Geez Louise--I wonder if it's true, that whoever dies with the most fabric wins! (I guarantee you that's a contest I'll never win...someday I'll show pics of my mother's sewing room!) I spent whatever time I could over the past few days refolding and organizing "the good stuff".
I'm already wondering how I ever had it all in that one big cupboard. Well, I do love the new little cubby cupboard
and everything in it. Maybe too much, really. I don't want to use any of it. I've just let it become too *precious* in my mind. Stupid, I know. The lower cubbies are holding various projects that I'm going to try very hard to tackle one at a time. While getting more comfortable with the idea of using the stash. I discovered that even tho it hasn't even been a year that I've had fabric out in the sunny new studio, there was already sunfading on the folds of many fabrics. My only other option is to pile them away in tubs and/or in a dark closet and then I really wouldn't ever use them. A couple of new etsy purchases I'd like to share. From an old online friend, Tina who is now making sweet little needle felts.
I purchased the little hillside lamb, and she sweetly made me the ladybug on a leaf ' just because'. Thanks again, Tina!
Here's the selvage bowl I grabbed from Kathi's shop the other day.
I see she has a new one listed as of today. I am so impressed with the work and the quality of this bowl. I have to say; I wouldn't make them for as cheaply as she sells them, but as long as they're worth it to her, then lucky us!
In the first pic above of the big green cupboard, right in the middle you'll see an overflowing blue bucket...those are the selvages I trimmed off just about every fabric that I refolded during the past several days. I've seen so many great ideas online, mostly via links from Selvage Blog , and I haven't yet thought up a new idea for using them, but there they will sit (while I more than likely overthink it.)
One other etsy purchase, from a couple of months ago but if you haven't already seen this gal's work you really should
Keep in mind, this is under 4 inches tall. The artist is Tammy Smith and her shop name is Homemade Circus. The whimsy as well as the quality of her work makes me want to buy several more pieces!
Here's what's been in my machine for a few days:
Whenever I head a couple towns south of here to visit my friend Karen I drag her down to their local fabrics & crafts store. Last time we went this airport panel grabbed my attention. I suggested and she agreed that turning it into a floor quilt provided with little wooden cars would be a great gift for her grandson's first birthday this June. I'm proud to say I spent more than the usual 45 minutes machine quilting it. And I honestly do think that practice is leading to improvement, although my stitches are still very elementary. What I'm most excited about with this project are the planes and vehicles and buildings that Caleb and I found on our last visit to Daiso, the Japanese dollar store. It's actually the 100 yen store, but with the exchange rate most things are a dollar fifty. It's starting to look like we've made this bay area store a routine stop-over when we go visit my oldest daughter Erica in Monterey. Usually we just have the most fun buying all this plastic crap for very little money. I probably overbought for the airport quilt (you can see many other still bagged toys in the background) but... well, you know; they were only a dollar fifty each!
My Monday weight loss report: I just used the past hour writing this blog post rather than going to my WW meeting. I know by the bathroom scale that I didn't gain but didn't lose, either. I got a caloriecount.com email last week, on St. Patrick's day, for a "beautiful green velvet soup." For reasons I can't begin to remember I made it. I think I wanted to offset all the Easter candy I'd been snarfing down. The soup consists of broccoli, zucchini, spinach, split peas and celery. And water. It was a very large batch and after boiling it for an hour I then had to small batch by small batch puree it in the blender. It was all I could do not to hurl, because that is exactly what it looked like. Now, every day when I microwave a cup (and listen to Caleb complain about how bad it stinks) I am reminded of the opening scene in Shrek where he's sitting in his *hot tub* and when he farts the bubbles go bluuurp up out of the 'water'. Yeah...it looks like that. Want the recipe? lol. I'll spare you the photo, but share this one with a thumbs up recommendation.
If you're like me protein is the best stabilizer for hunger attacks. Sometimes I just have to tear into a chicken breast RIGHT NOW! These are super low in sugar, really high in protein, and only three WW points. By the case at Costco around the pharmacy dept.
This ran long. Thanks for staying with me if you made it to here. More to share so I'll see you again soon!
I love your studio. I, too, have to keep fabrics out in plain view because as they say "outta sight, outta mind". You could make a little "curtain" to keep the fabrics covered while you aren't in the room by simply hanging a dark piece of fabric over the front.
How did you get the fabric all folded the same? I am having a hard time with mine as they aren't all the same size.
What do you save? The smallest size being???? And, how? I have those in baskets, but, once again, out of sight, out of mind...
lovely seeing a beautiful studio!!!
