Shinier... If Still a Mess

I spent most of last weekend just being grateful for the time off - and now that I'm back in the heavy and hard swing of the week, I'm all the more grateful for the time I had to get a few things done around here before life got so intense again. I didn't manage to accomplish everything I wanted, but I did get a lot done - in many 5 intensive increments pieces between tons of other, less interesting stuff.

So, here's where I am today.

Office:

1. Finish the 2011-2013 photo book
2. Shut down the old computer for the last time
3. Put old computer parts into storage/reuse piles
4. Move the new computer in the computer nook
5. Temporary new computer area now becomes sewing storage 
1. Trying to decide if this will work or if I want to go back to the temporary way. It takes me a while to adapt to changes, even changes I'm in charge of deciding to try, and I'm still going back and forth on whether I like this or not. One of the great things about having my own space right now is that I can rearrange as many times as I need and no one else is impacted.  
6. Rearrange base cabinet storage
7. Clear off black baker's rack (currently holding batting, books, and stuffed animals) and remove from office
8. Sweep and mop all floor
9. Move cedar chest and place lamp in corner of office
10. Rearrange/purge in closet so there's storage space for computer parts as needed
11. Begin re-hanging art and spool storage as needed 

Kitchen:

Former fabric storage baker's rack is new pantry space

1. Swap old gas stove for newer electric (big project, in progress)
2. Move trash and litter box* to temporary homes
3. Bring black baker's rack from office to kitchen
4. Swap pantry items, bookshelf items into baker's rack
5. Take pantry (a small armoir style desk) and bookshelf out of kitchen (possibly to office?) 
6. Put litter box where old pantry was
7. Begin re-hanging art
8. Find home for trash can!!! -- Still floating around the middle of the kitchen. Very annoying. 
9. Consider painting revealed wood panel wall??
10. Invest in a larger, corner style litter box

Bedroom:

Dresser rearranging - more drawer than ever before

1. Empty white dresser onto bed
2. Move white dresser to other side of bed
3. Empty childhood dresser at parents' house
4. Move childhood dresser to my side of bed
5. Refill with my stuff
6. Empty Greg's dresser into white dresser, overflow into childhood dresser as needed
7. Determine we have to get another cat hiding spot before we get rid of now empty dresser
8. Start shopping 

Other: 

1. Attend local quilt festival? 
2. Attend family reunion
3. Cook something for family reunion
4. Laundry
5. Get some quilting done! 

Obviously there's still a few major steps waiting to get done, or minor things that feel major. The trashcan issue is just one little piece, but it is throwing the whole kitchen into disarray. Aside from that, the new pantry area is working really well - though I'll have to dust a little more than I used to - and even having the litter box in the kitchen seems to be working out (no accidents since we brought home the corner unit anyway).

One of the biggest issues is finding a new cat power spot for the bedroom. Momo does really rely on being able to hide under the dresser we're ready to give to my parents in exchange for my childhood dresser. I hate to remove something he relies on so much. On the other hand, he also has been using the chairs on either side of the dresser as scratching posts (every single night) and I am ready to do just about anything to put a stop to that (even if it means giving away two of my very favorite chairs). The two issues alone aren't huge, but they do feed each other and wind up pushing us towards a large, cat centered purchase (or possible diy) very, very soon. I for one am tired of waking up to the sound of claws shredding velvet style upholstery.

All apparent progress aside, I haven't done a thing around the house since Monday morning final touches on the pantry area. It could use another couple days off of attention, followed by daily maintenance. I know the last few weeks have gotten me out of the habit of daily housework,but I have got to get back into it. 

* Why is there a litter box in the kitchen? Good question. Despite that very expensive clean bill of health we got on Momo last week, things are not all good in the litter box department. Unfortunately, we learned this after he chose the least water-proof area of our new flooring to use instead of the box (leading to that part of the flooring floating more than we'd like and 'thunking' back into place every time it's stepped on. I'm hopeful it'll dry out and be okay... removing enough flooring to try to do anything there would basically require redoing the entire living room. This is why you want to attach your trim all the way around the room instead of assuming it's okay 'floating' in a couple places where attaching it is harder). Since there isn't room in the guest bath for his litter box, the only place left with old laminate flooring is the kitchen, so we've all been adjusting. I don't think anyone likes it, but it's a lot easier to clean. 

