Sunday, September 29, 2013

Texas doesn't have the "fall" that a lot of the country has, but we do notice temperatures getting cooler, but still a good number of days when you still need an AC on.

Also this time of year is considered Hurricane season and the ever watchful eye for where those storms in the gulf are heading.  I'm inland enough that what we get, if one heads our way is wind and rain.  Right now a lot of this country could use a good soaking rain to replenish the water in a lot of streams and lakes.

I have decided to make a major change in my life.  2 years ago I bought a 1910 home on an acre of land, with the plans to revive it and make it beautiful again.  I had to come to the conclusion with my income and age, that this wasn't a manageable option for me.  One I couldn't do one thing till I did another, and when I forgot and left a faucet on all night and the water accumulated under the house causing that area to settle a little, and I called 2 plumbers to fix the drain pipe in the shower (1 said he was to busy and backloged and couldn't get to it - the other never bothered to return my call), an estimate from an electrician to run a 220 to hook up my dryer that ran over $600, I decided enough was enough.

I'm moving into an apartment where I don't have to worry about a yard, or repairs or ???.  If it breaks just pick up the phone and call the apartment office and let them fix it.

I will have a room dedicated mostly to sewing (but will also serve as extra sleeping space when needed).  So rather than worry about repairs and things I want to change and can't I will concentrate on all this fabric and quilt patterns I've collected for years and start turning out some finished quilts.

STAY tuned for photos as I progress in making quilts and other projects.  My first goal is to finish the 4 pieced quilts that I've been collecting fabric and patterns for my 4 children.  Then I will start on the 11 quilts for my grandchildren (all are applique - either needle turn or machine raw edge). 

I have recently acquired a lot of storage units (cabinets, dresser, chest, and other units for storing fabric and patterns).  And I had started organizing everything so "hopefully" I could find it better/easier.  Once moved and set up again, still have a few boxes to go through.

Monday, August 5, 2013

Interesting reading back on previous posts.  I now have all the fabric and patterns for my 4 children's quilts.  Youngest son has changed (can't change again I have fabric now) his color somewhat again.  He is now wanting a red/black quilt - just 2 colors.  So I searched as I didn't want just 2 fabrics of solid red and solid black and found a variety of red on black and black on red fabric (just 2 colors) to mix with the solids.  I'm combining two patterns Storm at Sea and Snails Trail.  I found a quilt done with a block for each of those patterns and really liked it.  Morning Star is for oldest 2 children and a paper pieced for youngest. 

Now to get back to work.






Hi, I'm still around.  I've been working on organizing a room for my sewing and slowly it is coming together.  Found the Habitat ReStore near me and have been able to get a lot of items for storage at extremely reasonable prices.  I have one 18' wall that is dedicated to storage, a combination of many different storage units all work together to house a lot.  I have a 6 drawer dresser, a man's chest (2 larger drawers, 5 small drawers and shelves behind a door), a book case, 5 cabinet boxes (2 with a shelf, 1 with 2 drawers and 2 just open box), and 5 roll arounds with 7 plastic bins in each about 2" deep.  Have a little storage on the opposite wall, and room for my sewing machine, serger, cutting table and a lateral filing cabinet for patterns, books and other paperwork.  Need to fit a cutting table in soon.

This week moving window AC units around in the house.  Bought one that covers more BTUs for the main house and will move a smaller one in the window of the sewing room, will make the space cooler for me to work in.

Found some beautiful fabric at the local Quilt store last Tuesday.  Texas Lone Star State themed and some beautiful Christmas fabrics, 2 pieces that are boots with Christmas designs.  Can't wait to get in there and get some started.  I have 4 squares that are maps of Texas with the counties, rivers and lakes etc printed on it, I'm planning a throw for each of my children for Christmas.  Thinking the Christmas Boot fabric would make interesting Christmas Stockings, table runner, place mats or Christmas tree skirt. 

Will also be working on finishing the 4 pieced quilts I have been gathering fabric and patterns for, for my 4 children before Christmas.  Once those are finished, I will start the 11 art/appliqued quilts I'm making for 11 grandchildren.  I've started some on a couple of the applique, and have been gathering patterns, fabric etc for these for several years.  I now (I think) have everything complete so that I can start working on them.  A project for 2014 to finish before Christmas.  I have some cut out, some that I've finished a few blocks on, but mostly just gathered all the supplies.  Have a lot of the applique patterns traced to freezer paper, so I'm making progress - just a long way to the finish line.


Thursday, June 13, 2013

I have been absent from here for so long.

A lot has been going on in my life.  I bought an older house (to small for all my STUFF) almost 2 years ago.  I have arranged, rearranged and arranged again trying to get things where they were in a workable order of arrangement to be useful.  Bought a storage building and moved a lot of the unpacked, partially  unpacked and other amounts of STUFF into it, giving more room in the house to work at arranging.  NO it isn't done yet and probably won't be until I find a way to add some more rooms to the house.

But I have made progress in arranging a small room 10x18' into a sewing room.  One entire length of wall 18' long is almost now floor to ceiling storage.  Don't think it will house all the collection (as my friend's hubby calls what she has "her inventory" - he says it is beyond "stash") of my inventory, but hopefully I'll get projects together with all their parts and work my way through some finished projects that have laid unfinished way to long.