Fall Cleaning & Organizing: Home Tour

It's been a tiring and yet really rewarding few days. I've been going since morning to night and getting into bed usually after midnight.

What have I been doing? Well...sit back and let me catch you up on my life of late.

First thing...this apartment has turned into a clutter nightmare! It so needed a "make over". I sat down and really thought about what was really a good solution for MY  life...and not about what might be the expected layout of the space.

This is also a good "spot" to stop and just say...I'm very content with my life. I'm enjoying each day (even the really hectic ones)...and an not at all concerned over what other folks might think of me or my home. If I'm happy...that's what is important.

Oh, now don't get me wrong...it would be great to have more space. Been there...had that, and loved it! My home (pre divorce and retirement) was a 3-story brick with a full basement converted to my sewing "heaven". I loved that house. But, I have learned to love this cramped little apartment too...because it allows me to live within 12 feet of my Mother's front door. My entire family is no more than a few miles away...all can be reached within an hour's drive. So, THAT is much more important to me than any structure can be.

But, if you feel the need to judge...go ahead...it honestly won't bother me. I'm not living my life for what anyone else might want...but what I want. So, getting back to that "thinking"...I've turned my little oasis topsy turvy!

Let me take you on a little walking tour:

Here we are at my front door. Yep, when you enter my apartment...you are walking right into my galley kitchen. It is only 7 ft across...but is 25 ft long. It is divided almost in half by the double door size opening to the left (where the flowers are). This was originally a large window on the home and the kitchen area was a 2ft wide porch. The very first structure was a double apartment; kitchen in the enter and a single bath/bedroom on either side. We (the family) have changed it a few times over...the last effort took the small porch off and replaced it with this wider version...which was enclosed. The initial plan was for this to be a living room where I'd enjoy the days...sewing. So, it included many windows.

After a couple of years, it became really apparent that I didn't spend a lot of time in my kitchen...which was the largest room in the apartment...but a lot of room wherever my recliner was. :)

So, we tore out all of the plumbing in the existing kitchen and plumbed this smaller room. Of course, the windows were a challenge...because you can't "hang cabinets" in front of a window.

So, my "organizational solution" was to hang any pots, skillets, etc, that had a handle on the wall over the sink and stove. My actual 'counter space' is that little sliver aside the sink over the dishwasher. I get really creative and use my stovetop and freezer top for big projects. :)

Here is a shot with me standing with my back to the window in the last photo. We are looking back down my kitchen at my front door. My little table (sits four when open) is my welcome area when not in use. If you look closely you'll see that I have some purchased short cabinets sitting on either long shallow tables or wooden dressers. I use the drawers in the dressers for baking dishes, silverware, plastic ware, etc. The cabinets hold my waffle iron, stand mixer, blenders, choppers, baking pans, etc. This leaves the floor under the table open and helps the space to appear less "cluttered" to me. It is a very functional space but has to be kept organized so everything will "fit" into it's pre-determined little spot.

If we turn by the freezer to enter the structure that was the kitchen...but is not the center area...you can see my two bookshelves. These hold all of my cookbooks, bibles, and some family photos. This wide opening is "half-ed" by the small chest freezer on the kitchen side and a tall wooden dresser on the "living room" side. The dresser has the top/back covered with a sheet and huge doily. The top has a milk jug of flowers. Even with this on both sides of this wide opening we have installed open shelves (covered by lace curtains) on either side of this entry area to hold canned goods and other pantry items. Right in front of the two bookcases is the "hallway" which lets us turn right into Aidan's bedroom and laundry or turn left into the sewing room, bathroom, and office area.

This center room is now my little haven. I get away from the laptop and sit and stitch! Of course, the space is small...so the project has to be organized and supplies pulled from the sewing room before I begin. In this photo you can see a bit of my red Irish Chain quilt on my bed (right bottom corner) and the design wall to the left with my Hexagon Quilt blocks pinned in place. The long table is only abour 14" wide...so it holds my purse (and some clutter right now). My recliner is in the corner with my pole lamp...3-sunlight bulbs give me plenty of light along with the windows at the end of the room.

