My "happy place" is a disaster place

My sewing room is my favorite place in the house, maybe my favorite place anywhere.  I have worked a lot this year making it more organized, efficient, and even better than before.  I have been planning a post showing off my sewing room, but it seems something is always getting in the way of that.  And now, there is a total set back.

The only good part of this picture is my Vizsla, Lincoln, watching the destruction.

Let me explain what is going on.  The closet in my sewing room is sinking.  I don't know how else to explain it other than the floor is sinking.  There is actually a space separating the floor from the wall.

You can actually see daylight shining through the gap.  That's just crazy!  So, that is the reason for the giant mess going on in my sewing room.

These legs belong to my husband who is tackling this problem.  I think it's one of those problems that gets bigger and bigger the more you uncover and attack it.

I just had to take this picture of his tools, including one of our Steak Knives!  What can I say?  I am not going to say much of anything, I am just very glad that repairs are taking place.

My sewing room is basically two adjoining rooms, so the room with my longarm is not really being impacted by all this, and really for all that is going on, there is (so far) no dust.  All quilts and fabrics, equipment and sewing machines are all safe.

At the end of this, my sewing room will be better than before, and once again my happy place.

Thanks for sharing my journey, I appreciate it.

Esther

Ruffles on onsies

I have a young friend who is expecting her first baby in October. She asked me to teach her to make onsies with ruffles on the bum for her baby girl.  So, that is what we did today.  Angie was a natural who just didn't know she could sew.  After some hands on help with the first one, she had it figured out, and did the second one on her own.

It was so much fun for me to share what I know and do with her, and share her excitement and that good feeling you get when you create something special.  Now she has the skills she needs to make more, and I think there are some onsie dresses in her (our) future.

So here is Angie and the ruffled onsies she made for her baby Sophie.  It was good.

I am typing this while watching the opening ceremonies for the Olympics.  I love the Olympics, and this is the first time that I have a DVR.  I am so excited about this.  I can record and watch without worry of missing something.  I'm very happy about this.

Enjoy the Olympics, and all that this weekend brings you.  I appreciate you reading.

Esther

I'm going to use this.

Primrose, my treadle machine

I have had this wonderful treadle machine for over thirty years, and I think it is time I used it.  I cleaned it up, oil for the machine, conditioner for the wood cabinet, and tried her out.  I fiddled with the tension a bit, but I think the main reason for improved stitches was I replaced the old thread already on the bobbins and now the stitches are beautiful.  After some practice, I feel pretty comfortable with the foot pedal and want to try making a quilt with my new, old machine.

I tend to name everything I have, so I would like to introduce Primrose to you.  Yes, straight from the Hunger Games, that's where I got the name.  I may have had the machine for thirty years, but until I got to know her, I didn't think of a name for her.

I appreciate you visiting,

Esther

"Awesome" quilt progress

I am not meaning to brag when I call this quilt "awesome" it is just that the fabrics and the pattern work so well together that the result is awesome, and it makes me very happy.

I want to chat a bit about the pattern which is from Jenny and is her Urban Abacus pattern.  This was so quick to piece together, seriously it was, even with the curves.  The extra bonus when you go to piece all the blocks together in rows, there are no pesky corners or points to match up.  Very gratifying, and I think the results are well...awesome.

Our weekend at the lake was just the right kind of get away my husband and I needed.  We had time with friends, relaxing and a lot of wonderful food.  What more could I ask for?

Thanks for visiting, it is appreciated.

Esther

Headed to the lake

We are headed to a weekend with friends at Lake Almanor.  I have been busy all morning getting ready to go, delivering dogs to various houses to be watched, packing, and doing all the last minute things that need to be done.  For several years I competed in agility, and was gone up to three weekends a month, all year long.  It was just part of my routine.  Now, getting ready today I wonder how I did it all the time.  I think I was in that routine, and was more ready to go, where now I am very content to stay home, and getting away is more of a chore.  Don't get me wrong, I am so looking forward to going, it just surprised me how much I have changed over the last few years.

Wishing you all a fun weekend, thanks for reading.....you know I appreciate it.  

Esther

Thread, tension and storage

Don't you just love thread?  I think my thread stash is larger than my fabric stash.  Most of all I love all the colors thread comes in.  I generally like to match thread color to the quilt color, and match bobbin color to the top thread color.   I keep my thread in a small dresser.

My favorite bobbin thread is Sew Fine from Superior Threads

My favorite top thread is Glide from Fil Tec.  I love the shine and how smoothly it stitches.  Another nice and shinny thread is from Metro embroidery thread.  The best thing about the metro thread is the multi packs they offer.  You can get SO many colors for a great price.

I finished testing the top thread tension gauge for Superior Threads, and I think this gauge could be very helpful, especially if tension adjustments are difficult for you.   

I also wanted to show you some of the ways I store my quilting odds and ends, and my pantographs.

This is a hanging shoe organizer, and it works so well for all my random quilting supplies.  A different type of shoe organizer works well for my pantographs.

I cut the back out of this hanging closet organizer, and it works so well to store my pantographs.

I appreciate you stopping by, and wish you all happy sewing,

Esther

This is going to be awesome

I am making a quilt from Jenny's pattern using her quick curve ruler, and I am pretty excited about it.  I am using K. Fassett fabrics, and having a great time watching it go together.

I have the blocks finished, and now I am making rows of great color, and getting excited to see it all come together.

All things here are good.  I signed up for classes at Road to California.  My thanks to Jen at Quilter in the Closet, for her post a few days ago, encouraging us to sign up for classes.  I have been to several quilt shows, but have never taken any classes, so this is a big deal for me.   It will be something to look forward to in January.

I appreciate you stopping by,

Esther

A finish and a favorite

 I finished the Swoon quilt, and I am happy all the way around, but mostly I am glad that it is finished.
These fabrics were all from Bonnie and Camille, and I like how they all play so well together.  I guess that is the whole idea behind a collection, right?

I also want to show you my new favorite quilt design.  I used this on the tie quilt, and it worked so well, and was such fun to do, I used it again in this Swoon.  It is called Plume feather, designed by Angela Walters.

I love this design, it is so versatile and fills up odd shaped spaces with such beauty and movement.  It is fun to stitch, and I highly recommend it.

Here are some more pictures of the quilt.  I added a 7" border so it would better cover my daughters bed.  It finishes at 93" x 93".  I am happy to have this one finished.

Plume feathers, traditional feathers, straight line and I guess my own form of McTavishing.

 Straight lines in the border help calm down all the movement from the inside of the quilt, and gives everything a place to stop.

I had to get this off the frame so I can now start testing out the tension gauge from Superior Threads.  Thanks for checking in, I really do appreciate it.

Esther

Tension tester

Last month, Superior Threads asked for volunteers to test a new top tension gauge.  They wanted longarm quilters with a wide variety of threads, experience with tension adjustments, and a TOWA gauge.  I met all the requirements, so I volunteered.

My first impressions are positive, and I am looking forward trying this product out.  I am all for anything that makes quilting, which is all about tension easier.

A follow up on the tie quilts I delivered to my brother.  He was blown away.  He loved them, admired them, asked his friends over to see them.  It was so rewarding for me to see his reaction and pleasure with the quilts.  That's what it is all about right?

I appreciate you stopping by, and wish you a Happy Fourth of July.

Esther