Needles and Pens

Well, surprise surprise. My 400th blog post! And wouldn't you know it's my first one in three months? (Imagine how many there would be if I weren't the world's worst blogger. LoL) So I just went through my last three months worth of photos and was amazed at how much has happened around here in that time. It's really no wonder I don't find time to blog... Now, to play catch up again. Or at least get started playing catch up. ;o) So... back in January, I wrote about our youngest son moving into a new room, which we painted bright yellow . Well, in April our 18-year-old daughter decided it was time to leave the nest, freeing up the teenager-coveted big room in the basement. Of course, little brother then wanted to move -- again -- and wished for the new room to be bright yellow -- again. Deja vu... I know, it sounds crazy. But I've been waiting a long time for the mom-coveted main floor bedroom to use as a guest room. (Yes, I know. I just set up a guest room...

Definite progress. There's nothing quite like sharing embarrassing pictures of your mess to make you want to clean it up -- and fast. So before I go on to what's yet to be done, here are a couple of before and afters to show the progress made this week (click on the picture for a larger view). In the sewing room: And better yet, in the storage room: Looks like the room grew! In the sewing room, the second table is a huge improvement on my work space. Now I have room to cut at one end and quilt at the other, with the old computer set up in between, so I can use online patterns without having to print them out. The drawers beneath still need to be organized, but they will be storage for my scrap pieces and strips. On the other side is the second sewing machine, which I use mostly for piecing. I spent a couple of hours stripping the wallpaper border off this wall, so I could hang my quilter's wall hanging there. I'm not looking forward to any more border strip...

(Or, What May Well Be the Cause of My Motivational Slump) No to-do list for me this week, just one BIG to-do. I've had a hard time the past couple of weeks feeling capable of accomplishing anything. No motivation to start a new project, or even to work on one of my many UFOs. No inspiration to even sew a few string blocks... Whatever could be the problem? Hmm... I don't know... could it be THIS ? Yes, THIS is my sewing room. Or what used to be my sewing room. Now it's my storage room for fabric and supplies. And just across the hallway is my actual "sewing" room: Trust me, it's an even bigger mess than it looks here. This is the result of transitioning quickly from one sewing room to two, followed by numerous projects one on top of the other, without cleaning up in between. I don't recommend it. So, I'm dedicating this week to getting these rooms organized so I can start sewing again. And I suppose I could break it down into a few main area...

where you just can't seem to accomplish anything? My lack of motivation hasn't lifted, and I almost made a huge effort today to try and catch up on all the things I didn't do all week... ...but then, I didn't. Here's a look at my to-do list progress since Monday: More string blocks (one block a day): I finished... one block. Now I have four. Still twelve more to go. February's paper-pieced BOM : I actually finished this one! The Wild Goose Chase block from Quilter's Cache. Flannel critter quilt : Well... here's the pattern. I haven't opened it yet. Go through email : Yes! I did get that done. Hopefully I can keep it under control. Bathtub caulking removal : So tedious! I'm trying to get the whole tub edge from this point: to this point: I'm about halfway around now, but I can only work on it for 20-30 minutes before I just have to get out of there. Needless to say, it's slow going. And I also have the caulking at...

I'm feeling incredibly unmotivated today, but I did manage to scratch out a to-do list for the week. Maybe getting it down here will give me that little push I need to get GOING. More string blocks Setting a block-a-day goal for these this week. Hopefully we'll see some progress. February's paper-pieced BOM Considering we're well into March now, I'd really like to have this done. Flannel critter quilt A new Simplicity pattern I bought this weekend. I thought it might be a good seller in the shop. We'll see... Go through email I owe an apology to all of you lovely people who have left blog comments. My email inbox is a MESS. I sincerely appreciate all of your comments, and am usually much better about replying in a timely manner. It's definitely time to get this under control. Bathtub caulking removal Hubby did indeed get that bathtub leveled, and has almost taken care of all of the leaking/dripping issues. I need to get in there now with a scraper, ...

