Highlighter Quilt Top

The one great thing about knowing some quilter friends that design patterns is that I get to test them!  The only problem with that is that I have had this done since June. 

 It's hard to not to share secret projects, I tell you!

Introducing the Highlighter quilt by my friend Bree @ Distant Pickles. 
You can find it HERE at Craftsy!

I had originally wanted to do prints, but my new rule this year was that any quilt I add to my already quite long list has to have a distinct home.   The second limitation I put on myself was to try to use current stash as much as possible.   I needed to be tough on myself.

I already had a pattern for Button's nursery that is still in the works.  (Somone please put a firepoker at my back to get me going?!??!)  I couldn't find enough fabric for Teenboy that worked in his room.  And I am glad I didn't choose it for him because the Argyle quilt that I am working on suits his room so much better.

That left the middle boys.
 Their room is pretty much done, decorating wise, but they each don't have their own quilt yet. 



Bad quilt mom, bad.  

So I pulled this Kona solids stack.

Kona Orange, Kona Turquoise, Kona Sour Apple, Blue Marine, Kona Medium Gray

I went to work, and I now have my first all solid quilt.

I'm pretty excited.  I have not quilted it yet. The 13 year old boy decided that this one was his.  He just didn't like the fact that I chose Ikat Orange for the Simply Color line. 

How dare he, right?
As soon as we settle on it, we will be quilting!

Studio Spotlight

If you are here from Ellison Lane, welcome!

First off, I want to say.  To the quilters that have to take their sewing machine and sewing baskets out of some small linen closet and work on the dining room table?  I've been there.  To the ones that share their space with a guest bed and home "office".  Been there.  To the ones that have to go down to a dark, spooky basement.  Yup. Been there.  To the ones that have had to go to the room that was once an attic and is far away from the family?  Been there!!

In the last 17 years of marriage, I have had to sew where ever I could.  I even remember sitting on a floor with my leg awkwardly pushing the pedal when we were in a temporary apartment waiting.

I am so blessed to have this space now.

When we were about to move again, my only request to my husband that we found a layout where I could have my own space, close to the action.  

The view off our kitchen, which happens to be an open floor concept to the family room.

 First door bathroom.  Second door, studio.  Laundry room straight ahead.

Garage on the left side out to where my longarm "studio" is!

I have a load of pictures for this area...but for another day.

But back to my main area!!

I always get asked about the cabinets.  They are not custom.  We did not have someone build them. We went to Home Depot and Lowes and bought either pre-built or put them together ourselves from boxes.  They were added over time...not all at once.  It actually just started with a few of the lower ones in our last house.

On the right side when I walk in is what I call the work area. 

 Computer, files, printer, phone. Paper.

This side of the room are kitchen counter top height so I can sit on stools or just stand.

My cutting tools and current project file boxes are easy access for when I need to work.

And the TV. 

I can't live without background noise while I am working.  Especially when the boys go back to school.  The silence is deafening and makes me miss them greatly.

I use the upper area to display some of my mini quilts and my American Girl Dolls.

When my husband's grandmother passed away, we were offered some items and both he and I agreed that I would keep her yellow sewing basket.  It still has some great vintage scissors and notions inside.

My favorite area.

How could you not love fabric?!?!?

Yum.  I have mini-bolts on the top shelves and then baskets filled with layer cakes, fat quarter bundles, and charms.

And more yum. Some jelly rolls anyone?

My new Lindstrom 1930s toy sewing machine under the sweet mini quilt from a Name Game Swap.

Portable design wall behind the door.
There are actually two stacked. I pull them out and stand them together for bigger quilts

It currently has no projects right now because I have more tops completed and the other projects are in "cut" stages. 

But Button makes use of it every chance he gets.

The next area is my island.

This is, again, kitchen counter height.

Cutting. Ironing.  Pretty Jars with ribbons and notions.

The island consists of cabinets that made an "L" in my old attic studio in the last house. 

We reconfigured it to make the square.  

I also wanted an overhang area so the boys can sit on stools and work at it for big art and school projects.

 

I hope that someday I can address the counters!

 They, again, were just premade laminate counters we found at Home Depot.

They clean up well, but they are getting a bit "bleh".  I also never got around to painting the island like I wanted to.  Someday.  Quilting gets in the way!

I call this side my sewing area.  

