Almost On Time

The original title of this post was "Right On Time." I was quite chuffed! Unfortunately, when I looked at the calendar with more focus I realized it hadn't been turned to September. That means I am late with the Totally Useless Stitch A Long.

Again.

This is becoming a long running joke!

I have been plugging away at Finery of Nature. Slowly, I might add. Currently, I am working on the flowers and the border to the right of the dragonfly. The black fabric is getting easier (I'm making friends with it) and the more I do the more excited I get about the design. There is something about these jewel colors on the black fabric that enchants.

=^..^=

Now it is YOUR turn...we want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your September TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox 

Six Days Late

Another late Totally Useless Stitch A Long post. You're used to that by now I'm sure. I don't feel as though I've done enough crafting lately. I want to be immersed in creativity ~ not dipping toes in every once in awhile! The New Moon has come and gone...did you post your ORTs?

I worked a bit on Finery of Nature. I had found a miscount from years ago and had to frog quite a bit but I think I'm back on track now. I've been using my OTT light laid on its side so I can see on the dark fabric. The lightbox is too huge and bulky and must be moved every time I need to use the desktop. I need an app on my Ipad so it shines like a light box...

I worked on the backing and binding to the T-shirt quilt. That's the camo and blaze orange ORTs in my leaf bowl. I've finished the quilt now...I'll save that for another post.

My new wastebasket, just for trimming scraps. 

These are the supplies for a new project I'm starting today. Some is bit of sewing...some a bit of crafting, it's going to be such fun! 

=^..^=

Now it is YOUR turn...we want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your August TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox 

Piggy Bank Challenge

My new blog friend Val from Val's Quilting Studio has an annual challenge to save money for stash. Every year you can sign up, save your piggy bank money and the next year you count the cash you saved and post about it. Guilt free stash money! Here is what I am going to save my money in:

This little "paint can" coin bank came home with Dash from work with cookies in. A little redecorating with colored paper and voila!

I will spend my "hard earned" dollars on more fabric as my newbie quilter status stash is pretty sad!

If you'd like to join in go to Val's linky post click here to sign up. If the sign-up is already passed (August 1st...hurry!) when you get there, feel free to comment here to join in as a passive participant.

How much can we save? What will you you buy?

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox 

July ORTs

I had to work on July 4th...a holiday here in the US. Not only did I have to work but I was training a new employee and it was Monday. I was simply too darn tired to post my Totally Useless Stitch A Long report!

It's New Moon time! Where are your ORTs?

Mine are nice, lots of scraps from sewing and a big pile from squaring fabric and cutting strips.

I tried my hand at a pineapple block and it came out excellent. Pictured here on my new design wall (I slapped it up there, unpinned, on Sunday and it's still clinging tight today!)

This was made with total scrap fabric...just whatever caught my eye as I got to that round. I must say, the Creative Grids Pineapple Trim Tool made this block very easy. I would never have been able to cut or sew as accurate a block as I did. It would take a while before I could do it without referring to the instruction sheet though!

Speaking of instructions...I had bought a pattern for a pineapple quilt and I had the instruction sheet that came with the ruler. I know I put them both together. I put them up in such a safe place as now I can't find them...losing things is so very rare for me. If you happen to run across them ~ give me a holler!  I ended up having to download the instruction sheet off the website, lol. 

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Now it is YOUR turn...we want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your July TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox 

Sunday Sewing

I am enjoying a quiet Sunday morning in my sewing room. While watching quilting shows that were recorded on the DVR I made some key fobs. I already have some finishes and it isn't even midmorning...

It is amazing to me how much I've learned over the past couple years. All the little simple tricks to make things look nicer that experienced sewists take for granted leave me agape when I learn. Like this little trick to join the strap ends leaves you with a loop...you just can't forget to put your clasp on first!

Look close...the fabric reminds you to stitch!

I wish every day could be so carefree.

Four of them finished...two short and two long. They make it so easy to find your keys in your purse! Another trick I learned to save my fingers and nails is using a staple remover to pinch key rings open.

Let's have a giveaway! If you would like a chance to win a "Stitch!" key fob leave me a comment below. Tell me, have you learned any new tricks lately? 

This giveaway closes at the end of July 2, 2016...so be sure to comment by Saturday at midnight! I will draw a couple of names and contact the winners by email. NOTE: I will need your email address if your name is drawn as a winner. If I cannot find a way to contact you another person will be chosen. Good Luck!

This giveaway has closed and the winners will be contacted shortly!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

I'm A Winner!

I'm terribly late sharing my good fortune to win this fabulous prize from Moda Fabrics! Way back in April I entered this giveaway and was flabbergasted to win it.

