My Fabric Stash Cabinet : :

Each time I go to begin a new quilt using my fabrics, I find myself tearing another half yard or so from the rolls of my prints that I receive from Art Gallery Fabrics.  My main fabric stash cabinet has become such a cluttered mess, that rather than sort through the piles searching for the prints I need to begin a new project, pulling from the rolls is the fastest way to begin.  The other day I noticed just how quickly these precious rolls of mine were thinning out, so I decided that this time I would take the time to search my big cabinet for all of my prints floating amongst the messy bundles. This became quite the project! I thought maybe you'd like to see, so I took some photos throughout the day to share!

The before...   Hopefully this looks much different, in a bad way, to you all compared to the photo above!



Where to being? Well, because I'm such a fan of so many fellow fabric designers and get just as excited today about new lines coming out as I did when I discovered this wonderful world of sewing, designer fabrics, and blogging - and since I've already tried out organizing by color and by manufacturer and by simply separating collections. Now that it's been several years that I've been "collecting" fabrics, I decided it was time to sort the big cabinet by designer.



Above you might recognize two of my favorite -- Pat Bravo and April Rhodes!

The only exception made was my voile stash, these beauties have to stay together!  I've always dreamed of making an ultra luxurious herringbone quilt using nothing but voiles for the top and something equally dreaming for the backing, a super soft plush perhaps. How heavenly would that be? 



I even set the voiles in my cabinet in a way that they're peeking out just a bit further than the other stacks so I don't forget that these are high on my to-make list!



I really enjoyed seeing all of my Sharon Holland prints together! I noticed that I'm missing her Gossamer collection and that I've used quite a few prints from Tapestry, but seeing these together has me so excited about her next line due out in March, Bountiful!



Below, at the center, is my Bonnie Christine collection and a look at my newly stashed bundle of her beautiful Wonderful Things line. I'm making plans for these and will be sure to share more next week!



So what do you think, better? I think it's so much better, definitely worth the time it took, and I found almost everything print I needed to begin my next quilt amongst the mess!



I shared a peek of it yesterday on my Instagram, did you see? I'm so excited about where this "collection quilt" is headed!



I'll be back soon with more to share! ♡ Maureen

Sewing Room New : :

This week one of my BIG goals is to work on organizing my sewing room in between projects so I can finally share photos of all that's changed. And to stitch up something pretty with Amy Sinibaldi's beautiful Paperie collection for Art Gallery Fabrics Limited Edition. Every time I hop on Instagram I see at least one amazing Paperie fabric project and this morning I'm feeling inspired to finally cut into the lovely bundle I've been admiring since it arrived at my door!









How about you, what are your sewing goals for this week?

p.s. Paperie can by found at Fat Quarter Shop, The Intrepid Thread, Lady Belle Fabric, and Llama Fabrics!

Interrupted : :

Just as soon I shared my plans to make a mess in here early last evening, I felt the sharp ache of what was to become the. worst. flu I have ever experienced! Haila had it early the week, and recovered quick, so I'm hopeful I'm already out of the woods.

And, I was really wishing to see this quilt finished by Monday, ah well!



Be sure to stop back tomorrow for my Friday Fabric Giveaway and to have yourself a great weekend!
♥,  Maureen 

New & Finished : :

I had a really productive sewing weekend, and I'm excited to share it all throughout this new week! Of course, I have no clue where to begin. Gosh, I took so many pictures over the weekend! Before I do share any of them, I want to start by quickly saying thank you for being so generous and sweet with your comments lately. It's the greatest feeling and motivator to know that all this making I do, and that all the time it takes to share it all here, might mean something to more than just me. It's wonderful and I thank you!

On Thursday I found a new piece for my sewing room that I really, really like. I plan to use it as an inspiration board eventually. For now I'm using it to encourage some long overdue finishes! Which is working!!





