What I've Been Up To

I was in a bit of a quilting mania earlier this month (at least it felt like it) and I've slowed down a little lately. I don't have any looming deadlines and I know I work better under a bit of pressure.

I have been doing some sewing and crafting bits though.

I'm working (still) on cleaning up my sewing room and I took a stab at my cabinets. This is my before picture.

It looks slightly better now, but I'm still not finished. All in due time!

Remember the clamshell quilt I made on retreat that wasn't big enough? This one

I found and ordered some more fabric  online to complete the quilt so it's big enough for a single bed. I ordered from two different US shops in order to get what I wanted (and with the Cdn dollar right now, I cringed). One store delivered and I got these last week

A coordinating solid, two prints I already used, and a 1/2 yard of an ombre stripe from the line.
The other shop hasn't delivered anything: they haven't charged my paypal and aren't responding to phone calls or email messages. I wonder if they've closed up shop and not taken down their website? I'm going to wait a little longer to see if they come through before I get going on this quilt again. I'm going to have to take a lot of it apart and I'm hoping for all the fabric I ordered to arrive. (It's Coquette by Chez Moi by Moda from about 4-5 years ago, colour is Petal).

Finally, I've been hired by the friend of a friend to complete some Christmas stockings that have great sentimental value. There is a lot of hand stitching and I'm finding it quite relaxing (once I set up a system to help me be organized and efficient). I'm making progress fast enough that I'm not getting bored.

There were a number of customization requests by the recipient - including adding the Mrs. Claus in the toe (there was originally an elf there). I'm hoping to finish this one this week, then work away at the others asap.

Spring Break

It's March break around here - a whole week of no school. I don't know who is more excited - teachers or kids!

For the last 6 years I have gone away on March break - to the southern US - which I've loved. The trip didn't work out for me this year (too many house repairs on the horizon). And I'm actually glad to be staying around because I have things I want to do around the house (and my bum is happy for not having a 20 hour car ride).

On Sat I tried a new knitting shop and picked up these yummies

this is a much better red than it looks in this picture - it will make red and white mitts for me

this will make these slippers for me

this will make light weight mittens for me

On the sewing front, I've been working on my drapes. I really don't like sewing drapes - they are so cumbersome. I'll do them for myself to save money though. The front and lining are together for each panel and one side has the front and back attached

here is one side; a blurry puddle on the sewing machine table

I also need to clean and tidy my sewing room. Here are my before picts

this one is in progress. I got a bunch of these green boxes from ikea, which fit perfectly lengthwise.

Tomorrow I'm going on a shop hop here, with a male friend who doesn't sew or knit or do anything very creative. And he's not always patient. We'll see how it goes.