The television is in the corner and I have this tray that pulls right up to my recliner so I can stitch and watch movies at the same time. At present, I'm working on a HUGE project...which required me to construct 140 sampler quilt blocks! More about this a bit later on...

but for how, I'm about 1/3 of the way through these blocks...

and have this many more to still stitch on. So, if you are taking a course...and wondering "why" I'm not checking on the class blogs multiple times during the day...it is because of THIS project. Hugs!

Okay, on with the tour!

This is the other spot in the house that takes hours of my day. My laptop! This is the smallest room in the apartment (well, other than the tiny bathroom or the laundry room). It was a walk-in closet when the apartment was first constructed some 40 years ago. It is floor to ceiling shelves on three walls with added little single shelves where-ever I can put them. In the above photo, we are sitting in my chair...and you can see my small television on my antique treadle machine cabinet (it still works!). My class rosters and CQI Round Robin rosters are on the stand to the left of my laptop..as these are checked each day.

Next to the office is the sewing room. At present, all of the "stuff" that I have taken out of the other rooms because they were actually sewing/crafting supplies are in this room. THIS room is in real need of organization since it has become a "dumping ground" during this Fall Clean Up. But, it will have to wait until I get my second burst of energy...as it will take days to go through all of the boxes, plastic containers, and such to re-shuffle and find new space for things. I seriously need to "reduce my stash" but perhaps by Spring Cleaning Day it will be done. :)

You can't see my sewing machine...but if you "sit down" in the little brown/blue chair at the bottom right...and move the 3 stacked shoe-box-size plastic organizers...you can then sew. :)

Lastly, here is the 2nd largest room in the apartment...the back bedroom. This is Aidan's room and has her table (desk w/laptop), her twin bed and a small sitting area for watching television. It needs some re-arranging perhaps...but I have no "idea" yet. This room may need my daughter's help to get organized. 

While taking this photo, I'm actually standing in front of the washer/dryer combo closet. The "mess" at the bottom of the photo are the things I've pulled from the closet shelves and piled on top of Aidan's bed...awaiting my decision about "where to put this?".

So, you can see by these photos that my home is not fancy...but it is functional FOR ME. I have found that by really using my space...I'm happier in it!!

Hoping you enjoyed this little tour...and are inspired to get up and get busy enjoying your own space!

...(now, I'm off to that sewing room...to contemplate what my blocks should be like to begin stitching my "Fancy Seam Designs" on)...check out the last post for more info on THIS! Hugs!

Announcing a "Stitch Along" group for my latest book of seams...

I'm going to begin stitching EVERY SEAM of my Crazy Quilting Volume III:  Fancy Seam Designs Book soon. I thought you might want to join in and stitch them yourself! I know a lot of my blog followers have purchased the book (thank you again!), so this may be the gentle nudge you have needed to get you going. :)

If you don't have the book, it can be obtained on Amazon.com (international Amazon sites as well). But, you don't have to purchase the book to stitch along. Of course, you'll be just relying on my photos rather than having the templates or other instructional help that this book (and the Volume I & II books) have to offer if that's the case...but that's okay by me, if that's good by you.

I will be posting photos of my finished seams on this Shawkl Blog...but have also started a Facebook Group site. So, photos will also be posted there too. The difference is that members of the Facebook Group can also add their own photos to the group site. Just set up an album with your name so you can save your photos there on the group site.

The group name is: "Modern Crazy Quilt Seams" on Facebook. Here is the link to the group if you want to join:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1078979698871402/

I've sent "invites" to many of those in my Facebook listings...but, well frankly, I'm not a huge FB person...so not everyone is in my listing of FB contacts. So, feel free to share the site address with anyone that might like to stitch along with us.

At present I'm doing some Fall Cleaning..which is taking days instead of hours. But, I'll get down to constructing my blocks within a week or so...and then can being the actually stitching. So, I'll set a planning date of 1 November as the first posting date of the first stitched seam from the book.

