberating,  even the magazine stash is getting an overhaul.  I've kept every issue of three different quilting magazines from as early as 2004, I think I want to keep 2 previous years and current issues (2008, 2009 and 2010), then I would be removing the oldest issue as soon as a new one comes in the mail, seems like a good plan to keep the magazine stash fresh and fitting  in their new allotted space.  I've also been trying to decide on a theme or color scheme, I want to make covers for (3) sewing machines and the serger, a table mat for each, a couple of thread catchers, valances for the window and seat covers or cushion for two chairs.  But why restrict myself to a color or theme?  I'll work in an assembly line and make a set for each holiday!  After all, I have enough fabric. LOL. 
Sounds like a good plan, It will help change the no stash used tune I've been singing for a while now.

For now, I'm taking an hour or so  to browse other quilting blogs over at Judy's  patchworktimes.com   and see what other's have been up to this week.

Sunday Stash Report - September 26th, 2010

Fabric added this week:  0 yards
Fabric added YTD:  148 1/2 yards
Fabric used this week:  2 1/2 yards
Fabric used YTD:  96 1/2 yards
Net used for 2010:  -46 1/2 yards

Yesterday, I didn't have to babysit the little peanut until after noon so I attended my Saturday Morning quilters get-together.  Of course, I didn't have any on-going project at the ready and started something new.  I'm disappointed with the Scrap-Basket Surprises book I'm using,while I love almost all 18 of the projects in it, I don't like all the marking and waste method for creating those 45 degree angles. The "Quilts from 2 1/2 strips" sub-title is misleading, I assumed the patterns were strip sewing... that's was I get for not reading the actual  instructions.  Oh well, I still like the patterns very much and will at least try to finish the one started.

I'm still working on arranging and setting up the sewing room.  I have a lot of shoe boxes with mostly 1/2 hard cuts and odd sizes, this baker's rack is perfect for them.  I was considering taking the fabric out of the boxes, but they are already "contained", why mess with that?

Bigger pieces of  fabric are getting folded in a more uniform manner; I could then stack them on a bookcase I found at goodwill (brand-new unit for $14.99, the deal of the year!)  Here is a picture of some of my blues waiting for their new home.

Hopefully, I'll finish with organizing and arranging by next weekend.  Although this week will be as busy or even more than usual.  My sister is having her first chemo treatment on Monday, I'll make a trip to see her.  Things are starting to escalate at work and we now have a deadline for moving, our department is expected to be at the new location by next Monday.  I decided to try commuting for a little bit and see how it goes, we have a good possibility for a van-pool.  However, having to be in a car for 2 1/2 to 3 hours each day, even though I don't have to do the actual driving, is still going to be hard.  Hummmm, I should learn to hand quilt or applique.  There is always crochet and knitting too.  But for today, I'm taking it easy, read a few stash reports at Patchworktimes and organize that stash a little more.

Sunday Stash Report September 19th 2010

Still no sewing around here, but some progress to report.  My new sewing room is ready to be occupied by my stash!.  New carpet, freshly painted walls and a beautiful base molding done by hubby.  The room is little, just 12' x 12' but it 's all mine!.

I've been trying to get all the stash out of the various closets and hiding places, Oh boy! It doesn't seem like a lot until you put it all together.  I decided garment sewing is not for me (you couldn't tell by the amount of non-quilting fabric I had) and gave most of the fabric  away.  I was so happy to see two 30 gallon bags, a boxfull and even a couple of bolts leave my house.  Mostly flannels, knits, sheers and other "I don't know what it is or why I bought it" fabric.

I'm sure there will be more fabric leaving my house, this is so liberating.  It lightens my mood, the burden of having too much and it will be easier and faster to organize my new sewing room.  I've also decided not to include this lot in my stash report, it seems to me I bought maybe half of it at least a couple of years ago and beyond, but I'm sure the other half  was given to me.  Just the fact that this much left my house is in my book a winning situation.

I am not taking an hour or so (until the stores open, I have storage units to buy) to browse other quilting blogs over at Judy's  patchworktimes.com   and see what other's have been up to this week.

Sunday Stash Report September 12th, 2010

Fabric added August: 1 1/2 yards
Fabric added YTD: 148 1/2 yards
Fabric used August: 3 yards
Fabric used YTD: 94 yards
Net used for 2010: -49 yards.

I've been MIA (here is an explanation) for a few weeks, last time I sewed anything was back at the beginning of August.  Used 1  1/2 yards for borders on my little sister's quilt.

And another 1 1/2 yards for the New Year's Eve mystery top from this post . Yesterday,  I finally attended a sewing get-together with the ladies from my Saturday Quilting group and managed to get the mystery top layered and ready to be machine quilted.  I hope to get back to sewing soon.