Progress on the Stress Front

The stress level isn't down any, but I am still having a blast pulling these scrappy blocks together from my stash of scraps and unloved fabrics. I had hoped I managed to pull a few that would tie together with the pink/blue/lowest volume one, but it still seem to be a slight misfit against the others. The day will come when that one has a few more matches, but it may be a while in coming. I did make a conscious effort to add more blues and purples, and I do think that paid off. Still seems to need a little more yellow, and a few more low volume prints, so I'll give my stash another combing through. I think I also have some really unwanted fabric in my parents' garage that I may look through for something else in the right colors.

I am also going to have to look for some more low volume neutrals for the triangle blocks. I'm almost out of the last of my current cut. So I'll be keeping an eye out, but I don't really want to purchase any fabric specifically for this someday quilt. That could be tricky since low volumes aren't really my usual purchase. Maybe this will help push me out of my comfort zone next time I need a coordinating piece or sash fabric. I think I have enough to make three more blocks, so I could make three and call it good - it looks like a decent size for a crib quilt or something - but I think I want to keep going and just see where this is in a couple months of scrap busting and working whenever my 'real projects' feel too restrictive.

This is one of those projects I can work on a block (or less) at a time, but that looks like a mess until it all comes together. Or maybe it looks like a mess anyway -- but hopefully it's the kind of mess that works together into a scrappy, cohesive whole.

Whatever it is, I'm having a blast with it.

Pinterest Challenge: Doughnut Strawberry Shortcake

Inspired by pins of pictures from Oven Adventures, I decided months ago what I wanted to have for my birthday cake this August. Except that when the time came to it, I was out of town and couldn't. When I got back home, there weren't any strawberries to be had in my town.

So, I made do. Just like I made do with purchased whipped cream. Actually, that one had to do with being lazy.

Peaches were a little tart compared to the sweetness of the doughnut, and let's face it, they just weren't strawberries, but all in all it was really good. And, since I skipped making my own whipped cream, easy and fast too.

Even with the comparable tartness of the peaches, this was yummy. And I am going to do this again with strawberries. Prossibly this weekend.

Assuming I can make it to the store this week. Which is not looking like a bet I'd want to take. Then again, for yummy sugary breakfast, I might just run out Saturday morning after my walk.

Xs and Os Update

After way too many months of sitting in the basted-but-not-quilted pile, I have finally been making some progress on getting Xs and Os quilted and ready for binding. This little quilt has been waiting for a surge of creativity, and in the process, holding up several other projects as it is a test for a new batting, was using up most of my basting pins, and I'm hoping to bind one more quilt in the same material I use on this one.

Creativity did not exactly strike. I had hoped to do something across the whole thing -- a stippling type effect -- but when push came to shove, I just couldn't bring myself to quilt over the top of those fabrics. Instead, although it's nearly impossible to see from the top, from the back you might be able to see that I more or less outlined the neutral solid and ignored all of the print blocks.

This does leave about 6.5 inches of non quilted space in the center of every X -- but I double checked my bag of batting and it claims I can go 10 inches between lines of quilting. I'm not sure it's true, but I think I'm going to take my chances. I'm testing this batting anyway, so it would be good to know what it is capable of. So far, I'm not very fond of it. Even with a new, small needle, the back side (bobbin side) has a lot of batting strings that pulled through each needle hole. I am hoping that this will wash out and be less of an issue, but I'm glad I tested this on a little, so far homeless quilt, rather than on our bedroom quilts like I'd intended.

My goal is to whip out the binding as quickly as I can so I can get it washed and really test how well the batting works, whether it needs more quilting than the 10 inch spacing, and whether the loose stringy pieces of batting that pulled through to the back get a little less noticeable. Of course I'm hoping for 'yes' on all of these issues, but only time -- and a washing -- will tell!

Fabric Crush and Store Crush

On Tuesday as I was scrolling through my facebook feed, I happened to pay attention to a little post from Southern Fabric offering a charm pack of Kate & Birdie Paper Co.'s Autumn Woods for only $2. Having some very recent experience quilting on both Bluebird Park, Winter's Lane -- other lines from this designer -- I was thrilled to learn there was another option I hadn't seen anywhere yet. And for $2? How could I not?

Except that of course, once I was shopping, I had to add a little more yardage, and then a little more... so I wound up buying a little more than just a charm pack. But I justify that by saying it was all on sale...

