Sewing While Unpacking

We've been in our new house for 6 weeks now and we're starting to get settled in. I'm working everyday on some part of the house, but it's more fun to work and play in my studio. I'm making a lot of progress with setting up the new space, but I've still got projects that I want to work on. 
Our guild quilt show is next month and I've taken a couple of classes that have homework (!!!!) so I still have to be productive in the chaos. 
I set up my old sewing table (now my desk and beading table) for my Bernina 830 and embroidery module. I've been working on the Tree of Life, a gorgeous embroidered wall hanging of a colorful tree with flowers, critters, swirls and leaves that you can put family members' names on. Teacher Jane is a taskmaster (grin) and has assigned homework to be done before the next class in March.  

I usually keep projects contained in plastic totes, but with all the chaos reigning downstairs, its especially important for me to keep everything together. I don't have a place for things yet and I'm afraid I won't be able to find stuff. So I have all my Tree of Life stuff in a portable tote, including the thread.


This design requires that motifs stitched in one block are continued in another block, so it's very important to make good notes about the thread colors so that I can carry the thread over to the adjacent block. My solution - copy the picture of the block and make notes including color numbers.


I now have one row done and need to finish sewing the row together. Jane's sample was made with a white linen-look background fabric, a classmate is using black and I am using a light blue. I'm curious to see how they look on the different background colors.

New Studio Step 2 - Sewing Table

I made a wishlist for my new sewing table. I want:

1. Enough space to use my BR 830 with the embroidery module and my BR 440 at the same time.

2. Surrounds for each machine so that I have a smooth, even surface for sewing.

3. Space to support a large quilt while I'm quilting.

4. Some storage space for hoops, needles, bobbins, etc.

5. A table and chair that are the right height for me.

6. Something pretty!

The shop where I work, Mea Bernina, is a dealer for Koala cabinets and tables. We have several in the shop and they are gorgeous! They really fit the bill for everything on my wishlist. There are so many options, that I've spent several weeks going over all the possibilities and I am narrowing in on the table for me.

I thought about getting 2 tables so that I can work on the embroidery machine and sewing machine at the same time. But due to both space and money issues, I've decided against 2 tables. Koala has a large table with 2 lifts. So, the first decision is made - the Koala Dual Mate will hold both machines.

Second item on my list -  I can order a surround to fit each of my machines.

Item #3 - space. The Dual Mate has both left and right side extensions with tops that provide extra space - up to a total of 123 inches! But I can also get an outback extension that nearly doubles the workspace. This outback extension can be raised or lowered depending on what I'm working on and what else I have going on in my studio.

Item #4 - storage. I can order optional shelves that go under both the back and side extensions. I thought about waiting and ordering the shelves later, but I'll save shipping costs if I have them delivered with the main table.

Wishlist item #5 - height. Koala cabinets come in a standard size but each can be ordered either 3 or 6 inches higher. The chairs are very comfortable and really support my back. I haven't had any lower back or shoulder pain while sewing on the tables at the shop. I've sewn on both the 29 inch and 32 inch tables and both feel pretty good. I may need a lift for the foot pedal with the higher table and the extra height costs extra so I think I'll go with the standard 29 inch height. 

Item #6 - these tables are gorgeous! I could go either with the white or the golden teak (third from right in the pic). Hubby's choice is the teak. I'm still thinking about this one. My bookshelves and beading table/cubes are white and my cutting table in progress is white. I have some antique pieces that are oak and sort of golden cherry that actually are really close to the golden teak. Which would you choose?

So, I'm almost at a final decision. Here is what I imagine it will look like. I still need to decide on color. I plan on ordering my very own Koala table next week.  It will be delivered to my home and placed right in my studio. No assembly required!

If you're curious about Koala, check 'em out.

I can hardly wait!

New Studio - Step 1 - Bookcases

The first step in outfitting my new studio was to get some bookshelves. After doing some surfing, I finally settled on the Hemnes line from IKEA. They had other models I liked, but I had to find something to fit under the duct-work. In my old studio I had two bookcases that were able to hold most of my quilting, knitting and weaving books. I wanted to add some storage and display space for fabric. I also wanted the fabric protected from dust so I thought a cabinet with glass doors would be just the thing.

