I did it!

Well, I went to see the office landlord to let her know I was interested in taking the larger office space. Our plan is for me to move in after the end of the week. I have been thinking over and over on exactly what I want to do. My plan is to definitely have the one room for people to quilt or scrapbook in.. It will sure make it nice to not have to compete for space to use when we need it. Reasonably priced places are getting harder and harder to find. Especially for the number of hours we use it for. So onward I go and I am looking forward to next week.

Lots to think about

I have been to see the other offices several times already. I finally got it all drawn out on the computer and I hope to be able to post it on here. But first I have to figure out how that works. I can do the very basics on here. I just keep thinking of ideas on how to use the space. My head is filling up........

I worked on the Farmers Daugther quilt yesterday and today. I have each individual block sewn and pressed. So now it's time to start sashing them together. I might work on it later tonight. Right now I have a very itchy nose and itchy watery eyes. So it depends on whether I can get rid of that. It's driving me nuts. And now I have started sneezing like crazy too. I hope this doesn't last long. I'm ready for it to be over now.

Here are the blocks that I'm getting ready to sash together. I think there are 46 of them. Or something close to that.

Below is the one I have now. Simple 12x12 square room. Not really any room for anyone else to do anything in. There are two windows and a window unit AC with baseboard heat. I do like the fact that there are 3 offices off a central hallway. So you can see and talk to your neighbors there. But I can usually get along just fine by myself. Especially if I have a lot to do. And beleive me I have a ton of fabric that can be made into quilts. I probably have at least 50 or more bagged quilts with the patterns put together and are ready to either cut or already cut and just need to be sewn together.

Today after a few errands I went to the office to see what I could accomplish. I did bring the new desk drawers up with me, so I could get them out of the room downstairs. I am hoping that Mike can help me get my desk in when the weather warms up.

I went to see the office landlord to ask her about the other office space in the building. She gave me the keys to check it out. Oh my gosh is is so large. Each room is about 2 feet each direction larger than mine. And there are two rooms that have to be rented together due to the central heat and air. There are 4 windows, 2 built in bookshelves and a very large closet. I could see me working in one room and having customers crop in the other room. I have been playing with a floor plan now too. I will think about it a while before I decide. The only downfall is that the entrances to the offices is down the hall. It just seems so lonely through there. But the windows to the office are great. They are on the front side of the building for lots of natural light.

Today was quilt day at a group I belong to. Mt Washington Quilting Bees. We are getting ready to start working on our 2010 "Opportunity Quilt". It's going to be great. This will also be my first to participate on. So I will be giving chances for a donation if you are interested when it is done. Believe me I will be asking everyone.

We learned a paper piecing technique with a bumble bee. I can't wait to finish it. I have about 3 seams left and the block will be done. I can see where this technique could be addicting. I'll post pictures tomorrow.

I mentioned to Sydnee about a contest in NH where she can make a small quilt and have it hung. She can't wait and wants to work on practicing so she can participate. Heck, we may just have to make a trip up there if she actually does it.

Cinci shops

The kids and I went to Cinci for appointments today, which meant that we would just have to hit a quilt shop or two. I walked into one of them to see if by chance they had the line of fabric that I am using in the Farmers Dauhter quilt. I need a small piece of one fabric in the series. When I walked in I asked "do you happen to carry the new Moday fabric line of ...." The owner of the shop looked at me and said 'I don't carry Moda, don't like the way it feels and don't like the representative". She was very blunt. So I told her she was missing out.

We then went to "Aunt Ruths Quilt Shop". The owner of that shop remembered us from Sept. She turned on the tv for Simon and Sydnee told her she wanted to help in the shop. So they let her help. They had Sydnee putting bolts of flannel back on the shelves. She was on cloud nine. So they both did very well there. This lady remembered where they went to school, remembered that the kids were home schooled last year. Very impressive. It's not a large shop, but they are very nice. So of the two, I would go back to Aunt Ruths. The other one was called "Best Friends".

Now I am about ready for bed. Goodnight.

Day spent quilting

Well I did get to do what I had wanted. And yes, the house is still a mess. The kids played nicely most of the day with the exception of watching back to back episodes of "I Love Lucy". This was the first time they had seen it and Simon was cackling most of the time.

I managed to piece a lot. Now I am getting ready to iron many blocks. But I took a break to get the kids cleaned up, fed and ready for bed. We have to go to Cinci in the morning for an appointment. So tomorrow is pretty much a loss.

Sydnee got her sewing machine out yesterday and again today. She was so excited to sit down with me to sew. The funny thing was something she said to Simon. Simon had told her that Star Trek (from the early 70's or whenever they first started) was on and that they were allowed to watch these episodes. Her comment back to him was "That's ok, just turn it up and I will listen to it while I keep sewing". That is such a person who likes to do any kind of craft, etc. We have learned to hear with our ears and not have to look up all the time to see. That's how we can multi-task and sit with a bunch of friends and sew to accomplish something. We don't have to be looking up the whole time.

Here she is checking to see that her doo-hickie is in the upper position before she tries to pull her fabric out from under her presser foot.

"Now it's time to cut my thread...."

Notice the mouth being held just right..... I give her a sandwich with lines and curves to sew on. She does very well. So the next step is to start having her following a seam allowance. She has been cutting out a rag quilt. I thought that would be a good place to start since the seam allowance is large and it's very forgiving.

This is her little tape measure she got when she got her sewing machine. She has the little Janome Sew Mini. This machine is wonderful for her. She can lift it easily and it fits right in her tote. She is able to do all of that by herself. It's also the perfect speed and it doesn't clog easily. So the frustration level is low.

Update on Farmers Daughter

I have finished cutting out the quilt pieces for the Farmers Daughter. I completed sewing 4 of the 46 blocks. They have turned out very nice. There is a bit of a challenge on adding the outer rows of color to the beige due to the square angle meeting up with the 45 degree angle. But by the 4th one, I found it getting easier. So it is just a matter of getting used to it. Here is a picture of each of the four main blocks. I have multiples of them in the quilt, but these are the four main color combinations. I am enjoying this one during the process.

I have also gotten the "Prarie Paisley" fabrics and pattern. I have always liked this one and decided if I was going to do it, I had better get it before it's out of stock or even a particular part of the series are discontinued.