It's Time

It’s heart wrenching to “de-stash” my stash of

fabric

and trims

and lace

and notions

and all the goodies forwarded to me over the years.

While going through it all, I dream ~ a lot ~ of what I could make with this and that.

But then I ask myself, why?

Why do I make things?

I remind myself how much I love to sew

to quilt

to cross-stitch

to crochet

to spin

So through the tears of letting go and sorting into stacks for this person or this group or this project for whatever reason or cause, I’ve made some life-changing decisions.

Really, it’s a re-focus.

It’s time to move on.

It’s the Game Plan Anyway

When the light bulb goes off in my head, I get beside myself with excitement! However, it’s hard to wait for the actual implementation! I know it won’t happen anytime soon, but God willing it will happen in 2016! It may not be as exciting to you… but… I wanted to share…

I will have a dedicated sewing/quilting space!

We are turning a small bedroom into a room that I can walk out of, shut the door, and not have to move/rearrange anything on a daily basis when it’s winter time or summer time or totally remove things when overnight company visits! Praise the Lord!

I know it’s much larger than what some people manage with and I know I am blessed.

My mother has drawn to scale where I can put everything… including the longarm quilting frame!!!! Then we’ll get our living room back! Double plus!

I’m spending the time until it actually happens: 

• Gathering storage/decorating ideas
• Working through my stash of fabric

Speaking of my stash…

Going to push away from the computer and start continue working on it!

I hope everyone has a blessed day!

Turning Scraps into Fabric

Last week I stumbled upon a great article, Use Every Wee Bit and decided to try it! Well, my first attempt worked out sorta okay, but I had issues since I don't have an extension table next to my sewing machine! Threads kept falling off before I could stitch around the perimeter!

It's not too bad...

While sorting my stash of fabrics, looking for colors to match here and there, I came across itty bitty scraps left over from a doll quilt I made a couple of years ago.

I couldn't trash them, but I sure wasn't going to use the tiny squares and strips! So.... I thought about adapting Judith's instructions to make it a little easier for me! There's just so many ways I can hold my mouth to keep things all in line!

Just in case I missed a spot, rather than using muslin, I used a scrap of leftover backing from a quilt.

I gathered some pinks...

And, some blues...

I used (OUTSIDE) a bit of basting spray to the right side of the fabric, then placed the fabric on a piece of cardboard, gluey side up!

WORKING QUICKLY - before the basting spray drys, I placed the fabric pieces here and there...

Totally covered ~ just about ...

Cover with water soluble stabilizer...

Carefully take the "sandwich" over to the machine with stabilizer on top. Stitch around the edges, then stitch and stitch, and stitch more! I used dark thread on the bobbin so you could see it better...

Take to the sink and rinse and rinse and rinse out the stabilizer! 

I think it turned out rather nicely! Now I have 2 pieces of newly created made fabric to use with the main focus piece in the next Action Quilt!

BTW: Once the stabilizer is washed off & you think you need to add more stitching, no problem! Put on another piece of the stabilizer and go for it!!!

Scrappy Things – A Baker’s Dozen

Today’s mission is creating a game plan to make scrappy things, using up those small pieces of fabric too small for a major project! When I start sewing again, I want quick access to an array of items, and links to the instructions. The Pincushion Evolution article I previously wrote won’t take much fabric, so it’s in the category of scrappy things, but I need more. I have sooooo many scraps...

This is only a tiny bit of my scrappy stash!

1. Kathy, at Pink Chalk Studio, shared a great tutorial showing how to make her Water bottle carrier. I like that she pieced and quilted fabrics together to make the outside. 

2. Sew Me Something Good gave me the inspiration to create a scrappy bag. This is something I can do to also incorporate a zipper! Remember the scary zipper article I wrote? I can do this now! 
   

3. I love refrigerator magnets, especially cute ones! Heather, over at The Sewing Loft, provides the template and instructions to make these cuties!
   

4. Cluck Cluck Sew has a great idea to keep little hands busy, but I saw it and thought it’s a fun way to use up those scrappy scraps and write out “Lanetta’s Creations” for my own wall or on a banner! I have lots of buttons, too!
   