I'll post a seam each day...and look forward to stitching all 500 of these with you!

BCQC-2 Open for Registration

The BCQC-2 module is  OPEN FOR REGISTRATION 14-16 September 2017

There will be three major objectives to this module:

* COLOR — Learning all about Color Selection

* PIECING —Techniques for successful Flip’n’Sew pieced blocks

* EMBELLISHING — Promote individual creativity while reinforcing the

    techniques learned in the BCQC

The Color portion of the module is intensive. It will cover the first six tasks:

· Planning for Color

· Impact of Color Choices

· Color Mixing
- Reading a Color Wheel
- Color Play

· Fast Color Selection Techniques

The Piecing portion of this course will focus on fabrics and the flip’n’sew method of piecing a block. It will not include a pattern, but does recommend using strips of fabric rather than patch pieces of fabric. So, yardage (1/4 or even 1/8 yardage widths is fine) for this method. We will be using cotton and silk for this course. This section includes the next two tasks:

· Fabric Selection
- Flip’n’Sew Method (pitfalls and solutions)

The Embellishing portion of this course will include:

· Lace/Trims

· Seam Embroidery

· Silk Ribbon Ideas

· Finishing with Beads, Baubles, and Charms

In total there are 11-tasks for this course. Just as in the BCQC each new task will be emailed to you after you have posted the prior task. 

This is the "follow-on" class to the BCQC-1, which you should have completed first. It builds on the techniques learned in the initial basic course and gives you experience in selecting COLORs for your fabrics/embellishments that will work together nicely. 

To register:

Send me your name, email address, state/country information via email to shaw.kathy@yahoo.com

Hugs!

 

Artist Trading Card Swap -- Come Join in the Fun!

Have you seen the fun swap that Crazy Quilt Quarterly is organizing?

 

It's open to anyone in the USA that follows the rules and submits on time! So, do you like to work on Artist Trading Cards? Do you like receiving little surprise in the mail (really who doesn't!). 

 

 

 

Not sure what an Artist Trading Card is? Well, it's simple...it's a mini-CQ block that measures the size of a calling card or business card. It has a finished edge (zigzag edge is fine), is built on a foundation (muslin, interfacing is optional but advised)...and is embellished. The back has an "information card" attached to it (per the swap guidelines).

 

For every ATC you submit...you get a different one in return!  Pam Kellogg will do the "swapping" for all the entries...so you have to mail your ATC's to her following the guidelines below:

GUIDELINES

* Create a crazy quilted artist trading card (2 ½” x 3 ½”). 

 It must be crazy quilted and it must be the stated size.  

We ask that there be no politically themed entries (patriotic is fine). 

* Any embellishments should be flat to keep mailing costs down 

(eg. seed beads, flat buttons, ribbon, embroidery, charms, etc.)

* Each ATC you create must be mailed to Pam and MUST include a SASE 

(self addressed stamped envelope).  

Be sure to include a separate SASE for EACH ATC you send! 

* Please use the backing card (pattern provided) on each of your ATC’s 

and also include your email address on each one so the recipient can contact you.

* NOTE: you will need to privately email Pam at pkellogg@mc.net or Mary Anne at
marmic1954@hotmail.com to indicate your desire to play 

and to receive her snail mail address. 

* Alas, we can only open this to residents of the United States.  

Deadline for receipt is January 31, 2018.

* As a further incentive Pam will photograph each ATC and they will be published in a special edition of the magazine….the date of which will be announced as soon as it becomes available.

* Six of the ATC’s that we receive will be chosen for the cover. 

 Those six artists will receive a prize - an extra ATC created by one of our staff members!!

Have fun and let’s swap our mini’s – ATC’s CQ Style!! 

Be sure to either print the above images(fit to page size) or click HERE to download a pdf file.  Either should fit on a standard 8 1/2 inch X 11 inch paper.  Use cardstock for the ATC back and the little ATC envelope!

 The magazine is hoping hoping to receive and trade at least 300 Crazy Quilt ATC's!!!

