Finding lost quilty stuff...

One of the issues I have to deal with as I proceed with this re-org is what to do with all the stuff - some of it hasn't been seen in so long I forgot long ago why I had it - but some turns out to be things I have been looking for - those "I know I already have a spool of blue thread here SOMEWHERE!!!" kinds of things. 
Today I found the fabric I bought for the seats of the dining room chairs - I didn't have enough to do all four chairs - my math isn't my strongest talent, and I had bought half what I needed the first time - so I went back and bought the second half - but that second half disappeared as it came in the front door, so those seat cushions have been waiting patiently on the work table for that home dec fabric to turn up and (drum roll, please) I can now finish those seat cushions!
I'll have to figure out how to post pics when I get them done - because that will call for a major photo event in the dining room!

My Studio Re-Organization

I've decided to concentrate on a major studio re-do. The current set up is just not efficient anymore - even if it were tidy (which it certainly is NOT) it would still need improvement - and I think I FINALLY have an idea of how I'd like to improve it... so I may not get quite as much sewing done between now and the holidays, but the goal is to have this reorganized (and TIDY) by the first of the year. Yeah, I don't expect this to happen overnight - it took years for it to get this bad, and it won't get better overnight, even with the help of Tinkerbell AND my Fairy Godmother!
I realized yesterday that there is a STACK of six boxes in the corner that I have NO IDEA of the contents! It's been so long since I saw the top of my ironing board that I'd forgotten it was there until I found myself picking up the results of the avalanche that fell off when I bumped it.
So here's a 'before' pic - this was taken a couple of years ago - before it got as bad as it is now!
I'm not sure I want to post a pic of it in its current state - the evidence might be used against me in a 'court of quilt law'!
I know that I get a lot more accomplished in a tidy space - so that's the goal - get re-organized and STAY TIDY! That's me, the future tidy person....

Guild Meeting

Last night was the monthly meeting of Quilt Company East. The guest speaker was Eleanor Levie (Ellie) of Skinny Quilts and Tablerunners fame - she showed us samples of totes, table runners, and small quilts from several outstanding designers in addition to her own. She also presented a slide show of museum quilts by earlier quilters who were more adventurous than their peers and took a stab at doing something 'outside the box'. Ellie gave a wonderful, inspiring presentation and I'm so glad to have been there.
QCE is a quild that does a LOT of 'outside the box' quilts - an amazing bunch of talent for such a small room - there is always something at 'show & tell' that makes the late night worth the long drive.

Thanksgiving prep

It's time to finalize the plans for Thanksgiving - the menu, the schedule, the headcount, the seating arrangements, or maybe the restaurant reservations!

My very favorite Thanksgiving restaurant has been closed for several years, so we went shopping for a new alternative - last year, we went to an 'all you can eat buffet' for Thanksgiving - it was great - everyone had their favorites, there were no leftovers, and no cleanup - I highly recommend it. Admittedly, it was not as much fun as the time we spent Thanksgiving with my brother and his family in San Diego....

I had just started to have hot flashes that year.... and had not yet realized that wine increased the 'power surges' so my beloved S-I-L and I were having a glass (or two) while we prepped the turkey, peeled potatoes, etc. and along with having the most fun I've ever had in a kitchen - I had ice pops stuffed in my clothes to help counter the 'power surges'.... it's possible we had a little more fun due to the fact that the turkey wasn't done until 8PM, so we had plenty of time for wine and finished the bottle off well before the food was ready to serve.
Good times, good family, good wine! Great combination.

AUTUMN has Arrived with a Howl

The upstairs studio has a window a/c unit that howls and whistles when the winter winds blow - so this week's major goal will be to get that a/c OUT of the window and into storage for the winter.
We are having gusty winds up to 40+ mph today, and it sounds as though the upstairs is being haunted by banshees!

I've been working on the exchange blocks for Pat Sloan's Turkey Tracks exchange - these aren't due yet, but it feels so good to have them done!

The fabrics for the NEXT Pat Sloan challenge - the Gobble Gobble fabrics - have arrived in today's mail, and I can hardly wait to dig into this glorious bundle! These fabrics are by Sandy Gervais, who does yummy fall colors with a folk art attitude. First, a pumpkin, then some X blocks, then maybe a couple of trees. a crow?...... where will this take me?
check my FaceBook album pages and see!

not working isn't what it used to be...

now that my unemployment claim is proceeding into the "Extended Benefit" phase, I will be required to search for work at least twice per week and be able to provide proof of those searches, and I can no longer file an online claim, it will have to be written, paper forms, requiring stamps, and a trip to the UC Claim office.
All this will have to wait until Tuesday, as this is the Labor Day weekend.

Race for the Cure quilt progress

The 'Race for the Cure' quilt is on the frame - about 3/4ths quilted - coming along nicely.

Hope to finish the quilting this weekend - since it's raining anyway....