Sewing While Renovating

My sewing has come to a standstill thanks to dust, displaced clothing, and random furniture!

I bought my house in 2002 - it's a Cape Cod Bungalow built in 1943. Every year, I've done some updating; some minor (painting) and some not-to-minor (adding and moving kitchen cabinets). But last week, I began my most extensive renovation...gutting most of the second floor to expand the master bedroom.

The original room was about 15' x 10' - tucked into the sloped roof; in the hallway, the dormer ceiling was low...6'5". It was claustrophobic. I wanted to duck whenever I stepped on the top stair.

I worked with my contractor on finalizing a design that I had envisioned since I moved in. Move the knee-wall back, move the door, raise the ceiling, and expand the hall closet.

This is what it looks like after week one! The room is HUGE - 16' x 15' !! 

But that insulation? It's everywhere. Even with plastic sheets covering the doors. My daily routine is this: get home from work. Remove coat. Swiffer. Change Swiffer pad. Repeat. Repeat. Vacuum. Dust. Change water in cats' water bowl. 

The other consequence of renovating a 72 year old home? Lots of vintage ceiling lights (that I'm replacing with recessed LED lights). According to my contractor, these all need to be rewired. One was so bad, that they clipped the wires so no one could hang it.

Isn't that blue on dreamy? The one next to it is identical, but pink! Too bad I don't need them. When I get a chance, I will probably sell them to someone who appreciates their unique qualities!

Around this time, I'm usually dreaming up Christmas gift ideas - something that I can make. Not now. But I can handle that!

Finally! Summer (for me)!

I turned my grades in and have begun my summer! What this means is that I work from home (at my convenience) and have time to sew and work on my house. Yesterday I started scraping old paint and carpet glue off the cement on my screened in porch. My back is killing me, and I only got about 5 sq. ft removed, but it's better than it was on Saturday. Today I mow the lawn and write a few letters of recommendation. And recuperate from grading and celebrating the graduation of my students.

My roles at work (Mansfield University of PA) have really evolved - and will be my priority this summer. I'll still be sewing and trying to get patterns published, but my main goal is to actively recruit more students to study communication at Mansfield University. We might be a small university, but what my colleagues and I offer is a lot of individual attention...and a lot of tough love! I run my department's social media platforms  - Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram - and work with the university's social media team. It's fun and I get to be creative.

So here's a little taste of my life at work (that's me in the green jacket...wrapped up in a scarf...yes, it gets cold in northern PA!):

I won't stop blogging -  because I love to share what I'm doing - but I won't be able to keep up with it like I have in the past. I do have several projects that I've been working on...since last summer! Yikes! They all involve a zipper technique that I developed (I think?!)!

In the meantime, though, it's time to get mowing!

Glow-In-The-Dark Halloween Tote

A few years ago, I made some Halloween Trick-or-Treat tote bags using a basic tote bag pattern. I used 17" squares for this one. I selected your run-of-the-mill black twill and lined it with orange fabric. To add something fun, I searched online for Halloween Coloring Pages and selected a spider as my design. I used basic applique techniques with Heat 'n Bond Lite as my fusible interfacing (don't use regular Heat 'N Bond - it's not designed for sewing - the glue will gum up your needle). But what makes this special is that I used Coats and Clark Glow-In-The-Dark-Thread when I zig-zagged around the design. This was a HUGE hit with the kids!

Southern Tier Quilts of Valor - Veteran's Day Quilt Marathon!

I haven't had much time to sew since my semester started back in late August. I've been out-of-touch with my sewing sisters! Boo-hooooo! Needless to say, it was wonderful and inspirational to walk into the American Legion Hall in Corning (NY) and see almost 50 volunteers making quilt tops for Southern Tier Quilts of Valor! And...this was just the first shift! Almost 50 more were set to arrive later in the day. Why were they there? For the second year in a row, STQoV hosted a Quilt Marathon to celebrate Veteran's Day! 

We even had our own coffee!! Dublin Roasters Coffee in Maryland made this special blend just for us! It's not available to the public...if you want it to be, drop them a line and ask them if they'd add it to their online store.

Read what I wrote about for last year's marathon.

See more pictures on my Facebook Page!

Ah...who designed this fabric?!!

I was recently shopping at a big box fabric and craft store with a friend of mine. She was looking for fabric to make a curtain to go under her kitchen sink. After some searching, she finally decided on one - something that would match her new Kitchen Aid Blender. It was hip and modern - kinda like her. I've always enjoyed looking at fabric. And it never ceases to amaze me what I find printed on fabric. But this one took the cake...

www.mselaineous.com

Hmm.....what could I make from this?

The Star-Spangled Banner Project!

Have you heard about the Star-Spangled Banner Project? The Maryland Historical Society is recreating the Star Spangled Banner....and you, yes you, can add your stitches to this American Flag!


