Slowly Breaking The Sewing Slump

I just haven't been feeling the sewing bug for over a month, did a few 'had to get done' items, but the deadline for a big Flickr swap was fast approaching.  I have a huge hole in my heart and life, but life does happen to go on, whether you want it too or not, and something like sewing and fabrics and quilting that gives me so much happiness and pleasure, I'm ready to let it back in.  This is one block from an Aqua and Orange Bee, I made 2 actually.  This was one item that was behind, but I emailed the Queen Bee, and she was very gracious with her patience.  Now, she should have her little wonky cute log cabins.   For some reason this block was a BLOCK in my mind, I just couldn't get started, but when I did, it was easy.  Like most Log Cabins, not sure what I was all uptight about.        

I went to  work on the 25 blocks for the Tokyo Subway Map swap that I had to complete by May 20.  Sidebar - I just love my view.  Please note the ladder standing outside my window.  Waiting for my dear dear husband of 25 years to caulk the window.  Five months it has sat there.  Five.  We might see 26 years, we might not.  I know you too have a husband, and totally understand. You may actually have a ladder or a stool that has sat somewhere for over a year even.  I'm shooting for a year.   

Bits and ribbons and strips and parts for Tokyo Subway block #3.  Ummm, yeah, measure BEFORE you sew all those strips together, or you'll be doing it again.  And again.  So, I have some strips sewn together that are going to make part of an awesome back when I get all my Tokyo Subway blocks and put them together.

Assembly line.

All TWENTTY FIVE Blocks complete.  I was a day late, and had some massive guilt, oh, they are going to think I'm a terrible quilter, I can't be on time, they'll post bad things about me and I'll get kicked out of the group!  After all there were 24 other gals waiting for these, and I wouldn't go look at what the other were saying while I was plowing through these.  I swear I did start them way before the last minute!  But then on the group, when I was posting that I was actually done, I wasn't the only one a day late!  yay!  No more guilt, whew.  I should work on that.  I just love this block.  

And, so, I am feeling inspired, and want to work on something new, forget the 80 100 other things I have already started!  I want something new to work on!  Something pretty and in my colors!  I pulled this very pretty bird fabric that I had put away after the Mid Atlantic Quilt show in 2010.  I worked with -I'm going to name drop now - John Flynn in his booth for a few years.  He is a very nice man, and sells that quilt frame thingamajiggy.  Well, I was stuck in that booth staring at the booth across from me for 3 days, had money to spend so ran over there and spent it.  I really wanted this bird fabric and she had it on a bolt, I didn't act quite quick enough and the bolt disappeared.  As soon as that happened, I was like, whah, whah, I wanted that fabric, and she was like, I have it in a kit, please don't cry, because I, really, almost was.  I didn't really want the kit, it had a pattern, it had fabrics I didn't want,  but I did want the bird fabric more than I didn't want the kit.  So, even though, I almost cried, and I got two yards of this beutimous fabric the kit has sat for over a year, in a basket, just waiting it's little turn.  So, I am feeling like working with these colors, doing something really cute, and I want to work with this fabric.  Some of these fabrics were actually in the kit, but I added and deleted and definitely didn't use the pattern.   The pattern part bugged me for some reason.  It isn't bad, just not, I don't know, good?   

As I am pressing, I'm thinking, this fabric is soooo familiar.  I haven't looked at it for a year.  Why?  

Because I am insane and I have it 3 other color ways that I bought this year from Hawthorne Threads and it is all the Joel Dewberry Aviary 2 collection.  The cream color way must be from the first collection.  I think I may need some serious help.  What am I going to do with this in 4 color ways? Sewiously?  Do I really think I need this bird in a quilt in 4 different colors?  Well, I think I will let that little ladder situation slide for now, as long as he doesn't find out about this glutenous splurge of fabric purchasing.  Because, yes, I bought all the co-ordinating fabrics.  All.   

I have cut up the co-ordinating fabrics that go with the cream Aviary fabric.  You know, the original one I bought and loved so much bought again again and again.  The other color ways are being hidden away for now.   

Whose got the blahs?

COULD NOT decide on a paint color.  I believe I spent $35 in samples and took like 3 weeks to decide.  

Haven't done much in the sewing room these last few weeks.  Which is a nice time to straighten, organize, and shop for more fabrics.  I'm going to share some photos of my sewing studio - this was my youngest son's bedroom.  I had my sewing room in the room above the garage, and that was just too hot - what with the iron, lights, hot flashes, and machine going.  As soon as my son graduated and graduated out to our little apartment, his room was mine.  I coveted wood floors to sweep all threads and fabric leftovers easily into the bin.  
 Well, my husband deemed the TV as the most important object - and went out and bought it without even checking with me.  I'm not complaining.  Now, if only I had DVR back there, all would be heaven.

Closet before........

Closet after with my awesome shelves, obviously nothing was moved out of the old room at this point. I took my time moving equipment and fabrics.  There is still a closet full of fabric in my old room.

I was trying to stay neat and pretty, this lasted for the first week.  The closet now has way more than this in it, and the shelves are bowing, but they aren't falling.  

This wall is now green, I started with more blue in the room, now there is more green.  The wall with the TV stayed blue.  This window was replaced with a white one without crosshairs. 

My awesome new cabinet hardware.  

Cabinets before hardware.  

And, after my husband installed the hardware.  I know that drawers should have pulls, but I had 3 pulls and 4 drawers, so this is how I roll. Rebel.  

Thread spools and tape measure.

He also put these hooks inside the doors so I can hang blocks, tops, and other junk.  See, closet much fuller now.  

The other door with hook.  My husband is awesome at hanging hardware.  

First item on the wall other than design wall.  I take a long time to decide what goes on the wall.  Once I decide, that is it.  Forever.  

So, that is some of my room, I also have the ironing board, two irons, the stand the steam iron sits on, one big wall with a design wall which was another reason I wanted this room - my old room didn't have a large enough wall.  I still need lights and a good rug - all in good time.  I love laying out my tops on the floor - I love sewing in my new room - just have to get back in the swing of sewing.