5. I finally know how to create a coin purse, thanks to Molly over at The Purl Bee! 
   

6. Not too long ago my mother asked if I had a scissor pouch. I think she saw me place my GOOD sewing scissors unprotected, along with a few other tools, in a plastic box. I hadn’t really thought of it, how this could damage my scissors, so I was very excited when I stumbled upon this scrappy thing! Thank you, Brenda, for your contribution on the Popular Patchwork website! This is perfect! 
   

7. I think I have every pair of denim jeans my husband and I have ever worn! Sitting in my “walk in closet” of a bedroom, you’ll find a HUGE tub filled with jeans with holes in the knees or they’ve shrunk (of course they shrink, it’s not like I’ve gain any weight over the years)! I had thought to make a rag quilt someday, but I also like the idea of making some into baskets like Threading My Way has shared! 
   

8. After creating these long-stemmed fabric flowers, I love what Snowy Bliss writes: “Now my sewing room wears a smile.” 
   

9. Fabric Handle Grips! Oh my! Thank you, Amy a la Mode! Having issues with my hands since Rheumatoid Arthritis hit, I’m always looking for ways to make handles bigger and more comfortable. Even if I use scrappy pieces, this would work beautifully!
   

10. LAMPSHADES! I cannot tell you how timely this is! I was about to toss out an ugly lampshade…not anymore after seeing what the Junk Garden Girl shared! (She has several clever ideas besides using scrappy scraps.) There isn’t a tutorial, but I bet we can figure it out! I FOUND THE TUTORIAL!!! It's over on The Pleated Poppy page! 
11. 

11. Shoelaces? Why not! Maureen shows us how at Maureen Cracknell Handmade! 
    

12. Fabric Pom-Pom’s? Who would have thought! I’m glad Maureen did! What a clever embellishment idea. Wish I had stumbled across this for the Make it Pop – Embellish article! But, better late than never!
    

13. And, last but not least, I found a lovely scrappy thing on WikiHow – a Clothesline Coil Basket (or mat)! This looks doable! 
    

I few other ideas caught my eye:

Fabriccovered thumb tacks

Coverwire coat hangers

Make oodles of Yo-yo’s

How do you use fabric scraps?

Community Sewing

Do you hoard fabric? Are you waiting for that special project to create from the fabric you purchased ~ or acquired one way or another ~ one, five, or ten years ago? Are you overwhelmed with it all?

In addition to my personal hoarding tendencies over the years, within the last three months I’ve received SEVERAL generous sacks and boxes of fabric from lovely family members and friends. Each one told me the story of how they acquired the stash. They all shared that I immediately came to mind when they received the fabric – to pass along to me, knowing I would create something worthwhile.

Again, a heartfelt and humble Thank You to all of you for thinking of me!

What should I do with this wonderful donated stash of fabric? It’s a no-brainer – community sewing projects! But then, I thought: who, what and where? So, I went – you guessed it if you’ve been following my blog – to the Internet.

Quilts of Valor Foundation – I like to piece quilt tops, but have issues with hand quilting. I learned from this site, they match up folks like me with long arm quilters who also donate their time and expertise! 

CyberSeams created a list of charities. Although some are knit or crochet projects, many include sewing projects that the charities need. I’ve pulled out a few that especially touched my heart:

• Blankets of Hope has a no-sew blanket, too! Perfect for those who want to contribute, but don’t know how to sew!
  
  
  
• Heads up family and friends… no more wrapping paper! I wonder if I could make a Green Grocery bag for every soul living in my little town? Will you meet the green grocery bag challenge?
• 
  
• 

The Green Grocery Bag lady explains how and why she started this project –

And, she created a video to show how to make one! Easy! Simple! Quick!

• Care Wear is nationwide and in Canada and in Italy!!! They have a list of items needed, and a link to sewing patterns. I clicked on “Hospital” and entered the information I wanted to see. For example, I was pleasantly surprised with the many different locations around Texas!

• On the All PeopleQuilt website you’ll see where American Patchwork & Quilting is sponsoring the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge. Their motto:

Make a Pillowcase. Make a Difference.

• Are you in Colorado? Check out the Warm Hearts ~ Warm Babies website and see how you can help. 

I hope I’ve given you the inspiration to do a few community sewing projects! And, I hope I’ve given you some resources for the who, what and where!

On Second Thought

Pantone's Color of the Year ~ Emerald ~ is such a lovely shade of green. On their website, they write:

Lively. Radiant. Lush… A color of elegance and beauty that enhances our sense of well-being, balance and harmony.

