I'm pretty excited about what is currently on my sewing table. Fun projects for Valentines Day, my latest fabric collection just arrived (!!), a new sewing machine to play with and a recently found sentimental family notion. ❤ All genuinely exciting stuff, right?! Here's a peek at how things look today:
Looking so neat and tidy. (Don't be totally fooled, there are still boxes off-screen.) But the place definitely looks better than it did last week!
Here's a glimpse of how things looked one week ago. Last Saturday I was in the middle of a much needed 'new-year-cleanout.' I was knee-deep in the middle of my Christmas fabric stash cutting job, still cleaning up from holiday sewing projects, as well as packing up for return a sewing machine that had been on loan from Baby Lock.
And I realized, it was time for a real clean-out job. Reading and updating Andy's post on 10 Tips to Organize Your Quilting Room+ Supplies was also a great motivator. The room is not totally put back together, but huge progress was made this past week. I have a bunch of new projects to work on over the coming weeks and I wanted to wrap-up the Christmas projects and get decluttered for a fresh start before diving into all of the new things.
So first of all, I finished cutting the squares for two different quilts from my piles of Christmas stash. The precut squares are now organized and ready to pull out later this year for some fast patchwork sewing. ✔ I also did a bit of a purge of my Christmas fabric and it is all put away and ready for next year.
If you're looking for some good mojo to help you wrap up some of your own WIP's (Works In Progress, Lisa from Wild Plum Lane is hosting a WIP Challenge. Starting this week she'll help you get organized and motivated to finish those WIP's that we all have lying around! Sign up here.
Valentine's Sewing Projects
Ready for new seasonal projects!
I have a couple of fun Valentine's sewing projects in the works! I'm sewing along with a free Love Note mini quilt pattern from the Fat Quarter Shop. There is also an equally adorable coordinating Cross-stitch pattern. (And both are free!)
I got this stack of Riley Blake Designs prints to make my own. I love the fabrics recommended in the pattern instructions, but wanted to change it up and try something different. The fabrics I'm using include prints from the following collections: Be Mine Valentine by J. Wecker Frisch, Bee Plaids and Cook Book from Lori Holt, and Seasonal Basics from Christopher Thompson.
Also on my table, the January Perfectly Pieced subscription box from ME Time Delivered arrived!
This box is also Valentine's themed with a cute envelope block as this month's foundation-pieced block. The fabric bundle is warm with pinks, taupes, and a pretty floral - but not overly Valentines-y. I'm excited to play with this project!
If you're new to ME Time and Perfectly Pieced, you can see some of the past projects I've made here and here.
And speaking of Valentines, go here for a bunch more fun Valentine Sewing Project Ideas.
New Sewing Machine for a New Year
Also new on my sewing machine. I swapped out couple of Baby Lock Sewing machines I've worked with previously to try out a brand new Baby Lock Chorus Sewing Machine.
In the middle of all of the cleaning and sorting, I've only had time to try sewing just a little bit, but oh my goodness, I can't wait to do more. It sews like a dream! I'll be sharing more of my experience and review in coming posts.
My Latest Fabric Line!
Also new on my sewing table this week: I just got the advanced yardage of my latest fabric collection with Riley Blake Designs: Portsmouth. I am SO thrilled with how it turned out!
You can read more about the inspiration behind Portsmouth here. This collection will be arriving in stores in February! I'll also be introducing my latest coordinating patterns in the next few weeks!
And the last thing on my sewing table that I want to share is this sentimental find:
I was helping my mom clean out some boxes this week and found this very familiar, but long-forgotten pair of scissors. These are my grandma's work scissors. I hadn't seen them for years! (She passed away 19 years ago.) They need some sharpening but the weight and quality of the scissors themselves is beautiful!
My mom let me take them home and they now have special place in my sewing room. I love sentimental finds.
So there you go! A LOT of fun and exciting things happening here. Stay tuned for new pattern releases and LOTS more Portsmouth and Valentine's sewing makes in the next few weeks!
Treva
I love that your mom gave you your grandmother’s scissors! When my mother and sister cleaned out my grandmother’s sewing machine cabinet, I was blessed with the buttons from Gramma’s button drawer. I received some very beautiful buttons!
Gwyn
Portsmouth!!!!! I can't wait to see the ideas you have for it!
Claire Grantham
How lovely that you have your grandmother's scissors. I have my grandmother's button collection. I like the look of your desk right now. I'm working on swap blocks (which thanks to you, I'm brave enough to do) and a couple of clothing hacks.