Sidetracked

I made a lot of progress yesterday!! It was SO exciting!!!

However, I was sidetracked today.  Sidetracked because the bookcase I bought the other day HERE is in my way. 

So instead of just moving the open box and parts in order to get to Ole Betsy to quilt the twins animal quilts? 

I put it together.  Logical, right?

It took the spot where I used to have my ribbon rack.

It is really an old VCR tape rack.

  (NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT TELL ME IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE!)

It was not only very functional but a great display for all of my gift wrap ribbons.

I used tension curtain rods to suspend them.

But ever since the arrival of Button and his love to wrap the ribbons around his neck, I had to move all of the ones he could reach due to his increasing mobility, and now growing height. 

The rack has become, basically, a space eater. And the ribbons are in various spots in the closets and cabinets.

I have to reorganize them some day, but they are fine for now.

I also need to find a new home for my large Sissix die cuts.  They used to fit so perfectly on the rack.

I am a bit sad to say goodbye to the rack since it has had so many "lives" over the past 15 years. 

VCR tapes, paperback books, quilts, and ribbon. 

But I can't help but love to have my fabric out of the closet and at my fingertips.

Now I need to redo all the mini bolts because I had random sizes to fit my bins.  They just don't look as pretty as the ones I see online all the time!  The need to be a bit more uniform.

But first,  I need to clean up my mess.

And get back to work......

Yikes.......

Pssst.....Thank you Mr. Boss for helping me out!  You didn't have to, but you did anyway!  By helping me build the bookshelf, our teamwork cut the normal assembly time IN HALF.  Not to mention how studly you were finding the studs for the safety straps, so we don't have ANY tipping over problems for Button the mountain climbing Billy Goat.  And you trimmed my design wall boards width so they could still fit behind my door next to the bookcase.

Simply....You ROCK!

WIP: Piles

Piles....

 ..of thread...waiting to finish Violet's Quilt project.

Piles...

....Of half finished mug rugs.  I am starting to get sick of trying to finish these to get them out of the way.

Piles....

 ....of baby boy quilts for the twins waiting for embroidery, quilting, and binding.

Piles...

....of the last three Butterfly Kiss projects to finish before Butterfly Kisses shuts down for a bit of some MUCH needed vacation.  Which, got a NEW LOOK, if you hadn't notice in my side bar!

Oh...and more piles....

...of fabrics that need to be put away and organized...but I may have been sidetracked.  While the boys are at tutoring or lessons these past few days....I am stuck shopping.

  I found this today.

A Bookshelf

 I needed an organization project, like a needed a new hole in my head!

 I could rattle off my in progress, no progress projects, but nothing much has changed since last week.

But I do have a finish!!!!

 

But this is all I can share....or else I will be in BIG, BIG Trouble.....

I sure hope I can find some time to get all of these projects finished and out the door by Monday morning....or I will cry.  I think I am in my car more than I ever am during the school year.  I promise I will NOT complain when they go back to school in mid-August...okay?

Linking with Lee at

One of my favorite bloggers that I follow, Felicity @ Felicity Quilts is guest posting today!

 Pssst....in case you missed it...I finally found a place for Meemah's quilts in the The Useless Nook.  Which I have been spelling by the way...it is Memaw.  Go figure, right?

Buttons Galore

We all know I love Buttons...right?

Awhile back, I think I posted that I was distracted one day sorting out all of my button colors into leftover baby food jars.  

What do with all of them was my next question! 

 After cluttering up a basket on top of my island in the studio, I knew they had to find a home.  I decided that I wanted to put them on a magnetic board like you see for kitchen spices.  However, I did not have a lot of wall space for that.

I looked around my room and found that there was opportune storage UNDER the cabinets. 

Jealous?

Don't be...do it yourself!!

I came home with these

 

One coat of Kilz primer and two coats of enamel to cover the caps from ugly Gerber to White. 

I came home with two options for underneath the cabinet.

I learned too late...that aluminum is NOT magnetic.

  This goes into my "return" pile.

 

 Luckily, I had this!

 It took A LOT of stirring and a lot of coats to get my magnet so stick.

But not strong enough for the cap, magnet and jar.  

Do not get me wrong...it works!!! So I don't think the purchase was a waste.  I will keep it in my back pocket for another day.

But no worries, Mr. Boss saved the day yesterday and ran back to get me some real metal flashing.  He took the magnets and a cap with him to make sure it worked.

I am prepared for him to kill me for posting this picture, but he is so awesome for helping me!!!

He cut it down to size, drilled holes for some finishing nails...and then after a bit of neck straining, tiny nail dropping, he was able to secure it!  He now wishes he had used adhesive on the back to keep it in place AND prevent the slight buckling we are experiencing today.   

I had to go back and cover up all the black oopsie marks with a few coats of White Kilz Primer.

While all that was drying, I grabbed my paper tape.

I think it is called Washi tape, but I feel guilty about it because I found mine at Target.  When you buy stuff like this in the office supply area of Target, it sorta loses it's glamour, no?

It is pretty cool stuff.  Like transparent waxy tape with design!

I wrapped them around each jar. 

 Sometimes matching the color, sometimes just complementing.

I simply just put the magnet right inside the cap.  I ended up using TWO magnets stacked on top of each other.  

