Playing House with Alice Payne

On Thursday I had carpeting installed in 3 bedrooms.  While they were throwing old carpeting and padding out the window, and booming there way through the installation, I kept busy with my new applique' project.

I've decided to make 9 blocks from my antique quilt.  This quilt was made by Alice Payne and dated 1858.   See the original post here.

So here is the original quilt:

My Illinois quilt group replicated this quilt and Jan sent me a set of tracings from their project.  I'll try to get a photo of the finished quilt they made.  

Here are the first 3 blocks~

I took quite a few liberties with this block~

I also recut the shapes for this block

It is so fun to have a new applique' project!

Here is my sewing room in its current state.  The mint green carpeting is gone, but now can't see the carpeting!  I know what I'll be doing tomorrow.

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A Cat's Tail (tale) - for Hanna who misses the cats while away at school.

The other day in the kitchen I noticed that Starbuck was down stairs - what?  Since we got coco, 4 1/2 years ago, the cats usually stay upstairs.

Next thing I know, Luna comes to the kitchen.  It's a beautiful day, so I open the door to the deck.  They used to like to go out on the balcony outside my old sewing room.  Before coco, they used to like to hang out in our yard.

So here they sit, contemplating their past life outside.

"What's out there?"  "I dunno"  "Should we see?"

Starbuck, being the man decides to take the lead.

"I'm the leader, I say when we go.......let's go" (favorite movie line from Aristocats).

"Let's go by the grill"

"yea, the grill...."

After several minutes of checking things out.  Here they come, back to the comforts of home.

Wait for me!

Remember when we were actually outside.....yea, we'll have to try that again some time.

I hope you have a great week and a better cleaner sewing room than mine!

Forced Integration

Happy Friday!

This week, I finally sewed in my sewing room.  It made me feel home at last.

Here is my closet.  It's not perfectly folded, but I know what is in there.
I've decided to apply forced integration with my fabric stash.  I used to keep them segregated.  Now modern, repro, toile' and florals all live together.  I do have Halloween and Christmas separate.   How do you organize your fabrics?

I installed a high shelf for lesser used stuff.

I've started a new project!  Here is a sneak peak:  Lavender!  (on a temporary design wall aka; a flannel backed table cloth)  Inspiration and purpose can be found here.

I'm making 2 HST at a time.  For whatever reason, I don't like trimming the dog ears after I sew.  I decided to clip before I press.  It works great for me.

Now these are scraps too small to use.

On the advice of my friend Susan, I am starching my fabric for this project with Linit liquid starch.  I'm doing it in batches in the kitchen sink.  After soaking and wringing, I air dry it for about 30  minutes then iron dry.

Here is my new laundry closet.  I corralled all my baskets into one area and put them to storage use.  I'd love to get in there and wallpaper, but that is a "level 4" improvement".....

Aaahhhh, set up for sewing again.  Watching Breaking Bad on my lap top until my TV gets hooked up.

Side project - little 2" four patches.  I guess I was engrossed when I made that renegade block... I'm keeping it!

Happy Labor Day and I hope the only laboring you do is creative :)

Fun For Friday - Maybe.....

Fun?  What is that?
Barb?  Who is she?
Friday?  Not Yet.

That is a little how my life feels after a very, very busy summer.

I'm doing a little house update and tour today, so if that's not your thing, tune in next time when maybe I'll have something quilt related to share.

Here is one of my favorite spots.  It is an outdoor balcony off our family room.

I dream of sitting out here sewing and watching the hummingbirds one day.

I found a great place to hang the hand cut silhouettes of the kids.  They are facing their designated rooms here.  They were 6 and 1 when they were done.  They are now 24 and 20.  That is a bath between the 2 bedrooms.

and finally progress in the Sewing Room!  Hooray!!

A little nook for the big ironing board.

This is a big closet - BEFORE photo.  I'm putting up shelving this weekend.

Ikea shelving that Rich built for me - 

Cutting table. filing cabinet and machine.

Now here's something really funny.  We ordered a media center from a catalog.

We measured carefully and thought it was the answer to all our storage prayers.

Are you SERIOUS?  The guys who delivered and assembled it said "too big? no problem just return it." Then they left.

We'll have to see how this one ends.  Wish me luck.  I will NEVER order furniture like this on line again!

Hope you have a wonderful Friday!

Go Clean Your Room!

Thank You Meredith!

I received this give away gift last week and it really made my day!  If you haven't seen her blog, check it out here, she is always working on something wonderful.

 It came wrapped in this bubble wrap, which gave me a smile!

On the very first page was the original quilt that my Supercalifragilisticexpialidocous was inspired by.  I've never seen it in color - I was over the moon!!

I have an unusual sewing room, in that it is part of a 3rd floor "in-law suite" that was added to my 1950's split level about 10 years ago.  We have a bedroom, sitting room, large bath and a kitchen up there (no stove hookup, just electrical and water).  I have transformed into a sewing room.  I'll do a more proper tour soon - it's a great way to store everything!

Okay, I've been busy in the sewing room, running in and out, setting things down, looking for things, but Seriously...?

Seriously....!!

This is better -

Seriously, better...

I finished my lamby needle punch this way -

I tried several trims, but in the end used black wool felt to frame it and affixed it to this little (fake) Nantucket basket.  I  used Sobo glue, which can be found at art supply stores.  Its a great fabric glue that dries clear. 

I just finger paint it on, and then carefully cut it out after it has dried completely. 

 Luckily coco was there to guard my tape and glue drawer.

Finally I picked this up in New York City on Saturday while on an outing with my Daughter.  We visited Dylan's Candy Bar, which is a 2 story candy store on the upper east side.  It's sweets heaven!

 I hope you have a sweet day!

p.s. anyone else using the new blogger?  Why my spacing doesn't match in the post to my composed article I don't know - darn it!  frustrating!

Finally I picked this up in New York City on Saturday while on an outing with my Daughter.  We visited Dylans Candy Bar, which is a 2 story candy store on the upper east side.  It's sweets heaven