Posted by: kathleen | September 20, 2010 at 06:44 PM
That cupboard--total droolification. Thank you for sharing! And I love the pink and aqua color scheme of your studio. Yumtious!
Posted by: Else Tennessen | September 20, 2010 at 01:48 PM
I love your studio--it is awesome! The wonderful choice of fabics you have is incredible. I can understand how they're almost too precious to want to use! Loving your blog!
Posted by: Carolyn | April 08, 2009 at 12:41 PM
oh my gosh- soooo much eye-candy here!!! I love those two little love-birds. I don't know how you ever leave your studio- sooo much cool stuff! (oh, and thanks for the link!)
Posted by: tina | April 07, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Made it to the end - happily. Your studio and stash are awesome.
Posted by: Mary on Lake Pulaski | March 26, 2009 at 07:25 PM
Hi, I hopped over from Sharon's blog... I know exactly what you mean.... I've made that soup! It's good though... Too funny about the Shreik reference.... I can see it all now! LoL....
Your cupboard is soooo cute! I need to re-read and research your blog... where in Japan are you? And are you in the service/civilain employee? Just wondering. My DH and I met in the Navy in Japan. Yokosuka to be exact! Way back in 1975! I feel soooo old now I've told you that! Funny! Still not retired though!
Best get to using your fabric kid... don't want it all to fade away!
Oh, one other thing! My grandson has one of the car mats... I helped my daughter make it for him... He Loves It! Of course our son did too when he had one as a kid!
Posted by: Jean C. | March 25, 2009 at 12:42 PM
It is all very beautiful and it would be a creative nudge to work in your room. I am going back now to admire the pics some more.
Posted by: Nanette | March 25, 2009 at 08:32 AM
All that fabulous fabric makes me giddy! I wish my hubby would understand that a stash of fabric can be a good thing. He calls me a "collector". Which I am MOST of the time but fabric is more that a resource than something I'm saving....well maybe I am saving it but it's mine. I think he's just jealous :)
Posted by: Kelly O. | March 24, 2009 at 06:20 PM
Lovely cupboard! Really cute and what a fabric stash!!!!
Posted by: celia | March 24, 2009 at 02:01 PM
Love love love your cupboards. Both of them!
Hey, you do ww, too? I made lifetime over a year ago, and I still go to meetings to see my pals and keep under goal. I'm a huge ww fan.
And can I ask the brand and name of that lurvely pink paint color? If you don't know or don't want to have to check, that's fine. Just thought I'd ask in case you have it easily accessible in your mental files.
Posted by: jenny b harris | March 24, 2009 at 01:23 PM
Love the pretty fabric all spaced out in your cabinets. So very pretty. I can see why you have a hard time using it...but you make the most lovely things so don't be afraid to just make that first cut! Adorable quilt. What a great birthday gift for a little one. Love your cute etsy purchases too.
Posted by: Barbara | March 24, 2009 at 06:08 AM
You are KILLING ME with the cute. Seriously your shots of the room are wonderful. I could cry its so cute. And inspiring.
Posted by: pam | March 23, 2009 at 10:14 PM
This post made me happy :)
Posted by: CherryTreeLane | March 23, 2009 at 07:37 PM
As usual I love your sewing room photos. Your fabs are stacked up so nicely there. Love your new purchases too. And step away from the Easter Candy. lolol
Your soup is probably yummy once you get over the green look. :-)
Posted by: Sharon | March 23, 2009 at 07:36 PM
Your creative space is so inspiring! I only hope I can make my creative space half as sweet. ~Kelly
unDeniably Domestic
Posted by: Kelly | March 23, 2009 at 05:26 PM
Wow! I need that guess your weight sign! And how do you fold your fabric so neatly?
Posted by: Lotta | March 23, 2009 at 04:24 PM
I love your sewing room. It is so chipper!
Posted by: Dandelion Quilts | March 23, 2009 at 04:06 PM
My goodness Jen. I feel the same way as Sherri. So much fabulous eye candy in that post. I just want to come sit for awhile in your studio.
I, too, have the same problem with not wanting to cut into fabric. It drives me crazy, and I'm trying to be better. I find if I buy a fabric specifically for a project, I seem to be okay cutting into it. If I buy just because I like it - then I have problems. But it's still crazy.
Posted by: MichelleB | March 23, 2009 at 02:28 PM
I just ooh and aah every time you show pictures of your wonderful sewing room and stash...it's just lovely!
Posted by: sherri | March 23, 2009 at 02:07 PM