I ordered 2 Hemnes regular bookcases and 1 with glass doors.   They arrived last week and I spent an hour putting each one together. The directions (pictures only) were pretty good, but after assembling 3 bookcases, my hand and arm are really sore - lots of screws and no power drill/screwdriver. 

As soon as I get them bolted to the wall (the one with doors is a bit top heavy), I'll unpack my books and start filling the middle one up with beautiful fabric.

After the snow melts I'm going to put my old mismatched bookcases out on the street for someone to take and give them a good home.

On to Step 2 - Koala sewing table!

Happy Sewing!

New Home - New Quilting Studio

Wow, what a crazy 6 months. We moved! I won't go into all the boring details. It's enough to say we downsized most of our home, but I upsized my quilting studio. So, I thought I would write a series of posts as I get my new studio set up and organized. 

In our new home, I appropriated the basement family room for my quilting studio. It's a large backwards 'L' shaped room with a window and a walk out glass door. Here are the before pics.

Here are my plans:
1. A set of new bookcases for books, nicnacs, and storage. One of the bookcases will have glass doors and that one will house some pretty fabric. 
2. A new Koala sewing table that will hold 2 machines and has plenty of space to work on larger quilts.
3. A new cutting table with more room than I had before.
4. A storage area to store works in progress, fabric, and other stuff (including my knitting, cross stitch and other crafty things).
5. A beading area including a table/desk for beading as well as the admin/business/paperwork side of my quilting.
6. A permanent design wall.
7. A large table that can be used when my quilting friends come over to work together.
8. Good lighting.
9. Organization and routines to keep things tidy so I spend more time playing and less time organizing.

My friend Bobbie is coming in April so I want to have all the furniture in place before she gets here so we can get everything organized. I;m so excited!
Happy Sewing!

Whew . . . Summer Craziness is Winding Down

I like being busy, but sometimes it gets out of control. I know I shouldn't expect sympathy because the busy-ness was all of my own doing and was all fun stuff. But still all this much fun has made me crazy!

First there were two weeks in Playa del Carmen, Mexico - studying Spanish and having fun in the sun (well, fun in the rain actually). Out of class activities included gazing in awesome wonder at the beautiful colors of the ocean, taking pictures of the colorful flowering trees, and learning about the interesting Mayan culture. I have three quilts in the incubator from this trip - one seascape with blues and greens of the water and waves, one with bright colors to represent the trees and flowers, and one with the symbology of the Mayan culture.

The second trip was to visit my BFF Bobbie in Seattle and then heading off together with another friend to Sisters Oregon for quilt classes and the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. 

 Bobbie's SUV was stuffed to the top with 3 sewing machines, 3 suitcases, 2 tables, 3 chairs, fabric and supplies for 10 quilting projects, and of course food and snacks. The weather was beautiful the whole time we were there - sunny and warm during the day and cool at night. It was so wonderful to be in a dry warmth instead of the humidity here in Kansas. 

We transformed our hotel suite into a sewing studio so we could work on all our projects. The machines were working every day. We took 2 classes (more in another post), did some mega shopping in several quilt shops in Sisters and Bend, attended the Sister's Outdoor Quilt Show (1300 quilts on display), sewed on new projects as well as works in progress, watched classic movies (I was introduced to The Thin Man), chatted, drank wine and snacked. It was a wonderful week!

The SUV was even more packed heading back to Seattle. After a day to do laundry, repacking and haircuts for both me and Bobbie, it was time to come home. It's nice to be away -- I don't worry about all the millions of small and large items on my getting ready to sell the house to-do list.  But it was wonderful to be home with my sweetie and get back into my routines.

But I was only home 4 days before I headed to North Carolina and Tennessee for CQL work. I love these trips because the people are so inspiring in their work on behalf of people with disabilities. there is also the added benefit of visiting quilt shops in different parts of the country!

