January 13

I have been busy stitching down bindings on donation quilts that I pick up when I go to the Sunland Stitchers meetings. 
These are quilts that others donated fabric for, others have pieced and quilted and needed binding. 

New home, new sewing space

We are in our new home and today was sewing room organization.  I had to create a mess to tidy up?  But, I kept at it and finally, have a tidy and happy place to be sewing.  While in the midst of the chaos, I realized I should make a list of all the projects that I have on hand here.  And, I sorted most of the fabrics here into themes such as Christmas, Valentine's and St. Patricks as well as colours.  PHEW!  But done!!

Total Chaos in the closet

More chaos being created in the guest bedroom



Cutting table set up, desk and sewing machine in place under the window.

A place for everything and everything in its place! I have a walk in closet, perfect for all my stuff.

Another view from inside the closet, looking out.

New design wall, all ready for my first sewing project of 2011. 

Happy New Year!

The Saturday before Christmas

Hmmm... the countdown is on for getting baking done, gifts purchased and wrapped, last minute 'stuff' completed.


I took a quick class on making snap happy bags - they use a piece of metal measuring tape to allow them to snap closed.  Fun, quick and simple. 

The other project I completed is a cute little snowman wallhanging.  Looks a bit strange to have something snowy on the wall in Arizona but the bright colours look good!  I bought the kit last week at a local quilt shop and was determined to not have it become a UFO!

Christmas is coming

The days fly by so quickly.  We are lucky enough in Arizona to have had record breaking high temperatures.  When we watch the news of weather everywhere else, I almost feel bad for everyone having to endure either floods, snow or below freezing temperatures. 


I have been trying to sew a little each day and have a few finished projects.

These are two Christmas placemats that I  made for a gift exchange.  Our "street" had a party and we played the game where you take a gift or steal from someone else - lots of fun and my placemats got 'stolen' once because a lady really wanted them! A quick and easy project but meant a visit to the quilt shop to get some suitable fabrics! 

Tulip Bells Table Runner - UFO finished!

This project was a ufo from approximately 8 years ago.  It was in various stages as it was a class sample at the Otter Co-op when they still carried fabrics and allowed us to teach classes there.  I think it will look great on my dining room table in our new house. 

I have our mobile home (park model) all decorated for Christmas.  The Patchabilities that I have made over the years fit perfectly on the small wall spaces that I have available for wall hangings. Through the window, you can see the great Christmas tree we got for free!  And across the street is an orange tree.  I tried one yesterday and they are NOT sweet yet!  My mouth did a major pucker!!

My Arizona Totebag

I made a trip to a local quilt shop with a friend to get some black batting for a wall hanging I am working on and found these charm squares.  Perfect size bag for taking show and tell to the quilt meetings! I thought the colours looked perfect for the hot, winter weather we are having. 

Off to write myself a list of the projects I want to work on and try to complete in the next couple of weeks.  Am hoping it cools off a little here so that I will be motivated to do some Christmas baking!



A lot has happened in a month!

We left 'home' on Nov 6th and headed south to the sunshine.  We don't enjoy the 3 day drive from BC to AZ but, I brought lots of ufo's with me to work on, here in my 'other' home.  We did spend the first week shopping for house and found one so, in 30 days we will be moving and, I will have a walk-in closet for my quilting stuff.  YIPPEEEE!!!  And, I will have space. 

Since arriving, house shopping and finding places to put all the household stuff I brought with me, knowing we would be house hunting... we also joined softball, tennis and of course, quilting. 

Everyone in the park is decorating for Christmas and we have done our outside lights but am waiting until at least Dec 1st to decorate inside.  I had found a panel at home, brought it with me and worked on it this week, for a tree skirt.  Our tree has to be small and it is pre-lit, sits on a small table and last year I wrapped a piece of Christmas fabric around the base.  But this year.... I now have both a tree skirt and a finished UFO! 

Last Sunday, I did make some Christmas cakes and have them hidden away to age for a bit, and hopefully develop a nice flavour. 

Am working on a table runner, called Tulip Bells which is a bit of a challenge as I left the pattern at home.  However, the pieces were cut and some parts of the blocks made as it was a class sample many years ago.  Hopefully, I will post a picture of the finished project later this week.  Am having to turn under the edges and stitch by hand and forgot my thimble - I probably own about 10 of them... all back home and none here.  Maybe a trip to a local quilt shop is needed? 

Winterizing and packing

Not much quilting happening here.  I do have projects that I would like to work on, some small things, this next week but we are busy outside, trying to winterize our home for the El Nina wicked winter that is being predicted.  Also packing and organizing for our trip south - so hard to know which UFO's and PIGS to take with me?
It is hard to winterize dahlias that are still blooming and hanging baskets that are still flowering.

However, it is Hallowe'en this weekend so we do have our pumpkins carved and have been lighting them every night. We put them on the ladder and in the dark, they look like they are floating in the dark night! 

 Enjoy your spooky night on Sunday! 

Time to post

I am trying to spend less time on my computer and more time working on the things that need to be done around here!
Am actually finishing up painting my kitchen cupboards.  The ones damaged during our kitchen fire got a fresh coat of paint but it made the rest of the cupboard doors look old and tired so, with the leftover paint, am giving them a clean, nicer look, covering up years of nicks and scratches and abuse.


And, I have made a new table topper for my kitchen table. 

I also worked on my monster mystery quilt.  I was determined to get this quilt quilted and bound and out of my sewing space.  It was taking up too much space and yet I was dreading the pulling, pushing and shoving that was required to get it through the machine.  The quilt was too large for our B-line set up and I didn't think that it warranted me spending big bucks for professional quilting so I did it myself.  PHEW!  Done, finito, bound and on a bed.  I is totally  made from scraps from my quilting leftovers.  Even the binding is made from leftover binding strips from other quilting projects.  Am so happy it is finished!! 

I also found an old quillow, made for my daughter, 20 years ago that was in sad shape, badly torn and worn.  I didn't do much to it but fixed up the major tears and thought it was worth salvaging as it has obviously been well used and hated to throw it out. 

So, while I haven't been spending time adding to this blog or on the computer much at all, I have accomplished some other projects and it feels GOOD!