The Best Kind of Snow Day

We haven't had nearly as much snow as many others have, but we've had more than what is normal for this area.  Yesterday and today it snowed in the morning, didn't stick to the roads, made everything pretty and was melted by lunch time.  That's the best kind of snow day!  I'm really glad we got out and enjoyed the beautiful spring like weekend when we did though, because it's really cold again.

While Shylee was here that weekend, we talked about making her a new apron since the last one I made her is too small.  We settled on the fun candy, cupcake, and ice cream cone fabric with the pink fabric for the ties and pockets.  It was so nice to have the fabric where I could see it and not have to open bag after bag to find what we wanted!  So the pieces are cut out and I should have it finished in a couple of days.  She also asked me to make a baby doll blanket AND teach her how to sew!  I'm one happy Grandma!

I hope you're having a great week!

xo Annette xo

69.  getting back into sewing

70.  finding shoes that fit

71.  bonding with Shylee

Happy Mail

As winter storm Pax blows through and it's wet, white, and gloomy outside, the mailman stopped by with this delicious bundle of fabric.  Talk about lifting my mood!  I might have even done a little happy dance.

Every Friday, Maureen from Maureen Cracknell Handmade, has a fabric giveaway from one of her sponsors.  Every Friday I enter, hoping I'll win.  I did this time!!  This was such an amazing and generous giveaway from Hypernoodle Fabrics.  Fifteen yards, yes that's 15 full yards, of floral fabrics.  They are absolutely beautiful and I cannot wait to dive in and create something.

xo Annette xo

58.  happy mail

59.  beautiful floral fabrics

60.  thick soft warm socks

Forgotten Quilt Projects

Way back in 1992 I took a quilting class for beginners along with two of my friends.  This is the wall hanging I made.  We learned how to use a quilters ruler and rotary cutter, all about perfect points, batting, binding, and hand quilting among many other things.

My stitches were too long and too far apart, but not bad considering it was my first attempt at hand quilting.

This is another small wall hanging I made when I wanted to learn machine quilting.  It was quick and easy to make, but I felt like I was cheating by using the sewing machine for the quilting!

While going through my bags, bins and boxes of fabric and projects, I found the following quilt tops that I started and never finished.

This one makes me a little sad.  My Grandma was in a nursing home and my Mom asked me to make her a lap quilt she could use when she was out of bed and in her wheel chair.  Sadly, Grandma died before I finished it.

I don't even remember this one!  I don't remember when I started it, who it was for or anything else about it. Well, I do remember buying the fabric at an Amish quilt shop in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  The border for it is a beautiful yellow with purple pansies.  It will be pretty if I ever finish it!

I LOVE this pattern.  I think it's called Tumbling Blocks.  Erin picked out the pattern and the fabrics and I set out to make her a quilt for her twin bed.  Oh my goodness, I had no idea it would be so complicated and difficult.  By the time I got this far, I found out it was rated for advanced quilters.  I have hundreds of squares and diamonds cut out and don't know if I will ever finish it.  I remember thinking at the time that it would probably be easier if I hand pieced it.  Maybe it would be something to work on when taking a break from something else.  Erin would be happy!

My fabric cabinet is filling up.  I'm close to finishing the organizing of the sewing room and then the decorating begins.  I need to shop for a comfortable chair to sit in while I do handwork or read or nap!  I can see light at the end of the tunnel of this redo and I'm so excited.

Have you ever put a project away and then forgot about it?

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

xo Annette xo

What I Found On Vacation

It's been nearly two months since I went to Arkansas to visit my family.  I was able to visit an antique mall and found some wonderful treasures for my sewing room.  Two of the items are actually new.  I found the pink alarm clock and the shabby hook at Hobby Lobby.  I really wish we had one of those stores here, although I would be in trouble if we did!

My favorite find is the old sewing machine drawers.  I couldn't believe I found them in such good condition and with a top.  This way I can set something on top of them, like the clock!