The most visible yardage is some of the Lily Ashbury Folklore line - which I think will be turned into new pillowcases to coordinate with my new bedroom quilt -- whenever that gets done. I had hoped to pick up the same print in another color as well, but when I was shopping they were all sold out already, so I jumped on this one immediately.

Hiding under the Folklore yardage is a small panel that coordinates with the Autumn Woods charms. I think I will regret not ordering a large piece of this - but maybe I can get creative in my use and make it work anyway. I can also order more -- unless it too has been snatched up by other shoppers!

Ugh - my lampshade really discolored these photos and this was the best I could do. I promise it coordinates. 

I'm really happy with the Autumn Woods line - so I took several photos to celebrate the cuteness.

 Autumnal words - autumn woodland, acorns, leaves, fireflies.

 Unlike my camera, please focus on the adorable little bitty acorns!

While I'm not always a huge fan of yellow, I love the grey, orange, and kind of slate-ish blue. The yellow works with the others, yellow is just never going to be my favorite color. I do wish there was a fifth color in the set, maybe a olive-ish green, but all in all I'm very happy with my impulse purchase.

I'm also absolutely thrilled with the turn around time on my order. Four days from order to delivery is really impressive, especially since you know I didn't pay for faster delivery or anything. I'm absolutely thrilled with my first experience shopping at Southern Fabric and will certainly be back. I'll also be paying way more attention to their daily deals - there are some really great bargains that way. Then again, is it really a bargain if you didn't need it? My mother would say 'no' but I'm thinking sometimes when it comes to stash building... the answer just might be 'yes.'

Christmas Project

Whoops - this was supposed to go up while I was out of town a couple weeks ago! 

I don't think I've ever made something for Christmas before - other than cloth gift wrapping - and certainly nothing this far in advance. Usually, I'm not much for thinking about holidays before the month of, but this year I'm trying to get a Christmas quilt (or possibly quilted tree skirt) made far in advance.

Progress is slow and tedious. Patchwork and half-square triangles are not my strongest areas. I feel as if I've unpicked more lines than I've sewn, and eventually I've had to give up on chasing perfection. Which means that every time I look at it, I see all the areas I wish were better - and it makes it harder and harder for me to consider using as a gift. I'm hopeful that I'll feel more kindly towards it when it is a little more finished. I do often seem to have these moments of supreme doubt part way through the project!

I do think it looks better from a slight distance than from up close - but that can be the way with projects in the part-way point. This is one of the reasons I am so glad I take the time to photograph projects along the way; it is a great chance for me to take a step back and reassess. It's probably also saved me from undoing a perfectly acceptable project more than once!

I still have a very large pile of 5x5 blocks left for the patchwork border around the outside. I've started piecing those together, but a little more Pinterest window shopping has me wondering about turning them into 5x2.5 or 5x3 rectangles instead. I like the look, but would rectangles look out of place next to all those squares and half-squares?

As for a backing, I'm leaning towards a red minky type fabric, but I'm not sure I'm up for the challenge of quilting with it. The additional movement can sometimes be a pain, and I've had better luck working textured side up (at least with things as slick as minky). Maybe I better save the added challenge of minky for something that won't be a gift... hmmm... Decisions, decisions...


As an update - I made some of the border at 5x5, but haven't attached it yet. Then I went two weeks without turning on my machine. So, I haven't actually made progress or decisions at all. This is one of the things I hope to spend a great deal of time on this weekend! 

Stress = New Project

There's something about being under a lot of stress in my regular life that makes me crave something new to work on, something with less rules and strict guidelines than any of the projects I ought to be wrapping up. Sometimes straight lines and rigidity is a relief, but sometimes, I've just got to do something more wonky and creative and immediately rewarding.

So, I set aside the strips of Greg's quilt - which desperately need 12 more hours of work - and reached for a pile of scraps I started cutting last time I was trying to sort through my stash. I had initially planned to make a scrappy X and Plus quilt (something like this or this), but in my attempt to find scrappy pieces large enough to cut the biggest pieces from, I manage to miscalculate and miscut every stinking big piece by about half an inch. Frustrated, once I'd realized that, I set the pieces aside and walked away for several months.

Well, last night I had the itchy fingers to work on a new project -- and not the ironing two of my practically new projects are calling for - so I broke out my mistakes and went for it anyway.

When these first two were sitting on my desk, I absolutely hated the lighter one - but from across the room -- maybe four feet -- I like it better than the other, louder, block.