We ordered file cabinets so that it would be lower than the rest of the counters.

My sewing machine stays permenantly on the countertop.

Fat quarters and more ribbon are up above in the cabinet!

I put my embroidery machine away in my closet when it is not in use. 

 I like to keep the counters as uncluttered as possible.

In the center, I have my buttons, patterns, and a plaque with my daughter's name on it. 

The main reason I have been quilting so much the past four years.

More jars.  Can you tell I like jars?  They are in the center to collect binding leftovers for my "someday" full scrappy quilt.  I also store all the leftover triangles I have to use as leaders and enders.

The tall cabinet store some of my scrapbooking supplies.  The other supplies are in my island.

But, generally, scrapbooking only happens on my retreats.

Above is my birdhouse collection. Actually.  It was my grandmothers.  She gave them to me when she had to move into their retirement home.  They didn't have room for them, so I told her I would keep them for her.  I made the birdhouse quilt at the time, but lately, the traditional colors are just not working for me.  I am pretty sure you will see something in the future take it's place.

We are just not going to talk about this very packed 10 foot high closet, are we?
I do love my bin organization for projects though.

And to keep Button busy?

He has a basket of toys to play with!

But mostly, he gets into my stuff.

My sitting area.  

The cover on the chair-and-a-half is for my pugs that keep me company.   They love to set their heads on my shoulder while I do handwork.

And yes, more jars.  My hexie templates, needles, and more buttons.  

I like buttons.

 And last but not least. 

Lighting.  

My dearest husband installed these because without them?

THE REALITY.

I wouldn't be able to sew at night without them.  This is a shot of my honest craft room.  Most of my sewing happens in the wee hours of the night when everyone else is sleeping.

Go to Ellison lane and join in the Studio Spotlight fun.

I am going to hunt for ideas.  I have been feeling  like I need to make my room less "old fashioned" as someone recently said when they saw my room.

***UPDATE:  The studio finally got a facelift.  I couldn't be more thrilled!***
STUDIO MAKEOVER

Beach Bum Art {Quilt Art}

I loosely call this quilt art.  Just for the fact that it isn't a quilt and it is hanging on a wall.  Other than that?  I do not pretend to be an amazing quilt artist like some of my blogging/instagram friends I follow!!

This project came about because I had an empty spot in the boys' Jack and Jacks bathroom.  The center toilet/shower area has an Under the Sea  theme.

I'd be lying if I didn't admit that the embroidery appliqued crab I designed?

Is based on this crab!

Hey.  Imitation is the best form of flattery, right?

I tried to have a little fun with this.  I wanted it to be a beach scene because the boys love body surfing and watching the surfers when we have gone to the beach on vacation.

My rule was scraps only. 

At some points, I felt like I was doing a school art project.

But now, I am happy with it.  It isn't a Picasso, that's for sure.  But there is an afternoon's worth of work involved.  Entirely made of scraps.  Leftover piece of mat material cut to size so it could hide that I made my "quilt" a tad short on all sides (mat tutorial here).  A frame from a previous project covered with a slate. Zero pain on the pocketbook!

Button points and talks about it every time he is in the bath....and that is what really matters!!!

WIP: Round Up

Time for me to round up all of my WIPs!  Things have been hopping around here since our return from vacation.  Uniforms to buy.  Uniforms to embroider.  School supplies.  

Fun stuff.

But I have squeezed a bit here and there.

Finishes:

Beach Bums

I finished a special bathroom artwork for the little boys.  

Such a tease, I know...stay tuned for the full pictures this week!

In Progress:

Trick or Treat (2)

I am at the finish line.  I was commissioned to make a second charm quilt from the Deb Strain collection.  

Still love it.  Binding here I come!

Argyle Quilt

My long term hexie project doesn't seem terribly long lately.

I just have one more blue "diamond" to complete. 

And then I can take on the large connecting gray diamonds!

Blush Quilt

My aunt is visiting my family next week.  My goal is to have this ready for her by then!

I had a mess up and added borders without sashing last week and it sorta set me back mentally.

But now I have a new panto for it and am excited to get this on my longarm machine this week.  Maybe even tomorrow?

New Project:

Whale Song

A simple patchwork quilt is planned with this stack of fabrics.

It's for a special baby boy.  I am using the orange from the mermaid's hair to make a pop!

Now back to the grind.....