So, tomorrow I am finally home for a while.  I'm bringing new fabric, patterns, rulers, ideas, and inspiration for new quilts. I won't be able to play with any of my new stuff because the get-the-house-ready-to sell to-do list kicks in. But I do get to get back into my routines, which of course includes some studio play time! I also have to catch up on all my blocks of the month!
Home at last!

Help! I Think I'm a Block of the Month Addict

They make it sound so simple - just one block a month. I'd be finished in no time. It's sounds so simple, so enticing, so do-able!

At least until you sign up for one after another, after another, and then another. Then it becomes not so simple and do-able. But still enticing.

My name is Denise and I am a Block of the Month addict.
(Hi Denise)

It started innocently several years ago when I started doing an internet BOM from Beth Ferrier called Moondance. I couldn't wait for the next month's instructions to be posted.  I finally finished that quilt last year - about 5 years after I started it.


My second BOM, offered in 2012 by The Quilt Show, is a beautiful medallion quilt called Sedona Star by Sarah Vedeler.  I was on track in January, but lost it in February when my finished center medallion was 16.75 inches and it was supposed to by 17.5 inches. I got stuck on how I was going to fix it. So, it's still sitting there, waiting for inspiration on a repair strategy.  In my "stuckness" I neglected to download the remained months' instructions. Now, if I want to finish this quilt (which I think I do) I have to buy the pattern for $60.

The KVQG traditionally offers a BOM to it's members. Since I joined, there have been 2 different BOM quilts. I faithfully download and save the pattern every month, intending some day to complete them. This year's patterns are urban critters so I have started collecting corduroy, wool, and other textured fabric that will be great for critters.

Shabby Fabrics had a really cute BOM last year featuring cottages decked out to represent each month.  Again, every month I dutifully downloaded and saved the pattern for "someday".

I am actively participating 3 more BOM at the moment. One is a mystery quilt by Linda Hahn made of beautiful blue, green, purple and pink batiks. Month 1 was a breeze - but I had to make 4 blocks. This flew in the face of my ideas that BOM consisted of a single block. But I got it done, so sweat. Month 2 was a different story - I had to make 28 blocks! I'm about half way through, and month 3 has already been released.  I can catch up, but I've got to work at it.

The second BOM is the Buck-a-Block at Mea Bernina. This is a series of traditional blocks using Thangles for half square triangles. On track!

Number three is Toes in the Sand by Jay Bird Quilts. This is a series of cute triangle blocks using the Hex N More Ruler. It comes every month in the mail from Fons and Porter. On track (if one month constitutes a track)!

I bet if I looked into my stash, I could probably find a few other old BOM that I stalled out on. I distinctly remember a needle-turn applique batik botanical series. I wonder what else I might find.

Perhaps my next challenge should be to get and stay current on my BOM and then next year to be a little more judicious about taking on new BOM. Or not . . . . .

Curious by the month,

Another Great Program at KVQG - Peg Parnell

KVQG monthly meeting was earlier this week. With each speaker comes new insights, experiences and techniques. Peg Pennell was no exception. Coming to us from near Omaha Nebraska, Peg described her history with quilt challenges - in fact she admits to being a "challenge junkie". It really resonates with me when people have a focus or something they return to again and again. I think I like it because that's not me.

Peg took up the gauntlet from the many (6?) guilds she belongs to and completed the challenges with flair - sometimes challenging the challengers with unusual shapes and other rule bending. For each challenge she set herself a personal challenge to learn and practice some new technique. This is way cool in my book. I also loved how she collected fabric, embellishments, sayings and doo-dads that related to the quilt she was working on.

I love Peg's sense of color - "Lime green in my go-to neutral", and her technique for stretching small pieces of fabric by slashing and inserting another fabric.

So, here is what I'm taking away from Peg's presentation - challenge yourself to learn and try new things, dont be afraid to "break the rules" and embellishments sometimes make the quilt.
 Keep up the Curiosity!