Hope to see you join in the fun!

Sorry to only be able to open this to USA folks...but perhaps if it goes over well...we can expand this idea next year to the international folks as well. 

Hugs!

 

Linda's block (progress report)

While not finished...thought I'd share what I've done so far.  Linda's block is the last block for me to mail in the traditional Floral & Roses round robin. Since I'm the last person to work on the block, it is my "job" to balance all the prior work across the block as well as adding to fill in any empty spots. The final result should be a beautiful and finished project!

Here is the block as it arrived in the mail. There are several areas of really pretty embroidery stitching and some gorgeous silk ribbon roses and iris flowers already here. (Well done Lonna, Marcy, & Lydia)! Here are some closeup's of the areas:

Lower Right (such pretty iris flowers) corner:

Center roses vine, is just gorgeous and so delicate!

Center and lower left areas (excuse the lamp neck). So much embroidery work!

Upper central and left area! You can see that there is a lot of work on the block already. Of course there is also still room for more in the lower center and upper center open patches.

So, another final look at the BEFORE block...there are some areas that strike me as being a bit out-of-balance.

You can see that there are some light areas in the block (white lace trim, white butterfly, white tatted motif, and cream iris flowers). But overall, the block reads more "brown" than anything else...especially close up. So, my thought is to add more "life" to the block by pulling some of the blue that's in the background fabric out more along with giving the block more texture with lace. There is one seam done in blue in the center (see the chain half-circle seam?). So, this plan would also help to build on that idea already started.


So, I asked Linda if it would be okay to really add to the block and she gave me permission to play as much as I wanted. You know that makes me happy! So, I've pinned all of the lace pieces in place to begin. These will be followed with stitching layers...but for now, here is the plan for adding the lace layer...and I'll give you some close-up photos too.

Some of this might (read that as "will" since I have already actually stitched everything by the writing of this post) change as this is just my PLAN at the moment.

The little blue flower in the fabric (see upper most area in the photo above?) is the key to the color idea. The first motifs to go into place were the tiny blue butterfly and neutral/yellow flower in the upper center area. This establishes the blue...and anchors it to the fabric color area by drawing the eye to that little butterfly.

The left central area gets some blue as I'm moving the eye around the block. Green is everywhere on the block, so more is not too distracting...but a lighter shade gives it motion. This placement also deals with the bulky area of the block were several seams intersect. The tiny lace trims in antique looking beige hide the raw seams there but are small enough to keep the focus on the surrounding embroidery work.

I want to add some seam work in the open area left at the center left (almost corner) but the blue needs to be pulled into that area too...so this little floral motif with dragonfly should do the trick! It looks right at home next to the lace that is already beside the iris flowers. Placing the dragonfly so that it extends across the ribbon seam on the left will pull the viewer's eye to that area of the block.

The center right area has a dimensional flower there already. It is the only object on the block that is worked really "off the surface". So, it needs to be balanced with other dimensional work or be "anchored" so that it does not become distracting by it's "differences". These copper colored laces will give it some depth and provide a nice neutral base, while the bits of blue will pull the eye to the motif and cause it to be balanced in color across the block. The empty seam to the right gets a dragonfly to help it appear to be an intentional design decision rather than looking 'un-done'.
This little dragonfly also balances the one at the opposite corner of the block.

Last, right below the flow is the more central right area of the block. This needs some blue, so adding a small piece of trim on the empty seam line should do that. To balance all of the lace now on the left/center of the block there will be some tiny bits of lace trailing through this general area and a small lace motif in the fabric patch above the iris flowers.

After the lace has been sewn in place...I'll work the seams left to me and add whatever else seems to be needed once that has been done. Here are my ideas for "supplies". The threads are will be darker shades of the colors in the fabrics as the laces have brought more light into the block...so we need to layer some darker shadows as well to pull together the existing and the new. The silk ribbon flowers include some blue but also some wine to pull that color to the front of the layers as well.

