It's in the genes..

I have been working like a complete mad woman. Why? It's genetic. I come from a line of compulsive ancestors. I can't go into too many details, but words like frenzy, obsessed, crazy, are part of my daily dialog. I'm OK with it, because I know how many of us are out there and that I come by it honestly via family heritage. Most of my family members are intelligent, humorous, industrious workers and harmless to ourselves and the public, sometimes hot-tempered, Mostly just QUIRKY.

And that is why my mind never rests, I am always thinking of three or more projects, making two or more crafts and stringing it all together in some random way in my craft room. Perfect example: I had no more than hung the last kitchen cabinet than I was off to sew up this tote bag that had been calling out to me. I had started laying it out before I began painting, and it was nagging me that I had a wonderful sewing project I wanted to get to, but all this WORK.
And so as not to ever be idle, I am always knitting something. I have made about 3 scarves a week all summer (105 degrees!) long! Like there aren't enough tote bags and scarves in the world and I must produce more, more I tell you!
All I can say is that the first step is acknowledging that you're a little off-kilter, then you can pull in the reins a little and modify your behavior. But I do really like QUIRKY.

Make Over!

We have lived in our present home for four years, I would estimate. And I have purchased, traded or otherwise maneuvered into this small kitchen dining area about six different dining sets. We have a pantry that I also keep moving, depending on which dining set is in use at the time. There are about four other tables strung through the house that I have banned from the kitchen as useless.Finally, I think I might be on to something here. My mom bought this outdoor patio sectional last year and it was originally a plain tan colored indoor/outdoor fabric. There is one more chair piece and two ottomans as well. But I had been contemplating building a bench seat in this area and remembered that Mom wanted to sell this set. Using a leftover foam piece from another reupholstery job, I replaced the multiple cushions (3) with one single one and recovered all the back pillows all in the same wonderful black and white Waverly fabric from JoAnn's. The two dining chairs came with the table I am using as a desk in the living room, and I covered two of them with a beautiful black and white toile and two with a cream and black pillow ticking. So, I have lots more seating and have used the otherwise dead corner of our kitchen.
In all the chaos of pillows being moved, cushions being swapped and traded, Tipsy tried to find a spot to watch. I love when she tucks her nose in like this. She just looks like she can't stand to watch for one more second!
She says hi to Mom and Dad, or Cindy and Bruce. Have a safe trip home.

Goodie Bag

I love this lavender floral print! This used to be a size 2 women's skirt.. the fabric drew me to it at a thrift store quite some time ago. The style (and the size) didn't work for me, but I couldn't walk away. So I bought it and it has hung in my sewing room closet waiting for me to become inspired enough to do something with it. One day last week it came up in conversation with a fellow crafter/sewer that she had been thinking of making a purse from a skirt. That was all the inspiration I needed. I have so many because they are an excellet source of fabric for a sewing project. I have an entire closet full of clothing that is waiting to be turned into a pillow, a bag, a crazy quilt. I just can't part with certain pretties, even if they are impractical - a use will be found, I know it.
Over the past three weeks I have been moving my daughter's room from our basement back to her old room (my most recent craft location) and relocating all my sewing and crafting supplies down two flights of stairs. I have lost count of how many times I have traded spots with a child, but just feel grateful at this point that I still have a spot to call my own. So, to celebrate the relocation efforts and to finally call my new room my own, I spent all afternoon sewing this sweet little purse. Prior to my celebratory sewing, I did sort and put away the towering pile of folded laundry that had lingered too long in the basket. I also sorted my closet and came up with a huge pile of rejected clothing to add to the donation pile I've been driving around in my car. The back of my Jeep look as if I might be living out of it, and many days I have considered it, but I can't plug in the sewing machine.

My first quilt

You can't work for Jackie and not love fabric. She wouldn't hire you, I don't think, well maybe, but there would have to be a really good reason. As a decorator, the most exciting thing I got to do was select fabrics to be used in new spaces. Endless choices these days, every taste has multile options. People get overwhelmed, confused, their eyes glaze over. It was my job to weed out the good, the bad, THE UGLY. I have no trouble doing that as a decorator. I do find it difficult as a crafter. For some reason my judgement and clarity escape me the moment I enter the fabric store. I am sure it's because I have left "decorator" mode and moved into my normal behavior mode once the project is personal. Isn't it easier to shop for someone else?
One day Jackie was parting with scraps from her new fabric line, Sweetest Gifts. She offered any of us on the team to take from the pile. I left with a Glad trash bag full. I had just purchased a new sewing machine and was dying to make something. Because Jackie had been sewing like mad to recreate many of her patterns in her new line of fabric, so many of the pieces were already cut into wonderful, usable sizes. My dear neighbor had just told me she was expecting her first grandchild. I now had my project and the perfect fabric with which to do it. This is my first quilt, and really it's a blankie. I patchworked it, but did not "quilt" it. I did the easy, old fashioned ties every so many inches to keep the front and back from sliding.
One really fun aspect of the quilt was using the computer to make fabric labels that say "sweet" and "dreams". Computer geek that I am, I couldn't make a quilt without making a fabric transfer on the inkjet printer. The crocheted rosettes are purchased from a craft store, I wish I had known when I made it how to make flowers. I have since learned, though, the lovely Tamara took extra time showing me this technique .
It was a fun weekend project, but only because I didn't spend hours aimlessly wandering through the aisles trying to choose the perfect fabrics. As luck would have it, Jackie Clark solved that problem for me. These fabrics are soft, fresh, sweet and were easy to sew with.