The sewing room is coming along.  The more I work on it, the more ideas I get for projects.  I need to hurry up and get the room done so I can start doing the fun stuff, but it seems like just when I think I've found all the fabric, I discover another bag full!

I hope you have a fantastic Monday!

xo Annette xo

Sewing Room Window Idea

*****The post for Where Bloggers Create 2013 is here*****

I'm thinking of using this fabric for a valance over lace panels for my sewing room window.  I get the late afternoon sun and I don't want blinds or shades to block out the sun or the view.  I'm thinking the lace panels will filter the light more than block it out.  The valance would add the pizzazz needed for a finished look.  What do you think?

I haven't been able to work in the sewing room this week.  I'm getting ready for a road trip to Arkansas on Friday.  I had to close the door to the room so I wouldn't be distracted from the things that HAVE to get done before I can leave!  Erin and Shylee are joining me and I'm so looking forward to a visit with my family.  Shylee is the only great granddaughter amongst five great grandsons, so it should be fun to see how that goes!

Happy Wednesday!

xo Annette xo

Where Bloggers Create 2013

I'm so excited to be participating this year in Where Bloggers Create, hosted by Karen at My Country Cottage.  

I've been waiting for what seems like forever to make my sewing room a space that is inspiring, fun, and comfortable to be in.  Due to circumstances beyond my control (which are the worst, don't you think?), I wasn't able until just recently to start the makeover.  I'm no where near finished, but I'm happy just to be on my way!

I've had the sewing room for six years and made do with closets and plastic totes for storage.  Eventually that wasn't enough, and there wasn't room to add more.  That didn't stop me from accumulating more though!  More fabric, more vintage linens, lace and buttons, more fabric, more patterns, more ribbon, and did I mention more fabric?  The room eventually evolved into this.  I couldn't find anything anymore.

After cleaning out the room, my daughter and best ever son-in-law came and painted for me.  There was never a question of the color...PINK!!  And my awesome husband and sweet granddaughter put together furniture.

The main thing I wanted was a cabinet with glass doors.  Being able to see the colors, patterns and textures of the fabric was important.  How could I not be inspired when I see that every time I walk in the room?  I didn't realize it would be so time consuming to create mini bolts of fabric or to fold smaller pieces in a way that they could be stacked.  I have so much more fabric to go through than what you see here.

I wish I had more to show you, but I'm thrilled to have this much done.  Hopefully by the end of the summer I'll be done and can finally start sewing again.

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by!  I'm looking forward to visiting all the blogs over the next few days.  Be sure to go here to see some incredibly inspiring and creative spaces.

xo Annette xo

Focus On Life~Week 17~Color

Did you ever notice the way color can affect our mood and perception of the environment around us?
Colors can elevate our mood or change our perception of an object.  Bright vivid colors can make us feel positive where a darker color can evoke a heaviness.  Florescent color not only can grab attention, florescent literally screams at you to pay attention and that can cause a feeling of anxiety.  Whether photographing a full shot of amazing colors or small pops of color against a muted background, this week break out your camera and capture some color.  Think about how the colors of the shot affect your mood, feelings, perception of your surroundings.  Focus on how the colors impact your decision to take a particular shot.

I think I've thought more about color this week than I ever have before!   I love bright cheery colors because they make me happy.  They make me feel alive.  One of my favorite bloggers, Maureen, at Maureen Cracknell Handmade, uses the most colorful fabric in her sewing and quilting projects.  Visiting her blog and looking at the pictures can lift my spirits every time.  My home is mostly decorated in reds, golds and greens.  They're warm and inviting, comfortable and comforting.

My real love is pastel colors.  I'm drawn to pastels like a moth to a flame.  Pink is my favorite but all the other colors are my second favorite!  I had not been to a fabric store since last fall, so I decided to visit JoAnn's, where there is color in every direction you look.  I wasn't looking for anything in particular and didn't have a project in mind.  I was just enjoying the colors, patterns, and textures of the fabrics when I spotted these.  They made my heart sing and I may have audibly gasped!

