Who ever said…

As many of my readers would know my craft space is pretty small, I’m not complaining just stating a fact. But being small and in a corner of our bedroom I like to try and keep it contained! So when I joined Megan over at The Mouse House for The Organised Home Project I was sew pleased when she announced that this week we would be cleaning up our craft space. Here are the before photo’s…

Projects were stuffed in together, fabrics poked in any nook and cranny I could find, just a mess!

And now…All the fabrics are now organised by colour. Things have been finding new homes or put back into their rightful places.Finished quilt tops have been hang on hangers ready and waiting for their turn to be quilted.Fabrics have been purged and set aside until I decide what to do with them. Projects have been sorted into their own little containers.

I still have a pile of things waiting in the wings to sort out(still waiting for some more storage containers to arrive)but it feels sew good to have my craft space re-organised. I would also like to share a few of my storage ideas. I like tins(just ask my family)pretty tins, pretty boxes, jars and things. And I don’t just like them to look pretty I actually like to use them too…Things like selvedge's… And ribbons…My plastic drawers hold all sorts of bit and pieces too…This tin is one of my favourites and holds all my polyester threads… Who ever said storage solutions cant be pretty…

Keep stitching

Michelle

This and that…

Progress has slowed on the the stitching front this week as we prepare for a new school year. I will be homeschooling three teenagers this year!

Monday was spent organising books and curriculum a job I am pleased is done:o)

Yesterday we took a trip to New Plymouth, checking out all the sales, and I managed to sneak in a visit to a quilt shop where they were having a sale too;o) I bought a few more pieces for a quilt that’s in the planning stages and a couple of other pieces just because!

Today I am spending the day at home catching up on chores, tonight though I plan to sew!

There has been more organising going on in my craft corner, DH made this spool holder to fit this drawer, cool huh? And no that is not all my threads, I have more we just run out of dowel to make another one.

I am still waiting for some containers to arrive that I ordered the other day so I can finish sorting projects.

Here are some photo’s of 2 UFO’s I dug out from the depths of my stash…

I have only made 3 blocks from this BOM that I joined 3 years ago…

And two of them still need a bit done to them to get them finished. Going by the statistics on this one I sure hope it doesn’t take me 12 years to finish it, Lol.

And a leaders enders project, I still love and I’m not sure why it was relegated to the depths but is  now sitting on my desk waiting to be continued…

It’s also time to update my List of goals…

Goal One – Finish two skirts

Goal Two – Paint the little wooden cabinet

Goal Three – Pillowcases

Goal Four – Give Thanks wall hanging

Goal Five – Log Cabin quilt top.

I haven’t added the above UFO’s yet I’m kinda thinking about making the blocks I’ve done so far into cushions and adding the leftover fabric to my stash. What do you think? And the Half and Half quilt is a long term project.

I have also decided to get one quilt a month quilted by a LAQ, I really hope to get through a good chunk of my UFO’s this year. I need to as I have been ordering more fabric online this week and it will help my case to actually have something to show for all my purchases.

Well I better go finish the ironing now, I have it set up in front of the fan to keep me cool, Lol

Happy stitching

Michelle

FNSI show and tell…

Last night I continued to work on this gorgeous little wall hanging Give Thanks…

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It is coming along nicely and I hope to have it finished up this weekend. I can’t wait to have it hanging up in the kitchen I think it is sew pretty!

In other news this week… DD1 has bought herself a new horse and he is gorgeous…

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His name is Ritchie, Ruffles(DD1) bought him to train up and will sell him when he is ready. A great little venture for her. She just has a way with animals and if the training with Poppy(her other horse) is anything to go by I’m sure she’ll do a great job, but it’s going to be hard to sell him on, we love him already. He is a real sweetie.

Back in the sewing room I have been having a major reshuffle, there’s fabric flying here and there as I attempt to re-organise my small but humble stash. I have been following Megan from Mousehouse for a wee while now and she is going to be posting ‘The Organised Home Project’ once a week. This week it was the ‘Linen Cupboard and next week it’s ‘My Craft Space’ :oD  Here’s a few sneak peaks from my craft room this week…

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I found these storage containers the other day and have ordered some more…

They are just the perfect size for storing the bits and pieces for each UFO or for storing up and coming projects…

This is for our panel project Lis 

Before and after photo’s of ‘My Craft Space’ to come next week.

You may have noticed I have been playing with my blog again and I am still not happy with it, please bear with me I hope to have a fab new look soon.

Keep Stitching…

FNSI

It’s that time again girls…

Have you signed up yet?

How to hang a quilt without marking the wall tutorial…

Wow that was a long post title wasn’t it, but let me assure you it really is easy! Ok so here’s what you will need…

a needle and thread

a packet of 3M Damage-Free Hanging strips…

and some velcro

Please note here that you will only need the soft strip of velcro not the course strip. You should be able to buy it off the roll from your local craft shop. Depending on the size of your quilt will depend on how much you need.

Ok there are 8 sticky tabs in each 3M packet(4 sets) and since I was only hanging a small quilt this was ample, but if you are hanging a large quilt I would recommend buying another packet or two! Next you cut your velcro into strips the same size of your 3M sticky tabs. Now hand stitch them to the back of your quilt(or wall hanging)…

I added three strips across the top and bottom of my quilt and one on either side of the quilt(sorry I forgot to take a photo of this)

Now you are almost there. Once you’ve decided where you would like your quilt hung attach the sticky tabs to the wall, obviously you will need to measure these so they match the velcro strips on the quilt;o) You may need to call in re-enforcements about now to help hold the quilt for you. I used a spirit level to make sure I got the quilt straight and Ta Da…

There you have it! I am sew pleased with the way it’s worked out…

One of the things I like about hanging it this way verses a hanging rod is that it sit’s flat against the wall and doesn’t get blown about if there is a breeze.