I certainly agree with this assessment!

The 2012’s color Tango didn’t excite me like 2011’s Honeysuckle and now the Emerald. Although I did use a bit of Tango in some of the doll dresses created last year, I couldn’t really get into the color. Much unlike the Honeysuckle and the plan for Emeralds!

Character "Emily" wore a beautiful emerald dress on the #2.11 episode of Revenge, "Sabotage". I thought it very posh of Revenge designers to incorporate Pantone’s CotY into their costumes! I had to laugh at myself because I knew Emerald was the color of the year!

My goodness. I had a rude awakening this morning! I thought it would be fun to have an official “swatch” from Pantone, even thought of going back to 2010 (when I officially started Lanetta’s Creations) and getting one for each year.

They want $9.95 EACH, plus $4.50 SH!

On second thought, I’ll spend the money on some beautiful Emerald fabric! At least, what I think is "Emerald" as there are so many shades of greens out there!!!

Good Lighting – Too Much Light

It’s a must for me to have good lighting while sewing. We all know working on sewing projects in general is tricky without good lighting. I have found natural light is the best while sewing with black, navy, and dark greens, and for matching colors. It’s probably the age thing showing up. After realizing the eye strain I was going through, a simple change in my schedule now accommodates the time to work on such projects.

During early morning quiet time, or late night sewing, I’ve tried using the OttLite and the other sources of artificial light we get from the different types and wattages of light bulbs. Working with dark colors, or when it’s time to match fabric colors together, however, it’s still a no-go unless I have help with that God-given natural light!

NOTE: After my cousin, a beautiful person and quilter, recommended it, I had to get the OttLite. It is a great product! You will find both the Folding Task Lamp and their floor lamp near my sewing areas! 

Of course, mine is pink!

Love having this next to my recliner when doing hand work!

How have you resolved lighting issues?

Another thing I’ve learned the hard way: too much light, even indirect lighting will ruin fabric!

I once kept a quilt – covered with a piece of fabric – in a frame way too long, near our north window. It wasn’t directly in front of the window either! No direct east/west sun ever came through this window, only the wonderful light.

After a good while, I decided to sell the quilting frame. I removed the few rows of stitching I’d accomplished before my hands gave out with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I was SICK when I saw that entire exposed section had faded! The quilt top I had totally designed and put together was now ruined.

Heart of Texas quilt - in this view you can't really see the faded part

Oh, but look at the border, you can tell!

Mother graciously had the top professionally quilted for me, even though it was ruined.

Since this happened I’ve been very careful where I store fabric and where I keep completed projects made especially for Lanetta’s Creations. I’ve found some clever storage ideas on the Internet. One specifically comes to mind that I modified to fit my needs. Fabric folded neatly on foam boards then placed in TUBS stored totally out of the sun’s reach!

Add lid, stack tubs in closet, or underneath a covered table!

I know, it’s a quandary what to do. Sewing and craft rooms full of beautiful natural sunlight is a good thing, to do the actual sewing, crafting. But please, take it from me, don’t store fabric where the light (even indirect) can get to your stash or finished items!

I have two pieced quilts, quilted professionally. The Heart of Texas one is ruined and I use as a table cover (hiding the faded part). The other, my first 1” Log Cabin, I haven’t yet decided where to hang it because of the sun issue, so it’s safely stored away in a pillowcase (re-folded periodically).

I know I can’t ever put it on the bed -

Would rather have our girls with us!

P.S. Check back tomorrow for another guest blogger!

Quilt Across Texas

The 2nd Annual Quilt Across Texas started yesterday! Everyone has until September 30th to get ‘er done! Oh my goodness! They are offering fabulous prizes: 200+ valued at over $45,000! I so wish I could do it! Maybe next year!

If you’re like me and can’t participate in this adventure, the site provides a listing of the shops by region. With all the website links, this is a great comprehensive resource to bookmark! I think it’s a given that the shops participating in the Quilt Across Texas event would have quality fabrics and notions, and is safe for online purchases. I’m just sayin’ – not guaranteeing anything!

With the way prices are going up on everything, quality is so important. Whenever we sew, we need to have it last – whether it’s a quilt, or a dress, or a bag, or whatever. Think about it!

Is your favorite quilt shop on the Texas Statewide Quilt Shop Hop? Do you have several to recommend? Please share!