Serial Killer Sewing: FMQ Friday

I was pretty excited to do this week's FMQ.  I thought the Slate Tiles FMQ was going to be a pattern that I really loved...hahahhahaaa...so I was pretty surprised when I found it tedious at first!  I don't know if it was because I started with my blocks too tiny or what.  But once I gave myself the freedom to kind of play around a bit with different sizes and orientations then it went much better.  I would love to do this on a large scale with some smaller blocks inside larger ones.  Hmmm...would be great to do on a QAYG!

This is the pattern as it is meant to look:

And this is my version:  I did a poor job of picking thread that would stand out...so squint?

The back was all sorts of messed up.  See how the threading is all uneven with the top stitch barely visible?  Then I realized it was because I was using a feature on my bobbin that is supposed to hide the stitching.  I wanted to try it with some piecing I was finishing up.  This hiding the thread is Good for sewing clothes, not so good for FMQ.  I will have to go back and sort this out.

These are the lovely leather driving gloves I bought with my mother years ago in Paris.  They only cover half the hand and were perfect for holding the rails while riding the Subway in NYC...but they've been sitting in my closet until I thought hunh, maybe I could use these for FMQ?  Hahahaha, wearing gloves really does give a new dimension to the FMQ practice, more grip on the fabric if that makes sense.  But hahahahaa, the black leather made my mind wander last night and made me think that I looked like a serial killer...then my memories went further back to an Alfred Hitchcock movie with some scene of Carey Grant and a car driving wildly...like...

To Catch a Thief (1955) starring Carey Grant and Grace Kelly

Hahahahaa...so where does your mind wander while you are sewing?  Linking up to Fluffy Sheep Quilting - go check out everyone else's FMQ Progress!

- rebecca lynne

P.S. If you stopped by last week and left a comment on my FMQ Post I am SO SORRY IF I HAVEN'T RESPONDED TO YOUR COMMENT OR STOPPED BY YOUR BLOG YET!  I am still catching up on my emails whilst I was away.  I promise I will be by soon...in fact, I'll come visit to see your work this Friday.  Do forgive me!  I truly appreciate all your comments and feedback!  Thanks!

Focusing on the Stash Thursday Think Tank [October 20, 2011]

I've been giving some thought to my brainstorming as of late and have resolved to do a better job of applying the fabrics I have to my Think Tank Projects.  Oh the heartache that is caused when I devise a new idea and realize my stash will just not suit.  Sigh.  Until I have a job again I really cannot justify additional extravagant fabric purchases!  So...I am going to start with my stash and brainstorm about what to do with it.  Sound like a plan?  Well then, glad you are on board, get ready for some oldies and real lovelies to come out of their stash bins!  
Denyse Schmidt's Katie Jump Rope Quilt Collection (MRL's FQ Set)I have been stalking people's KJR Quilts via Flickr and have decided I am not a huge fan of this fabric with many of the solids I have seen it paired with.  I want the fabric to...hahahahaa...jump (sorry I had to) out on its own but I am not really into using a white solid.  So I'm thinking of using Black.  Yes...black.  Wait...before you cringe look at the fabric!  This collection has a lot of bits of black in it and I think the bright rainbow colors would really POP against it.

As for layout I was already thinking of a Box within a Box type of design to really feature the fabrics.  When I saw this quilt I immediately had an AHA moment and thought how amazing this could be with KJR.  Come on, how amazing and modern is that!

AMH's Innocent Crush Collection (MRL's FQ Set) & Drunkard's Path

When I saw Clare's Quilt on her blog I knew I had to make a DP.  [Aside from the beautiful quilt...does my attraction to this quilt have anything to do with the adorable baby and the fact that I am now technically a mother of 2 Toddlers?  Eh, perhaps.]  What a happy coincidence when Lucy pointed out the DP QAL going on right now!  But I vowed not to buy new fabric and instead decided that the time has come to delve into my AMH Innocent Crush Collection!  I already have a beautiful stash of Free Spirit Lavender solid that complements this collection perfectly...or perhaps charcoal...hmmm...  Either way I will be making use of this very soon!

AMH's Loulouthi Needleworks Fabrics & Pillowcases

Really?  You cannot be surprised that I am mentioning AMH twice.  You do realize I drool over anything AMH creates right?  Thank goodness the Mr. always likes her fabrics too.  He has no idea who she is or that she makes some of his favs, all that matters is that he always have positive feedback whenever I point out AMH fabric for whatever project.  Yay!  AMH I heart you!!!    

When I  saw these To Die For, i.e. made using AMH, pillowcases over at kelbysews I immediately left a comment.  This of course led to an email back and forth with Kelly over at kelbysews about how in love I am with this idea.  Kelly's beautiful cases are made using AMH voile so I thought I would jump on that bandwagon and do the same...

Source: kelbysews "sewing selfish" post

That is until my AMH Loulouthi Needleworks Fabric arrived and it immediately spoke to me and said "we must, we must, we just must be placed on your bed and support your sleepy head."  Yes, fabric speaks to me doesn't yours speak to you?

And even better...the Mr.'s reaction.  Hahahaa, I showed him the idea with the darker more masculine blue print and his immediate reaction, no hesitation, and for those who know him you know that is huge, was an enthusiastic "oh yeah, awesome.  do it."  

The only problem now?  I wish I had bought more of the fabric to make extra pillowcases!  

**PAL UPDATE**

I will be posting a little mini-schedule for our mini-along on Sunday/Monday.  I was hoping to get it done for Friday but I have an unexpected Job Interview scheduled in the Afternoon so I am a bit preoccupied.  (This interview appointment just happened so I am as shocked as you.)  In the meantime, how is everyone's shopping going?  Overseas folks, any problems getting supplies?  Any questions?  Hope you don't mind putting off the PAL until after Halloween.  Some of us Mommies, or should I say Mummies, have costumes to sew!