I promised myself I could stay awake for one hulu episode of a television show, and let myself sew that whole time.

And here's where I stand at the end of the episode. Five strange little blocks done, and a burning desire to go back through my stash in search of a few more quieter fabrics to add to the mix. My big blocks area  lot of greens, but I think I want to add some more soft pinks (maybe now is the time to use the pink skull fabric?) and some blues if possible (my stash is very low on blue). I think it could also benefit from a little more yellow - and I know I have some of that to spare.

I have no time line and no plan, except a general idea to add more variety to the blocks, and I'm going to leave it that way. I think I may just pick along at this as I find time and scraps large enough. Then again, it may be that this kind of more creative, more 'whatever' project is all I'll be able to stand for the next week or two. Whatever.

That's the phrase of the season. Whatever season began in mid-July and isn't ending any time soon. I don't have the physical or mental energy for perfection -- part of why I'm not pushing myself to work on projects where perfection matters, like our two quilts -- and I don't see that getting better any time soon. I rarely know what work will bring, but the last week has been more that way than I expected, and I know the next few weeks are going to be terrible as well. I'm just trying to hang on.

I'm also pretty happy that I managed to turn on my machine again. I do love the process and it's been too long since I set aside the time to get in here and do something. I've got to remember how happy it makes me, not just how much work it is to get everything set up in the middle of the chaos.

Quick Update

A busy weekend in the middle of a very busy month, but I had to share a couple photos today and hopefully I'll carve out a few minutes to get some photos off the camera later, and a few more even later so I can share a little of what I've been up to.

I think this was called 'Subway' but I didn't get the creator's info

I did make it to the quilt show this weekend, though I didn't stay very long. This year's quilts on display were much more to my taste than last year, so we did have a good time looking at the various quilts and shops. I didn't find any fabric I just had to have, though I did come home with a few other purchases.

Again, didn't get the artist's info

My husband even found one quilt he liked -- something he is considering trying his hand at. I never thought the day would come - as he's quite anti sewing machines thanks to a bad experience in high school home ec class - but he was quite taken by the quilting.

I had hoped to find fabric, but there was only one yard of anything I was interested in, so I collected coupons and will pick up my next order from my local shop, or online, whichever coupon is still good when I have the time to sit down and make the order!

Oh, here's one of the two things I brought home -- an utter splurge and nothing to do with fabric really.

But it was pretty, and I think it will go well with our bedroom quilts -- which I really want to spend this coming weekend working on. I might have to lock myself in the office to do it though! Too many distractions in other projects around here. This is one of the reasons I like smaller projects, they're easier to start and stop, while our bedroom quilts seem to take so much time and space they're hard to get moving on.

If I make it to quilt group this week I think I might baste mine - simply because I have the pieces, and because I'll have to take everything with me to work that day and I'm not sure I want to haul around the machine for 12 hours prior to the meeting!

Not Shinning Yet

No lovely pictures yet, but we're getting a lot of work done here this weekend and by Monday, I hope to be back with lots of progress to report as finished!

Here are the goals for this long weekend:

Office:

1. Finish the 2011-2013 photo book
2. Shut down the old computer for the last time
3. Put old computer parts into storage/reuse piles
4. Move the new computer in the computer nook
5. Temporary new computer area now becomes sewing storage (yay)
6. Rearrange base cabinet storage
7. Clear off black baker's rack (currently holding batting, books, and stuffed animals) and remove from office
8. Sweep and mop all floor
9. Move cedar chest and place lamp in corner of office
10. Rearrange/purge in closet so there's storage space for computer parts as needed
11. Begin re-hanging art and spool storage as needed 

Kitchen: 

1. Swap old gas stove for newer electric (big project, in progress)
2. Move trash and litter box* to temporary homes
3. Bring black baker's rack from office to kitchen
4. Swap pantry items, bookshelf items into baker's rack
5. Take pantry (a small armoir style desk) and bookshelf out of kitchen (possibly to office?) 
6. Put litter box where old pantry was
7. Begin re-hanging art
8. Find home for trash can???
9. Consider painting revealed wood panel wall??