... that's the sort of week this has been. I'd have given up the first day, but for the accountability I've been getting from these weekly to-do lists. Somehow, I managed to get it all done -- more or less. LoL Dinosaur ragtime quilt This was to replace the quilt that my daughter purchased from my shop, and the first thing I wanted to finish this week. Well, I got it done, so cute with bright purple and lime green: But after it was washed and fringed up, I was picking all the fuzzies off when I noticed a flaw in the purple back: It looks as if the nap of the flannel just separated from the back, and I was pretty sure it wasn't like that before it was washed. Grr... Fortunately, this didn't happen on the special order I just made with the same fabric! And then I saw another spot on the front: And I know that wasn't there before. I have no idea now what I'll do with this quilt. Either try to sell it at a super deep discount, or most likely, just...

Over the weekend, I finished the purple/lavender ragtime quilt, which was a special order. This was on my to-do list last week, so I guess technically, I did get it finished! Here are a few pictures... It's so hard to accurately show that deep purple in photos, but it is such a pretty, rich purple. I bought a lot of it, too, so there will be more purple raggies in my future for sure! And now for my list of to-dos this week: Dinosaur ragtime quilt - My daughter purchased the dinosaur quilt from my shop this weekend, and I still have enough of the dino fabric to make another and just switch out the photos on my listing. (And that purple above would look great with the dinos...) Make a few more purple/pink scrappy string blocks With all the ragtime quilts I've been making, I must say I'm missing my pieced quilts. Need to stay on top of that project so it isn't completely forgotten/buried in my sewing room! Vacuum Not fun, but my whole house needs a once-ov...

...and it's Friday again. Didn't quite finish my to-do list this week, but I did come close: Finish the lavender and white ragtime quilt. Not done, but started. I wasn't completely happy with the purple I ordered for this one, so I ordered another, which just came today. Still not sure which one is best. But I have made a little progress on the blocks that I am sure of. Started quilting the white flower blocks, and cutting and crossing the others. Once I have all but that bothersome purple done, I'll lay them all out with each option and decide which is best. Finish the green/music ragtime quilt. Done, and listed at Hushabye Street: Musical Frogs Ragtime Baby Quilt Take down remaining sheetrock around bathtub. Done. Who knows how long it'll stay like this? It's my husband's turn to do his thing here, and he tends to work on his own schedule. The tub needs to be leveled and a leaky pipe fixed. Then it'll be sheetrocking and taping again f...

My sisters asked what I wanted to do for our birthday weekend get-together, and I said, "Sew. And drink wine." So that's what we did! We spent the weekend together and finished this little recycled blue jean quilt. The back is all blue camouflage/wildlife print flannel: (Incidentally, we also finished three bottles of wine. lol) It's a big accomplishment for us to finish a weekend project, because around here, you never know how your plans will change, or who's going to stop by next. I think we did a pretty good job of "going with the flow." Much of the weekend was spent holding/rocking/feeding/enjoying my great-niece, Ciara, and my grandson, Mason -- such adorable babies! All in all, a fun and productive and tiring weekend! It's Monday evening now, and I'm just getting started on my to-do list for the week: My fabric order arrived today. Good timing! First up, finish the lavender/white custom order ragtime quilt. Finish green/mus...

Well I made it through my to-do list -- and then some! Complete one scrappy flannel project Done! And listed in the shop today: Scrappy Floral Ragtime Baby Quilt I also started making some pink and purple string blocks for another project: Begin work on two custom quilt orders. (Still waiting for my fabric order for this one. Should be delivered on Monday!) Tear down sheetrock on bathtub end wall. Made a heckuva mess in the process... But I got it done! AND cleaned up the mess. AND stripped the caulking around the tub/floor, for a head start on next week. Yesterday was my birthday, and I had a fantastic day! My husband and kids were so good to me. I was spoiled with roses (And breakfast. And dinner!) from my husband... ...a beautiful Willow Tree "Love" figurine from my daughter... ...and a new camera from the whole family, which I really, really needed. I didn't lift a finger all day, for meals or housework or anything, and I enjoyed every...