News From the Studio, Episode 1550

Posted on January 5, 2017 by prairiemoonquilts in Studio News

I’ve been working on quite a motley mix of stuff over the last few weeks. Most of my efforts have been geared toward either meeting a deadline, or cleaning up and organizing.

Getting my new longarm frame delivered and having Ivy all set up in her new digs, spawned a flurry of other cleaning and re-organizing activity, and you know how one thing leads to another . . . and another . . . and, well . . . I’m not done yet!

I really took The Final Countdown seriously again this year, and I’m still working toward all those goals I set for myself. Yes, I’ve made it 5 entire days so far!

Here’s a bit of what I’ve been working on . . .

While Ivy was downstairs, I had a little red chest of drawers parked nearby to hold supplies I used at the longarm. It was handy because I could shut the drawers and the cats couldn’t get to any of my stuff. They’re meddlers, those busybodies! And thieves, too, I might add.

Once Ivy moved upstairs, I didn’t need the chest of drawers for that purpose any more. I had thought about leaving it downstairs somewhere, but seriously, we have enough furniture. (Probably too much, but I’m still dealing with that separately.)

So I did some measuring, and found that the little red chest of drawers is exactly the same height as my ironing board, and narrow enough that my big board would still fit on top of it, and sturdy enough to hold it comfortably, so I moved it upstairs and it’s now my new ironing station with storage underneath! I absolutely love it!

Here’s what it was like before — just open wasted space that I sort of used as a catchall:

And here it is now, with drawers to keep extra things stored out of sight — I’m so thrilled with it:

I also took time to recover the board because my red and white polka dot cover had worn out and gotten a hole in it.

Having the extra storage allowed me to clean a lot of things off my cutting table, yet they’re still within easy reach, and I know where they are. I have, however, mislocated an item that I know was on my cutting table, and I’ve moved it in the name of cleaning and now cannot find it.

I refuse to spend too much time looking for it, tho, because my time is better spent elsewhere, and I’m sure it’ll turn up soon. It can’t have gone far.

And as of noon today, this is the current state of my cutting table:

So much better, but still not done. I’m giving myself one more day to get it completely cleared off. There are currently about 8 projects left in this pile, and I have sworn myself to only 2 from now on, so something’s gotta go!

I’m taking some time every day to work on something of my own, even if just for an hour, and this morning, I managed to finish up my cow picture that I started in the Leni Wiener workshop I took last October. (You can see some in-progress shots HERE.) It’s ready for quilting!

I’ve been working on scraps and cutting pieces for scrap quilts for about an hour every day. I want to have lots of projects all cut and ready so that when I get chunks of time to sew, no matter how small, I’m ready.

I’ve been quilting on a quilt for my sister, and I’m anxious to get it off the frame. It should be done today, and I can get the next one loaded. The pattern is a Crabapple Hill design called “Vintage Tin“. My sister’s embroidery is great, and she’s super fast at it, too.

I chose a UFO from my list to work on (using Random Number Generator just for fun), and it landed on this bright, scrappy version of my Forever Fencin’ pattern that I’m making to use up strips from my 1 1/2″ strips bin. Right now, I’m sewing strip sets, and sub-cutting. I have quite a ways to go.

Great minds really DO think alike, because my friend, Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts, just finished one similar to this. You can see hers HERE. She planned her scrap placement a lot more carefully than I’m doing, so I’m anxious to see how mine comes out with all the randomness, because I sure do like Amanda Jean’s version a lot!

Here’s my original version I made years ago that is featured in the pattern:

So that’s some of what I’ve been working on lately.

We had a bit of a “house mishap” the other day when My Cowboy went to lock the door and the key broke off in the lock! Upon getting it fixed, he had a new key made for me the next time he went to town:

He’s such a joker!

What have YOU been working on lately?

10 responses to “News From the Studio, Episode 1550”

  1. Love the red storage chest!
    And I think the Hello, Kitty key is really a sweet gesture. (Hello Kitty was all over China when I adopted my daughter nearly 20 years ago, and I have to admit that I’m surprised Hello, Kitty is still so popular.)

  2. He’s so sweet to be always thinking of you. Love Amanda’s Crazy rail – know I will like yours too. Our cutting tables look much alike right now. Mine was clear until I got to Part 7 of En Provence. Have to stop and get it right again.

  3. Sue H says:

    Trying to finish my Beeutiful Quilt – not making much progress. Hopefully this weekend.

  4. Judy says:

    Looks like a great scrapbuster.

  5. Meloney says:

    Perfect solution.
    Are you going to be doing organizational challenges this year? Maybe monthly if the weekly are too much?
    What am I working on? We have a challenge of What’s in the Bag on one of the on-line groups.
    I have no energy today. Everyone here is not feeling well.
    But, I’m working on transcripts, quilting the test quilt and trying to do a few little things.
    https://melsquiltingblog.blogspot.com/2017/01/witb-other-things.html

  6. Karen says:

    Love your new ironing station! That’s exactly what I want to do with the change table I have in my sewing room, but haven’t got around to it yet. Your’s looks so large and sturdy.
    And your cow picture; wow! It’s beautiful! I thought for sure it was a painting. That’s amazing that you did that with fabric. Can’t wait to see how you quilt it!
    I’m still organizing, but mostly working on my daughter’s craft area now with her. She is very creative and does alot with recycled items, so it’s hard to get her to toss things. But we are slowly getting there and clearing the flat surfaces. The challenges have been good for both of us.

  7. Kathy Fraser says:

    It’s funny. I have the same dresser/cabinet in my sewing room. It is cream colored. Thinking of painting it a soft gray. But I have plants on it. I like your idea of a big pressing station. It is right next to my sewing machine table. Hmm.. Food for thought. Will have to see if I can find another place for my plants. This is a great idea. Thanks.

  8. Darlene says:

    I was thinking of putting the ironing board on top of bookcase. I like the idea of drawers so much better, neater looking.
    How big is your board? Did you make it or purchase it? How do you recover it w/ layers of batting?

    The quilt on your long arm is beautiful as well as your sister’s embroidery.

    Thank you for sharing your talents.

  9. Cindy says:

    I wondered about the red chest of drawers. I didn’t recognize it as being the one from downstairs. Now you have me wanting to make one of these quilts too. I know I have the scraps to make one.

  10. katie z. says:

    I’m working on a little bit of everything, since deadlines are all far away and because I can!

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