It's been a busy week!

It's been a busy week around here!  In the sewing arena, I finished my Sewing Workshop Hibiscus Shirt.  This was a fun shirt to make and I am pleased with the out come.  In this stage of my life,  it is fun to make and wear these little bit funkier styles.  Most of my machines got used on this one. I had one sewing machine downstairs which I used when I was watching a movie one night.  The serger to finish the seams was upstairs in the sewing room.  The ironing board was set up in my bedroom. The Rocketeer came back from being serviced so it was put into use as well.  Hopefully, I lost weight running up and down the stairs!  It really is going to be nice to get everything organized in my new "sewing studio".   I reviewed the shirt on Pattern Review (there is a link on the sidebar).

Sewing Studio!  I have been thinking and planning how I want to redo the MBR into a sewing studio following the "design on a dime" principal.  The current plan is to buy two cubicle style storage units and put a solid door on top for cutting and planning in the middle of the room.    If I put a skirt on the table, I'll have more storage hidden out of sight.    Two more utility tables added to the one I have will make a u-shaped sewing area and give me room for my multiple machines - sewing, serger, embroidery, coverstitch. The Rocketeer will be in there, too!!

Computer Woes:  For some reason my wireless went out last week, but I was able to get it working except it would not "talk" to my iTouch or Kindle.  It is good to have smart friends!!  Betty is a retired computer tech and walked me through getting it up and running again.  All my wireless devices are friends again.

On the job!!!

Quilting Squares:  I have a job!!!!  My first day on the job was Friday.  I'll be working two days a week at the shop, sewing some samples (children's clothing), and eventually doing a blog.  My first two days were great fun and I haven't gotten fired yet!  We'll see when payday rolls around whether they owe me or I owe them:)


On the Nightstand (or I should say the Kindle):  Dancing in the Low Country by James Villas.  This was a free book from Amazon.  I finished it last night and now want to go to the beach and eat seafood!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Bruschetta

Happy Valentine's Day to my family and friends.  Yesterday after church I drove to Huntsville to have dinner with Janet and Nick.  Nick was the chef and fixed bruschetta and baked chicken parmesan!  It was delicious.

Chicken Parmesan

Janet and I weren't totally worthless.  I brought a bottle of wine and Janet and I went and picked up dessert while Nick was busy in the kitchen.

After dinner we watched "Toy Story".  If you can believe it, I had never seen any of the "Toy Story" films so it was way past time.  It was a fun show.

Dessert:)

This was good!

Since we had wine, I spent the night and headed back to Franklin this morning.  (after Nick fixed breakfast).  On the way I made a few stops.  First up was "Sirs Fabric" in Fayetteville, TN.  This is about half-way between Franklin and Huntsville so I finally took the time to stop and look around.  May I say "once was enough".  The town square was cute and I looked at a couple other shops while I was there.

Amy's quilt

Pretending to quilt

The pro at work.

My next stop was at Cathy's to see her progress on my quilt and to drop off a quilt top that Barbara had pieced.  She made this for her daughter, Amy.   I love all the bright colors.  My quilt looks wonderful!!!  I can't believe it is almost finished.  Cathy was going to let me do a little of the quilting but I chickened out and did it in the margin that will be cut off.

Sledding!

Middle Tennessee was hit with snow again yesterday afternoon - the seventh time this winter!!!   After my sledding experience last month,  I splurged and bought a sled ($12!!).  This afternoon I took it out for its maiden voyage!!!!  Lots of fun:)

My new sled!!!

Bethany and Noah

Even though the snow had already started to melt in the sun, there was enough to sled.

Great fun but it'll be NINE tonight:)   Brrrrr!!!!

Vrroom!

Noah and I.

On the Nightstand:  Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond.  Ree also has a blog which is a fun read.

Whole lot of sewing going on!!!

The quilting retreat finally "woke up" the sewing mojo!!!  It made me realize that my sewing space is so tiny that it isn't fun to sew in there - no big cutting table and the ironing board has to be in another room, etc., etc. etc.!!   I know - I am spoiled.   Enough whining:):)  When I first moved, I seriously thought about making the master bedroom my sewing room and sleeping in the tiny room but didn't do it.   Big mistake!!!  So, I am going to sweet talk Nick into helping me move the rooms around and  help me create a big sewing room/craft room/office again.

Monday I pieced my quilt backing together so I could take it to Cathy to quilt.  We had a quilt guild meeting Tuesday morning so it is now in her hands.   The guild is involved in making Soldier Quilts for injured military personnel so I picked up one of the kits to piece.  It is a simple block and I cut it out and it is ready to piece - on the Rocketeer!!!

New Patterns!

The Rocketeer has been serviced and refurbished and sews like a dream.  Patsy and I were talking about machines at the retreat and she also has a Rocketeer.  Her husband, Larry, works on them!!!  They came over this week and picked it up and Larry serviced it for me and repaired the bobbin winding assembly.  Wow - it sews beautifully.  Larry told me a lot about the machine that I didn't know - it was manufactured in 1961 so it is 50.  He says it will go another 50 years:)   Now I am on the lookout for the accessory kit and more presser feet.  There was one on ebay this week but someone sneaked in at the last minute and outbid me.

Half finished with this shirt!

My Hibiscus Shirt from the Sewing Workshop is coming along.  I hope to finish it today.  Vogue patterns had a sale this week so three patterns arrived in my mailbox yesterday.

See what I mean - the mojo is finally back!!!!
















On the Nightstand:  The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean.  I've read her blog "Dress a Day" for quite a while and this book was just released.



ps:  I added a picture of the Rocketeer.  The original post on it is here:  Rocketeer
So far I have lost out on both my ebay bidding adventures but I did order a "Little Foot 1/4" Quilting Foot".  I am going to set the Rocketeer up for quilt piecing.