Tidying the Sewing Room - blogtober

grandson

One of the things my daughter and I plan to do whilst she's here is sew together. Of course, it's never quite that simple, is it? My sewing room is messy. The pinboards aren't on the wall and my cutting out table is piled high. Then there's the washing, meal preparation, and child tending. Let's just say that we haven't started sewing yet. However, today we did make a dent in the mess and the washing. Oh. And the pinboards are finally up. Tomorrow looks like more of the same and then Wednesday we should be sewing!

Nature

Isn't nature wonderful? We do our very best to overcome it and it still triumphs! This tiny photo (taken by my Bradley on his phone today) is of fungi growing near the entrance to our local mall. The fungi was so pretty and it grew all along this side of the pillar. I love this time of the year. It's starting to be cooler and to look like autumn. I have been busy tidying my sewing room. It had deteriorated to a terrible mess, I couldn't even get close to my desk! I am almost done. Just those few things left that never actually had a "place" to start with. I think sometimes that the "natural" state of my sewing room is messy and no matter how much I tidy or organise, nature always triumphs and my sewing space returns to it's natural state! Messy! It is a continual struggle to keep it organised! Once it is all finished I will sew and sew and sew. Can't wait!!!

Drawstring Bags

I read a comment from Pip today that started me worrying. She said she was looking forward to seeing what I make over the easter break. Then she said, "No pressure". (Something we basketball Mums say when we really mean PRESSURE!!!) I started thinking about the fact that I haven't done anything yet! I am still tidying and sorting my sewing space. Then I realised that whilst tidying today I made 5 drawstring bags. One from some fat quarters that I received for my birthday in Maree's fat quarter birthday swap and the other four from leftovers from some bags I had made. I think that's why tidying takes me so long. I kind of have to do sewing as well to keep my interest! Lol! I am hopeless! These drawstring bags will be filled with projects so that I can be a little more organised. (I hope) I have uncovered all sorts of half finished things that I am excited to work on. I also have a head full of ideas for things I want to try, to make and to learn. I think I'd be dangerous if I ever got organised! Anyway, I'm having fun and really enjoying easter!

Painting (on canvas not walls)

I haven't done any more on my quilt back. I stood looking at my cutting table and thought I would tidy my sewing room instead of cutting out. What a surprise! (Considering how much I love cutting out!) My sewing room is quite trashed so it's taking a while to tidy. It's good to get things straight.


And that's what Miss 15 did to Miss 17's hair last night. Miss 17 has curly hair and usually just lets it be. Once it was straight we had to take a photo cause it's soooooooo much longer straight! (She looks so different too) I think she wins the award for the longest hair ever at our house. Maybe. I guess Miss 21's hair could be longer. She's been overseas for about 6 months now and I'm not sure how long her hair is.


To the painting. For many reasons I haven't painted in a long while. It's kind of to do with time and space really. Last year Mrs 23 wanted to go to a painting/collage course and I went with her. It was full-on, but fun. And this was the result. Mine didn't look anything like anyone elses! I can't help it. I'm a sucker for those bright colours. It was actually a very creative time and my head was full of all sorts of ideas. I went home with grand ideas to produce more work, but just never did. I found this painting whilst doing the sewing room tidy. Maybe this year I'll paint some more. Maybe.

Printing and lights!

Yesterday I spent ALL day at home. I love being home. I didn't actually make anything, but I did touch a lot of fabric. (Tidying up!) It was a wonderful day! I did have to go out at 7pm to pick Miss 10 up from basketball training, but that was fun too. It's so nice to spend time with the kids when I taxi them! AND, it was the"last" training till next year!!! WooHoo!!!!!


The kids have been doing some printing. Mrs 23 made some of the stamps they used in her textile course this year. These two pieces of fabric were printed by Mr 13. He made the flower stamp himself from a black custard tart tray from our local bakery. They used an acrylic paint/textile medium mixture to print on some calico. I really love the stuff that Kirsty does with her kids. You should pop over to her blog and have a look! They don't just end up with pieces of fabric, they have finished items! We have yet to get to that point. It's something we have to work on.

Another important development this week (well, according to the two youngest members of our family) was the puting up of the icicle lights. Bradley and the kids put the lights up on Monday night and then we went for a drive to look at lights in our neighbourhood. Fortunately, there are quite a few really impressive displays nearby. Ours is kind of mediocre, but the little kids are easily impressed! (young kids are such good value for money!) It was quite windy when I took this photo. Our front yard looks like we are renovating (Well!!! We are!!!) so I'm hesitant to call any attention to it, but as long as we only turn them on after twilight it's all good!

Tomorrow I'm hoping to fill, sand and paint. Well, I have to fill and sand. I'm hoping to paint! We're working on the "big couch room" at the moment. (That's REALLY how we refer to it! We so have to "name" our rooms as soon as we finish them! Do any of you name your rooms???????????)

Order

I had someone comment on my last post saying that my sewing machine must have been working overtime last week! Yes! It was. And this week, as a result, my sewing room is a huge mess! I gave up tidying to continue sewing! So today was a day of consolidation. I spent most of the day trying to restore order to my sewing room. Order feels so good. As I begin to put things in order I start to feel happier. It makes me want to sort through all my cupboards and establish order everywhere! So why do I let it get a mess? I don't know, but I do. All the time!!!


This is the pattern I used to make Mrs 23's nightie. I made a long version of view 3, without the elastic in the sleeves. I don't know where I got the pattern from. I collect patterns. Yes, I do love them. Especially patterns with fashions that are very dated! It's like a window on a world that doesn't exist any more. I especially love the patterns that my Mum used to make clothes for me. They bring back so many memories. But the main reason I collect patterns is because they are such a wonderful resource! These days they cost so much! If you can buy them from op-shops they are so much cheaper! I love it when the sales assistant is not a sewer. Even if the patterns are marked at $2 they will sell them to you for 50 cents, because they see no value in the pattern. I also have friends who regularly cull their pattern collections and give them to me. So, I have a cupboard full to choose from!!!