Wednesday, March 31, 2010

creations sewclever

a beautiful sunny day
for a drive
to chillicothe...
.
to visit Rita's
creations sewclever quilt shop
we bought the backing to finish
cabins in the stars
that i started last week in class
then we arranged a pick up
from linda
in a parking lot in circleville
all for the beloved
oh buckeyes
in quilt form that is

Friday, March 26, 2010

original sewing & quilt expo

as soon as i arrived
i was handed
this adorable bag...

and i just knew it would be a good day
true to predictions
i was greeted by a dear friend from long ago...
who not only is responsible for this huge undertaking
she carried my sewing machine
down to storage for me
thank you marlene
i enjoyed several great classes from
and an awesome hands on class
a day well spent
and it's always a good feeling
to make new friends

Thursday, March 25, 2010

the stampin' half

i've had a request to show greater details of the other half of my workroom, ie. the non-sewing side.

The question specifically asked about the hanging stamp sets. Yes indeed, my stamp sets hang. When my studio was built in 1993, I lined the walls with 2" gridwall. It has proven a good choice, as this room has evolved a number of times during it's seventeen years of existance. When I became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator in 2001, I rearranged my largest cupboard to make room for my growing collection of stamps, inks and papers. Soon I realized it was just not working for me. I spent more time looking for supplies than I did making creations. So I pondered for a while.

Then one day the thought entered my mind of hanging them. But how? A few weeks later I was drilling holes in the wall to hang a valance, and it hit me...drill a hole in the plastic case and hang them on hooks. I tried one. It worked perfectly, so I drilled every case I had.
Then I found these neat little grid racks that seem to be designed to hold Stampin' Wheels.

I purchased five hanging folder racks. Each of the four Stampin' Up! color families have it's own and then the fifth is for neutrals. Each color has it's own folder which I keep 8 1/2 x 11 and cut scraps of that color. each color is identified with it's name followed by the color family code. SS stands for Soft Subtles, the green dot means it is a new color(from the time I started with SU) and the red dot tells me it is a retired color.

I use the same holders for ribbon.

I bought this fun little acrylic organizer at a craft show one year. It is perfect for bottles of ink and miscellanous embellishments.

I keep all the ink pads in this holder which I purchased before Stampin' Up! came out with theirs.

The white cases along the floor are simple storage units from Target. The one they advertise for shoes is perfect for envelopes, sample cards, reference binders etc.

One unit has a little drawer that is great for all things sticky. When organizing, I try to put like things together. That way it is easier to remember where you put them, especially at my age:)
True confession time...I am not 100% pure...Yes, that is a Creative Memories cutting system. I love it. In my opinion, it is the best way to cut perfect circles and ovals, so there it stays.

I have one smaller cupboard for the miscellaneous things that are not used as often. I still have a collection of project sheets. I wish they still produced those. I loved featuring them at demonstrations and the stamp sets featured are the ones I hang onto, even after they retire.

And I've saved maybe the best, for last...the Big Shot. It sits right among the ironing supplies. Why? Well, I've used it more with fabric than I have paper. That's why I'm thrilled to see others finding that function too. I keep the more popular die cuts sitting in a basket next to it. Others are in a box below.
I hope you've enjoyed the tour. Please remember, the most important part of organizing your work space is that it work for YOU.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

when addictions collide...

i've been hearing
about a new found craze...

rubber stampers are discovering
...fabric
and stitching
and buttons and rick rack
imagine the big shot
cutting more than paper
funny...
my addictions collided long ago:)

snoballs in springtime...

yummy creme filling
fluffy marshmallow
moist chocolate cake...


lovely lavendar coconut
it comes
just once a year
a springtime delight
also known as hoppers
since 1947

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

i love the sound...

...of thunderstorms
in springtime
and the pouring...

rain...
against the roof
rolling into the soil
to awaken the
seedlings and sprouts
much like
...the feeling of alive i have
while working with
budding pink and green
tuileries and clover
from verna
the springtime sensation from kate spain

Sunday, March 21, 2010

where fiber meets down syndrome...

one beautiful afghan
traveling the world
to spread awareness...


from cleveland to columbus on
3.21.10
with love and respect
for all the good
that down syndrome
has brought to our lives

Saturday, March 20, 2010

turkey red & oyster...

are the colors identified
of French General
.
i'm working in my columbus studio today
so i think i will rename them
scarlet and buckskin
after my beloved ohio state
either way
rouenneries is a beautiful collection

Thursday, March 18, 2010

blush reminds me...

