One finished product - not a quilt

I finished the closet project and then had no time to enjoy the fruits of my labor. Busy for two days with other things so no sewing until tonight. I just finished a Maya wrap for a friend with a new baby. Lovely, soft fabric and now just have to deliver to the new mother.

Had a few minutes and time to look over some of the fabrics that I put together. I needed to choose some fabric for my quilt group project. And look what I found! Serendipity Sunflowers that I bought over two years ago. Lavender and sunflowers, I just love it. Can't wait to get started but not tonight. Busy tomorrow but ready for sewing fun on Sunday.

Love the responses I've gotten so far about the giveaway. If you haven't already entered, please check the post on 7/21 for more details.

I'm organized - time for a giveaway! Now ended and I'm off to pick the winner!

The job is mostly finished now and my closet is now oh, so organized! All the projects and like fabrics are in see-through boxes and I'm ready to go. It is still very crowded in there but now I can see what I have. I definitely have a color palette. Not into dark colors at all but love bright happy colors. I have a few projects to complete and now can work more easily on them. Love the Elfa shelving in my closet. I could still use more room on the bottom shelves but those boxes are from my past life as a teacher and I need to purge those at a later date. I should have enough fabric and projects to last several lifetimes!

Now for the giveaway. I have three sets of fabrics to give away. I'm so excited about this. Two chances to enter.

1 -Simply leave a comment - I love messages of any kind - for one chance.

2 - Become a follower or if you are a follower, then tell me you are in a comment. This is your second chance.

Giveaway will last until Wednesday, July 28 at noon EST.

Now for the prize. There are 3 packs of fabric in 3 different colorways. After I pick the winners, I'll send out emails to the winners. They will give me their choices in rank order. The prize will be determined by the order I get addresses back for mailing the prize. You get to pick but will get first choice only if your response is in first!

Choices are purple florals, red Sturbridge or tan Gobble, Gobble.

Good luck with the drawing!

Progress and a giveaway coming soon

I worked very hard yesterday on the re-organization of my sewing/fabric closet. Yes, I am lucky enough to have a whole closet in my sewing room that is mainly for fabric. I am feeling brave enough to post my before picture here because I know that I will be finished today with the organizing. As you can see, it was becoming a nightmare to find anything and to reach the back shelves. It is looking good and very organized with projects in their own see-through boxes.

I will finish today and then post more pictures... and a giveaway. I found some fabric and charm packs that just aren't going to make the cut. Please be sure to come back for the final view!

Aren't they charming?!!

Okay, so I do have a confession to make. On my way home from a weekend visit with friends I stopped at one of my favorite quilt shops and look what I found. Chester County Quilting in Phoenixville has the absolute best and largest selection of charm packs. And the best part is today was the last day of their Christmas in July sale! They just moved into a larger shop and it is delightful. Ramona Moreland, the owner, wasn't there today but she makes it a pleasure to visit the shop. So friendly and inviting. Check their website at www.chestercountyquilting.com. I did buy some other fabric there but I can't show it since the fabric is being used in a quilt for someone who reads this blog.

The best part was running into two friends at the shop. They even helped me find some fabric. Oh, so nice to have helpful friends.

I did make some progress with my selvages. I found the cutest ones with special words but didn't organize by color yet. Gearing up for the closet cleanout starting tomorrow. I may even be brave enough to show a before picture!

Hot, hot, hot!

Do you ever get the feeling that it will never be cool again? I think all of us in the east need to remember how cold and snowy our winter was and bask in the memories of that.

I'm visiting with friends right now so now sewing is being done. I did accomplish one "quilty" thing though. I have the Quilter's Travel Companion (great resource) but can't take it with me so I have torn out pages for the places I travel. Well, today, I tour out all the pages, three-hold punched them and put them in a notebook. So... now they are at the ready when I am traveling. As if I need another way to find places (aka quilt shops) where I can spend money.

Looking forward to my cleaning the closet challenge next week. I may even be brave enough to post a before picture. Keep watching!!!

MIssion accomplished

The quilt is finished! I finished the quilting yesterday - simple stitch in the ditch - and then sewed on the binding. It is always surprising to me how long it takes to hand-stitch the binding. I do love to do that though, it seems so relaxing. While I was sewing I watched the movie, A Single Man, with Colin Firth. Very cerebral movie so it was good that I could concentrate while stitching.

I'm posting pictures of the back too. I love the panel I put on the back. The fabric was Deb Strain's Love U by Moda. So colorful and happy.

I decied to join the Charming Girls' Quilt Club online. One of the things I must do is post my goals for the next two months. Good to be held accountable. Here they are.

1 - Organize my selvages - May happen this weekend since I'm taking them with me when I visit friends.

2 - Clean out and organize my sewing closet. Hope that helps me to get my thoughts in gear for my next projects.

3 - Sew a Maya wrap for a new mom. They gave me the pattern and fabric, very simple but it keeps getting pushed aside by other to-dos.

4 - Make my friend's 60th birthday quilt. Her birthday is in September. I have some fabric and ideas but need to finalize.

5 - Make a wedding gift for my nephew and his soon to be wife. Wedding in September. How long do you have to give a wedding gift?

6 - Make 2 quilts for Christmas gifts. I've had the fabric and pattern for so long. The time is NOW!

Phew. I think I'm tired after writing that but good to see it in print.

Happy sewing!

We learn from our mistakes, or do we?

Okay, so I was getting some fabric cut to work on my BOM for a local quilt shop and my hand just happened to get in the way. I was holding the ruler as firmly as possible and oops! I cut my hand. I think it may be time to invest in one of those gadgets that hold the ruler in place. Perhaps a part of the problem is getting started at 10:30 at night. Really planned to get started sooner but other jobs got in the way.

I did take the process pledge and I think this is all part of the process, right?

Lesson learned - do not put your hand right in the line of cutting!

Hmmm, do I continue to work or just go to bed?