After finishing up some crown orders on Saturday I finally turned my "Stitch Sketch" girl into a finished quilt top! I hope to share all the details tomorrow, but here's a peek!







In the sunlight I could easily see the imperfection of my stitch sketching, and I actually think my mistakes are beautiful. Hoping the recipient of this quilt agrees.

I finished up my Tsuru & Pure Element Quilt top, as well! I stayed up late Saturday night until it was done! I'll be sharing it with a special Tsuru Giveaway on Valentine's Day!!







Besides lots of crown making, I have plans to finish a few more wips this week. First in line is already hanging on my new inspiration board! And, I've already begun work on yet another quilt. This time, Chicopee was on my cutting table, and the laborious task of turning this gorgeous collection into a high stack of triangles is already complete!





Today, I've got Ray...



and some crown-making to do!

Happy Monday, friends!! ♥,  Maureen 

p.s. I just tried to "Pin" some of my photos and it won't work?? Does anyone know how to fix that?? Thanks!  Problem fixed! Pin if you're interested!!

Welcome, to my Sewing Room : :

Today I'm ready to share a little tour of my new space, well our space actually -- we decided to fit as much of the kids craft supplies in here, as well. And, we're all loving that so far! I can't say that it's 'finished', just that it's all unpacked and we're using it!

Come on in!



This room is attached to the dining room, which I LOVE! Having the large table for big projects, craft days, and even just to dream of hosting a "sewing club," is a beautiful thing! I thought I would really want some doors to close it off from the other rooms, but so far I don't and the kids have already decided this is their favorite room in the house. Yes!

Going around the room, I have lots of pieces of furniture! Most of which I stole from other rooms in our last house, with just a few pieces you'll find familiar. It's an eclectic mix of things, that's for sure, which I love! Old furniture just suits us better, it feels more warm and homey to me than anything I could ever buy new. The first piece to my left, and most favorite, is our first, old bedroom dresser -- used now for felt and fabric scrap storage (until I can finish the rest of my color totes). We bought this from a local antique dealer, I love the color and style of it, and am excited I found a reason to use it in here!



On top of the dresser sits my packaging supplies, boxes of floss, and some of the kids craft supplies.



My flower hooks (from here or here) hold all my hoops. And, these wool felt boxes keep my business cards and stickers nicely organized.



Next up is a little desk, the one I made my Innocent Crush/linen desk mat for, that's in major need of knobs!





Then we have my Monster Fabric Shelf -- overflowing with fabric LOVE and handmade goodness!







For the kids, company, afternoon naps for Lily, and a place to put all my pillow makings -- we decided to put our extra sofa in here. In front of that is the kids very used and loved craft/activity table, and a place to hold my cutting mats.



The other side of the room holds a little less -- a shelf for my wips and the kids projects, my sewing table, and one last shelf of fabric and more supplies.





After Martha's suggestion the other day (thank you!), I decided the perfect thing for this empty space would be an inspiration board. It's on my wishlist!!

I'm so excited and so very grateful to have a permanent room like this! I have MANY more pictures here! Even though there is still so much I want & need to do, it feels really good already. I know that this work & play space of ours IS going to get cluttered with all the making that's certain to happen, but I'm up for the challenge of making it work.

And now after a very busy long weekend of orders, I do believe it's time for me to get to work in here!! ♥,  Maureen

Sewing Room Before : :

Oh gosh, I really hope I'm not jinxing myself with this post. We haven't even closed on the house yet, but that date is set, everything is signed, and we are all packing. So....  I'm dreaming!

Well, dreaming and pinning! I'll apologize now for just how much, if you follow me there. Sorry.
I just. can't. stop.

I thought it would be a good idea to share some before's today. The room that will be my studio is almost empty now, so I snapped a few photos yesterday to make my plans and to share. Here it is, just as you leave the kitchen and come into the dining room.



