Thursday, May 27, 2010

productive procrastination

My in-laws are visiting this weekend, and I needed to clean out my sewing room so that it can be used as a second spare bedroom. First step - the seriously overflowing bin of flannel. Instead of just putting the excess in a bag like any sane person would do, I decided to pull out all the large pieces and whip up some swaddling blankets....



Possibly not the best use of my time! But, now I have 15 swaddling blankets sewn, turned and pressed. And I'm happy that I'll be able to work on the hand sewing part (just blind stitching the openings) over the weekend - I hate the thought of three days without any sewing! I'll top stitch them next week, and then I'll be all set for the Project Linus meeting next Sunday. And that's about 40 yards of fabric out the door - whoop!



Check it out - wide open space in the sewing room! No, I didn't take a before shot - I'm not sure I would be brave enough to post it anyway.



There are so many unfinished projects tucked away in those shelves!! Cleaning everything up has motivated me to make a list and start working through it before I start anything else. Seriously. Don't laugh! I might even post my list here, so you guys can cheer me on!



Here's the other side of the room. That closet is packed with the rest of the stash - flannels, novelties, sheets, small cuts, etc. I know, it's a little crazy. But at least it's organized crazy now...



Speaking of too much fabric... I fully intended to do my usual "second chance" giveaway after the Sew Mama Sew giveaway day last week, but just never managed to get around to it.



But it just so happens that while I was cleaning up, I put together some flat rate envelopes of some leftover FQs from my stash sale.



One might be spoken for, but at least two of them are up for grabs, and I'm giving them away! Leave a comment here, and I'll draw at least two names on Monday whenever the in-laws leave. Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!

39 comments:

  1. Oh! Look at all those lovely yellows. :)

    Also, your room looks great. Am jealous!

    And good on you for being productive in your procrastination. Your dedication to sewing for charity is inspiring.

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  2. your fabric is so beautiful! i'm a little envious of how much storage space you have.

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  3. Your room is beautiful... Especially the storage... I have a similar one, but they're just horizontal shelves and they look sooo boring... I think I'll get some verticals fitted on to them, that'll spice them up...
    The fabric is beautiful too... I'll be following your blog...

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  4. Oooooh... such a clean room!!! I wish you could help me do mine!! Hope you have fun with your guests.

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  5. You have some nice storage solutions there, Evelyn. I would love to have your closet...
    Please put my name in the hat for the drawing - your pretty fabric is tempting me every time i visit your blog!

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  6. Your sewing area is awesome!! I'm still working on my kitchen table.
    These fabrics are beautiful!

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  7. I am sooo envious of your sewing room! It's lovely! Mine is an office most of the time. I love the shelving! And you are inspiring me to do some more sewing :) Yay!

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  8. Wow, Ev, you have a serious stash! The sewing room looks great, too! Is that a new shelf?

    Enjoy your weekend :-)

    ~A

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  9. *sigh* amazing sewing room! I love your thread shelf... sooo pretty. And yes, you should post your project list here... accountability!! Have a great weekend with your in-laws!

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  10. I too, just last week made 2 swaddling blankets for my soon to be here grandbaby girl~ TELL me, I'm thinkin', I should sew in the middle of them like a big square or something to keep it together better when washing them, what do you think? I used cotton for one side and flannel for the other...
    on and yes I'd love to win!:)

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  11. Oh your fabric stash is awesome! I love the room! If it wasn't bad to envy I sure would right now. Hope all goes well with the In Laws visit. ;) Enjoy.

    Would love to win in your drawing...just got some fabric something like this....not too long ago (do believe it was from you :0) )and would love to add to it. ;0)

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  12. You should totally post your list! Last month I sorted through my stuff and pulled out all my old projects and cleared (finished or trashed - if something gets set aside it's usually because there's a major problem) everything that was more than 2 years old. Now that I think on it, it's kind of pathetic that my criteria was two years or older and I still had so many things to finish...
    Anyway, it felt awesome! It really helped me feel like I was starting fresh with new projects, as well.

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  13. How large do you make the swaddling blankets for Project Linus, and do you use flannel on one side or both?

    Thanks Sally
    http://fibercrafter.blogspot.com/

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  14. Love seeing your sewing room. Enjoy your weekend. Thanks for the chance to win!
    ktyoung1(at)gmail(dot)com

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  15. this is such a gorgeous sewing space...your tidy shelves and buckets are awesome. i always seem to start a project when i should be doing something else. perfect stash of baby blankies!