These colors not only make me happy, they make me feel less stressed and more calm.  They're pretty and feminine and yummy looking!  These are the kinds of colors I plan to use in decorating my sewing room.  I'm definitely inspired by them!

To see more color, visit The Studio Sublime.

What is your favorite color?

xo Annette xo

In The Sewing Room

I've been in the sewing room, but I can't show you yet what I've made.  This is just some of the fabric I used to make gifts and I'm really happy with how everything is turning out.  I will definitely show you after Christmas what this fabric turned in to!

Are you making or have you made any gifts this Christmas?

Happy Friday!

xo Annette xo

This Could Be A Problem

While I have been recovering from knee surgery and not able to go shopping, I've turned to the internet.  It's just so easy and convenient!  These are my newest purchases.

A camera/purse from Jo Totes.  I absolutely love this bag.  It's big enough to carry the camera, extra lenses, and my purse stuff.  So perfect for going out (when I can walk easily again) with the camera but don't want to take two bags.

Two Amy Butler charm packs (Gypsy Caravan) from Craftsy.  This website has daily deals that are hard to resist.  I've never bought fabric online and I was a little nervous about it.

 I wasn't sure if the colors would be right, and I like to get touchy feely when I buy fabric.  But it was a good deal, so I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.  I couldn't have been happier when I opened the package.  I want to make a scrappy quilt to use in my sewing room.  Maybe as a wall hanging or maybe as a quilt to curl up under when I'm doing hand stitching.

It might not be a good thing that I was happy with this purchase.  I've got my eye on more fabric.  Not that I need more fabric, but, well, you know...

What do you like to buy online?

Not One But Two Packages On The Porch ~ Blogtoberfest Day 10

Happy Monday, friends!  I had a wonderful weekend with family, celebrating my son's birthday that is this week.  It's been a while since we were all together so it was a fun time.

I told you last week about a package waiting for me on my porch one day.  A couple of days later, there was another one!  Yes, two packages in one week.  I can't tell you how excited I was.  Both of them contained fabric, so how could I not be excited?  I entered two different fabric giveaways and won one of them.  The one I won was hosted by Maureen from Maureen Cracknell Handmade.  One of her sponsors, Moona Fabrics, was giving away some of Anna Maria Horner's Hugs and Kisses fabric from her Loulouthi collection.  This is what I won.

Isn't it just gorgeous?  It's so pretty to look at, I don't know if I can cut it!  I have some ideas about what to do with it, but nothing has been decided yet.  I think I need to just enjoy the cheerful colors for a little longer!

The second box of fabric came from my long time bloggy buddy, Janet, from The Empty Nest.  Janet had a giveaway on her blog for a gift certificate from a fabric shop.  I didn't win, but  Janet chose three lucky ladies to receive some fabric from her personal stash.  I was thrilled that I was one of the three.  If you have seen anything she sews, you will understand my excitement!  There was beautiful decorator fabrics fun juvenile prints, and a princess fabric that screamed Shylee's (my granddaughter) name when I saw it.

Doesn't that just make you want to be a little girl again?  Shylee loved it and thought it was a blanket!  I'll have to figure out something extra special to make her.

I have to say, that was a good week!  I will be sure to share with you whatever these beautiful fabrics turn out to be!

What have you been excited about lately?

Tickle Me Tuesday ~ Toile

I'm joining Sarah at Yes Teacher for Tickle Me Tuesday.  I just love toile fabric.  Here are some of my favorites from Etsy!

Country Life Toile Fabric from Serendipity

Rare French Antique Toile from In With The Old Vintage

Chinese Ladies from Nancy's Fabric Shop

Lighthouse Toile from Renees Fabrics

Have a terrific Tuesday!!!