I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Monday, February 19, 2018

A Whisper of Spring?



Good evening, friends! February is racing by isn't it! Already I am searching for hints of spring. And nothing says spring like a cold dark drizzly day---and daffodils! 





Aren't daffodils just the very best most happy flowers? These appeared in the grocery store after the last of the scorned Valentine roses were carted away


Two bunches of 10 stems for $4.oo, imagine. Twenty flowers. From Ireland. They were furled tight, like skinny green bunches of asparagus, but they uncurled in glorious profusion in a couple of days.


Makes up for the  very dark Monday here.


Not exactly spring cleaning, but after I finished Westering Women, and even though Fall Festival is still in pieces, I decided my little sewing sewing space and equipment all needed a clean up/ tune up.


The good sewing machine got carted off to the sewing machine spa for a very expensive fix-up. Somehow the shuttle that holds the bobbin case popped out! I replaced it but then couldn't get the machine to sew. It's okay, it needed a good cleaning and oiling anyway, and my old Brother machine is actually better for upcoming patchwork sewing as it has an exact 1/4" seam allowance. The Janome is metric [?!], and while is sews beautifully with varying speeds, good stitches, and needle down option, the metric set up means 1/4" seams are a guess at best.
...............
Sometimes other quilters show their sewing spaces and I always marvel at the perfect neatness they maintain. No wonder their quilts are perfect, I think.


I spent a whole day dusting, sweeping, organizing, and afterward, things looked about the same as they did before I started.




Bins for fabric stashes,


then deep baskets for in-work projects' fabric choices. I also like low trays or baskets for the actual quilts in progress. Silent Night on the left, Fall Festival on the right.


I know where everything is! Really.




These shelves hold my collection of pinkeeps, plus Mason jars of buttons, and other treasures.





I have my big ironing board, then small board I set on top of it for small project sections. Standing and ironing is still very difficult for me and leaning over means painful joints after only a few a minutes, so even the extra 2 or 3" of the little board are helpful.


I worry that the floor, no rug, will be too cold for Mo, so I have a big dog bed that is about 5" thick, then on top is one of Mo's plushy donut beds. He will use this lavish set up for as long as it takes him to gobble a duck jerky kebab [4 minutes?] then off to his plastic bin he goes. I left him some shirts there and blankies and got a new bin for the rest of my recycled plaid shirts! It is stored in the cupboard, safe from snoring little pugs.


In other news:
Kel wanted to see my Fiesta Ware. I didn't take it down but here's a picture of it, top shelf.



Sorry this one is messy, I have to climb up and redo it. It's the cupboard that things fall out of anf hit me in the head!


Pineapple cutting board: I washed it thoroughly and dried it well, but thought it needed to be oiled.



My friend brought me these products, he uses them on all his cutting boards.  Mineral oil [food grade] and beeswax. Worked really well!



My hands liked it too!
And winter sales: These are UGG snow boots! Look at the pom! sigh. How cute is that. I love them.



Happy Presidents Day!



love 

lizzy

 gone to the beach....

























10 comments:

  1. Wow, those daffs looked HUGE! So pretty and cheerful!

    Loved the peek at your PERFECTLY NORMAL sewing room - really, the so-perfectly organized ones make me worry about their owners, lol. Love your collection of pincushions; I have one of those tomato ones surrounded by tiny people, too! It was a gift from one of my brothers many years ago and I still use it.

    Mo's a lot like a cat - ignore the perfectly nice bed to sleep in your fabric! Wish I knew what was going on in their heads.

    We've got rain/icy mix/snow coming through tonight, ugh. I'm glad we're all warm inside!

    The UGGS are cute but I can't imagine actually wearing them in the snow - that poor pom would never be the same!

    Take care and have a good night!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. the UGGS are waterproof leather which doesn't salt or water stain, and the pom is removable, plus it is real sheepskin which can get wet and look okay when it dries.
      I think all the Chinese babies pincushions are gifts to me too. I love them. My mom picked up one in Chinatown here, one at her flea, etc. One is a thimble holder a friend brought from her trip around the world.

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  2. So interesting to get a look inside your quilting space! It looks really good, not crazy at all, but simply well used. I should know, my moms sewing room all my life literally had stuff all over the floor and everywhere in total chaos. No matter how big her sewing space or how fancy it was originally, that's the way it ended up so I can only think that she enjoyed working that way.:) Everybody has to make their space feel comfortable for them and yours looks great!

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  3. I agree, daffodils are sooo happy! And they are charming in that pitcher. From Ireland too, extra special.

    Your sewing room looks like the kind of space where things actually get accomplished. I love it, and even thougn you don't think it looks much different after cleaning it, don't you just feel better having done it?

    Very cool Fiesta Ware. Is that a teapot on the right, on top? Wow, just really neat. Thanks for showing us.

    The pineapple cutting board sure puts you in a tropical state of mind. Sorry it's kind of ooky there. Kind of cold here today too, and crazy windy.

    I gotta agree with Mel. The boots are super cute, but I wouldn't want to mess them up!

    Beautiful white tulips too!

    Kel

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! The yellow teapot is Harlequin also made by H Loughlin, but not as chunky as Fiesta. Same colors so I'd pick up pretty serving pieces of it too, to add to the collection's look on display. Many of my really great serving pieces are Harlequin, tho I do have a turquoise Fiesta tea pot too. And a big red Fiesta cooky jar!

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  4. As always a great post! Love all the pictures, the daffodils & tulips are very springish. The boots look like they will keep your feet very warm&dry.
    Mo is so cute,sleeping away.
    Cathy L

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Mo and I just were out looking for snowdrops, in the rain. But no.

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  5. Sunny daffodils and what a cozy and creative sewing space - love those project baskets -

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  6. Daffodils are such happy flowers.
    I'm in awe of your organized sewing room. Mine is very 'busy' as a diplomatic quilting friend says! Many familiar things - little people pincushions, piles of current project fabrics and patterns to hand. Enjoy the basket solution for works in progress.
    The pug storage container is brilliant. Penny

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  7. Your flowers always make me smile and see a bit of joy!

    Your sewing area is organized and homey. Just remember everyone who stages pictures has clutter somewhere!

    ReplyDelete

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