As always...
Feel free to rattle off anything that has been brewing in your creative heads.  It can be anything, quilting, home improvement, fashion, crafting, DIY gifts, cooking...whatever you have recently thought "hmmm, you know what I should create" is perfectly appropriate for the Think Tank.  Have a blog?  Grab the Thursday Think Tank button displayed on the right.  
Please leave a link to your T.T.T. on your blog in the linky party below or leave a comment with your Thursday Think Tank ideas!  
- rebecca lynne

Dead Simple Sewing & the MRL Studio

Wow, another Wednesday...and as my usual readers know I have been away so I have not much to show for it.  But, I am working on this and you can see a bit last night's progress on it here...

Dead Simple Quilt Along Sewn Strips

I made a slight cutting error but was excited to resolve it by adding some selvage on a few squares.  Heh heh, see no problems just creative opportunities!

In the meantime I thought I would cross some things off my To Do List.  One of which is to write a post about my studio space.  A few weeks ago Helen posted about her studio space and I, as usual when it comes to things Helen, drooled at the serenity and organization of her creative spot. Via email I told her I would also post about my studio...as per usual Rebecca Lynne style it has taken me a bit to get my act together.  Helen, slowly but surely I do complete my promises...

I am a clutter person.  I am not a hoarder, nor do I abide by filth (detergent/white vinegar + baking soda = my favorite formula)...but I definitely generate clutter.  Fascinating that someone so into Excel Spreadsheets, To Do Lists, and extremely anal Legal Files still ends up with piles of this or that everywhere...I think it is because I am a visual person and I like to see things to jog my memory or motivate me to work.  That is just how my brain works best!  A few years ago a New York Times Article spoke about the value of a cluttered office, how it is the sign of a flexible and creative mind.  As you can imagine I received the article multiple times from friends and family vindicating my clutter tendencies.  I couldn't find the article but I did find this book which talks about the benefits of mess.  Whatever your take on it, keep in mind You Don't Have to Live Here, I Do.  

Without further ado...

This is an overview of my studio from the doorway as it stood last night while I sewed my Dead Simple Quilt.  Yup, there is a lot of STUFF!

This is the corner directly across from my sewing machine.  I have a small design wall there where I keep some things up to inspire me.  The fabrics in the upper right are some of my absolute favorites and these are all the bits I have left of them...  The TV and DVDs are my usual distraction while sewing.  I have 4 versions of Pride & Prejudice and I basically watch it on a loop.  

plastic suitcases to hold beads and beading supplies, suitcases to hold old photos and scrapbooking materials

Right next to my sewing machine is an Asian inspired apron smock thingy that Lauren picked up for me.  I use it to hold my supplies.  Yes, this photo was taken before the wedding and you can see the veil in progress!  Um, notice the fabric hanging over my chair?  Usually whatever I am currently cutting or piecing lives here...I literally reach behind me and grab it to sew.  The beautiful white plastic bag?  My garbage.  Hahahhaaa...hey it works and saves space from having a garbage can under my feet.

You can see this peeking out from the corner in the photo above.  I found this printer's tray at an antique store nearby and started to use it to store spools of thread.  As per usual Rebecca Lynne style it was all beautiful and color coordinated...hahahhaaa...now I mostly stack the thread and matching spool I am using most that week on top.  I know at least one of you who is cringing at this lack of organization!

Here are a few views of my sewing table.  Ikea desk style.  My favorite piece of ironing equipment aside from my Rowenta is my small little blue ironing board.  I heart it so much!  It wobbles, is completely bent and annoying, and yet for $5 who can beat it?

                           

This is a small  textile piece of mine mounted on canvas, it is a small study for a much larger 7 yard screen print I have upstairs in the house.  It is screen prints of 18th Century Dress Patterns.  I just like to remind myself of where I have come from and all that I have learned.

Lucy - remember the door in your Hot Mess photos of your sewing area?  Yeah, well here is mine.  This used to be a pile of crap with things stacked up top of each other in moving boxes...but I asked the Mr. if I could get shelves and am so relieved he agreed.  This was a Huge Step Forward in this room!  My Lush Cluster supplies are up top (mostly behind those photos of family) and moving down are WIPs, (see the ATS Block?), books I am currently reading, my knitting supplies, and fabric I am debating what to do with but want to see out in the hopes I will have an "aha" moment.

My small attempt at studio organization...my chalkboard WIP list.  This really has been stagnant as of late...I must get on it!

And of course what everyone is really interested in is Where Is the Fabric?  In these chalk labeled drawers and bins of course.   

On top of the shelves are my "to be quilted's" and Solid Fabrics.  Inside the shelves is my own unique way of organizing...sometimes by color, sometimes by project, sometimes by collection...

The Japanese Fabric is taking over as of late and are all living on top of these bins right now. Like everything it has its moment in the spotlight right now, and when it is over I will place it in a bin, label it, and another fabric of the moment will take over the lids of the bins!

Large library of Art Books on Left; Books I am currently obsessing over on Right

                                      

And none of this would be complete without showing you Ms. V's toys.  She does occasionally come visit for very very very short periods of time.  Basically, she can stay as long as she forgets about the spools of thread but once she heads for that printing tray...it is all over!

So what keeps me from going crazy with all this stimulation going on in this room?  This.

A blank design wall waiting for my latest crazy inspiration!

Linking up to WIP Wednesday.  Don't forget to check out all the amazingness in case you don't already...

- rebecca lynne