Sewing Room Continues

My husband made me a design wall. All these years I would lay blocks on the guest bed or on the floor. He bought foam insulation board from the home supply store. It comes in 4’ x 8’ sizes. I choose a finished size of 4’ x 5’. We cut the board to size and covered it with batting and duct-taped the overlap on the back. DH made a wood fame, like picture frame, for it. The frame made it easier to hang on the wall. If you should try this remember to hang it into the studs in the walls. The room is taking shape and feels like a true studio now. Fabric is back on the shelves and my sewing machine is plugged in and running. I wonder if my quilts will now look better because of the new look in the room.

Sewing Room Reorganizing

Painting the sewing room was the first step in updating it. For many years I have had make shift selves in the closet of my sewing room. You know the left over chip board bookcase and / or the wire ‘cubbies cubes’. We decided to change that. Measurements were taken of my closet and we discussed the befits of readymade vs. custom made (D. H.) selves. On a Sunday afternoon, we drove an hour to the nearest Ikea store and bought bookcases to place inside the closet. One case is really deep- 15” and 30 ½” wide, I love it. The total width of the closet would not allow 2 of this unit. The width is enough but due to the height of the case (70”) one would not be able to put in the closet – it had to do with angles. So the answer was 1 large and 2 (10” depth) smaller cases. While the combined width is the same as 2 large cases, placing the small cases into the closet was possible. Anyway the result is wonderful. I have lots of selves. I even had room in the closet to tuck in a ‘CD’ tower to use for fat quarters. I have organized my fabrics into appropriate groups and placed them on selves. Some groups need further sorting but it’s good for now. I found fabric that I can pre-cut into squares for future quilts thus thinning the amount of fabric. More room on the selves means I can buy more fabric to replace it. What fun.

A New Sewing Room

In July I wrote of carpet being replaced in my house. The new carpet is wonderful, thick and luxurious. A side note to new carpet is the blemishes of the house showed up. My sewing room was still painted contractor’s beige. We have lived in the house for 13 years. Our thought was what better time to paint than now with everything out of the room. I thought a light yellow would be cheerful. Yellow is not my color but I can appreciate it. I followed all the rules of tints, shades, and pure color. Yellows with orange or green casts to them, and I made my choice carefully. Be aware that paint may change color when placed on top of other colors, even beige. Fortunately I had only painted one wall before I decided this would not do. We covered it with “Kills” and decided to change the color choice to the light blue found in many of the rooms of the house already. I am pleased with the look. I am a blue color person.

Old Friends and Stuff

 

We are replacing the carpet in our house, the whole house. It is well past time to make the change. Be aware that when companies say they will move the furniture, they mean they will the big stuff. You must pack up everything in the big stuff. So for a week now I have been packing china, clothing, everything.

Packing my sewing room was an over whelming task. I must admit I put it off until last.  Besides, once I pack all my sewing room I would not be able to quilt in any manner until the new carpet is laid and everything put back in its place. I can’t go that long without quilting! Think of the withdrawl I will go through.

Once I did start on the room it was like meeting old friends again. Some fabrics I see every time I open the closet where my fabric is stored.  Some fabric was shy, hidden in back corners where it migrated. Some had been grouped together for a future project and placed out of reach.  The notions drawers had treasures not seen as other items had been placed on top of them.  If it sounds as if it was not well organized, you are likely correct. The room began its life organize but with time habits changed, time got shorter between projects with little effort put forth for organizing in between.

My daughter came over one afternoon to help. She stated that I need to redecorate the room. I need a theme, new paint and cabinets. I think she is correct.  So when the carpet is laid I will go the local big box store and look at paint chips. She and I will draw out a floor plan and shop for storage units. I will pick a theme for the room and maybe I will become organized again. Don’t hold your breath.

Happy 4 of July

I am proud to be an American. Every person in the world has the right to be proud of their country. Politics is a small part of a country. They may have the natural beauty of the land or their rich heritage.  Yet many have a dream of coming to America.

I am a retired military spouse. For 23 years I picked up and moved or waited. There have been good and not so good assignments.  Germany where the East and West did not meet and my husband was always in the field. We wives took advantage of the time and traveled the countryside. Usually for the goodies we could buy.  That assignment was where my 11 year old daughter learned to cross stitch and I learned to quilt.  Some people on that assignment remained friends to this day.

Many years and several assignments later we spent 3 years in Hawaii. The second child’s paradise with 3 soccer seasons. I learned Hawaiian applique and a lot about art quilting. These lessons gave me more ‘tools’ to put into my tool bag.  I have seen many countries and had many experiences for which I am glad to have had. Each one made me appreciate what I have at home in America.

 Let’s remember on this day the work and sacrifices our fore fathers made so we could live in freedom.

New Era in Communications

I just bought an IPhone. Now, I am of an age that I can remember party lines. If you picked up the phone you needed to check if someone was already talking before you could dial a number. Times have changed and it is for the better. Recently it became time for our family to update our phones.

So we went into town and shopped for the best deals. One stop was at the local Best Buy. A nice young salesperson, Betsy, helped us and we made our decision, IPhones.  Now I can check my email on the phone and a lot of other stuff too. There is a learning curve but not difficult. In fact it is somewhat easier than my previous phone.  I know I like the larger numbers, it’s a lot easier to read.

By the way, Betsy’s mom is a quilter too.

The Dark and Light

Last night we had a thunder and lightning storm. I had class and I left my house 10 minutes earlier than necessary so I would be in ahead of the storm and not in it. All the way down the highway I could see flashes of lightening in my mirrors.

As I parked at my student’s home the wind caught up with me. It shook the car violently. I must admit I was nervous. Once inside her home the rain and thunder began and pounded for about 45 minutes before passing on.

This morning I sit on my screened porch writing this blog. The sun is shining, there is a light breeze, and the heat temperature as dropped 20*.  The breeze shakes the tree leaves and rain water falls down. It is beautiful and inspiring and last night’s storm is a memory.