Sewing Room

I've decided since I don't have bedroom furniture for my spare bedroom at the moment to make it my sewing room. I have a blow-up mattress (the double kind that is up off the floor like a reg bed) to put up when company needs to stay over night.


Where oh where did all this fabric come from??? Yeah, I bought it, but when you do a little here, a little there it doesn't seem like much, till you get it all together in one spot. So now comes the chore (a pleasant one) to seperate into sizes, (yardage, fat quarters, charms, jelly roll strips), then into seperate piles for colors. At the moment for lack of a better storage solution it will all go in large plastic containers - labeled. Later I will measure and mark yardage of the larger pieces - but that is project for a later day. Right now I need it somewhat organized and put away. Then there are the patterns, books, tools, and other things you collect along the way you just have to have. Oh yes, the large plastic container for crazy quilt fabrics and a smaller one for the trims, appliques, laces, ribbons etc.


I just found 6 or 7 more boxes that need to come out of the garage and find a home in the kitchen. It used to look good sized (not large) but an OK size, think it is shrinking as I put things away, I'm running out of room. LOL There is at least 3 or 4 more of clothes - but there is some major culling in line there. Of course everything in these need to be either run through the dishwasher or the washing machine.


I'm working on some stitching at night and pushing to get the other finished during the day light hours. Tomorrow again it is grass mowing day, huh!! seems I just did that, how times files. And with the great rains we have been having how the grass doth grow.


I have two round robin blocks I'm adding borders too, I have to sandwich a quilt top, batting and backing together and baste - then start quilting it, and have a 2 tablecloths to make (1 lg and 1 sm), and a Christmas table runner. Need to redo a drawing for an original Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery piece, and draw to fabric. Know there is bound to be more, must have left some out.


Any who, I stay busy and the only grass growing is not under my feet but in the yard.

This Year is Slipping by Fast

Here it is October and Fall, the temps are lower and we have had a lot of rain. Keeps me busy keeping the grass mowed.

With the gathering of family here for Thanksgiving this year, I'm trying to finish getting things unpacked, cleaned and put away. There is still much to do and the days are passing quickly. I remember as a child it took forever for Christmas to come or any other special day I looked forward to. Hmmm, is it that I'm busier now than then and I'm not just sitting waiting and wondering. Could be.

The rains were so nice and so badly needed by so many. But I read and see on TV of many that got to much rain and lost lives and homes due to the flooding. For this reason, when I look for a house to move to I always scope out the lay of the land and make sure I'm high enough to be away from any flooding.

Family My Number 1 Passion

Just got a couple of new photos of my first great grandson, it seems only yesterday he was a toddler and now he is in school and his sister. After some issues and him living with his father for a time, he is now permanently home with his mother and sister. And seems very happy to be there.

I haven't seem him in a long time and I'm looking forward to him being with us all this year at Thanksgiving. Hopefull if not all my family can be here, most can. It is aways such great fun when we can all be together.

I plan to do most of the cooking. All the favorites I've cooked for special days in the past. Fried Chicken, Turkey, Ham (with sliced pineapple and cherries atop and brown sugar glaze), cornbread dressing, giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, pink stuff (a jello pineapple coolwhip salad), and the green variety, candied yams, chunky mashed potatoes (not thoroughly mashed but leave some potatoes bite sized with lots of butter), broccoli rice casserole, green bean casserole, corn casserole and a couple more salads, rolls, biscuits, and tea. Dessert will be pumpkin, pecan, apple, and chocolate creme pies, and probably a fruit cake (my mom's recipe).

My oldest grandson loves fried chicken and biscuits made for him but plenty for everyone else.

Counting everyone that could come we should have about 22 here, so should be a house full.

Another passion of course in my needlework. I have a quilt top to finish for James for Christmas. Gave him the top last Christmas and hope to have it quilted by this one. Then I start the 4 pieced quilts for my children and work on their art quilts. Hoping to have them all together by mid year 2010, and quilted for giving at Christmas 2010. Then the next batch will take awhile. There are 11 to make and don't want to give any until all are finished. That may take me a couple of years since most are art quilts. I have some started so that helps. And of course lots of little project crop up in between. 365 days in a year if I can make a couple of blocks a day average I should make the deadlines with no problem.

Well glad I washed my plastic storage item as it is pouring rain outside there goes mowing the yard today again.

09-11-09

I was attending college to learn how to build and repair computers. The instructor came back in the room after a short break and told us that a airplane just hit the tower in NY. Class members were in awe and I dashed home to put on the TV. I was late getting back to class and was in shock for several days that something like that could happen.