"Beginning July 4, 2013, The Maryland Historical Society (MdHS) will be recreating the 30 x 42 foot Star-Spangled Banner flag that inspired the writing of our national anthem. Using authentic materials, MdHS will employ traditional stitching techniques that Mary Pickersgill used 200 years ago....On Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 11 from noon until 3 p.m. the general public is invited to come and add a stitch to the flag. During these days, MdHS will host the Fort McHenry Fife and Drum Corps, celebrity guest appearances, actors in period costume, exhibit tables from our friends and partners, and mobile food vendors outside of the Museum. To register for the public days, visit www.mdhs.org/events." (https://www.mdhs.org/pressrelease/stitching-history-recreating-star-spangled-banner-maryland-historical-society)


To learn more, please visit the Maryland Historical Society!

Free Patriotic Sewing Patterns!

I was perusing the internet and found these incredible patriotic patterns...and they are all free! Yippee!


 




Love this cute Mama Says Sew Ruffle Skirt!













And who could pass up this fabulous All-American Tote from Positively Splendid!




















And while you are there, check out these super patriotic pillows!








For something simpler, make these patriotic pennants from Happy Dance Quilting.

















I can't resist All-American Annie at Fairfield World!













And here's the Sweet Liberty Table Runner from The Intrepid Thread.











Get the sparklers out, it's time to celebrate!

Star Spangled Stitching! Patten SALE!

It's almost Independence Day, so to honor the true American spirit, my Star Spangled Stitching flag pattern is ON SALE for only $1!

You can purchase it with auto-download in my Craftsy Store at the sale price until July 4th (2013). Then it will return to the regular price of $3.50!

Here are some pictures of the project when I offered it as a class.

There were eight in the class. Each participant brought a red and a cream fat quarter to trade. They cut their stripes and traded them. Each flag looked a little different - it also saved fabric!

Doing the top-stitching!

A final flag. It looks a little different than my original. I made mine a bit more wonky. 

Yours will look more like this one.












This pattern is ONLY $1 until July 4th (2013)! Download it in my Craftsy Pattern Store!

Trip to Germany!

I recently returned from a trip to Germany. It was a WWII March Through Germany history tour that was organized through the History Dept. at the university where I teach. We started in Bastogne, Belgium then worked our way to Cologne, Berlin, Munich, then Salzburg, Austria.

Along the way, I spotted a sewing shop in Berlin!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. I'm a mom to two cats (who bought me a chocolate peanut butter pie to celebrate! Do they know me or what!?). But today I'd like to honor my mom who taught me a lot of things! She died two years ago (on May 11th) at the age of 85, but her creative yet practical spirit lives on.

Sewing Clan

Hanging On By A Thread

When I closed my sewing studio in May 2012, my regulars understood why. But we all mourned a bit. The location had become a bit of a hang out for us with the classes becoming more than classes. Thanks to wonderful weather and busy schedules, we managed to make it through the Summer; but when Fall rolled around we pined for the good 'ole days.

So a few months ago we decided to start meeting in the local library - once a month - on Sundays. It was a chance to catch-up, chat, and get some insights on our sewing. We started with five and, within a few months, the group has almost doubled in size, with friends inviting friends. We started calling ourselves, "Hanging On By A Thread." And yes, we even have a logo!

What I like about it is that it's informal; there's no meeting, no agenda, no to-do list. Intuitively, we know what to bring - I bring ironing and cutting boards, irons, and extension cords while others bring snacks, more cutting boards and extension cords, and new projects. And we never seem to be missing anything. We even have a Facebook Group where we post comments and pictures. And our meeting yesterday turned into a Pampered Chef party!

Trigger Tote!

When I opened my studio, I wanted it to be a hangout - a social place where people with different jobs and backgrounds could come together. And I think we succeeded. So when I look at that picture above, I am so thankful for everyone who helped me and supported me. Because if it wasn't for those three exhausting years, I would have never met any of my wonderful friends who are hanging on by a thread!

Quilting Marathon Part Three: Done!

We've been sorting pictures from our Quilt Marathon and I found some of my quilt. Thought you'd like to see the finished product!

Here we are getting set up. This machine is on loan and I can never remember how to put the bobbin in! Love it though...it's a Bernina 580. 

After what seemed like an eternity, I finished my quilt top. Can you tell that  I hate getting my picture taken?

All done! 

This was a really easy quilt to put together. You can head over to Sweeter Lemon for an explanation.

As I've written before, Southern Tier Quilts of Valor sponsored this event. To this date, Quilts of Valor groups around the US (and abroad) have made just over 70,000 quilts for our wounded warriors! For more information, go to Quilts of Valor.

Quilts of Valor Quilting Marathon Part Two

:

WOW! What a great day for Southern Tier Quilts of Valor! When I arrived at the American Legion at around 8:30 am, several of the volunteers had already arrived and set up their sewing machines. This table full of donated raffle baskets greeted me as I walked through the door! And it didn't end there. Several local restaurants provided coffee, hot cocoa, and....breakfast! YAY! So of course I had to grab a few donut holes as I headed to my table.