The book is Betsy Chutchian's newest, Classic & Heirloom Quilts. I haven't opened the little fabric bundles but I believe they are called "Layer Cake Bundles" ~ layer cake squares, 10 x 10 inches. Reproduction fabrics and quilts are my absolute favorite so this is the perfect giveaway for me to win! I still cannot believe I won this!

Included in this prize is a $50 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop. I have been too busy with the craft room remodel to figure out what I want to buy. Should I mention the fact I will not be able to stop at a mere $50 so I need to save up my spending cash?

Big thanks to Moda Fabrics for their generosity...and their wonderful, exquisite fabrics.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Wanted: photogenic balcony, must be affordable

In late March I finished the top to my t-shirt quilt. It still sits waiting to be quilted. I cannot decide if I want to straight line quilt it myself or send it out to be long arm quilted. It's rather large to be doing it myself... ugh, decisions! Regardless, it needs a backing, which I still haven't pieced. I tore the craft room all to pieces right after I finished this top and lost my momentum on the project.

But the top is done!

I either need to make smaller quilts or buy a bigger bed. 

Maybe I could buy a balcony...

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A Tiny Blue Box

Again, I am behind my time. I have all these posts photographed, written out in my head and even planned when they need to be posted. Do they get blogged? NO! This must stop!

The sweetest package arrived a couple weeks ago. I wasn't expecting anything and Dash was looking like, "What did you buy now?" but it turned out to be a RAK for me! Kim, of Wisdom with Needle & Thread is sending off RAKs at the speed of light! Look what I got...

Isn't that beautiful? Kim paints on porcelain, such tiny, delicate flowers! Wow, look at that gold paint. If you look carefully you can tell it's painted by hand. That is one steady hand! Kim also beaded this chatelaine for my scissors. The beads are heavy and so smooth they don't pull my hair. Isn't this the nicest gift?

Look how teeny Kim can paint. The inside of the box has a little flower too.

Thank you so much Kim, I love this RAK!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Pinch Me!

I mentioned to Dash how I wished I had more room for my quilting. 

The next thing I knew we were moving the home office into a small desk in the guest bedroom and the entire room was all mine. 

The room is only 10 foot by 10 foot with an extra cubby area that used to be the closet.

First up was the light. I asked Dash to get a florescent one with four bulbs. Dash said he picked out this one because it looked like quilt blocks. I love that man. No, you can't...he is mine.

On the door-way wall I built a design wall. It is six by six foot. I followed this tutorial to build the wall, click here. For my friends that don't quilt, a design wall is a place to hang blocks to see how they look, it's made with flannel so the cotton blocks kind of "stick" to it or can be pinned in place.

In front of the design wall is my pressing station. It is indescribable how awesome this thing is. The top is 62 by 24 inches. See all that storage? It rolls very easily, even on the carpet. I can't take any credit for the genius of this idea...click here to see how it's made.

I learned how to make elastic casing sewing the ironing board cover. I nearly made it too tight to put on! This is the tutorial I followed, click here.

This view shows how much of my design wall is still usable when the ironing station is in front of it. My cutting mat, rulers and a four foot folding table are leaning against the wall at the end of the unit. I haven't decided if I want to put up a pegboard to hang stuff on or what so there it sits until then.

To the left is the doorway.

I learned to sew lined curtains to match the pressing station. Curtains are surprisingly easy to create! I used this tutorial, click here. The fabric is a Kansas Troubles print called Clara's Garden.

I added a second bookcase for more storage. I'm sure things will change over and over until I work out the most convenient place for everything. 

You've seen my computer cubby before. The sewing desk is right behind so I just turn the chair around for each task. Lots of storage above the desk too. 

Every time I look in my craft room I think I'm dreaming. I think I'm way too excited about having it! It seemed to take forever to get everything together, made and put in place and now that it's done I don't know what to do. What to create next? I bet it doesn't take too long to come up with something! 

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

ORTs. Two For One

It's a Bargain Sale this New Moon! I am so sorry for disappearing without warning. I have been completely unable to reach the desk where I stitch and blog. The entire room has been torn asunder the past several weeks as it undergoes a bit of renovation. Here are a couple of photos on a rather straightened up day.

Most days it was much, much worse.

I am seeing the light at the end. Which is good. It's been weeks since I have done any crafting. I am becoming rather cranky about it.

I promise to be back with some awesome photos when Dash and I finish the re-do. I think you will like what we've been busy with!

My ORTs for June are the ones I collected for the May Totally Useless Stitch A Long. Remember I was sewing a purse? That was the last thing I crafted before all hell broke loose and my room became unlivable. It turned out totally sweet!

 =^..^=

Now it is YOUR turn...we want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your May and/or June TUSAL post(s) so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox