Swappy Stuff

I recently participated in a pin cushion swap.  I had a terrible time with this one - for some reason I kept putting it off.  And when I finally decided it was time, I had lost the pattern I intended to make, which of course required another trip to my LQS.  In the end, instead of replacing the first pattern I bought a different one.  This is Heather Bailey's Effie and Ollie pattern.  I think he turned out super cute, even though his trunk isn't quite round.  I stuffed him with rice, so I think that may be the problem with his trunk.  If I ever do him again, I will stuff the trunk with fiberfill before I stuff the rest of him with rice.

I especially love his ears.  I think they are so fun!

In return, I received this fun AMH Wild Flower pin cushion from Jodi (usairdoll), which I have been meaning to make for myself ever since Amanda made herself one several years ago.  As is so often the case, I never got around to it.  But now I don't have to!  Isn't it fun!  I love the fussy cut petals.  And the colors are perfect - bright and fun.   Perfect for my new sewing space.  And it's filled with walnut shells, so it won't go flying across the room when I try to stab it with my not-so-sharp pins.

Lastly, I received this really cute angel friendship bag from Laura VanVleet in the Friendship Bag Swap.  I guess my friendship bag got lost or something, and Laura, who is one of the mamas, made me this fun bag.  Don't you love the little strawberry and kiwi in that fabric strip?  So summery and fun.

And look at all the fun goodies she stuffed inside.  A pattern, a honey bun (yummm), a pin cushion (which matches the bag), a tissue holder, some fun trims, and my personal favorite: a credit card holder - yet another thing I have been meaning to make for myself, and haven't gotten around to doing.  Maybe next someone will make me a new wallet.  LOL.  That's been on my list for awhile.  The Kate Spade one Arielle got me on her 9th grade chorus trip is just about shot.

In other news, the my new sewing space is in its 3rd or 4th iteration (nope - no new pictures yet...  soon I hope).  I thought I had it nearly finished yesterday, but then the wall bracket came for the computer monitor (I have visions of watching movies and Craftsy classes while I sew)  which required moving all the stuff stashed against the wall, and then finding studs (which are apparently hiding), so it's not up yet. 

And in the process of creating this room, I have managed to tear up Every.  Room.  In.  The.  House.  Of course there are paint and tools (including some kind of saw) in my kitchen.  And goodwill stuff and the old bed frame in the living room.  And too much furniture in Arielle's old room.  And a complete reorganization of the garage.  How do projects mushroom out of control like this???

And I haven't really sewn in 10 days.

It's making me crazy.

Tell me it will get better?  Please?

Coming Along

My new space is coming along.  I have sorted, stashed and stored, and I've found the floor.  It's not very exciting or beautiful yet.   In fact, it still looks a little stark, doesn't it?  I got the blinds up, but not the curtains - yet.   I'm not sure about keeping the bed in there (see the frame in the foreground?) and until I decide, I don't want to make any holes in my freshly painted walls.  But it's starting to be useful.  WH didn't feel well yesterday, so we didn't get the other machine in there.  The wall mount for the computer monitor hasn't come yet.  So there's plenty still to be done.  In fact, after I took the first photo I realized that the step stool and the vacuum were still in the middle of the floor.  Oops. 

I'm sure it will get there.  I'm excited to put my treasures on the walls...  I have so many beautiful minis, buntings, hoops and mug rugs, I'm excited to have a place to display them.  This was all the wall space I had in the "breakfast nook".  But there's so much more to display...

So I really need to make up my mind soon.  The good thing about keeping the bed is having a place to display all the pillows...  But it does take up a lot of room.  I'm undecided at this point.

I went in the room yesterday with the intention to sew, but I have to admit that I didn't feel very creative.  I sometimes felt that it was a miracle that I could sew at all in the old space, it was so crowded.  I decided that I just needed to make something so I got busy on a project that has been planned for awhile.  The fabric (I know you can't see it - sorry) is a jelly roll of Santorini by Lila Tueller, which was a gift from my quilty friend Leona, who has kindly shared her fabric stash with me lately (although WH thinks I have enough fabric - one of the drawbacks of the open shelves in the new space, I imagine.)

Inspired by this quilt by Faye, who is a member of our guild, the quilt will sort of resemble stacked books on a shelf.  I think it will be fun when I get it done.  So far, I only have the circles made, which honestly is going to complicate the layout a lot, but at least I got some sewing done. 

This will get better, won't it?

The New Space

A few weeks ago, WH suggested that I move my sewing space from the "breakfast nook" where it has been since our third child was born almost 23 years ago, into one of the now-vacant bedrooms.  It seemed like such a great idea....

It was a lot of work.  We started painting on Monday, and of course home improvements never go as smoothly as you hope.  The previous paint didn't cover very well.  Nevertheless, I was hoping for one coat of primer and one coat of paint.  Not to be.  Two coats of each later, my room was painted.

Thankfully, WH finished the last coat of primer, and the painting.  My shoulders were killing me.  He did very well, especially considering he had rotator cuff surgery last year.  He's a keeper!

I can't find the photo I was looking for of my earlier space in its most pristine state, but this will give you an idea of what it usually looked like.  LOL!  The room was 8x8 with 4 doorways - one to the kitchen, one to the garage, one to a bathroom, and a patio door to the back yard.  A few years ago, WH put in some cabinets for me, and they held A LOT.  And I had stuff stashed in every nook and cranny.

I have yet to find all the nooks and crannies in my new space.

But it is coming along.  I have now found the floor.  And sorted my stash by color....

And moved the furniture from one side of the room to the other a couple of times...

Hopefully, I will be able to sew again soon.  My fingers are itching for a sewing fix.

Wish me luck!