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  16. I love seeing other people's sewing spaces and yours is wonderful. Would love to get my hands on some of those fat quarters as well.

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  17. Good luck with your in-laws. Thanks for the giveaway too.

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  18. Loved looking at your sewing room! I hope you have a nice visit with your in-laws!

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  19. I would love the FQs! Have a great weekend!

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  20. I could NOT stopping laughing when I read this post. I found the part about sewing blankets instead of putting the excess fabric into a bag like any sane person, totally hilarious. I wouldn't take on a a huge activity like sewing something, but I do find myself ADD when I try to organize and clean. Instead of just organizing and cleaning, I get sidetracked with things that I find as I'm cleaning. Oh this was just too funny!

    Okay...that sewing room and organized stash is HEAVEN!!!! I love how you have your thread on shelves as well! Oh my gosh! I just looooooove how organized and neat you are! Amaaaaazing!

    Have a great visit with the in-laws!

    Thanks for this post that gave me my laugh of the day! :D

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  21. Hi Evelyn - Nice clean-up job! I'm inviting you over to *my* house - my sewing studio is tiny and disastrously overfilled! I think I am the "one might be spoken for" you refer to in your post, and yes, I'm speaking! ~ but I'll throw my hat in this ring as well.

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  22. Oh I wish my room was as tidy as your one! And the material - absolutely beautiful. I am never very sure whether the vintage sheets in this country have a poly content in them, so this would let me see what I should be looking for. Anyway, if I don't win, I have found your blog, so definitely a win, win situation.

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  23. Please enter my name for the contest! I would love to win some new fabric. I love your shelf with all the squares that contain your fabric - do you remember where you got it? Thanks so much for your blog!

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  24. WOW I wish my sewing space looked even a little like yours!! All that storage!
    You did make me giggle when you told how you sewed all that flannel instead of stashing it away!!
    Gill

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  25. How grand to have the stash all organized like that! And the 15 flannel blankets about to be finished! Hurray for you. More stash I don't need but if you should draw my name I wouldn't refuse.

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  26. I love your thread shelves! They turn the thread into art. Your stash and projects look so neatly organized.

    And what an awesome giveaway! Fingers crossed!

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  27. I've been using the FQs I got from you last time and think I need more. I want to make a quilt this time!

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  28. Oh, Evelyn, you know I love vintage sheets! Thanks for the chance!!

    ps And I love your sewing room!

    Michelle

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  29. I just stumbled upon your site. :) Love it! Thanks for sharing... Am inspired!

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  30. You have a beautiful sewing room. It looks very inviting, and I'm sure you can make many nice things.

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  31. Your sewing room looks fabulously organized. I just arrived here from Sew Create It -- your use of the vintage linens fascinates me!!

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  32. Wow, love those shelves STACKED to the rafters...think I might need a trip to the fabric store!!! hehehe

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  33. Your room looks amazing! I wish mine looked as good!

    You are inspiring me- I think I wii also start a list of my WIP's so I can finish them and stop thinking about them all the time!

    Yeah for giveaways! I love your vintage linens!

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  34. Hey! Productive procrastination, I like that concept. Great job in the sewing room-I especially love the colorful thread shelves, nice touch. I'm really loving this g.a., I have a matching fabric in your 1st pic... :) hee hee, can you believe it? wonder if it's cause we are both in WA state? :) I picked mine up at a thrift store, it's just 1 (sad :( cuz I love it)pillow case, it matches your fabric on the bottom row--the luscious pink & white floral/stripe---haven't found just the right project since it's such a small amount. Crossing my fingers! Thank you for the g.a. & for such a beautiful and inspiring blog!
    Have a great week, Valerie

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  35. Thanks for the giveaway! I's sure like to win. Mist comment on the clean tidy room! How do you do that???!!!!

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  36. Hey, what about coming over to sort out my place in the same way? What?! France is too far?! Ok... then I'd be (more than) happy with one of these lovely FQ sets: it would mean that some of my fabric is tidy... until I tear the envelope open with glee! :-D
    Thanks for the chance!
    linedupuy(at)hotmail(dot)fr

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  37. Hi Evelyn! Love your sewing stash, and I especially love your little shelves of thread. They look like such happy shelves! And I LOVE all of the vintage sheet quilting going on over here. It's all so gorgeous! x

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  38. I'm always interested in more vintage sheets! And what a lovely collection you have! jodiebissig(at)yahoo. :)

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  39. Those shelves are perfect for storing fabric and seeing what you've got. I showed my husband the picture and how I would like something like that...."Hmmmm" he said!

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