Creative Space -and- A UFO

In the last post, I shared some of how I organize my ‘Creative Space’. Nothing has changed unless you count making a mess. I have a new project. A small ornament swap, I’ll share more about that later.

New Command Center

The table stays pretty clear because I use it for just about everything… cutting, planning, computing, and shipping. However, the table is going to change and I have a new layout I want to try as well. This means I need to find a block of time to clean up everything that is currently out or in use.

Lift Table
going to be the new work table

A few months ago I found some motorized lift desks. The current tabletop on this desk is about 5 feet long and 3 feet wide, and irregular. My plan is to attach a larger melamine on top of the current tabletop. I like a big table, in the neighborhood of 4 feet wide by 6-8 feet long. In addition to bigger, I will be able to raise and lower the table for whatever I need to do. I really like a higher table for cutting, and since I am short a lower table for sitting at. The problem with a regular height table or desk is either a chair won’t get me high enough for comfort or if it does, my feet don’t rest on the floor. There are still so many projects to do in the basement area… so the picture also includes other things waiting to move.

UFO Report

In the meantime, I have a completed project… a UFO.

When I first set up the ‘Creative Space’, I knew I wanted to make some creativity happen. But with what? Did I want to piece, applique, stitch, quilt? Make something new or finish something that had already been started, (aka UFO)? Making a new something seemed like such a big mess to make so I decided to see what was in the UFO box. While I going through them I reorganized them. Bonus!

UFO boxes
The newly sorted and labeled UFO storage boxes

After sorting the UFOs, I chose a little piece that started as a sample and designed to remain unfinished for a little while. I love bright happy flowers, and these certainly fit the bill. This was the beginning of the project, and as you can see as we move along, this was the initial concept.

Free Spirit Flowers start
This is the auditioning of the large flowers and some leaves.

And the concept changed. I added stems and a vase before starting the threadwork. I completed the threadplay, or so I thought. Also, originally, there was a quilting plan, marked in blue water-soluble marker, but I didn’t like it. I spritzed the blue marks off with water and a color ran. I thought it was from a flower fabric, and essentially a ruined project to that is where I left it with disappointment. However, I determined it might be a good teaching tool; the colorfastness of thread and fabric isn’t always guaranteed. It is difficult to see, but at the top of the large pink flower, you can see a bit of a color bleed, between the 2 yellow zinnias.

Free Spirit Flowers Stitched
Flowers Free-motion stitched and background quilting completed.

For the quilting, I decided on some regular wavy lines, (that mimick the vase shape), and quilted those. I then quilted the “table” in a free motion wood grain. Bound it and gave it a bath. To my surprise, the color bleed was from the thread. The thread dye rinsed right out even though I had pressed it several times during construction!

Free Spirit Flowers complete
Free Spirit Flowers all done

All done. I still like the flowers, but it is not my most favorite composition… or completion. One of the things I learned is that before you begin work on a boxed UFO project, is to take a few minutes or a day to reacquaint yourself with the project and where you left off; and assess everything that still needs to be done. I had missed some threadwork and discovered it while quilting, (flower centers), so I did that while quilting. It made the back very inconsistent.

Cute Cats

I promised cute cats, (this one is especially for Linda). Linda has virtually adopted the cats and sends them treats. She has kept them stocked with ‘Temptations’ since we moved out here and discovered that 7 cats came with the place. The cats are fed in the mornings, but I give them a few ‘auntie treats’ after I come back from feeding the cow in the evenings.

Cat Hug
Senior Uno and Tutone

That is not all of the completed projects … I’ll share another next time!!! and if you are still here. Thanks for reading.

Please stay well, wash your hands, wear a mask, and stay home as much as possible.

More Later- Beth

COVID-19 and the Stay Home Order

So how is this mess going for you? I have to say that it started out pretty strange, having to “stay at home”. We are enjoying the farm and can’t imagine being in town close to friends and neighbors and having to just stay home!!! It got a little rough… but got better when I made some changes and choices! At first, like so many others, I was at a loss for what to do. Not like I didn’t have anything to do, but the deadlines and commitments all faded away. That, along with the onset of angst about trying to have a normal life, creativity seemed to also have some difficulty.

Thankfully, I had a little job to take care of and the Stay Home Order made it much easier to tackle.