...of spumoni ice cream
and i love
...both of them

the ice cream and the blush
i'm trying something new
do you recognize this
quilt pattern?

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

spring's finest...

i love the color palettes..
the patterns
...the designers

flowers and butterflies
paisley and stripes
greens, yellows, aquas, oranges and blues
spring has arrived in my studio

Monday, March 15, 2010

you'll always be my baby...

i feel like i've deserted her
my best late night friend
my old faithful
not to worry little miss 1475
you'll always be my baby
i'll never let you go...

i just needed to get you a new companion
a friend to share the load

... now i admit ms. 4.0 and i
had words the first few nights
she can be a little temperamental
especially when you don't use her
well designed features
...like
the automatic knee lift
and the automatic cutter
and the automatic tension control
i've learned to let go
and just let ms. 4.0 do her own thing
and then she sews like a dream
but there are still days that i want to be in control and
that's when my baby and i
cuddle once more

Sunday, March 14, 2010

another treat...

...from sunday sweets
.
love the colors
the shape
the scroll work
unfortunately the baker
is not yet identified

Saturday, March 13, 2010

a mailing tip for stampin'up! demonstrators

if you are like me...
you send out many more cards
than you receive

until this year
when i joined a birthday club
which means i received many
beautifully designed cards
today a belated card arrived
when i opened the envelope
the first thing i saw was
a scrap of a bubble envelope with a message
remove this cover

so i did
underneath were two perfect
rhinestone brads
what a brilliant idea i thought
some of the other cards i received
had these type of
embellishments
unfortunately torn off
or missing
from going through the u.s. mail

thank you so much mary ann dietz
for this awesome card and
this very useful tip
for another glimpse of this card
click here to redirect to my other blog

Friday, March 12, 2010

campanula...

in the stores
confirms
spring...

is getting closer
such a welcome feeling
after a long, snowy winter

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

verna,verna,verna...

love this verna
there just seems to be
no end to the possibilities...

...finding the fabric
now that is becoming a challenge
i am so happy for
her entrance into the world
of fabric has been a
soaring success

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

this can't be good...

...for the waistline
i can't believe
i just ate...

the entire box
all
by
myself
and i bought
an entire case because i have this thing
for girl scouts
and all the wonderful memories over the years

Sunday, March 7, 2010

the tailor of gloucester

in a corner of my creative studio
is a collection
of items given to me over the years...
as gifts from family and friends
a few from happy clients
a special one from my son...
it reads "moms make memories"
if you look closer you will see
little mouse ears peering over a paper
it's the tailor of gloucester
from the peter rabbit collection
today at cake wrecks...

...i was in total awe when I viewed this creation
yes, it is a cake!!!
made by the very talented
natasha collins
and leave her some creative encouragement
and thanks for sharing this masterpiece

Saturday, March 6, 2010

the latest model

i headed out to look at new cars
i came home with this...

note to husband and/or sons
upon my death...
scrap my car
it's worthless
...my sewing machines...
post them on eBay
they'll pay for the Buckeye season tickets
...for years:)

Thursday, March 4, 2010

like a kid...

in a candy shop...
i truly cannot put into words
...the euphoria i experienced today
.
this is my new best friend mark
he will be my contact for all things moda
at my new house of fabric
today he handed me...
a stack of 5 x 5s
not just any charm pack
i have in my very own hands
from my ever favorite
she will have a feature table in the main room
40 skus to be exact, plus
a few yummy jelly rolls

one small request...

would the two bidders on eBay...
...trying to snatch this machine

kindly step aside
and let my bid stay in the lead
please...
this auction is ending
when i will
be driving home on the turnpike
from the great lakes regional fabric show
so i won't be able to bid again
...and i really need it
for my new house of fabric
thank you

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

i'm expecting...

take a dream of a lifetime
add a little
...divine intervention
and voila...
.
so much to do...
permits to gather
a business plan to proof
hiring a contractor
...so little time
finding the fabric
locating machines
samples to sew
excitement indeed...