I remember American Flags began to pop up everywhere, but over the past 8 years they for the most part have disappeared. Seems some of us forget or get complacent.

Another part of my Passion

Brother and Sister - Oldest daughter's grandchildren




Tristin Faith

Brothers and Sister, Youngest Daughter' Grandchildren

Her oldest daughter's children

Ty and Kyron with the birds at Sea World Sister Symphony stayed with NaNa's Friends

Her oldest Son's daughter

Lilly

Her youngest son's daughter.

Ava Harmony

When everything looks in order and then falls apart

Best laid plans seem to still go astray. I'd found the perfect living room suite I thought. First the Chaise was no longer available, ok then I could get a overstuffed chair and that would be OK. Well today it was delivered and sent back. It wasn't off white or white but a very dark beige or light brown and I don't do brown. Now grey it would have been OK. So now back to the drawing board and searching again. I'll look at it as a good thing and maybe I'll find something I like better, lets hope.


Did get a range delivered though, so now I don't have to use 2 microwaves, a George Foreman grill and a toaster oven and can cook a meal for company. Making progress one step at a time.


Checked the garage there are still 6 boxes marked Kitchen to be unpacked.

And the house looks more like HOME everyday.

KITCHEN:

I have ordered the last of the fabric for making curtains (balloon shades) for my kitchen windows. I have a yard of a beautiful fruit print fabric in vibrant colors of reds, purples, golds and greens. When Murielle and I put the Navy that was really blue with it, it did not pop, so we decided a purplish Navy would be better. I just found two fabrics that are purplish navy one darker than the other and ordered both. But when I put the three fabrics to gether it really looked good using either of the navy fabrics. So can't wait for it to arrive.

think first one will work better

This is the way the finished shade will look. Where the white is will be navy. I'd thought of putting some appliques in the panel but not sure. I kinda like it this way.

The curtains on all the other windows were bought ready made. Later I may change them out, but think I'll just make a shade to put beneath them to help cut out more sunlight and help the house stay cooler in summer.

Found my round rug for the kitchen have it in front of the refrigerator. Now need to buy one for the stove and sink. Those 2 were not retreaved from the kitchen. Think they might have been washed and been OK. Just didn't fool with them.

LIVING ROOM:

Living room furniture will be here on the first of Sep. Here is a photo, once I get them here will take one of them in my room. It shows a chaise and I'd hoped to get that too - but it had been discontinued. Will have to find one or an overstuffed chair to go in there.

I will keep my antique end tables and now on the look out for a coffee table. I have a new oil paint kit and found my brushes. Now to get a couple of canvases and paint some new paintings to
hang in there.

Have a couple of tall lamps but need to get new shades the ones that were on them got damaged with all the smoke and the last move.


The two chairs in this photo will be recovered with the fabric on the right. I have it and it looks so good in the room.

I'll also make a cornice to cover the windows of this same fabric. Now the question is do I make two cornices and cover both windows on each wall and make it look like one large window (I think this would probably be best due to the size of the room.) Are do I make 4 and put individual cornice on each window.

The room is coming together so nicely and isn't costing me an arm and a leg in the process.

Life is Good

Today was a fabulous day. A dear friend came for lunch and we spent the entire afternoon visiting.

It was so much fun and we decided this needs to be at least a monthly event from now on. She does lots of craft (needlework) also and so we exchanged ideas, thoughts, I have this, Ok I like that, really like those colors, that would be a neat quilt to make etc., etc., and on an on.

Getting Organized

For once before I die, I hope to have everything related to one type of hobby together. AM I dreaming - hope not.

Because I'm trying to collect everything related together, I've decided to put it in large plastic containers to segregate to projects later. For example everything Crazy Quilting (CQ)embelishments in one container, CQ fabric in another, fat quarters in one, fabric yardage in another, etc. Right now have all the books in book case, but they will need to be sorted once I find them all.

I ordered and received the other day some new oil paints after I'd found some brushes. I need to get some stretched canvases so I can start painting again. It has been years since I painted and I miss working in this media. I have a lot of walls in this house to decorate and since I lost a most of the paintings I had in 1995 (some I painted and some I bought) I now need to paint replacements because I no longer have the funds to purchase them. Also, the artist that many were from I can no longer afford as his paintings have increased drastically in price. In fact one I'd purchased for $50 by one of the two came to me and offered to buy it back several years later for 6 times what I paid for it. He needed painting for a showing in Houston, and didn't have enough time to paint enough for the show. Needless to say I refused then it was in a manner of speaking stolen from me a little later along with almost everything I owned.

