Step 1: Make a Decision

Make a decision about what you will be doing in your space.  The 6 things I do in my sewing space are:

1. Fabric Shop
2. Teach Sewing Classes-mainly to school age students
3. Sew Aprons
4. Piece Quilts
5. Quilt Quilts
6. Embroidery

You will also need to make a decision about what you want your space to look like. You may love lots of inspirational items around you, or you may like to have ever changing displays for inspiration.  You may not be as concerned about specific areas for items, just easy access. 

I really like a clean slate with easy to find supplies because frankly, the little gray cells aren’t what they used to be.  I hate spending valuable time searching for that one thing I need to finish my project, only to find it two days later upstairs in the kitchen.  In addition, when I sew fabric flies.  It will be easier to keep my space tidy if there is a place for everything.

The first step is to identify your needs and create your goals. 

For example, these are my goals.

1. I would like to designate a space for each of my activities so my supplies are easy to find. 

2.  I want my class materials stored so they are easy to set up.

3.  I want to have room to create my projects, with easy access to everything I need.

4.  I want my shop to be a bright and fun, well organized place to visit.

These are some of the many things I will need to fix.

In the sewing room

In the shop

In the middle room

 

This first step is critical.  If you want your space to reflect the creative you, a vision is the best starting point.

Find All Of The Posts I My 6 Step Process HERE

OMG October

For my October OMG, I think I will try to finish this quilt top.  It seems a shame to spend so much time cutting around all of the little templates and attempting to sew all of the points together if I'm just going to stuff this project in a bag and hide it in a pile of unfinished quilt tops. 

Nearly 10 years ago, John Flynn came to our little town and taught a Storm At Sea class.  I made a lot of headway during the class and maybe even a few days after the class, but I guess I must have lost steam, and it looks like I lost interest in the home run stretch.  It's time to finish this!  Wish me luck!

Linking to:  OMG, MCM, Monday Making, Moving It Forward Monday, Sew Cute Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Linky Tuesday,  NTT,

Quilt Finish

       Where does the time go?  Almost exactly a year ago, actually a little more than that, I published a post about the set up of my new John Flynn Quilt Frame, using this quilt as a sample.  Find the post HERE.  I FINALLY finished the quilt, binding and all.  I have to admit, I didn't complete the quilting on the frame.  I found it to be too cumbersome and limiting.  I was a little disappointed because it was a spendy item.  I probably won't use it again.  The frame is good, and may work well for some, but it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks.  Quilting is not my favorite thing to do anyway.  I am a 'get er done" quilter.  Stippling and straight row (walking foot) quilting are my friends.  Maybe I expected the John Flynn Frame to make me a better quilter.  I don't think it works that way anymore than buying more organizing supplies makes your space more organized.  Sigh....

Linking to: Oh Scrap, MCM, Moving Forward Monday,  Sew Cute Tuesday, Linky Tuesday,  Midweek Makers, NTT, Whoomp There It Is, Show Off Saturday, 

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Winter Nights Fusible Appliqué Quilt

A friend gave me this pattern for Christmas last year and on a rainy, windy day this summer, I decided to start putting it together.  

 I LOVE fusible appliqué!  It's kind of like coloring in a coloring book in that it's calming and you get to choose the colors for the redi-made design.  You can find a tutorial for fusible appliqué  HERE.  

In addition, to the calming affects, fusible appliqué provides that feeling of instant gratification.

 The shiny, shimmery Fairy Frost adds the feeling of cold snow to the block.

This quilt pattern includes some pieced blocks and block borders to add a little variety to the project.  

The pieces for the quilt are large, which I also love because I like to topstitch around each piece to secure them.  The larger pieces are easier to stitch around.

These blocks are great time fillers.  I have a box with all of my blocks that have fusible pieces next to my sewing machine and if I have a few minutes between activities, I sew around a few pieces.    I'll put thread in the machine that matches the color of pieces in the blocks, and will sew around all of the pieces in all of the blocks that have that same color of thread in them. For example, I put silver metallic thread in my machine and sewed all of the silver metallic pieces in all of the blocks.  It took a few days as I just do it as a time filler.  I usually have several projects using fusible web, so all of those blocks are in the box as well. 

I think I will use these fabrics for my border.  

Linking to:  MCM, Handmade Mondays, Monday Making, Craftastic Monday, Moving it Forward Monday, Linky Tuesday, Too Cute Tuesday, Sew Cute Tuesday, Show and Tell, Midweek Makers, Wake Up Wednesday, Sew Fresh Quilts, NTT , Handmade Hangout, Can I Get A Whoop Whoop, Fabric Frenzy Friday,

Riley Blake Small Chevron Fabric

Just listed at Runnstitch.etsy.com, this lovely pack of Riley Blake small chevron fabric.  There is 1 inch from point to point on this chevron.  This is a great stash builder for quilters and it also makes adorable dresses, banners, bags, aprons, pillowcases and etc.  Click HERE to go to the listing in my Etsy shop.