in the sewing room

Many beloved photos surround me in the place where I create.  My parents were younger in this image than I am today.

My babies -

They both had the most beautifully round and apple-like heads!  No cones in this gene pool!


Have you ever used a contractor's trash bag?  They are huge and super strong and I filled four of them to capacity this weekend.  I finally found the courage and the energy to THROW OUT items that I no longer use/need.  And yes, this included fabric.  Hard to believe.  My resolve wavered when I came across these bags -

This collection of snippets and bits represents nearly 12 years of quilt making.  I used to save every scrap and after a quilt was completed I would bag up the remnants.

I really wish that a collage/portrait/mosaic fiber artist would step forward and claim all of this fiber-y fortune.  I am attached to it and unable to toss it, although I know that I will never use it.  And believe me, it's taking up my precious space!

Many bloggers like to post images of glamorous newly-stacked fabric.  I admire those shots, but here is what happens when I get busy...

Nothing ordered or pretty about it!

My mind likes linear patterns.  My heart seeks the circular.  And everything gets very confusing when I attempt to clean up, to put to order, my sewing space so that I might choose ONE SINGULAR project to work on.  There are too many UFO's calling from every corner.  I finally found something that I could get behind-

Kaleidoscope.  A quilt that will be composed of EVERY piece of fabric that I own.  Those that I don't find agreeable for this piece will be tossed.  I'm quilting heeere!!  (said in my best Ratso Rizzo nasally tone!)

Kaleidoscope is a quilt that will bear my stamp.  It appeals to me enormously in its infancy - a very good sign as we will be spending many hours together.  I can close my eyes and imagine snuggling under its great weight one day.  Will I be able to remember the stories behind some of my fabric selections ... 

A little Oliver and Co balloon dress which is waiting for a sweater - will this be the year?!!

I'm going to do something that I've never done before - I'm going to post a little gift before I send it off tomorrow.  I won't make excuses for myself or my maddening impatient nature.  I will say, however, that you should go away, Suz.  (You know who you are).  Come back on, say, Friday!
I love this so much.

and here -

This was pure joy.  It reminded me, with each knitting session, of why I return to my needles, time and again.