Don't let the difficulties of the present moments overshadow the reality of God's promises. God's promises still stand. And God's promises are stronger than our failures.

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Pillow Frenzy

It started at our Christmas celebration when one of my daughters wanted a quilt for her bed.  She's bought a "fixer upper" and work is progressing nicely but she painted the walls in her bedroom a dark gray and now needs some color.  She didn't ask me to make her a quilt - just share one I already had.  We looked through the stacks of quilts (don't judge) and she chose one I bought several years ago at a junk store for $30.  It was old and a bit ragged on the edges but a beautiful star pattern and made from reds and teals.  Then, of course, she needed some throw pillows to set it off.  We went through my fabric stash (don't judge) and she chose three fabrics we thought might work.  Well, you know pillows take so little time that I ended up making three.


While I was rummaging around in the sewing room I came across a pumpkin I had embroidered this fall so I just made a quick pillow with it while I was there.


I love the border fabric on this one, though it doesn't show up well in this picture.  It's spider webs with little orange spiders on it.  :)

Abut that same time I finished a wool hand applique piece I'd been working on so I just stayed with my pillow theme and this is what I ended up with.


This pattern was in a recent Primitive Projects magazine.  I think it will be put up and given to someone for Christmas next year.  I love the addition of the gingham.

I had another wool piece I'd finished weeks ago and, you guessed it, another daughter who needed a pillow for her new house.  Yes, two daughters, two new/old houses.  And my son is remodeling his.  Good grief.  Since this daughter loves chickens this is the one she's getting.


I keep a basket on my sewing machine filled with things that need to be finished.  So I continued with my chicken theme, but not my pillow theme, and made this rooster market bag.  I think I'll send it to a friend who loves chickens.



I made several market bags for Christmas presents this year - my girls use them for absolutely everything - and so I'm now completely out of the fusible I use for interfacing.  That means I need to make a trip to the fabric shop.  I'm trying to stay out of fabric shops - honestly - but sometimes that's not possible.

My problem is not really not that I have too much fabric.  It's that I have too many UFOs.  My January resolution has to be UFOs.  I'm going to write it on the bathroom mirror, and tape it on a piece of paper to the front of the television.  Maybe I'll make up a song about finishing UFOs.  I was horrified last week when I rearranged and cleaned and sorted in my sewing room at the number of UFOs and unstarted kits I have.


See those four dark baskets?  Kits not yet started and UFOs.  Seriously.  On the floor are 3 tubbies of wool fabric and two sets of drawers of thread and things I don't use often.  There are a couple of shelves of layer cakes and jelly rolls and fat quarter bundles and flannel fabric and on the top are pillow forms.  I just bought most of those because they were on sale this week.  Honest.


I keep fat quarters in the old gym baskets, sorted by colors.  I don't have an ironing board but use this ironing station, which works better for me.


This is fuzzy but on that far shelf I keep jars, and jars, of buttons.  And also patterns I want to use soon.  After I finish the UFOs.  Patterns I've already made or want to make way in the future are in the file cabinet.


One of the problems I have in my sewing room is there is never enough light.  I think I might have to consider having these cataracts removed soon.  :)  To solve that I've added what my dad would call "chicken lights" in a couple of places to help until I figure out something else.  I just moved my fabric to these shelves last week when they got displaced in the closet by the UFO baskets.  See how I subtly reminded myself to finish those UFOs?


This is where I actually sit and sew.  The bins have all sizes of pieces I've cut from scraps of fabric - 5", 2 1/2", 3" squares, different sized triangles, etc.  It's too much.  Really.  That basket on the left...that's the stuff I'm working on right now.  Except for that snowman on top, which is finished.  Yea!  I have no idea this turned into a tour of my sewing room except here we are.

And now I must go.  I need to work on UFOs.  :)

32 comments:

Gail said...

I commend your organization.

"Idle hands are the devil's workshop" so you're safe. I enjoy having several things going so if I tire of one, I skip to another. They get finished with out me growing tired of them.

Beautiful work.

Chris said...

Omgosh, what a super room full of projects and all the stash necessary to do it all. I am green with envy!

Vickie said...

Wow! What a sewing room! Love it! Have fun knocking off UFOs.

Robin in Virginia said...

What fabulous pillows (and bag) you created! Your sewing room looks fabulous. I like your ironing station. Did you make it? Wishing you a very happy and healthy New Year!

Tanya Quilts in CO said...

What a great use of space! You look so organized--I like the chicken lights. There is no such thing as enough light in a sewing room. Good luck with your UFOs. I am on my way over to quilt one up on my mom's long arm today.

Needled Mom said...

I LOVE all of your well organized space. UFOs are always my goal with the arrival of a new year...sigh! Your pillows are fantastic and will be appreciated by all the recipients.

Carol said...

What a great bunch of pillows, Marlene--I especially LOVE the snowman applique one--how cute!