The fabrics

fabric choices
Chose these two fabrics

Of course, with retail closed due to the order to stay home, I had to shop online for the fabrics. Color and print do not show up nearly as well on the computer as in person. Not sure how you handle a fabric that is not true to color when ordering online…. but it sure is nerve-wracking to buy on faith!!!

Settled on a design.

Block Line Drawing
Friendship Star

Made a test block.

The Mock Up block
Checking the color value and placement of the block and the plan. (these are not the fabrics in the quilt)

I modified the block by adding a half square triangle in the corners. The modification makes a secondary pattern of a ribbon weaving between the blocks

Started cutting.

Preparing to sew the CR Quilt
Block Components cut

And then…

along the way… the taste test got in the way.

Ooops
Where did all those empty bags come from?

This is a joke Block … as in taste test getting out of hand… if it was Makers Mark bourbon instead of Crown Royal, it could have happened!!! (and maybe it did…)

Or was it just a joke?

How are we coping
Oops! We did it again!

This is a legit error. It hung on the wall for several days before I noticed it!!!

Top Done

Crown Royal Top Done
A completed top

But I made changes and easier to stay home and have a nearly perfect top.

How the choices were made

This is not my quilt design. I suggested that the owner of the bags look online for some quilts he liked. This is the one he chose. I suggested some options, but this one suited his aesthetic. The quilt is a throw size and is for a Man Cave as a sofa throw. It will look spectacular once it is all quilted. Next up, find a backing for it online, (wide because I just don’t want to seam fabric)! I may need that Makers Mark after all!!!

Tools I used

I put my money where my mouth is so to speak and the tools I used to create this quilt are items I carry in the I Have A Notion store. I used the Quilters Select Rulers for cutting, the Wool Pressing Mat, a Misting Spray Bottle, Clover pins, and the Titanium Needle (Top Stitch). Not make money, (although it would be a nice benefit), but really it is to help those that sew make the BEST CHOICE for their dollar. As we get back on our feet from the stay home order or actual quarantine, making better choices may become even more important in the next coming months.

How are you surviving this unprecidented time?

More Later… (we have new residents)- Beth

Time Flies

Tasks -whether they are mundane, ordinary or exciting hide how fast the Time Flies!

It is hard to believe we have been here for nearly 6 weeks. All the rush of packing is over… and now the unpacking takes place. As a result, of all the deadline-based activity time flies?

About July

The month of July was hot and steamy and the pasture was alive with butterflies. Of course, I had to drop everything several days and record with the camera as many as I could. I saw many of the Kentucky butterflies in one field and it is in my backyard! The Swallowtails, Monarchs, Cabbage Whites, Clouded Yellow, Admirals, Sprites, and Skippers feeding on the wildflowers in the field.

Black Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
A Black Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on Red Clover

Rain

In Kentucky, we are technically in a drought and surface plants are struggling without rain. See time flies even for plants. In addition, the rain has been sporadic and uneven, so the ground has not had a good soaking. As a result, we cut the field short.

Yellow Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
Yellow Tiger Swallowtail on Red Clover

August

The middle of August found me in Chicagoland for a week. It was planned more than a year ago, well before the idea to move. I shared some of my quilts with the Pride of the Prairie Quilt Guild of Plainfield, IL and the ‘Threadpainting’ process that I use the following day. Sorry, I didn’t take any pictures… because I never remember to get the camera out. I try to focus (pun intended) on assisting and coaching others through the “Threadpainting” process. Once again, times flies!

Gifted a beautiful little pincushion!

I do have one picture. A wonderful little pincushion, with a matching teeny tiny 9 Patch Quilt (which is signed and dated by the maker) Cheryl Parker, was a gift. Cheryl also created a fabulous blog post about the Threadpainting class, and you can see it here. This little pincushion will join the other treasures gifted by friends and family, in the Creative Space. However, setting up the Creative Space up is a very slow process. There is one certainty, many things need to be done… at the same time, and I am having difficulty prioritizing. Again, time flies!

Next week

2019 Online Quilters Meet and Greet
There will be prizes!!!

I hope I have filled you in… a bit… and forgive me for the lapses in posting. …. I am here even if I am quiet, (which anyone that knows me will say is a feat that does not happen often {enough, maybe?}).

More Later!!! Beth