So Long, February

I will always look back on February 2012 as the month that blogging came alive for me thanks to Lynne of Lily's Quilts. Her Small Blog Meet is a brilliant idea, giving new bloggers like me the chance to branch out and get to know other people who are also stepping out into the amazing online quilting community. If you have the chance, click on the button to the right to see what's going on there today.

It's been a great month of sewing.  My new sewing room is finally in working order, making it easier for me to plan, store, and finish my projects. I also got the chance to try making several new items this month...pillows, a bag, a more complex wall hanging, even a little improvisational quilting. It's opened my eyes to the possibilities, and my want-to-do list is growing by the day.

Perhaps the best thing about this month was getting to know so many other quilters. I've enjoyed meeting new people and seeing what they're learning and accomplishing. It's been such an inspiration, and I'm so grateful for the encouragement to keep growing.

So long, February. You were amazing.

Linking up to Fresh Sewing Day and Small Blog Meet!

Happy Place

Now that it's looking a little more lived in, I thought I'd show a few pictures of my sewing room today. It has been absolutely divine to have space for storage and a place for the kids to play while I work on my projects. Almost all of the furniture you see here is from IKEA. The shelves are wonderful for books and bins, and the tall closet is perfect for storing larger pieces of fabric. I seem to have an addiction when it comes to buying organizational containers. My favorite aqua and red tins were all found in the dollar section at Target, and I use them to hold scraps which are all sorted by color.

I have yet to sort my fabric closet into any sort of order. One of these days I'd love to get some cardboard pieces and fold the fabric correctly so that it looks a bit more dignified.

 I've always had a love for retro posters, movies, and music. This room seemed like a great place to display my World War II posters. I especially love the one on the left featuring the different branches of women in the service. Adding a few mini quilts to the room has definitely given it more personality also. I do all my cutting and sewing at the table, just rotating the machine and the mat to the front as needed, and the ironing board is nearby for pressing emergencies.

A wooden tv tray is the perfect place for a little drawer unit (also from IKEA) where I store notions, tools, and thread. The glass jars hold selvage scraps.  

On top of the shelving unit I have two fabric covered bulletin boards where I can post inspirational pictures and ideas. There were some amazing project mosaics put out by some of my favorite blogs at the end of 2011, and a few of them are up on my boards to remind me of things that I'd like to try in the next year. The white wire bins (also from Target's dollar section) are for charm pack squares, white sashing strips, and fabric that needs to be washed before it's used. The vintage radio replica cd player was an anniversary gift from my husband a few years ago. I don't know how, but all my big band music sounds at least 50% better when played on this machine.

Behind my sewing area is an area for Bunny, Bear, and Mouse to play. They can look at books, play with toys, color, or even nap on the crib mattress/couch. It's a relief to have a spot where they can entertain themselves in the same room with me, and it makes it possible for me to have a lot more sewing time than I used to manage in a week.

Today I'm finishing up my pinwheel runners. It will be great to have these done so that I can move on to some other projects (hello, I-Spy quilt!) that are waiting in the wings.

Hope you enjoyed the tour. I wouldn't necessarily say that this room is the happiest place on earth, but it's definitely in my top ten.

Linking up to Work in Progress Wednesday!

Progress

Thanks so much to all of you who left such kind comments about my scrappy mini quilt over the weekend.  I've learned that I'm not the only one who uses sewing as an alternate route to sanity. I'm so thankful for this amazing community of quilters we have online. What a blessing!

Last Thursday I received a lovely package in the mail: my treasure trove from the Ellison Lane Quilts I-Spy Charm Swap. I spent a few minutes late last night playing around with ideas for the quilt I want to make for my daughters. I'm really looking forward to putting this one together.

I'm also still churning out a few more Hello Luscious pinwheel table toppers for the upcoming ladies' tea at our house. Still loving this fabric too.

Most of my weekend was spent working on my mini quilt for the Modern Mini Challenge. All I have left to do is hand stitch the binding to the back, and it will finally be finished. I can't wait to show it to you, but I know I have to wait until next Monday. In any case, it feels good to be starting a week with something to show for the weekend.

Linking up to Sew Modern Monday, Manic Monday & Fabric Tuesday!

Scrap Happy

Last Wednesday night I was worn out from a day of wrestling with dishes, laundry, and crabby kids when I found myself in the sewing room. I couldn't settle myself down to any of the projects I already had going, so I just suddenly started grabbing scraps and sewing them together. It was fun and calming and surprisingly therapeutic. I ended up with this little mini quilt which will be going on the wall right above my sewing table.

I've always found it hard to resist any sort of color spectrum quilt, and I love having the writing and bicycle scraps in there too. The back is a black and white print that I liked as a contrast to the colorful front.

My advice to stressed out people everywhere: get yourself a sewing machine. It sure has worked for me.

Linking up to Finish It Up Friday, Whoop Whoop Friday, and Sew & Tell Friday.

My First Bag

I'm pretty excited today because I finished my first bag this afternoon. It's nothing fancy, but I'm awfully happy about it. I used this tutorial on Sew, Mama, Sew for a summer reading bag by Mo Bedell. I left off the library friendly details that the original calls for and kept it very simple. Along with the Heather Ross fabric, I used a green lattice print that I found in the remnant bin at Joann's and a strip of grey fabric featuring the darling turtles from Little Apples by Aneela Hoey for the underside of the strap.

My daughter was so excited to try the bag on, and she's been walking around with her friends strapped to her side ever since I finished it. She's happy, Rapunzel looks happy, and I'm absolutely thrilled.

Linking up to Work in Progress Wednesday!

A Bag Emergency

The birthday weekend has come and gone, and big fun was had by all. Hard to believe that my Bunny is now officially five years old. Between a trip to Disneyland and the party yesterday, there was precious little time leftover for sewing, however I did start work on a project last night. Bunny is in love with Rapunzel at the moment, so my husband and I gave her a soft Rapunzel doll along with the little chameleon Pascal for her birthday. She was trying to fix up some way to carry them next to her using shoelaces (my daughter is quite the inventor), but I assured her that I could probably sew a bag that would do the job just as well. And what kind of fabric does one use to make a bag for Rapunzel? Why, Heather Ross, of course!

I've been saving these pieces for something special, and it's great (if a little frightening) to cut into them at last. If I can scrape out a little time in the next day or two, I'm hoping to have it finished so that she can carry her friends around in style.

Linking up to Sew Modern Monday and Manic Monday!

Home Sweet Home

California seems to have lost its reputation as the Golden State in recent years, many people viewing it as a home for national disasters and an entire spectrum of nuttiness. While I've spent time in other states and countries and even toyed with the thought of moving to another part of the U.S., Southern California is still home. What I love about the new line of California Girl fabric by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda is that it reminds me of the often forgotten side of the state: fruit groves and flowers, tile floors and old houses. I made this mini quilt as a reminder for myself that home -- with all of its issues -- is still home. And I'm grateful to be here.

Linking up to Finish It Up Friday, Sew & Tell Friday, and Confessions of a Fabric Addict. Have a wonderful weekend!