If there is something I didn’t cover or something you didn’t quite understand please don’t hesitate to ask and I will do my best to answer it.

Until next time keep stitching…

Sweet 16

We threw a ‘surprise tea party’ for our daughter Ruth(otherwise known as Ruffles) today. She had no idea at all;oD She was spending the week with friends and it was arranged that Shalom and Steven had an appointment so had to bring Ruth home a day earlier than planned. As they drove towards our house she proclaimed ‘Why are there balloons on our letterbox?’ To which Steven replied with a mistruth(which he later repented of) ‘No idea’ She still didn’t register even when they pulled in the drive and saw all the cars. Maybe she really was supposed to be blond! I think it finally sunk in when everyone  yelled ‘SURPRISE’ Unfortunately I didn’t get a good photo of her face as someone stuck their hand right in front of the camera! Anyways I have a few other photo’s to share, we’ll start with a few preparation photos(you can click on them to enlarge)…

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Please note the pretty bunting. I had sew much fun making it! And I used over 2m of stash fabric to make it! I think it might stay there for a few days just so I can admire it:o) I also made the table cloth, it cost me about $6 to make(got it on special at Spotlight) I had wanted to take a photo of all the party food but I forgot. But I digress, here’s some more photo’s…

Oh I guess I did take some food photo’s after all…

And all the young ladies had lot’s of bubble fun! And the best part of all opening all the lovely gifts!

And I’m sure the day wouldn’t have been complete without a cream pie from Dad!

Even though her official birthday isn’t until Monday…

HAPPY 16th BIRTHDAY RUFFLES GIRL!

I wonder what you’re getting for your birthday? Lol!

A busy week…

There has been lot’s of activity in our house over the past week.

I have been re-organising the kitchen…

This cupboard was always a mess, all the Tupperware and storage containers were just tossed in here, not to mention all the accessories from the kitchen whizz and mixers etc. Once upon a time you opened this cupboard with caution but not anymore! *smile* The containers were bought from ‘The Warehouse’ for $4 each a real bargain, Lol!

Because I’m a homeschooling Mum I use the holidays to catch up on things around the home, the more organised I can be the easier life seems to flow. I have also cleaned the girls room, I had only intended to clean the windows and hang the nets up but one thing lead to another and we ended up changing their room around too!

And it feels so good, clothes were sorted, the wardrobe was tidied and three bags of rubbish were collected, Lol And here’s a photo from the outside to show off the nets(just for you Lis)

It’s taken me awhile but I am pleased to say all the nets are finished. Yesterday I snagged my DH and set him to helping clean the lounge, he wiped the ceiling while I cleaned windows and walls. Then we put up the nets in there. It feels so good to have them done!

I have also finished the tutorial for hanging a quilt, I think it deserves a post of it’s own so check back here soon.

SO that is two more projects I can cross off my list of goals, but wait there’s more… I have snuck in another two finishes that weren’t on my list of goals, woohoo! A tablecloth(which I will share photo’s of next week) and this gorgeous little bag…

I have another project I have been working on this week that I can’t share just yet;o) but I am having sew much fun with it!

And just because, here’s a photo of Mt Taranaki in the summertime…                                       

DS1 and DS2 climbed to the very top the other day! They couldn’t have asked for a better day, the view must’ve been amazing, they reckon they could see the South Island!

And to all those in Queensland, please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Thankfully many of the people we know there are safe but it is heartbreaking to hear some of the stories coming through, if you would like to help at all head over here… http://www.gumtree-designers.com/2011/01/we-need-your-help.html

or  http://tonicoward.blogspot.com/2011/01/queensland-flood-relief-appeal-auctions.html

Sew until next time, take care

Michelle

Sew, It’s finished…

I have finally got around to joining up over here…

Just click on the link on my sidebar to check it out. I hope to have a couple of finishes to show for myself tomorrow:o)

Give Thanks…

Have you visited Jenny over at Elefantz recently? If not then please go and check it out! She is offering a free BOM, with a twist and it is gorgeous! It is such a great idea(wish I’d thought of it Lol)

Anyway here’s the link…http://www.elefantz.com/2011/01/revealed-give-thanks-my-2011-bom.html

Goodie Goodie Gumdrops…

Not much sleep was had in our house last night, my family decided they would do an all nighter! I stayed up until about 1am and finally drifted off about 2.30 after I told them all to shut up! Can you tell I need my sleep ;o) Even DH stayed up with them playing Monopoly and then went to milk! Three of them are still awake, I wonder how much longer they will last. I think I will either have a very quiet home today or a very grumpy bunch to put up with, Lol! Anyhow…

Just before Christmas I was very blessed to win a giveaway from my wonderful blogging buddy Lis http://shiny4444.blogspot.com I was sew spoilt! It was packaged so beautifully… And it was filled to the brim with lot’s of goodies… A Birdie charm pack from Moda… A kitset to make Kanzashi flowers, I cant wait to give these a go…Oh and a charm pack of Liberty fabrics(I love love love them all!) I will have to find a very special project for these, any ideas? Also in the box were a pair of machine quilting gloves(just my size!) a needle threader, a bag of big black buttons, magnetic clips for making a bag, a fat 1/4 of this fabric

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I like the back almost as much as the front! There was also this gorgeous fabric postcard…

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It will adorn my fridge for a while and then will be kept in my keepsake tin, it is very special to me! And of course there had to be some chocolates in there… What a great start to 2011! Thank you so much Lis, not just for the goodies but for your friendship too! 

And here I would just like to add a BIG ‘Thank You’ to all my other blogging buddies, the ones who comment and the ones who don’t(please don’t be shy, I would love to get to know you!)

Happy New Years!

Blessings

Michelle