A Binding I am Going

I am deep in Quilt Market preparation mode. I looked at the calendar yesterday and realized there are only four weeks left. YIKES! I am not really in a time crunch yet, but those dates kind of sneak up behind me and shout BOO. I have most of my new designs made and quilted, but quite a bit of binding to do still. It looks like several nights in from of the television, hand sewing the binding. Hmmm, that does not sound so bad.

I was out at the North East Crazy Quilter's Quilt Show today and helped serve (and taste test) pie. There were some amazing quilts on display. I'm sorry I didn't bring my camera. I did a little shopping though and picked up the Sewline Fabric Pencil. Now this looks really cool. It is a mechanical pencil with a ceramic lead that is used to mark fabric. The lead comes in a a variety of colors, white, yellow and green. You can also buy the eraser refills. I have used white and yellow pencils for ever, but they always need sharpening and you have to compensate for the thickness of the lead when you are using them with a ruler. I know there are pens available also, but they always seem to dry our before I think they should. I think I'll need at least one more of these so I can have a white and a yellow available at all times.

What else have I been trying out? I have a small sample of Quilter's Dream (http://www.quiltersdreambatting.com/ )new Orient batting. It is a blend of silk, bamboo, botanic tencel and cotton that has a beautiful hand. It is machine wash and dry so I am thinking it will do wonderful in a new jacket. My plan is Simplicity 2858, using the Wilmington Essentials print. I know the pattern is not a quilted jacket, but I am going to quilt the outer shell anyway. I will have to quilt the fabric and then cut out the pieces to make sure the fit is correct. There is always some shrinkage when a fabric is quilted. I am only going to quilt the outer fabric to the batting. I will construct the lining as directed so I do not have to finish the seams. I will let you know how it all turns out. I have to finish my samples for market first.

The Martha Washington Sewing Table

For those interested in my red sewing cabinet, here is a link that gives some of the history of that style of cabinet. http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1994/6/1994_6_30.shtml

My New Sewing Room

It's been a month since the big move and I think my new sewing room is finally coming together. I have an odd shaped room to work with, but I am very happy with the results. As some of you know, I had my sewing all over the house. My cutting table, fabric and ironing board were on the second floor and my sewing machine was on the first. I would do the sewing aerobics every day. Upstairs to cut, downstairs to sew, upstairs to press, back downstairs to sew. It was getting a little crazy. I think Honey was getting a little tired of the sewing paraphernalia spread everywhere.Now, we have consolidated most everything into 1 room. My fabric is still in the attic, but at least it is all on the same floor.

I do not have any "real" sewing furniture. The tables made specifically for sewing are beautiful, but the do not fit well in my room. My room is only 8 feet wide in the largest section. I have 2 six foot tables in a corner to cut and sew on with shelves under both. I love having the extra space to spread out on when working on a large project. It also gives the "little boys" a place to sleep or watch the going's on out the window. I also love having a basket to collect all my scraps just under the table. I really should make more scrap quilts. Add them to the project list I guess.

I have added a few shelves and still need one more. Maybe this weekend. The shelves and drawers are next to my sewing machine. I can open the drawers without getting up. I keep my thread and needles in there, close at hand. My room is about 16ft. long. At the other end I have my ironing board, my serger and an old Martha Washington sewing cabinet. Some day I'll strip the red paint off and refinish it.

I love having this dedicated space. Honey teases about the invisible line at the doorway. The one that allows everything to go in and nothing to come out. I need a few things fort he walls, but I think I'm going to paint it first. Best of all, I love looking out the window while I'm working.

It really is Spring!

I think it finally is. We made it through St.Patrick's Day without the usual heavy snow. It's time to dust my motorcycle, change the oil, check the battery and decide where the first ride will be to. I'm thinking maybe a little quilt shop in Dunkirk, NY. Quilted Memories is one of my favorite shops, although I don't get there very often. They have a great fabric collection. I always wish I had brought more money when I visit.

Maybe I'll put together my own little shop hop. I don't think I've been to the Carriage Quilt Shop. There is also the Quilt Farm and the Calico Cat. Route 5 is such a beautiful ride also. It runs along Lake Erie all the way up to Buffalo.

I'm teaching at Millcreek Vac & Sew in May. May 2 is my Floral Delight class. I used the Benartex Flower Show II for my version, but it works well with any large floral print. On May 23rd I'll be teaching Ravishing Rayven. I have a new Great Niece, Rayven Rose. I designed this quilt for her. My Niece, Rayven's mother Kat, does not like pink though so we went with a Black/White/Red version.

Busy, Busy, Busy

I think Spring is finally here. We may get one more big snow, but the birds are back and flowers are starting to come up. I've been feeling the urge to spring clean. It may be the more of office to create sewing room that started it. So many trash bags made it the curb. My next project is the basement. The warmer weather makes it a little easier to work down there. I have to go through all the boxes that have been move from Cleveland to Cincinnati to Erie. Everything I really need has already been replaced. I just need to let go of the past, throw out the bad and donate the good. I need the room to make a more pleasant longarm environment.