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Let me start this off by saying that I am a really clean person. I actually enjoy folding laundry and putting it away, gives me a sense of accomplishment. This is in my house though, the public area that people see. In my “Sewing Sanctuary”…well that is another story. It is my creative space and it looks like it most of the time. Lately, however, I seem to be losing a lot of important things…rulers, fabric, rotary cutter, you know, things most quilters can’t live without!

My wonderful hubs even has taught Anne to say “Hot Mess Mommy” – she says it quite well too. So yesterday, while Anne happily played and colored in my sewing sanctuary I went to town organizing and cleaning!

This is where the crux of the action happens. Underneath the wall hanging (tutorial next week), is my mother-in-laws old Kenmore Sewing Machine, my old Janome, and my mom’s old Pfaff Hobbylock Serger.

My hubs and I had the opportunity to design certain aspects of our house and this room was designed with sewing in mind. I have 4 windows for lots of natural light and the big window looks out over our front yard (love it!). I can iron under the window. I have my book case which holds my knitting, sewing and quilting books, along with several quilts in progress. My cutting table is from Ikea and I love it. Underneath that is all my yarn storage and my GO.

Sorry about the weird angle I was trying to cut the glare on the cabinet. When I designed this room, I specifically designed it without a closet – I wanted to be able to see EVERYTHING – I thought it would help hold me more accountable, but as you know from Tuesday’s post, that hasn’t really helped. I got this cabinet from Ikea and made the fabric bins so I could sort all my fabric by color.

Here is my computer area. I would say this is where I do my blogging, but it isn’t. I do that on my lap top, along with my quilt designing. This is my distraction when I’m sewing. I like to put on DVDs of MASH while I sew. I enjoy the humor and lightheartedness of the show while it addresses serious issues of army life. (Hey, gimme a break on this one, I am an army wife!)

So there you have it, my little sewing sanctuary.  I will be guest posting over at Created By Cori next week for her Spring Clean Series. I will be showing you how I organize all my quilting rulers. For more on cleaning and organizing, go check out Michele and Pat from Quilting Gallery’s Learning Center. They did an entire series on Studio Organization…I should have paid more attention and been more on top of it last month!

 

So, as I said in my post yesterday…I suck at finishes! I admit it. I can’t help it, a new project presents itself and I am all over it! The thrill of creating something new and different sets in and I toss aside my current project for the next one.

In light of this self-proclamation and putting it out there into the world that I have a minimum of 10 unfinished projects (and honestly probably more but I would have to sit down and really think about it) I have decided it is time for some goal setting.

For the rest of this week, every evening, I am going to work on my mother’s day gift. I am determined to have it done by the end of March. I can only work for about 30 minutes because it kinda kills my hands – the hand quilting that is.

Next, I basted one quilt yesterday and I am going to baste another one today. I also ordered thread from Superior Threads yesterday to quilt both these quilts. Let’s face it the worst part of any quilt is the basting, and since that is mostly what has been holding me back from finishing, then I have no more excuses!

Hopefully putting it out there for all to see and holding myself more accountable will lead to a few more finishes and getting some projects off my shelves!

How about you? Do you sent goals? How do you hold yourself accountable?

UPDATE: As of 1:00 pm (30 minutes in to nap time) my quilt is basted and my living floors have been mopped. I spent the morning tweeting with some of favorite ladies and they all convinced me to spray baste. I might just be a convert…depending on how it works with my sewing machine! Thanks Shanna, Debbe & Jenna!

 

 

Jenny @ Sew Kind of Wonderful TAGGED me and I thought it would be fun to play along! Who doesn’t want to get to know someone a little better?!?

The Rules: Answer a few questions (well, 11 to be exact), ask a few questions (well…11 to be exact) and tag a few people (well…11 to be exact). Did you notice a trend? It is Cain’s 11-11-11 plan.

Jenny’s Questions:

1.) What is your favorite snack? I love a good bag of salty chips

2.) Besides quilting what your next favorite hobby? Knitting

3.) If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Closer to my family…but they live in California and it is WAY to expensive there!

4.) Where does your inspiration come from? Mostly from my family and my fellow bloggers.

5.) How much fabric are you hoarding right now? Ummmm…I’m almost too embarrassed to answer this one…An entire cabinet (mine is a really pretty red though, so that makes it ok. Right?) full of fabric, three boxes full in my garage and the rest overflowing onto just about every surface in my sewing room.

6.) Do you wear makeup, and if you do, how often do you put it on? Not really, I mean if my hubs is taking me on a special date I will, but I can’t remember the last time

7.) What is your favorite part of the quilting process? Seeing the blocks come together

8.) Are you a part of any local Quilt Guilds? Not right now, with Anne and a complete lack of childcare it just isn’t really possible. Hopefully in the future though 🙂

9.) How many quilting projects are you currently working on? Another embarrassing one…there are no less than 10 projects that are in some stage of completion right now, maybe even more…Ok, I admit it! I suck at finishing!

10.) If we went to a movie, what type of movie would you pick out? Something funny and lighthearted. I have a bit too much reality in my life and I would like something that I can just relax and laugh at 🙂

11.) If we went out for dinner, what restaurant would you pick? I would pick Two Koi – my favorite sushi place. I haven’t been out for sushi is about a year and I miss it!

My Questions (in no particular order):

1. What is your favorite quilting toy (other than your sewing machine!)?
2. Who is your favorite fabric designer?
3. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
4. What is your comfort food of choice?
5. What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
6. If you were forced to give up your craft of choice…what would you do with all that free time (and extra money)?
7. What’s for breakfast?
8. Easter is right around the corner – what is your favorite Easter candy?
9. What is your favorite Reality TV show?
10. What is your least favorite household chore?
11. Who is your favorite celebrity and why?

My Tags:

Jenna @ Sew Happy Geek
Susan @ History Quilter
Snoodles @ Lily Pad Quilting
Lyanna @ Purple Panda Quilts
Marlene @ KISSed Quilts
Michele @ Quilting Gallery
Kim @ Kim’s Crafty Apple
Katy @ The Littlest Thistle
Connie @ Quilting by the River
Sharon @ Craizee Corners
Debbe @ Pieces to Love

I tagged these bloggers because they inspire me and I hope they will inspire you too! If I didn’t tag you it isn’t because I don’t adore you – it is just that I was only allowed 11 (and it was REALLY REALLY hard to pick only 11)!!!