Back to Stitching

Have enough unpacked that I can now take breaks from the heat and do some sewing. It is hot in Texas they say we are about to break records for the longest continuous stretch of 100+ days. We are way behind in needed rain, everything looks dead. My boxes are stored in the garage and it is HOT out there, so work a little, rest in the cool more.

Now, where do I start on my quilting projects or embroidery???? I have a number of quilts to finish as you know if you've been reading my blog. I have them all sorted (those I've unpacked) in a large plastic container in my bedroom by my chair for sewing and my daylight lamp. As bulbs burn out in other lamps/lights I will replace them with daylight bulbs. The others give everything a yellow cast.

So much to do, want to get an area ready for a fall garden, greens (mustard, collards, Swiss chard), turnips, carrots, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower and beets. Hopefully our first freeze will be late so I can have a good harvest.

Also need to get some flowering plants in the yard - first need to make flower beds. I'm thinking mums, jonquils, paper white narcissus and bearded iris (tulips don't do any good here not cold enough). Then will plant more spring flowers to have something blooming almost all year. As to plants looking to plant Camella's, bougainvillea, plumeria, azalea. bridal wreath, wisteria, hydrangea, Indian hawthorn, poinsettia and poinciana - all in the red, purple, pink blue family of colors except the poinciana and it is yellow and red orange.

The poinciana has a history for me, when I was not a teenager yet, my step grandfather owned a nursery between Fulton and Rockport, Texas. He gave me one and I took it home and planted it. My Aunt and Uncle lived on property adjoining ours and they had a calf that got out and he'd come down to the house and eat my plant the second time killed it. Now some 50 odd years later I hope to plant another. Would also like to plant a few fruit trees (peach, plum), and a pomegranate. I have pecan trees.

New Home is coming together

A couple of paintings I've done are now hanging in my living room. The room is huge and my furniture looks lost. Yes, looks like I'll be shopping for more furniture in the near future - more fun.

Sharing photos of my paintings with an Internet friend developed into her sharing her desire to paint. So we decided I'd help her online. I put together a shopping list for her of paints, brushes, etc and off on a shopping trip she went.

She shared a photo she liked and through the marvel of Internet she painted and I critiqued. I'd give her instructions on what to paint and how, then after she did it, she'd take a photo and through Yahoo IM send to me and we could exchange comments while looking at her photo. She did very well, she had natural talent, and made a very nice first painting. It needs a little finish detail and is now drying so she can add that and she has already started her second - she is hooked.

Working with her has regenerated my oil painting juices and I'm anxious to get the house in shape so I can replenish my painting supplies and work on some canvases. I like to work in both acrylic and oil. I also like to embellish wood and other items in folk or tole painting. I used to do some China painting and have a number of items my daughter has done and given me, but I'd have to have a kiln to do that again - hmmm maybe in the future.

Left is 1/2 of the one wall of my living room, still need to ad a nice plant or two with the screen, have the broken chair repaired and reupholstered. The two tier table needs some repair and refinishing. All 3 are antiques I bought the table and the 2 chairs were given to me.

Maybe all the styles don't really go together but they are things I like and afterall this is my space. At my age I think a house that rings of MeMaw's house is great. I feel it should be filled with photos of family, and items I like and things I've made.

It has huge rooms basically 4 rooms with a square hall area and bath. 2 bedrooms, living room, kitchen/dining/family (all one large room) make up the 2000 sq ft. It is on a corner lot with nice shade trees, lots of area to add flowering shrubs, flowers and a nice sized garden. Now if I can keep my health to take care of it all.

Unpacking has been slow as everything is covered with suet from the apartment fire. Although the fire was contained to the small storage room at the back of the apartment the smoke filled the entire apt and left residue on everything. I have a small blond colored desk and it didn't look like there was any on it - till I cleaned it and the cloth came away black. So now everything has to be cleaned and what is washable goes in the washing machine.

My New Abode

Well after continued broken promises of a move-in date to move back into my apartment, I finally said enough and found another place. In many respects I like it better. It is a house (h0me), on a corner lot, with nice mature trees. Room for a garden, lots of space for neat flower beds. Rooms are large, and with 10' ceilings is very pleasant on the hot days so far. With ceiling fans and the AC set at 80 it is very comfortable. This far south we don't have many very cold days in winter, so heating should not be all that big of a problem either.

I've unpacked some, and seems I'm not making a lot of headway. I had a break-in during Christmas 2007 while away visiting family. At that time they broke into a shed where I had some boxes stored that needed to be unpacked. So I didn't know what was taken. Things I thought were, have been since found. This was one of the reasons I chose to move from that area to where I am now.

I've put a couple of photos of the house, there are things I want to do to it, but time, money etc intervene. But in time I will make a lot of improvements.