Bedroom:

1. Empty white dresser onto bed
2. Move white dresser to other side of bed
3. Empty childhood dresser at parents' house
4. Move childhood dresser to my side of bed
5. Refill with my stuff
6. Empty Greg's dresser into white dresser, overflow into childhood dresser as needed
7. Determine we have to get another cat hiding spot before we get rid of now empty dresser
8. Start shopping 

Other: 

1. Attend local quilt festival? 
2. Attend family reunion
3. Cook something for family reunion
4. Laundry
5. Get some quilting done! 

So, obviously this is a long list of 'to do' -- fortunately, some of it has been done already over the last two days. I'd love to sit here and day dream a few more minutes, but I ought to get out of this chair and back to work - it'll be a lot more fun to be done! 

* Why is there a litter box in the kitchen? Good question. Despite that very expensive clean bill of health we got on Momo last week, things are not all good in the litter box department. Unfortunately, we learned this after he chose the least water-proof area of our new flooring to use instead of the box (leading to that part of the flooring floating more than we'd like and 'thunking' back into place every time it's stepped on. I'm hopeful it'll dry out and be okay... removing enough flooring to try to do anything there would basically require redoing the entire living room. This is why you want to attach your trim all the way around the room instead of assuming it's okay 'floating' in a couple places where attaching it is harder). Since there isn't room in the guest bath for his litter box, the only place left with old laminate flooring is the kitchen, so we've all been adjusting. I don't think anyone likes it, but it's a lot easier to clean. I'm looking for a larger litter box or a top entrance one to see if that helps a little. Overall, I'm not happy, but I'm also not sure it's worth bringing him back to the vet for another round of expensive, learn nothing, kinda tests. 

Welcome Baby W Package

Although I really wanted to go utterly overboard for the Welcome Baby W Package, I know I'm not the only one who is looking forward to pouring gifts and love all over this soon-to-expand family - so I'm trying to hold back, at least for now.

I started with the multi starburst quilt in which I tried to be whimsical, fun, and not too pink -- though I suspect I wasn't as successful on that last goal! In the hope of balancing the pinks and purples of the quilt, I went in more of a green direction with the hooded towel (despite the pink trim) and coordinating bib, as well as with the few outfits I chose from my stash to include.

Actually, although I knew I was very closely matching the colors of the greens, it didn't occur to me until just now that two of the four also feature hot air balloons. The other two are a white with grey chevron and white stars on grey. Nothing terribly loud - but I think other people will be covering the loud part of Baby W's wardrobe.

As for the books, so far I've only picked three -- though there's a good chance I'll pick up another one or two between now and the delivery date. "The Color Kittens" is one of my very favorite books, now and from my childhood, while "You are My Cupcake" is silly fluff and "My Lucky Little Dragon" isn't far behind in terms of fluffiness. Fluffy, yes, but both are adorable and full of cute colors and illustrations.

Baby W should be joining us in about a month and a half, but I'll be delivering the package to her family in a couple weeks. That gives me a few more chances to add a few bits and bobs if I find something else perfect -- but having seen glimpses of the nursery, I can't imagine I'll find a thing they still need!

Adding to the Stash

The last couple weeks have been utterly busy at work, until I can hardly keep up with anything. Instead of concentrating on a greater project - a challenge when my time is so limited - my major project of the week was to free up some of my few bobbins from their leftovers.

The easiest way to do that at the moment was to work on enlarging one of the patchwork projects I'm using to get ahead of the baby curve that's coming in the next few months. I called this top quits when I ran out of fabric to continue the patchwork pattern in any direction, but I think the size (about 35" square) isn't too bad. While the thread on the backside is very colorful, I don't think it is noticeable from the front. 

Fortunately, I was able to empty a bobbin of a creamy color for the quick turn and quilting when I attached the finished top to some scrappy, textured backing. I'm thrilled to have finally found a use for these two long, skinny scraps, and the texture makes a wonderful backing material. 

Quilting a quick turn quilt (which will not need binding) is always a little more challenging than quilting a sandwiched quilt (one that will later be bound), but it can be done with care. I think the most important step is to keep the top and back of the quick turn quilt as close to the same size as possible. I used to think I could do that just by cutting them to the same size and pinning around the outside before sewing along the majority of the outside. In practice, that hasn't worked quite so well. Instead, I've started also pinning through the middle (much like basting, but the two outer faces of the quilt are touching and the central pins will be removed prior to quilting, just as the quilt is turned right side out). This hasn't perfected the process, but it has helped a great deal. 

After stitching around the outside edge (to close the small area where it was turned), I went on to stitch around every other block. 

