Warming up in Florida

 Al and I are in Florida, warming up from the below zero temps in Michigan. I brought my favorite beach quilt... It's called SUMMER BREEZE and is one of my patterns from 2013. This quilt pattern is SUPER easy, uses 12 FQs and a bit of yardage...15 fabrics in all. I bet it would look cute in cut-up shirts. You know what? I think I'll try that. I need two fast and easy quilts for my grandsons bunk beds. This will be a perfect pattern!

So here's the weather we left behind...looks pretty but SO cold!

I'm so grateful that we were able to make our yearly trip down here. It won't be as long as usual but it's better than nothing. I hope you are all keeping warm and dry. I've been reading about the cold going down to southern TX! And the ice! Stay safe everyone!

Stitched up "Sewing to go" bag

I found this cute sewing supplies tin at Home Goods last week. It's perfect to hold my epp papers, thread, scissors, etc for trips and car rides.

I loaded it up with everything I need for English paper piecing.

I have a bag of scraps and strips that need to become hexagon flowers but there wasn't enough room in the tin for this pile...so, I decided to make a tote to hold the tin and the fabric.

It turned out perfect. I needed something to sew at the end of the zipper I had inserted. The L.L. Bean label is from a shirt I cut up for fabric...it works perfectly. 

 

The purple quilt is finished!

This purple scrap jar stars quilt is now in the completed pile! 

It's going to my niece who saw it and absolutely LOVED it. She's moving into a new home soon and her favorite color is purple...seems it was desitined for her!

This is my first finish of 2021 and of the first quarter so I'm tagging it as a #finishalong quarter 1 finish. I started this quilt about three years ago to use up my purple scrap box. I don't have much in that color...most of my scraps are blue. Maybe a blue scrappy quilt next?

 

The sewing room is finished!

 The flooring (carpet) finally came and now the basement is done including my sewing room! I'm so excited to start working in here.

I've spent days pulling things out of boxes and arranging cabinets and drawers. The closet is stuffed (not everything fits) so I started filling the guest room closet...that's where I'm hanging my quilt tops that need to be finished. I'll be moving a dresser and chest into the guest room so there's going to be plenty more drawers to stash fabric in (and I'll need it!).

I bought a brand new cutting mat...my old one had gotten a little warp to it plus I was starting to wear grooves into it. The best price I found for an Olfa mat (24x36") was at JoAnn Fabrics. They have some for $79 and with my 50% off coupon it was about 40...not bad. 

I'm still quilting the purple quilt. I do a bit at a time because if I work at it consistently, I end up with a back ache. It's almost done...maybe another hour.

Hopefully the TV will get put together soon...I'll be able to sew at my machine and see it straight ahead. I love to do that but I also like to have company downstairs. Al can watch TV and I can sew. Today he was hanging blinds and pictures while I quilted. 

Below is the TV room looking into my sewing room. I dont have a door closing it off...I wanted to be open to whatever is going on. 

Those sidelights, surrounding the opening, are doors that were marked down at our local lumber yard. Someone ordered them then didn't want them. They were in the clearance room for REALLY CHEAP. So, I decided to put them on display this way. They're really beautiful wood doors with beveled glass. They're fixed...just a pretty architectural accent.

We still have plenty of small projects to finish up down here but we're 85% done. Done enough to enjoy it!