If you are wondering what magnets these are, I have a photo of them in this post HERE when I used them for the stuffed animal magnets for the boys.

After the paint dried, I just twisted my caps on and stuck them up there!  Of course...rainbow style.  I have an affinity for organizing in rainbows.....HERE and HERE, in case you hadn't noticed!

And just because I just can't get enough of the yumminess...

WIP: Not all sewing!

I have started feeling like one of "those" bloggers.  At least 3 posts a week?  So I apologize to those that are like "Give it a rest, Heidi!"  My excuse?  I have too many things I need to get out of my head!!  It physically throbs and aches if I don't get it out.  

And I just adore Lee's  WIP Wednesdays!   It feels like it is my very own personal assistant letting me know what tasks I have left to do!  I am actually adding my "to do"s this week so I can have a visual reminder of what is on my agenda.

So just consider this blog and especially this post for my personal health, okay?

Quilting Projects

Christmas Quilt!  

If you recall HERE, I saw a tutorial about a week before Christmas.  I took the dare. I mean, seriously, someone TRIPLE dog dared me!!  Of course, reality set in that it would be quite rude to hide away in my Studio when my in-laws arrived for the holiday, so I started working on it right after the New Year!  I have successfully cut 95% (I have the appliques still to do) and pieced almost all of it. I just have one more step..sewing my pieced "snow and sky" to the squares below!

Three baby quilts 

One baby is already here, one is on it's way in March, and the third? It was supposed to be for Ana White's "Make Two".  I haven't really started on all three other than fabric choices. So sad, right?

Thank you quilt

When Baby Button arrived, I had to take maternity leave from my most favorite job as the school nurse.  One of the mom's at our school that is also an RN, was willing to substitute.  Right before his birth, I decided that I was not going to return after my maternity leave for the sanity of our family.  She agreed to finish out the full 4 months left.  Sweet, right?  I found this kit on clearance (even cheaper than the price tag mark) when my Joann's was moving to their new location.  I hope she likes it even though he is turning one next month!

Needlepoint Projects

I bought Button's Christmas Stocking Crosstitch Kit last month, but I need to finish at least one of the two following projects first. I don't like to have more than two going at a time!

Elsa Williams Vintage Cherries

  

I love small needlepoint projects for "on the go" or what I more commonly call my "Bus Driver" projects.  You know, the times you are sitting and waiting for your vehicle to be loaded up at carpool or waiting for the tennis lesson, baseball practice, or saxophone lesson to finish?  This one is great, but I started it sometime last year and have made no progress other than the portion you see.  MUST GET IT DONE!

Butterfly Throw

I bought this kit YEARS ago and it collected dust in my needlepoint basket.  When I was pregnant with Button, I was organizing my needlepoint/crosstitching stash and noticed that it was flowers and butterflies.  Of course, since Jamie Lynn is our "Butterfly", I just had to start it right there and then!  It was perfect for hanging out in my Master Room chair watching Tinkerbell with Bunny (shh...don't tell anyone that he likes Tinkerbell....we watch it because we like to think Jamie would love it ;)!)  I have it set up in the room, I cheekily call the "Library".  Really it is a formal living room and study combined.  I like to call it the Library and even put the family computer in there so that it is more welcoming to the boys than a "pretty room"!

ORGANIZATION

I cannot function if my house is not organized.  My left brain forces me...even though my right brain fights like the dickens!  My left brain reminds me that our house is happy and whole if everything has a place.  I have quite a few areas on my to do list, but I am only going to focus on these three this week...I don't want to push myself (tee hee!)

DVD Movies

It is time to get all of our new movies organized and the stack of movies my sons cannot manage to put back in their binders.  In order to make it happen, I stuck it all in my Studio.  My right brain will prod me to get it done faster I can get to work on all the other FUN things above.  Good strategy, no?

Scrapbooking

I am off on another retreat in about a week and a half.  I have part of my scrapbooking items organized.

 I want to start sorting my power layouts and getting all of my photos printed by the end of this week.  Usually I am picking them up at Walgreen's on my way to the retreat (oops).

Magazines/Catalogs

Look at this collection.  All from the end of November through December!  I like to cut out ideas and inspiration for my idea binder.  

I think Button is willing to help me.  However, if it just gets too overwhelming...it is getting TOSSED!

Now I just hope I get some of it done.  I don't want to be embarrassed next week!   Usually, however, when I go to WIP Wednesday.

I always get inspired to get going!!!

Guilty

of fabric murder....

I vowed last year to use up my stash and have been strict about buying more than I need per project!   My stash is DRASTICALLY smaller today because I committed the dirtiest deed.

I threw away all of my nasty old yucky ugly un-needed, un-wanted fabric yesterday.

How much did you ask?

2 FULL heavy duty garbage bags.

Momma was in a organizing mood since Mr. Boss put up her cabinets outside in the garage (pictures coming soon!)

My scrap drawers open with ease.

My jelly rolls have a new home.

My fat quarters have taken up their own shelf.

My large amounts of yardage fabric are on their own mini-bolts in their bins.

Not as fancy as some sewing rooms I have seen, but I was going for functional, not beautiful!

I even sorted ALL of my scrapbook paper, stickers, and die cuts into new organizers (that I have had stashed away waiting for this day!!)

I will share another day.  

You might not be able to handle the organization!


Anyone else cleaning out their studios for the New Year?