I had certainly hoped to get some better photos before the washing, but it seems between long hours at work and occasional downpours, that wasn't to be. It does look good against the flooring, which I am still in love with, and of course Momo laid claim to it almost the moment he could touch it. Fortunately, it needed washed anyway - so I don't mind a little more cat hair at the moment. After the wash, I won't be quite so pleased to have his precious help! 

On my last minky backing, I had some shrinkage that made things fit oddly, so I'm hopeful that this much quilting will put a stop to any unwanted shrinkage. 

New Sewing Room - In Progress

Last time I showed a picture of my work space, I think it looked something like this:

Which was colorful and fun, but honestly didn't really function as I needed it to. Any time I really needed to work on the sewing machine, I had to pull the desk into the center of the room to get enough space around it to work. This wasn't a huge problem, but it wasn't the most convenient either. Walking around the room was sometimes dangerous thanks to cords and cables all over when the machine was in the center of the room.

I'd been looking at building some storage cabinets and a little desk that would run along the wall with the window there, but I hadn't found anything both easy to build and affordable, so I was figuring on visiting Ikea for ideas (or possibly some purchases) later on this summer.

That all got set to the side when I got emailed a craigslist ad last week. A few hours later, I had the pieces to a very different office set up sitting in the back of two borrowed SUVs. It took a few hours just to get the pieces into the house, and I'm still a long ways from fully functional or staged, but check out my new situation!

The ocean painting hasn't been moved - though it will be eventually, as I figure out where everything needs to be - so that gives an idea of the differences. It looks tight between the cedar chest (under the painting) and the desk, but there's about 20 inches. The eventual goal is to have the new computer off the desk (and set up in the last cubby where the basically dead computer tower is) so that the desk top will be the sewing space. I can store my sewing machine, iron, and serger all in the center cubby right next to the table top (or leave them on the desk top as needed), and I still have a third set of drawers/shelves nearest the doorway that I'm working on filling up.

The gap between the first two units is to allow for the heat register. I would like to have set up on one of the other two walls, but for now that's not a possibility thanks to the closet door. At some point I may rearrange enough that I can move these units to the short wall, but I'm not sure that allows enough space for anything else in the rest of the room.

Almost all of my fabric stash is stored on the two shelves over the sewing machine opening - though for now my vintage sheet collection is under the old computer (because that base cabinet has doors). The open cabinet under the desk is currently holding two of my scrap bins and my notions box. I figure at some point I'll get a couple more bins, baskets, or boxes so I can make better use of the bottom shelf - but for now the open shelf is working well for Momo exploration. Over the computer opening are my books and cds (because I'm reluctant to move over to digital download, and I see no reason to get rid of the small collection I already have). The cabinet pairing nearest the door holds most of my computer desk goodies in the top (notebooks, cables, old digital cameras, and other things I don't want to see, but don't want to get rid of) while the bottom drawers (designed to be used as file cabinets) are great for holding quilts and other projects I'm working on.

It's hard to see in my photos (though somewhat noticeable on the file cabinet base above), but there is some damage to every piece. Most of the damage is minor, but I couldn't have bought or built anything better for the $100 this cost me. And honestly, a little bit of damage makes it easier to use these as a real work surface than constantly worry about babying them or keeping them from getting damaged!

The old computer desk, old sewing desk, and my lovely green china hutch have all left the room for good. If I had a larger space, I'd have worked to find a new home for the hutch, but there just wasn't a space and it wasn't worth trying to store. At the moment, this room is down to my new 7 piece desk/storage unit, the cedar chest, and the black baker's rack (visible in the 'before' picture). My goal is to eventually clear off and replace the baker's rack (which is about .25 inch too deep and keeps the closet door from opening as wide as I'd like), but it'll take a while to figure out how to make those changes. The cedar chest is probably staying put for the foreseeable future, and it looks like my old office chair will be staying as a window seat for Momo - at least for now. I still love that chair, but it needs some wood glue or something before it can be a human chair (our new flooring is slick enough it just slides apart under much weight/movement).

I do miss having my sewing machine inset in my work surface, so I'm looking at larger plates or possibly a surface I can set on top of the table top (I don't want to cut in to it), but all in all the space is significantly more functional and pleasant. I can't wait to get everything in the right place so I can concentrate on brightening things up a little more. The dark cherry tones of the new furniture does make the room feel darker than the old green hutch did, but I'm hoping that some art and hooking up another lamp or two will make up for that.