It's very open to the rest of the house, which I am not at all used to. In the last three years that I have been passionately crafting, I have always used that small awkward space, that's a little hidden from the rest of the house. That started with me using a huge closet, with a window for a little knitting room hide-away spot. Which moved to me taking claim of half of the playroom, once I began sewing. In this house we're in now, I have been lucky to have my very own room, a forth small bedroom, many steps away from the kitchen, which is where I definitely spend most of my time. It will be so nice to be able to just pop in and out of this new room.



Of course there's a little negative to it's location, as well. With it being so open, I'm going to have to be extra neat. I've already asked my husband for doors, but it will be awhile before that happens. Right now I imagine my sewing table beneath this beautiful window. What do you think? The shutters will keep me from staring out into the neighbors house, but I'll have some pretty light coming in right above be.



The carpet is likely to stay for awhile, too. Hopefully, one day, we can extend these pretty Pergo floors throughout. I love the look of them! Many things about this house are just our style, these floors are one of them!



They are in the family room, which is our very favorite room. Isn't it cozy? I can't wait to move into this room!!



And, here is my future sewing room from the outside. The first room to the right, just as you enter.



It is so exciting, I can hardly stand it! It's going to be so fun to plan and finally get in there and all set up. I really would love your advice and suggestions!! Here come the questions, ready? --

How do you feel about leaving the walls a neutral color? What do you use for fabric storage? Scrap storage? Thread storage? I won't have a closet, which scares me! But I do have my new huge cabinet, plus my current shelf space. Do you have any favorite art prints? I will finally be able to put nails in the walls, hallelujah!! I will have a desk for my machine, but I'm not sure if I should bother with a second table for my cutting, or just use the dining room table, since it will be so close?? I'll also need to find a creative way to display my quilts and all the items I make for sale. A ladder for the quilts? A shelf dedicated to sale merchandise?

It's going to be hard to wait, but so nice to have time to plan it all out!! I can't wait to read your ideas!!  
♥,  Maureen 

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

Fabric Stash Rainbow : :

It always feels so good to find new ways to store your fabrics and craft supplies, doesn't it? I think so! Once I was home from Atlanta, the first thing on my mind was to shift things around in my studio! I was so inspired by my trip to Whipstitch, not just to get things a little more organized, but to also change HOW I organize. You could even say that I had a bit of an "Aha! Moment" while I was there. And, that 14.5 hour ride home gave me lots of time to think this through, I'll explain!

Whipstitch is a very organized, well layout shop, with fabrics mostly displayed by fabric manufacturer, collection, and designer. Which is exactly how I was stashing my fabrics, in a much messier way. While we were shopping I realized something that I hadn't before -- I was much more drawn to the fabrics I bought, what it was that made them interesting and something I wanted, when they were pulled away from their collection, laid out on a cutting table, next to a contrasting print, or even in someone's hand. So of course I decided it would make much more sense for me to divide up my fabric stash in a new way. By color!

We found this great 25 cubby shelf at HomeGoods and right away I knew it would be perfect! I pinned a few similar options here, for those of you who are interested!



For this color game I called in the troops to do the sorting for me, while I did the folding. Most of my stash consists of half yard cuts, to give you an idea on what the dimensions are here.The little bowls for pins and buttons are from here, and the "M" from here.



It didn't take long before it was full!



Of course these aren't all my fabrics. I still have my wooden crate storage for the fabrics that wouldn't fit -- my Melody Miller and linen stash, holiday prints, solids, custom bundles, flannels, home dec, Riley Blake, Summersville, Anna Maria Horner (I'll save the pictures of that stash for another day), and my Art Gallery Fabrics.



It's so nice to be able to see what colors I really need now -- purples, true blues, and black for sure! Plus I really need solids!



It's extra wonderful to see this wall of goodness when I'm sitting behind my sewing machine!



And I'm extra excited about WHAT having this view will inspire me to make!



My little space will always be a work in progress, but right now it sure feels pretty perfect!