Ironing Board

I decided that I could make better use of my space by making my own ironing board that would fit on top of one of my shelf units.  I wanted something firmer than a regular ironing board for better pressing.

I bought a piece of wood 16" x 36".  I believe it was roughly 1/2" thick, possibly 3/4".  I took 2 layers of cotton batting (about 2" larger on each side), and wrapped it around the top of the board to the back.  Most directions that I found online used staples to fasten it, but since I didn't have any, I thought I would be creative and use some pink duct tape that my hubby bought for me.  It worked perfectly for the job!

Next I chose a piece of fabric that I would like for the cover.  I knew that I would like a neutral print since I was a little worried about colors on some prints possibly rubbing off on whatever I would be pressing.  I was a little limited since I really collect a lot of fat quarters rather than yardage.  I found the perfect piece with enough yardage, with some to spare.  I wrapped the fabric around the board tautly and folded the edge of the fabric in at the end and overlapped the beginning of the fabric where I had started from.  Clear as mud?!  That way I had no raw edges.  Now since I had no staples, I decided to use my quilt basting safety pins to fasten the edge of the back in place.  I actually laid awake the night before planning how I would do this!  I brought the sides around to the back and pinned them in place too.

Voila!  A wonderful new ironing surface that fits perfectly on the top of my shelf!  And I used what I had on hand except for the board!

Happy Sewing,
Jean

Friends Challenge

A number of years ago two of my friends, Melissa, Kathy and myself decided to do a challenge.  The challenge consisted of using a cute quilter's panel and adding whatever fabrics we wanted.

I decided that since I wanted to do a small wall hanging that I would shrink the panels to fit in the center of my star blocks.  I put them in my copier and shrunk them to half their size and printed them out on Printed Treasure Sheets.  My one friend called that cheating, but I thought it was rather clever!  :-)  I decided to put embroideries in the center star and the corner squares in the border.  Believe it or not, I even hand quilted this quilt!  For years, I just needed to complete the quilting on the one border and then bind it.  Finally it is finished!

I really like how it turned out and love seeing it up on my wall in the sewing room.  It reminds me of the fun that I had with friends!

Happy Sewing,
Jean

My Sewing Room

I'm back!  I have been doing a fair amount of traveling with my hubby and have finally finished setting up my sewing room.  I am loving it.  It is small, but functional.  I got a number of bins at Ikea for my fabric.  I like that they a smaller for me to handle and easier to see what I have.  Back in Hamburg, I had my stash just folded on shelves, but the piles were way too high!  I would pull something out and something else would come along with it, or I would pull part of the pile down!  Yikes!  This works for me.  I have my fabric separated by color and I also have future projects and ufo's in them too.  The shelves are also from Ikea.  They are height adjustable which is good.  The smaller plastic boxes that I have, I got from various places, but they hold my scraps separated by color.  I tend to go to my scrap boxes first when I need something, especially since a lot of my projects are scrappy.

I have a small pressing area set up on the shelves, but I do have a regular ironing board for larger pieces.  I would like to get a board and have it cut to size of the top shelf and cover it to make my own custom ironing board.  This would work for most of my pressing needs without having to get the ironing board out.

My sewing table is also Ikea and has adjustable legs.  Since I am shorter, I prefer to be able to make my sewing surface lower than the standard height of sewing tables.  My computer table is also Ikea, but with standard legs.  I like that you can choose whatever table top you like and combine it with the legs that you need.  I have no association with Ikea except that I love a lot of their systems!  I used mainly Ikea when I had the shop!

My cutting table is located right outside my sewing room.  Again, it is from Ikea and I have the adjustable legs on it.  Just the perfect height for cutting.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my sewing room!  Time to go sew!

Happy Sewing,
Jean

Yum! Homemade Bread

I spent the day baking bread!  I have not baked homemade bread for probably 35 years!   It felt good to work with the dough again.  Kneading dough is very relaxing.  I didn't have the recipe that I used way back then, so I went surfing the web for the perfect bread recipe.  I found it here.  It was on allrecipes.com and it is called Traditional White Bread.  It is light and fluffy and is perfect for sandwiches or to just enjoy with butter, which is my favorite.

Happy Sewing,
Jean

Mom's Embroidered Scarf

My Mom embroidered a beautiful bureau scarf many years ago.  I came across it a number of months ago and have wanted to finish it and be able to use it.

I finally got a backing sewn on it and it fits perfectly on the rack in my sewing room.  The perfect spot for my family pictures.

Happy Sewing,
Jean

Quilt Shop Adventures

We are finally getting settled in our new place.  I have been wanting to check out the local quilt shop, and finally got there.  It is called Material Girl and is located only 3/4 mile from my house.  It is a bright airy shop that carries a wide array of fabrics.  They have reproductions, batiks, bright modern prints, juvenile, novelty and of course holiday prints.  They are also a great source for quilt books.  I really loved the variety that they had.   Their website is:  www.materialgirlfabricshop.com

These are the things that I could not resist! 

Material Obsession seems like an appropriate book for me.  :-)  One of the co-authors of this book is Sarah Fielke, who has become one of my favorite designers.  I only recently discovered her and I love the simplicity of her designs and her use of colors.  All her quilts just make me smile.  She has written a number of books and is also doing classes on Craftsy.  I am hooked!  You can learn more about her on her website here.

The other quilt shop that I just discovered is about 7 miles from the house.  It is called Pieceful Gathering Quilt Shop located in Fox River Grove.  It is a wonderful quilt shop located in an old house.  You all know I love shops in houses!  But to my surprise when I walked inside, I discovered that they carried all reproduction fabric!  I thought I was in heaven!  So many wonderful samples and kits were everywhere!  I didn't know what to look at first!  I see many visits there in my future!  

I purchased a fat quarter bundle, fat 1/8th and a wonderful kit for a quilt called Spool Toss Quilt!  I could not resist it!  I saw so many others I would have liked, but they will have to wait for another day!

Their website is:  www.piecefulgathering.com

I am finally getting a chance to do some things in my sewing room and I hope to have something to share with you soon.

Happy Sewing,

Jean

A New Adventure

Dear Friends:

My husband has accepted a job offer in Chicago and I will be closing the shop and moving by the end of June.  I have made so many wonderful friends over the past 23 years.  I thank you so much for your support through both good and bad times.  You were always there for me.  I wish you all the best and will miss you.

I am selling my fabric at $4.00 yard, fat quarters are a $1.00 each and all notions, books, patterns are 50% off.  This sale will be effective from now until I close on June 22, 2013.

Please note that I will be closed the week of June 10th.

Thank you again!  It has been a pleasure serving you!

I will try to post quilty pictures of what I am doing after I am settled and getting a chance to sew again.  So please keep an eye out for future posts.

Happy Sewing,

Jean