Last to be added will be some beads to accent the seams and add some bling to the dragonflies, etc. Just tiny beads nothing large and no button/bead clusters. Maybe some tiny beads in the seams? We shall see....so check back this weekend, I hope to get all sewn and this block ready for the mail next week.

Hugs!

Gorgeous Fibers

Today I'm working on one of the round robin blocks and have gone through so many drawers, containers, etc. looking for just the right fibers. In taking this "journey" around my sewing room it reminded me of how many wonderful little shops I've gotten gorgeous supplies from...that are on Etsy.com

So, thought I'd show you just one of them today: Colour Complements

This is the site of my cyber stitching pal Lorraine...and she does gorgeous hand-dyed fibers for her shop in beautiful solid colors and GORGEOUS variegated shades.

I mean, can you really just fall in love with these! The photo is great, but up close...oh, the stuff dreams are made of! Almost hate to use it but excited at the same time. :)

Drooling here!

Andover Fabrics

I posted the other day about some denim from Andover Fabrics...but I got my packages mixed up in my head (not a hard thing for me to do apparently)...the denim was from Cloud9Fabrics. I have updated that post.

THESE are the gorgeous fabrics I got for my CQ Blocks from Andover Fabrics! You know I adore anything neutral to include in blocks..and these feel so good!

The look great too!

DearStellaDesign

Love when the mailman brings me a package...don't you? :)

Today, these gorgeous fabrics from Dear Stella Designs (Chroma Basics collection) arrived.

They are lights to medium values and will pair with some fancy fabrics very nicely. I'll be making eighty crazy quilt blocks to show my seam designs on.

While the blocks will be simple "string type" blocks rather than true crazy (as I only need display models not an actual quilt)...still, 80 blocks is no small effort! Once the blocks are constructed, the seams will be embellished (several hundred of these). So, you know I'll need to keep taking my vitamins to get this all accomplished!

These will be lovely to work with, can't wait to get them into the blocks!

Denim anyone?

Cloud9 Fabrics has some beautiful fabric collections! They have several wonderful collections of tone-on-tone and small print pieces.

Recently, I got these...which are actually denim! They are from their Chambray line...and are thin enough for CQ blocks. I'll be adding these to my newest series of blocks for sure!

Check out their site to be inspired to stitch!

Lonna's Block

My "round" of stitching is complete on Lonna's block for the Floral & Roses (traditional) round robin at Crazy Quilter's International Facebook Group. It was a joy to work on this block! There were still a lot of seams open, so I concentrated there.

My first seam was a grouping of large woven roses to balance the couple of large embroider motifs and the fabric rose design in the center of the block. These are about the size of a nickel.

I must be in a "Fargo Rose Phase" as I seem to be putting them everywhere...and this seam has some tiny purples ones. Also added a lime-green butterfly beneath.

This buttonhole wavy seam has some seed beads added; tried to keep the beads to a minimum as Lonna had indicated she "didn't like a lot of bling". (Breaks my heart Lonna... :) but did try to comply) These roses are of the Bullion Stitch variety done in silk thread with silk ribbon leaves.

These little "fantasy flowers" have two layers of ribbon prongs. Straight Stitches of Lime Yellow Green and Wine, with a curly thread lime green knot, and deep purple petals in silk ribbon. The opposite side of the seam has peach Perle cotton prongs and wee little glass beads.

Last, a little wavy Stem Stitch seam with teensy yellow Fargo roses with velvet cording for the leaves. Another silk ribbon butterfly is stitched nearby to fill the space.

Hugs,

Showing some "Button Love"

It is so hard at times to find tiny buttons! Especially tiny enough to add to seams...but, NO MORE! I have found the neatest site...with the coolest buttons!

Just Another Button Company...is anything but that! These are just gorgeous buttons in a huge selection of colors!

The come in sweet little packages with a good sampling of types and sizes.

They also have more of a "basic" button, also in a variety of colors and sizes. You can also order some buttons in quantities (bulk); just email them and ask for details.

Look at the teensy ones! I'm going to use them for embellishing seams! Can't wait to stitch these on to something! Best go get busy! 

Hugs,