Renovated Quilting Room!

Since I knew I was close to leaving my job, I started a renovation of my quilting room a couple of weeks ago.

 

I knew I wanted more storage that also looked nice.  I was VERY tired of not being able to find anything and the uncomfortable clutter associated with keeping so much on the floor.

 

Yuck!  This was no way to work and expect productivity. 

 

 

So…I knew what I wanted.  I just needed to make it happen.

 

I went to Lowe’s and got the necessary shelving materials. 

 

Here’s the start of my shelving.  I did the work myself!

 

 

Here’s what the shelves looked like once I moved everything back into the room.

Whew!  It was a bit of work!  This was the first time I have put up shelving.  I am SO HAPPY with the results!

 

Here’s what my “Wall of Rulers” looks like.  Oh my gosh, I can now find a ruler when I need it!

 

And here’s what the room looks like all put back together!  It is such a TREAT to use this room!

 

 

 

I think I have finally found the best way to utilize the space in this small room.  I just realized, I don’t have any pictures of the “fabric closet” or the design wall. I’ll have to include those later.

 

Woo-Hoo!  I’m LOVING this room!

1970's Pattern Makeover

So, I was going through my quilting books, deciding if there were any that I just didn’t need anymore. (I know some people can’t bare to part with their books but I like to purge them every so often.)

My tastes change and why keep something that I’ll never use when someone else could be enjoying it? Besides, I’m trying to Simplify….ohmmmmmmmm.


During this process, I found an old quilting book that I got from my mother in law about 20 years ago. In reality, she didn’t GIVE it to me. She leant it to me but... if she hasn’t wanted it in 20 years, I figure I’m probably okay.

It is from 1979. I must admit, that I'm really not a fan of the old multi colored 70’s fabrics. They remind me of advocado colored appliances and plaid, polyester pants.

However, it got me thinking about something fun for my blog. What if I picked some projects that are old and outdated and “Made them Over” with current techniques and fabrics?


A Pattern Make-Over! OMG!

The egg bib cracks me up!!

Of course, I have NOTHING else going on in my life or quilting studio (ha-ha) but in reality I am completely unable to work on any one project from start to finish.

 For me, going back and forth between projects is a MUST. Therefore, this could "easily" (did I say that?  I mean did I really say that??) be fit in between all of my other “goings-on”. :)


I just thought it was really a cool idea- making over an old, outdated project and showing the Before and After pictures. Coooooooollllllll…


I’m going to start with this.

Or this

I’d like to make the quilt and hang it over my couch for X-mas time. That would mean it would need to get done ASAP. However, I know (because I made it about 15 years ago) that it really goes together quick.


On the other hand, maybe I’ll just make the X-mas pillow. That would definitely be Do-Able BEFORE Christmas.


More coming on my denim jean quilt pattern in progress!  The charm squares are on and it's going together....


Heather

Denim Jean Pattern...(cont)

Update:  The pattern is complete!

You can purchase a copy at my Etsy Shop:

A Passionate Quilter Etsy Shop

So...in order to stay focused on getting this pattern done, I've been getting up early before work to practice. 

I'm trying to get this down to a science.  It's not easy to translate what I know how to do in my head into written, easy-to-understand directions!  :)


Continuing from the other day...I've figured out how to maximize the number of circles I can get from a pant leg.  In this case, I was able to get 16 circles from one pair of jeans- NOT BAD!

It's taken me a while (and a LOT of practice) to get my measurements down to a science.  Since I'm making this up as I go, I've had to play with the exact measurements for sewing between circles.  I needed a size that would fit a charm square and still show off the fabric in the middle. 

I've made and remade these circles SO many times in order to finally get all of the measurements just right!  I am very pleased with how it's worked out! 

Sewing the denim circles end to end is actually quite easy now that I have a method for measuring consistently.  I never thought about it before but it's not easy to know how to measure from the end of a rounded edge!! ;)

I was honestly able to whip these out pretty quick!  It was fun and when I was done I was able to better envision what it would look like when finished!!

Although the pattern is for a quilt, I am making a table runner right now in order to practice the steps more than once. 

More pics to come with the charm squares inside! 

See ya and thanks for sharing the process with me!!

Heather