You have a wonderful and organized sewing room--the ironing station is perfect. I don't have a sewing room and can't tell you how often I put up and take down my ironing board each week :)

Wishing you and your family a fabulous New Year!

sunny said...

Well now that everything is organized and in its place you'll have no problem cranking out those UFO's. Why are you reading this? You should be sewing!!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I love your sewing/creating space! We all have those UFOs and kits - you're not alone sweetie. HA - I have a couple of those 'chicken' lites too. Love all of the pillows!!

Teresa said...

Pretty pillows and a new pillow is a good uplift to a room. UFO's ..... We all got them!

paulette said...

OMGosh!! You just kicked up my heart into over-drive! I needed that! LUCKY YOU!!

Sparky said...

first you have been stitching up dream projects and your sewing studio looks divine...so nice and neat...love that about you....order... is so nice...

ChitterChatterDesigns said...

What a wonderful room to get us all excited about organizing. It is so nice to have it all at your fingertips. Thanks for the tour Marlene, it has been inspirational. You really have been tackling that ufo situation already with all those pillows! Nice work.

Kyle said...

Thanks fort our. I always love see where blogging friend work and create. Glad you made so many pillows. You wouldn't want to have a pillow fight! Good luck on the UFO's. They do tend to multiple

Farm Quilter said...

Wow, it was a pillow frenzy at your house!!! They are great!! Why not give yourself some incentive to get those UFOs finished by figuring out a reward system? After finishing 5 UFOs, then you get to make 1 new project all the way to completion!!! That way you still get to do new stuff (cuz you know how we get pulled by this quilt or this block) and you get those UFOs finished so that when you die someone doesn't take one of your beautiful blocks and turn it into an oil rag or let the new puppies be born on the unquilted top!!! I'll join you in a push to get the UFOs finished!!!

maria demina said...

Oh Marlene! Your sewing room is just a room from my dreams! You have so much stash! I think you can open your own fabric shop :)
I love your new projects, applique snowman looks great! And market bags, and chicken, and pumpkin...all of them!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!

Barb said...

What a wonderful sewing room!! I'm impressed! You are quite the pillow maker- they do take time so I impressed with that too!

Michelle said...

Well, I LOVED the tour of your sewing room!

Michele said...

Make a list of all those kits and UFOs and then pick one and just get it done. For me having a list really helps narrow down the choices and keeps me on track.

Ray and Jeanne said...

It was so fun seeing your studio. I loved seeing what your dad called chicken lights - my dad called them hog lamps! I cleaned my studio a while back and also decided I HAD to finish UFOs. It was a task and I'm glad it's done. Moral of story: don't clean quilting studios! Absolutely love that snowman in a hat pillow. ~Jeanne

Gabri millecrocette said...

Hello I like all your pillows!!Good work!
But do you have a craft shop or a craft room?I d like one like your!!All the best for New Year!!

Sharon Dawn said...

I love all of your job-specific stations! I am hoping that 2016 is my year to organize...and finish some UFO's ;)

I will so NoT judge, just understand your dilemma! Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

Wow. Your photos of your studio are amazing. You are very organized! And I can't believe all you have accomplished in sewing so much just recently! Kudos to you! Your work is lovely!!! Happy New Year blessings to you !

MartinaM said...

I love the pillow with the snowman .
Greetings and a happy new year, Martina

Anna said...

I love your organization! And I think what I need to do is buy a variety of pillow forms and have them available when I am moved to make pillows! right now I have finished a pillow top but have to wait for the next trip to into Bend to buy some pillow forms,

Andrea said...

You'll never be short of a pillow or cushion will you?! Some wonderful ones, love the snowman. Love your craft space too, so organised.

Michelle May-The Raspberry Rabbits said...

First, let me say Happy New Year! Second, I loooooooooove how everything is organized. Third, a friend of mine just had cataract surgery and had lenses put in so she doesn't need glasses anymore. Wow! Finally, have fun with your UFO's. I bet you have some really great projects just waiting to be completed.
Hugs dear friend!
Shell

Lynn B said...

Loved taking a peek at your crafting space, all very organised! Ooo yes and the UFO's, I have lots and it is my New Years resolution to get some finished!

Brigitte said...

Can anyone have too many pillows? No, I don't think so, lol. Yours are all so great. And what a nice tour through your sewing room. You are so organized .

Cheryl said...

Hi Marlene I love all your pillows the one with the Rooster is sew cute and the snowman would be my next favorite. I adore your sewing room what a wonderful creative space. Truly love your idea you have with the ironing station I need one like that. Have a great and creative New Year!!

Peace and Blessings

Cheryl.............Snatch Joy!!

Lindah said...

Fantastic sewing room! Thanks for the tour.

Gmama Jane said...

Oh I think this may be one of my favorite posts you've made!!! I absolutely Love looking in other people's sewing rooms. I can always get a storage idea but most of all it gives me a sense of the person's personality. You are neat and organized just as I knew you would be!! Thanks for sharing your sewing "mecca" with us!
Blessings
Jane