I want to add flower boxes with periennal in them on the street side windows (outside the porch). Line the sidewalk on either side with a ground cover of oxalis (maybe) or something similar that will bloom often, or maybe a mixture of flowers with different blooming dates for a more constant array of color through out the year.

Life in General

Time flies and it seems I'm no where nearer to move back into my apartment. I was told to check on Friday and I've called 2 or 3 times, left a message and still no answer or call back. Not sure what is going on. Although I really liked where I was living, room layout, size etc were all perfect for me, I'm about ready to look elsewhere. I need my own space and my things so I can get some projects finished.

Tuesday I'm looking at another place and will go from there. Not sure if owners of the place I was living are playing games or what. They tell me they now have a buyer since the fire and all the upgrades they did with the insurance money. He wants to live in one side with his family and rent the other. She told me he was very pleased to know that a mature individual that would be a long time rental would be in the other side. Now he may not have that.

I've been doing some surfing on blogs and find so many with really great and talented people. I've always been entranced with the possibilities that come with the computer and the internet. And every day I'm amazed at the volume of information you can find.

Of course in my surfing I always find new projects, new fabrics that are calling my name saying "buy me", and I need more projects like I need a hole in the head.

There is that old saying the Lord only gives you what he thinks you can handle, sometimes I wish he didn't have so much faith in what he thought I could handle. But with his help I'll find a place where I can stay the rest of my life.

My Apt

Well May 1 has come and gone and the apt wasn't ready. Went yesterday to check on it, and it is finally done. Just waiting for the electrical company to reconnect wiring to the building and replace the meters.


Looks nice everything inside is nice and new looking. There was not a lot of damage from the fire, but all electrical wiring had to be replaced due to the heat in the attic, entire roof had to be replaced (building is 4000 sq ft) all walls had to be painted, outside eaves cleaned (remove smoke stain) and painted, kitchen cabinets in my apt had to be replaced and all flooring replaced. Not happy with choice of floor covering chosen, but since I am renting can't be all that choosy. I like the space for the rent and that outweighs not liking tile and/or carpet color landlady picked. They elected to redo the other side (it is a duplex) with new flooring too. The insurance adjuster only required repainting.

It is like new, clean and 2000 sq feet - plenty of room to have a sewing room where I can start a project, close the door when I want to stop and it all be right where I left off when I want to start again. Something I've wanted for years and never had.


Granddaughter's baby is doing great. She is really filling out and the best baby. She is sleeping more between feedings at night. Doesn't cry unless hungry or needs clean diaper. She loves her swing and has a couple of jumper type seats but is a little young for them yet. For a Mom that didn't have a job during pregnancy due to not being able to get one due to the fact she was pregnant this kid has a ton of things. Clothes, beds, etc. Momma shoped thrift stores etc and it seems she was always at the right spot at the right time to find lots of good bargains. She found a double stroller like new for $30 and I got it for her. Her middle son is 4 and because he is a livewire he burns all he eats. She thought when they went shopping she could put him in the stroller too. Not sure that will work as I'm sure he will want to walk like his older brother who is almost 6.


Saying prayers that electricity gets connected sooooon so I can move back home.

Home

I'm told repairs to my apartment are almost finished, hopefully I'll be able to move back 1st of May.


I believe and lots say/or believe things happen for a reason. Some recent events makes this a realization of truth to me.


My granddaughter went into labor one evening and had I not been here and she had been alone with her 2 young sons (5 & 3) she'd had some problems. As it was I was able to get her to the hospital in time and bring boys home and stay with them. Had there not been a fire in my apartment I doubt I'd have been here. Although this granddaughter has spent a major protion of her life with me and we are very close, I might not have been here had it not been that I had to move out of my apt.


Last Tuesday her little girl was two weeks old and tried to stop breathing. After a battery of tests and 4 days in the hospital it has been determined she choked on spit-up, but those signs were not evident when we found her. After a nightmarish hour or so, and her trying to turn blue at least 4 times, and me thinking no matter what we do we are going to loose her - we got her to the hospital. Events like this make you want to live right around the corner from the local ER Room, definitely not 11 miles out of town as she does.


Momma and baby girl came home today and she is a very healthy baby and has gained a pound since birth. She has always been a very precious bundle of joy since her birth, only now she is more blessed and cherished.

New Year New Home

Didn't last long. Jan 30th there was a fire that started in some boxes at the back of my apartment. I'd placed some empty cardboard boxes near the garbage can to flatten. I heard a noise about 8 ish and went to see. Opened the back door to flames leaping as high as the door and all the way across. Needless to say I quickly shut it. Flames began to creep in above the door and ran to sink filled a couple of large glasses with water and tossed on the flames. Then raced to the phone and called 911.