--
Woah - I thought I shared this last week. I've been working on finishing up the space. I hope to have it fully in working order by mid-August. Things are slightly more organized now than they were, but not enough to be worth a real update until I'm done. I have moved the sewing machine to the center of the desk (shoving the two computers off to under the shelves) and am attempting to remember how to sew on a machine that sits up from the work surface instead of even with it... My shoulders are so sore - I'm really feeling the difference!

August Goals

August Goals

Personal: 

Read 5+ Books
Average 15000+ steps per week day (with Saturdays at 10,000-13,000)
1 trip 

New Projects / Pinterest Challenge: 

1+ new recipe

My Projects:

Mail the Unbirthday package
Birthday present for the Nephew (by the 15th)
Deliver Welcome Baby W package
Finish 2 quilt tops: Random Reflections 2 of 2, Christmas quilt
Baste 1 quilt
Finish quilting 1 quilt: the xo charm pack quilt
Bind 1 quilt: smores love blocks -- waiting for the same fabric I want to use on the xo charm pack quilt otherwise it'd be done already

Grown Up Junk:

Schedule next cat/vet appointment
Replacement windshield for the car

House Stuff: 

Dining space update: shop for chairs or stools
Replace black baker's rack in office with something more suited to the space
Continue sweeping every other day, cleaning bathrooms once a week
Mouse traps under the house
Make a plan for the 'ugly wall' in the master bedroom
Begin rearranging art in office


Despite July being a less than stellar month for getting things knocked off the list, I'm hopeful I can be more productive in August. I'm not sure where that hope is coming from - because the work calendar tells me it's already going to be a challenging month - but my goal is to only let grass grow under my feet while I'm reading -- or possibly to attempt to read and get my miles at the same time... Which would be an easier to swallow idea if I had a treadmill instead of three miles of rocky and sandy roads filled with cars, dogs, and other hazards difficult enough without the distraction of a book!

July Wrap Up

July Goals

Personal: 

Read 5+ Books

• "Blood Red" Mercedes Lackey
• "The Wind Blows Backward" Mary Downing Hahn

Read 1+ Non-Fiction (can count as one of the 5+ total)

• "Parenting Beyond Pink & Blue: How to Raise Your Kids Free of Gender Stereotypes" Christia Spears Brown, PHD

Keep weekday time on Pinterest to less than 2 hours/day 

Average 13000+ steps per day (working towards 15000 per day by August)  - This was hard to manage during our 'vacation' times - but I managed it all but two days this month.  

2 Mini Vacations with friends

New Projects / Pinterest Challenge: 

1+ new recipe

My Projects:

Mail the Unbirthday package
Deliver Welcome Baby D package

Finish Welcome Baby W package
Birthday present for the Nephew (by the 15th)
Finish 1 in progress quilt

Grown Up Junk:

Find new dentist & Make dental appointments 

Take the cat to the vet as scheduled 

Second car: gone - Okay, so the car is gone (in theory to the shop for a mechanic's opinion), there's a verbal agreement, but no money has changed hands, nor has the title. I'm not sure what this means.   It took about three hours last night, but finally done and really done! Whew - that was a far more lengthy process than I'd hoped for. 

House Stuff: 

Sweep every other day (or more)

Wipe down the bathrooms once a week (or more)

Purge/reorganize in sewing / office space

Dining space update: shop for chairs or stools - In progress, but this is much harder than it ought to be!

All in all, I didn't accomplish nearly as much this month as I'd hoped for - but I have worked nearly every day. I think I had two weekends off, and otherwise was working (or out of town) almost every single day. It does make it hard for me to get any thing else done when I don't get home until 9 -- and I've been trying to get to bed at 10:30 instead of my preferred 2, all so I can get up and put in a few miles before it gets too hot in the morning. It's taking up a lot of my day, but I'm happy with the activity and the results, so I'm trying not to begrudge the lost time -- but my quilting and reading time is really taking a hit. I've got to get better time management going on around here -- something I think I've said more than once or twice! 

Hopefully I'll have some time over the weekend to upload a few pictures and get a few things written up so I can get back into the swing of sharing what I'm up to. I make no promises though -- this is another weekend of long hard projects and very little personal time. And I fear that the whole month of August may turn out that way, but I'll see what I can do without losing any more sleep.