My friend Brandy showed up and we got our kits and began to sew. This was a JELLY ROLL RACE! OK, it was no race. There was way too much socializing for it to be considered a race.










Missouri Star Quilts provides a great video tutorial here. We didn't sew the 45 degree angles, so our quilts look a little different.

And I'm still sewing...and sewing....and sewing. And talking. Can't forget that. Several of the 42 volunteers were supposed to leave at noon. They were still there when we ate dinner.

Ta-da! First quilt center done. And, no, it's not mine.

The press arrives! Those are my people. But there was a reason I switched majors. I hate to be on camera. You won't see me on the evening news. Happy Veteran's Day!

Quilting Marathon - Quilts of Valor

I'm up early on this Saturday to get ready for a day of quilting with Southern Tier Quilts of Valor. In honor of Veteran's Day, we are hosting an all day Quilt Marathon. I'll be one of 48 volunteers who will be piecing up a storm with the goal of completing as many quilt tops as we can in a twelve hour period! This is an incredible community effort that wouldn't have happened without the support of quilt guilds, local restaurants, and The American Legion. I can't think of a better way to spend a Fall Saturday!

Purse Week Contest!

OK, I'm taking a quick break from my Learning Styles lesson (and will resume this week) to post about the PURSE WEEK contest that I entered. It's sponsored by A Lemon Squeezy Home.

I submitted pictures of my Peaches Purrrse! Let's hope I make it into the top ten finalists! YAY! Once the finalists are decided, then the contest will be open for voting. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Felines on Fabric

In honor or Pets on Quilts 2012, I thought I'd share a little of my life with my cats. They love to join me in my sewing room.

Star Wars Baby Quilt. Both my cats hung out with me when I made this awesome Star Wars quilt.

 But they wouldn't get off of it.

Still won't move. I bribed them with treats. That usually works.

50th Birthday Quilt. I was on a deadline with this quilt so my polydactyl used her extra toes to move the fabric as l quilted. At first I thought that she was playing...but she's such a sweetie, she was actually helping!

 We both took a nap afterwards!

Sofa Slipcover. Lots of fabric provided ample playtime. Unfortunately, I was not in the mood to play. She loves tents and kept crawling underneath as I tried to pin.

The Peaches Purrrse. OK. She helped me with this one. She's very proud, so I named it after her.

The Pi Pouf. Here's are a few suggestions - don't let your cat sleep on a cardboard box when the (1) cardboard box lid isn't taped closed, (2) the cardboard box contains a bag and in that bag are millions of little polystyrene beads. But always have a camera ready when the cat starts to sink. Poor thing!

This is my friend's cat. The cat survived and my friend went on to make three more Pi Poufs!

Check out Pets on Quilts and see how our furry friends help us make sewing much more fun!

The Little Lightsaber Baby Room

My friend Bridget is pregnant and she and her husband are going with a Star Wars-themed baby room. The only problem is that it's difficult to find baby-sized Star Wars items. Their wish was to take some Pottery Barn sheets and turn them into crib sheets. Not a problem! I've got some other ideas up my sleeve, too.

So here's my to-do list for this project:

1.  Turn sheets into fitted crib sheets using the tutorial at Sew4Home.

2.  Make a quilt using this awesome (and sale-priced) novelty/licensed fabric from JoAnn. I'm not sure of the design, but it will be something that showcases the fabric like this (free) Speedy Baby 2 pattern.

3.  With the leftover fabric, I plan to make a diaper bag. I love this pattern at Warehouse Fabrics. Because I'm using a mid-weight cotton, I'll make the bottom out of denim or something a little heavier.

I'm planning things out right now and, once the fabric arrives, I'll be posting my progress!

UPDATE: Go to PART TWO.

Happy Zipper Day

I'm a day late with this post, but we can still celebrate Zipper Day. What is Zipper Day? One hundred and thirty two years ago, on April 24th, Gideon Sundbäck was born. Who is this man? He is the inventor of the zipper! YAY! Read more about Gideon...

So we threw a little party in the studio and made some zippered pillows. It's an easy technique, so check it out: learn how to put a zipper in a throw pillow by reading my post!

Quilts of Valor Fundraiser: Update!

The raffle baskets!

WOW! We had a great time at the Southern Tier Quilts of Valor fundraiser. We showed the film Stitched and laughed quite a bit(!)...and got an insider's view of competition quilters.

We had 75 attendees and raised just over $460 from raffle tickets and donations! We collected about 175 quilt blocks (that was the price of admission).

Love these blocks! The QoV group will be meeting on Monday to start sorting. Luckily, the women at Lake Country Patchwork in Hammonsport, NY will be taking some to put quilt tops together. Did you know that Hammondsport was selected as the Coolest Small Town in the US?! Oh, it's cool...believe me!

Head over to our Facebook page to see more pictures from the event.