Response time of local volunteer fire department was quick and the fire was extinguished rapidly and contained to one small room at the back of the apt. What I had there in the way of fabric and fat quarters were wet but I salvaged them all. The kits and patterns were in plastic boxes and most survived staying dry. A couple did get wet but I was able to dry them out and save them.

In reality I lost nothing of value and I was not hurt. There was no one at home in the other apartment.

I'm now staying with my granddaughter once again and waiting for the repairs to be finished so I can move back.

Latest project, top is together, now to add borders (outer one is pieced and ready to attach), sandwich and quilt.

Off Topic

Well we have a new President, time will tell where this administration will take us. I only pray that he can with the help of Congress turn our economy around. To many people without jobs, or not making enough to make ends meet.

Now to the fun things in life - family and hobbies.

I've decided to try and have a reunion of my Mother's side of the family in October. Last night I sat and went through my data base back to my Great Grandparents on her side and came up with 120+ descendants that I know of, and I'm sure there are others I've missed in my research.

No I don't think I have room for that many people at my house, but if they all decide to come I'll find a place that does. A couple of years ago we had a first one and had a nice turnout and I got to meet family I'd never known. It was great, hoping to meet more that I've not met before and see those I met before.

Just took a look at my "new" sewing room - a bedroom I will turn into a sewing room. My first room totally devoted to my sewing hobby. There is quite a bit to do there, think I have decided on furniture placement but that always seems to never work as first planned. Also, need to purchase a table for cutting and once that is in the room may determine other furniture arrangement. Right now need to get all the fabric in there, then sort by colors, and by yardage. Putting all fat quarters together, yardage together and bits and pieces (including 4" - 6" squares) in another. Then all it BOM and kits. I have them in individual plastic containers now and will most likely keep them there - only with a better labeling system.

I need to put a support brace under middle of closet pole in my bedroom so I can finish sorting out my clothes and hang what I'm keeping and get rid of the rest. Then I can move my little rocker (sewing chair) in here, my daylight lamp and the plastic box (large) to house the zip-lock baggies of projects (UFO's and others). Will house all the hand projects here so that I have a place to sit and stitch and can watch TV, keeping the clutter out of other rooms. The lid of the plastic bin will work well as a table to arrange tools, threads etc on while working on a project. It has a bit of a lip which will help keep things from rolling to floor.

The unpacking of boxes is moving along. Yes, I'd like to snap my fingers and have it all done - ain't happening. So I do it as I can. I did take a couple of days to totally rest and now it is time to hit the grindstone and get more unpacked.

Off to find the bottom of some boxes.

New Year, New Home

Well after helping my Granddaughter with her 2 small boys (she is single Mom), I'm in a new place of my own. It is much larger than any of the apartments/houses I've had in the last 13 years since my divorce. Other than one house which had a rent I couldn't afford on just my retiremet it is the one I like best. It has lots of room, lots of storage, a nice kitchen and 2 full baths. The town is small which is OK, since I don't do the night scene or a lot of shopping.

I have had sme things either in storage or if I had them in the house with me some never were unpacked over the past several years. I now am unpacking everything. Since some of the times I moved friends helped me pack and they packed everything in site - so now I have things that should not have been packed to cull and trash or get rid of. I'm also downsizing my huge wardrobe and removing things I don't wear and some that I won't wear again . I also find some things I used in other places I don't want to use any more won't work in the cabinets here (like cabinet organizers) that I need to find someone that wants them. I belong to a group of Freecyclers on the internet for this locale and will advertise there and what I can't give away will go to the dumpster.

I have one quilt top almost finished. I have the top together, the border pieced and just need to add a small border strip, then the pieced outside border and quilt. Now I'm debating what fabric I want to use for a backing the top is a collection of squares and 4 rectangles of photos of animals, birds and/or fish. It is assembled with autumn fabric strips to even out the rows, so I'm leaning to an over all print of "autumn leaves", camouflage print or a moda type fabric. Hopefully that decision won't take long as I'd like to get this one finished. I gave him the top for Christmas with the promise to finish it soon.

I've decided to work on the quilts I want to make for family in groups. Done the one for my EX he is oldest and he got his first. Then will work on the ones for my 4 children (next oldest) and when they are finished work on 11 for grandchildren then the ones for great grandchldren. I now have 6 greatgrandchildren, with new one due inn April, but that list is still growing. Somewhere in the mix I'd like to make a couple for myself and I've found several while surfing I'd like to make tooooo.