The summer to remember

I usually try to keep my personal life, well, personal.  No other reason than  it's in my nature to keep things to myself.  These two last months, however, have affected me to the extend that the one thing, sewing/quilting, that keeps me motivated and with a positive outlook despite all the everyday situations and happenings has NOT been what it has always been to me.  I've found myself starting at piles of fabric, magazines, boxes of thread, notions and such items without being able to summon a desire to touch them.
 
It all started in the middle of July, when my brother passed away. It was sudden and unexpected, but not surprising.  His body gave up after years of damage from substances abuse.  Losing family in this way, gives one a pause to reflect on our own life and priorities.  A couple of  weeks later, my eldest sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. This is the second sister out of 7 of us that has to fight this disease.  I'm fearful and apprehensive for her because I know the struggle and pain she is to face in the months ahead.
At about the same time, my  daughter and grandchild moved out.  The circumstances or rather the reason why they left was hurtful, but as a parent, I understand that she is trying to find her life's path and as she put it "live without crutches" and "do what's best for my child". My household is suddenly very quiet and even though  I now have a spare room  that can be turned into a nice cozy sewing room, I resent how it became available and I can't summon the energy to take to the task.

Finally, my job is on the last stages of relocating operations to a new facility 70 miles away.  I'm weighting all of my options and trying to decide if I will be commuting to work or not.  I currently live 10 miles from the office and this has allowed me to be available for babysitting the little peanut, and to be able to take care of family while earning an income.  An hour commute each way would change all that and I don't know if I'm willing to do it. But, am  I willing to lose the income, benefits and satisfaction drawn from this job? I have to make a decision soon.
I've always believe that God doesn't give us burdens we can't carry and wholeheartedly believe that everything happens for a reason and at the time it needs to be, as well as there is always calm at the end of the storm.  I just need to be more at peace with the things I can't change or control and trust that all will be well in God's hands. It all will be well.

Quiltathon & Sunday Stash Report August 8th 2010

Fabric added this week:  0 yards

Fabric added YTD:  147 yards

Fabric used this week:  4 1/2 yards -  (3 1/2 for June mystery backing, 1 yard for Planet Patchwork mystery border)

Fabric used YTD:  91 yards

Net used for 2010:  -52 yards

A productive week (mostly weekend) for me.  Started by cutting into a cute little birthday cake.  I loved the candles my daughter choose, it's my exact sentiment when I'm asked how old I am.

My birthday present  arrived Friday afternoon, just in time to start the Quiltathon.  The sewing table, not the machine. :-)  The custom insert will ship in the next three weeks.

Sewing from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening yielded 50 16- patch blocks made from 2" scrappy squares.  These squares are cut as I come across scraps and they been accumulating for a while. It was the perfect project since I just wanted to sew.

By Saturday evening, I was tired of these scraps and a little frustrated since by this time I kept coming across the same prints.  Time to work on something different.  My Planet patchwork top was nearby.... Two borders with cornerstones were added.

Once this top was completed, I decided to prep the backing for the June mystery from Judy at patchworktimes . I used two 64 inch panels to get a 64" x 84" piece. 

I'm a little tired, but I had lost of fun!.  Now to go and find a suitable backing fabric for the Planet Patchwork top and take a batting inventory, if I have big enough pieces I might get these two tops sandwiched soon. Maybe in time  for next Sunday's stash report.

Sunday Stash Report August 01, 2010

Fabric added this week:  4 yards
Fabric added YTD:  147 yards
Fabric used this week:  4 yards
Fabric used YTD:  86.5 yards
Net used for 2010:  -56.5 yards
I didn't quite reach my goal from last Sunday. I wanted to finish the Planet Patchwork Lucky stars mystery top, but I still need to add the borders. 

My little peanut likes it!  She kept seating on top of it when I was trying to get it flat on the floor for a photo session.

My sister made 3 more tote bags.  This one is from a big commercial pattern maker, (It reminded me how much I dislike them) Good thing it was bought on sale for $1.99.  It definitely is not worth more than that.

It doesn't help when your "student" refuses to follow instructions.  She says "I'm creative and I need to do things my way" and I said: " Sure, creativity is great and a wonderful talent, I wish I had more of it, but good workmanship is just as important".  I feel that good pressing, straight seams and using the right tools makes a better finished product and ultimately a happier "artist" but she didn't agree.  I guess I need to be more tolerant and accepting, so I did my best and gave her space and my blessings to do as she pleased.  I have to admit, she did a good job with her totes.

 

She is happy! And so am I.  Some of the older fabric left my stash, my sister found out that when she says to me: "please hem my pants, all you have to do is tuck and sew here" I feel just as pressured and forced to do something against my will as she did when she refused to measure, mark, and otherwise follow any directions or instructions.  LOL!

Overall, it was a great week, next week can only be better.