Adding Binding

Can I help?

Bargello Quilted

As promised here are the photos of the quilt I finally received backed from the quilter. The pictures are not the best, as I need to take this upstairs, or outside where I have more room.

This is one of those quilts that took a long time. I can't remember when I started it, but I wanted to make a bargello quilt, and decided I would take a class. At the time the only class I could find was for a round bargello quilt. I didn't want a round quilt, I wanted one for my bed, so I figure I would work out a way to make it into a bed quilt.

When you cut the wedges for the first circle you use the offcuts for the second circle. I busily made this during classes, until I made two errors in the cutting and I didn't have enough fabric to make any more mistakes. I was too nervous and put it away. A few months later I took it as a my project for a retreat and I finished the circles. The I put it aside until I learn how to applique, as I figured this was the best way to add the circles, so this really was a large learning project.

Here are some picture of the quilting. I asked for the center to be quilted as a spiral. It turned out just how I wanted it.

The rest of the quilt I had a few ideas but largely left it up to her. I just love the flames she used in the corners and the circles on the border.

Now lets hope I can find the fabric to bind it.

I would also appreciate any suggestion for a name for this quilt.

Pin Cushion

Last night at guild we made these pin cushion. Mine is a little deformed on the one corner, but I still think it's cute. I think I may need to make a couple more to have for gift giving.

Tonight I when and picked my quilt up from the quilter, and I am really happy with how it turned out, I will share pictures in the next couple of days. As it had taken so long she gave me a deal on it, I just happy yo have it back, and glad that I like the quilting.

Shopping

Were did the week go. It seems like I didn't get much done, I have done a few small things. I finally sewed the lining on the bucket bag, I giving it my SIL for her birthday, must get it in the mail soon.
I also pieced the back for two quilts - nothing fancy, just fabric cut to length then sewn back together. These I took to the quilter this evening. I decided that I would get the Bear Paw and Australia Log cabin long armed quilter, these are only the second and third quilts that I am having done, the first put me off a bit, as it was over a year ago and I still have not gotten it back, but she said I will get it next week, I not going to hold my breath. I may tell you more about this another time. Of course the two from today are going to a different quilter.

I started cutting the fabric for my floral scrapping quilt that I have been planing on making, now as I have not done any floral quilts before, so I am running a little low on floral fabrics. So there was only one thing to do. Go shopping *VBG*

I was at a team building event in the south end of the city, and later I had a dentist appointment, also in the South side of the city, so in the time in between I when to " My Sewing Room", I normally don't go to this store, so it was nice to see some different fabric. I focused on getting small bit of floral, you can see these in the front of the photo.

The fabric at the back of the photo I picked up on at the "Fabric Land" store near my work that is closing. I really liked this location, as it was close to work and easy to go to over lunch. most of these are a meter piece, but with the black I just brought what was left on the bolt, some of the clearance prices were really good, but the stock was staring to get picked over. It was defiantly the busiest I have every seen that location.

The humming bird kit I order on line. Now seeing how small the pieces are, it may be a while before I attempted this. I think I will go do some more cutting for the floral quilt.

Border added

I have been reading lots of blogs and see so much getting done in the last couple of weeks, and I have struggled to get the border on my Bear's Paw quilt. Life has gotten in the way of quilting this week, but I just finished adding the border. We won't look at the time. I kept the border simple, this is one of the largest borders I have added, but I think this quilt can handle it.

For my birthday, I received some cash, and I think birthday money should be spent on gifts, not day to day stuff. I waited until after Christmas before going shopping. I decided to get a few books, and they arrived this week. I think I was in the mood for applique when I was ordering them. My applique still need a lot of work, maybe the books will help.

Sewing Room Tour

Well getting new storage, lead me to organizing my entire sewing room. I was surprised by all the place I had managed to shove fabric, I had some I didn't remember having. It will be the first time since we moved into this house a year and a half ago that my sewing stuff is fully organized. I forgot to take before photos, but here are the after photos. The first photo is as you enter the room, you can see the new storage unit on the right, the sitting area, freezer, TV and pantry cupboard.

Here is the new shelving unit, I had a hard time deciding what to get, in the end I head out with the wall measurement and decided to see what I could fine. I think this works well, it fits perfectly and dose not stick out into the room too far, and lots of room to get to the doors. In the clear cub is my fabric stash. I always said that I didn't have a big stash, but I was surprised by how much I have. and look theirs room for more. The fullest bin is full of batiks (I think I may be a little addicted to buying batik fat quarters), the rest is organized by colour. The boxes down the bottom have my strings and scraps. Two are still empty. As you can see I also have room on the top shelve, my magazine don't even take up half. I think this means its time to go shopping *VBG*

Moving around the room there is a little more storage. I have a couple of items under the TV, and a couple of extra sewing machines between the freezer and TV stand. In the pantry cupboard I have some long term UFOs, patterns, kits (undergoing the required aging process) and other crafts. In the small draws there are UFOs. This is the section of wall I am hoping to put a design wall. You can also see the small book shelve where my quilting books live. There is also a spot to put my laptop when I am not using it.

Next is the work corner, first is my sewing desk, this is a desk DH picked up from work, it took two big moving men to get it down the stairs so I think the only way it will get out of the basement it the next time we move, or as firewood. Right next to it I have my iron board. I have a shelve about this, just so I can put things down with out them being in the way of what I am working on. The coffee table can fold up and the love seat can be moved out of the way if I need a larger space to lay things out.

And back by the door is the cutting area. This is just a regular fold up table that I have on some PVC to raise it. I also have a couple more tables that are folded up behind the table, so if required I can put these up. Under the table I have some more storage, there are three bins, one has batting, one is flannel, and the pink one is finished quilts that are currently not on display.

As you can see I may have organized the room, All I need now is to get some stuff on the walls, as this is my sewing room, I will be putting some quilts on display.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of my sewing room, now I think I would like to get back to some sewing.