I know that January did not exactly look like a productive month if  I am just looking at my quilt production. I set a yearly goal of finishing three pieces each month. Doesn’t matter the size but just finished. So close on two pieces but so close doesn’t count.

     I have achieved a few things this month and for me they seem huge. I have taken pictures of all pieces and priced them. So many times, I have people interested but never know what I would sell them for.  Secondly, I have set up an Etsy shop . That with my limited computer skills is another huge event off my list. I know Etsy is huge and easy to get lost in. But , even if I don’t sell anything there initially, it is a visual place where people can do some window shopping.

     I have had two people ask me-just what are you doing with all this? I Why are you blogging? Why are you selling? And the answers continue to be 1. to journal my progress 2. to offer what I make to others for purchase(what will I do with all of them?) 3. to keep in touch with friends I have made . So that’s a start to the answer. I’ll let you know where else I would like to go as I figure it out. Oh -to enter some shows eventually- I have never even submitted anything to my local guild show!

#1

  So to pop the champagne -over the store- I have cut into some of my precious hand dyed fabrics. To sell here to see if you might be interested on a larger scale. And to celebrate the beginning of Februrary, they are red. and gorguous. They measure approx 18×24.  Email me if you are interested in them. Don’t know if I will sell them on a routine basis on Etsy yet. They are a pretty candy apple red and bubblegum pink. I have double washed them in Synthrapol but I would wash them again -just because we all know how red is.

1. 5 pieces- 18×24 3 red, 2 pink-25$
2. 6 pieces-18×24  3 reds 3 pink-30$

I will pay shipping. So why didn’t I put them in my Etsy shop? I can’t figure out how to link the badge on my blog to the shop….despite help from several computer savvy friends….I have to bring my computer in today-maybe I’ll ask my computer guy… The shop is set up -just can’t link it…seems silly to tell you about it today but I wanted to offer these fabrics to you in time for Valentine’s Day.

#2

I love reds and pinks. Off to solve my issues. But first I will sew.

Happy Sewing, my friends.

   It really isn’t. I apologize for fussing about that silly quilt. I learned the hard lesson of not having a plan but having a vision. I should have had the quilt sketched out and planned out  in a SKETCHBOOK. Oh yah that’s what this month is about. It is being quilted and it’s doable to have it done this week-just big 60×90 and heavy.


I went down the basement yesterday and found two half yards of fabric in a bucket of soda ash water. I had forgotten about it from when I did snow dyeing about two weeks ago. And I found a little bit of dye left in my bottle. So I thought I would try it even though the water actually felt cold.  A surprising result. A pretty sunshine yellow that reminded me of daffodils.

That was worth trying!

So my lesson of the day for myself is after all my fussing….just do what feels right  when I want to

and not worry about what everyone else thinks about my

.

 🙂 that’s cheesy, I know. better go. Happy sewing, my friends.

 
     I tried snow dyeing for the first time yesterday. It was a great day for it with lots of new snow. I don’t really have a great set up for it in the winter as there is no utility sink in the basement. I am not too keen on dragging all the dyeing stuff into my 2nd floor laundry. But I tried it anyway.
     I started in the garage with the mixing. Went to the basement for the actual dyeing -including dragging the snow there- back to the garage to rinse and then upstairs to wash. That was absolute insanity. I knew my results would not be solid but wanted to see what happened.

  Yes that is snow in the bucket.

I chose yellow and red

The yellow is the best but just don’t care for the others. I did mix the yellow and red together on the middle piece. I probably need to do some more reading, try it one more time and then make a judgement as to whether or not this is something I would use. I think not…I love being outdoors with the sun cooking it and me while I work.

Happy Sewing, my friends.

      and not like it? I feel like I have given her a fair chance. I have written off many of her problems to my ineptness as a machine quilter. I have given her a name in order to bond with her.( Her name is Betsy. ) But Betsy and I just aren’t making it together. I have spent many hours trying to bond with her. I have figured out her computer. Hint…Hint…she isn’t  a person.

      But she has a problem I don’t know I can’t get over. She wobbles at the needle level. ( Yup, I have totally lost my mind this week. I am not whining, just stating fact.)  Yes, you guessed it, Betsy is a sewing machine. She wobbles, not from the machine jiggling on the table, but at the needle level.  I thought it was me but my local sewing buddy said she has had three traded in this month.  I have read about it on the internet.The dreaded needle wiggling.  But that doesn’t solve my problem. So I am left with intermittent wobbly stitches. Maybe she needs to be traded in….( I won’t tell you which brand it is as I don’t want to get in to machine bashing. Sounds like a punishable crime. I will tell you I switched brands with this purchase. ) I have gotten out the older wiser machine(Clare) but the needle is banging on the hook so Clare is off to the shop. You know this whole UFO project is soon to be over for me unless Clare and Betty pitch in to do their fair share, don’t you?
 
      Some positive news. I have taken the plunge and signed up for another class at the Barn this spring with Nancy Crow: Sets and Variables. I debated a long time about this. I am looking for my own style, so why take another class from her? Why not someone else? Because she makes me think the most and work harder than anyone else, so someday I can be myself.  And now I need to decide how much of my fabric I dyed this summer should be put away for it-all 220 yards?

     That seems like a huge number but when you see  it on the shelves, you realize how quickly you could burn through it sewing at the speed you need to there. My laundry room was moved upstairs which isn’t conducive to dyeing in the winter ahead.  Do I save it for May?  Any suggestions?

     My commercials are dwindling. Although the drawers are full of fat quarters.

Ok so there are six drawers and a few more you haven’t seen yet. Just the hand-dyed I’d like to save. Well, off to the sewing machine store to drop off Clare. Peaceful thoughts amidst a frustrating week with this sunset picture. Happy sewing , my friends.