My Sewing Room

This post has been a long time in coming & I'm so excited to share my favorite room with you all today! This room has been a "catchall" for far too long & I've been making do by sewing in the permanent disaster that it had become, but enough is enough & I'm so glad I finally gave the junk & misc. stuff the boot! lol I know I absolutely love drooling over others people sewing areas & fabrics stash's so I've got a treat for you. I'm warning you, photo overload ahead!

This is my main fabric storage hutch. My husband built this for me back when I was into scrapbooking & I must say I think it looks much better with fabric instead of paper on it! lol My machine is here & I have plenty of counter space to lay projects out on.

This is the first thing you see when you walk into my sewing room. My temporary design wall,(must get a bigger one asap!) cutting counter & most of my scraps & tools are right here.

 

On my wall are my current projects. Blocks I am collecting from my weekender friends to be made into a weekender bag & the beginnings of a scrappy pouch for a swap.

I made this valance last year with some momo layer cake squares I was given. Sew perfect don't you think?;-)

Another shot of my cutting counter. This is one of favorite views & makes me so happy. I'm also happy to report that I've been able to keep it clean & am more motivated after a project to put everything away so it doesn't stay messed up. Yay for me!

My husband also made this cabinet for me & I am so blessed to have such a talented & supportive hubby! The slot under the top is perfect for storing my poster boards.

This shelf is filled with a few fabric bundles I won & my charm pack collection.

Perle thread, vintage ric.rac & buttons hang out on this shelf. I use the clipboard with very sophisticated sticky notes to keep track of currant swaps & deadlines.

This lovely hanging hoop was made for me by the lovely Krista of Spotted Stone Studio. She was my partner in the swap & I simply adore it & use it all the time!

Scraps & leftover binding get tossed in this basket.

I received this beauty in a swap from the lovely Jackie of chloeandme. Its the perfect place to keep my more currant WIP.

Hoop wall art. Both swapped & thrifted for.;-)

My main scrap storage is this awesome metal organizer I picked up for a few $ at a garage sale once. It's already overflowing though!

Fat Quarters are kept in these baskets & in color order of course! This is the most recent piece of furniture my hubby built for me & I love being able to shelve these & have them looking pretty.

Just a peek into the baskets for all you fabric lovers!!

A few bigger WIP are hung on hangers & looking pretty hanging from the closet door. I can never hide this stuff away you know! It makes me too happy seeing it out!

To the right of my sewing counter, thread, a Christmas mini & vintage hoops. I find these for .50-.75 all the time & like to keep them around for quick projects.

My "collection" "stash" or whatever else you might want to call it!=) I can never pass up a good deal & I've been able to find a good bit of my collection for good deals around here where people are not very tuned into to "modern fabrics". That & I've also done a good bit of swapping, helped others "destash" & of course shopped for the most recent "must haves" online.

 I like to display all the adorable pouches & goodies I've received in swaps that aren't currently in use. I'm sure some of you will recognize the ones you've so lovingly made for me! I adore every single of them!!

My prized Heather Ross scraps & Fq's & my basket of echino scraps.

The view from my sewing machine! It's so happy!

My vintage button collection.

More vintage jars on top of my shelves. These hold anything from buttons, to vintage trims, to zippers, to key fob hardware.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of my sewing room & if you made it to the end, yay!!! ;-) I promise I actually spared you about half the photos & if you beg ask nicely, I might even show you the more detailed fabric shots. lol

I'm linking up with Ellison Lanes & the Studio spotlight!

Pillow Talk Swap

I took the plunge at some encouragement from friends & joined in the newest round of the Pillow Talk swap! I was nervous at first, but when I got my partner information I realized she liked very much the same things I did so it would be easier to make her something. ;-)


This was my first fabric pull & idea. Low volumes with color plus's. After a bit of feedback I pulled the mustard & green & replaced them with brighter shades.

 

 

Here is it is all pieced & getting quilted. I really enjoyed the process of the hand quilting, even taking it along on our drive north one day.

 

My blocks ended up being a bit bigger than I had anticipated & so therefore I only got four on the pillow & that ended up being a large 22"! Good thing my partner liked big! lol

 

 

 

 I seriously love this pillow & am very happy to report that my partner loved it as well!! It looks great on her sofa & plays well with her other beauties.

I added this pretty AMH print for backing & sewed in an invisible zipper. I love the neatness they add.

 

Now the waiting! I am anxiously stalking my mailbox for the beauty that is coming to me! I really have no idea which one it could be so I'm thinking I'm in for a surprise!! ;-)

plus quilt

I'm finally sharing my finished Christmas plus quilt with you all! I got it back from the long armer 2 weeks before Christmas & got the binding all sewn on sitting under it one chilly afternoon. I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. The biggest quilt I've made so far, it's nice & long perfect for naps, festive & oh so, cuddly!! :)

  

                                     

 

I used 5+ charm packs in the top & just arranged them in a pleasing plus design.

I pieced the back with coordinating yardage & a strip of extra charm squares.

 Here's a close up shot where you can really see the snowflake quilting.

Before I go I need to share with you this little tree quilt made up for Christmas as well. I had to 

hang something in place of the modern maples mini. :)

And remember that little penguin mug rug I sent off in the mug rug swap? Well here is the gorgeous beauty I received in return!!! It's more of a mini quilt really & I've been enjoying on my wall. No mug will set on this!;)  

Happy sewing!! 

Table Runners 1, 2 & 3!

This last week I finished up & got my table runner for the Table Top Swap on it's way to it's new home! I really loved trying out this new block from Amber at One Shabby Chick. It's very easy & looks so great! I used Flea market Fancy & my favorite Lakehouse seed catalog print.

 

   I made up three blocks & sashed them with a 2" grey heath like print.

I couldn't decide on the quilting for awhile but in the end went with a simple stipple that brings the look together.

It's bound it in a pretty aqua posie FMF print & I hand bound it for a perfect finish. The backing is a claire blocks print in yellow.

I am so happy with how it turned out, I wished I could keep it for myself!:)

My partner likes brights,retro & FMF so I hope this will make her squeal with delight!

And I finally remembered to add my labels! So much fun!

This is the lovely runner I received in the swap. My partner got my love of simplicity & straight line quilting down! The colors are so bright!

Maybe you all have suggestions on what do you do when you receive something in a swap that you feel is not really your style? There are times that I feel bad that I'm not super excited about something, but still I want to appreciate all the time & work that my partner put into making the item for me? 
My conclusion has been to just be happy with what I get & thank the person anyway for all their time & effort. Who knows, maybe the item's I send out are met with the same feelings?! I guess that is the risk in a swap like this. There are times where I've thought "why not just follow along but make myself a item that I love" but then what is the fun in that? There is always that chance that I'll get something really great in return!

So apparently I've been on a table runner kick these last two weeks, because look what else got finished up! I've had this quilted & ready for the binding for a while now & finally got it sewn on & hand stitched it to the back during a movie the other night! 

These are just simple coins & strips of Heather Bailey fabric along with some essex linen. I love how it's so light but bright at the same time & so perfect for summer! I have it on my dining room table now with a vase of flowers fresh from the garden! The joys of summer!

May you all have a great week sewing beautiful things!


xKaren

Linking up to Sew Modern Monday at Canoe Ridge Creations 

And Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story 




I am also adding my two finished table runners to 12 in "12 challenge over at Amy's.