Studio Cleaning and Autumn Leaves

My studio was in desperate need of cleaning. When DH took the TV out of the room on Sunday stuff got moved around. I had projects laying around and in general I didn't feel creative being in there. Here is the right side of the room.
Here is the left side of the room. The table and bookcase look empty without the TV and cable box. The table is full of stuff. The floor is cluttered.
Aaaahhhhhh . . . this is much better. Only my current project is on the work table. I hung my "P" on the wall. Even the closet doors are closed.
The TV and cable box are back in their place. The big box has been added to the recycle pile. The floor is clean. I hung a clock that was a gift from my sons.
I even hung my bulletin board. The top half was meant to display photos, but I decided to show off some fabric instead.
Just for fun, I took a photo of one of the branches outside my patio door. The leaves are getting so pretty. I can't wait to see the whole tree in color.

Now that my studio is clean I can focus on my Stitcher's Angel projects.

Go Red Sox! On to the play-offs!
Sweet P

Changes and Stitcher's Angel Hints

I've decided to change the name of my blog from Coffee Time Quilt Studio to Coffee Time Stitches. I'm making more than quilts these days. But I'm never far from stitching with fabric and thread. I still love my coffee so that will stay.

I finished two Stitcher's Angel stitcheries today. Here's a sneak peak at them.

I'm almost finished with a third stitchery. This week I will sew the projects together.

Have a great week!
Sweet P

Thursday and Friday Finishes

I finally have photos of the stitcheries I've been working on this week. This morning I added the borders and shipped them off to Treasured Threads. The finished projects will be on display in the Treasured Threads booth at the American Quilter's Society Expo in Des Moines, IA on October 8 - 11. If you happen to be in Des Moines then, please check out the booth. All of the samples are from Bronwyn Hayes book, Little Chicken Feather.

The first sample is Party Bear.

This one is Little Chicken Feather.

The last one is Skipping.

This is not one of the samples. It is a completed baby quilt for the new grandbaby I finished last night. DIL and I made almost matching quilt tops using the Wicked Easy quilt pattern. I finished mine this week. We will probably finish DIL's this Sunday.

Following Libby's lead I made some cookies today. I made Cape Cod Oatmeal Cookies. They are DH's favorite. They are yummy.

I planned, cut the all the fabric and traced the stitcheries for my Stitcher's Angel projects this afternoon. Tonight I'm going to start stitching them. This weekend will be a weekend of watching Ryder Cup golf, Red Sox baseball and Patriots football. Lots of time for stitching!

Sweet P

Busy, Busy and Thank Yous

If you look super duper close at my middle finger you can see a callus developing on it. I've been stitching samples for Treasured Threads the last few days. The stitcheries are done and are waiting for the borders. I'll have photos of them tomorrow. I didn't even notice the callus until I finished stitching last night. It doesn't hurt, but does feel rough.
Today I went to visit my LQS. I hadn't been there in a few weeks. Earlier this week they sent out an email with a 30% off coupon so I decided to go see what they had. I found some Winnie-The-Pooh fabric on clearance and bought the remaining five yards. DIL is a Pooh fan so I'm sure this will become something for the new baby.

As I was browsing I found this wonderful fabric. And what makes it so wonderful?

It coordinates with the galoshes fabric I bought in July!!! See the 9-patch on it?
I bought enough to make backing for the quilt.

I also found the Jelly Baby by Whistlepig Creek Productions pattern at the store. I've been thinking about buying this pattern for a long time (long before I knew a baby is on the way).

I've been remiss and have forgotten to post my Thank You to two bloggers who have sent me goodies lately. The goodies below are from Deb at Creative Soul. She had a contest asking us to show her some of our journal pages. I was one of the winners. The package included a new journal, mini photo frames, inspiration stickers and some gorgeous notecards. Thank you, Deb! I will enjoy using all these items in my journaling. Ooooh, I just a great idea, I'm going to use this new journal to write to the new grandbaby.
My other thank you goes to Toni at the Red Boot Company. She recently showed some fungly blocks and decided she didn't want them. She offered to send them to the first person who responded and that was me! I love them! I have a couple of ideas for them, but for now they have to wait their turn in the To Do list.

Have a good evening!
Sweet P

Hint For My Stitcher's Angel

Leanne Beasley asked us to show our Stitching Chair. I thought I would share a photo of my stitching sofa spot and I realized the photo provides some good hints for my Stitching Angel. I have a nice sewing basket that holds odds and ends, a bookcase for my laptop to sit on and for me to fill the shelves with junk. The pillow on the floor needs to go on the love seat. Right now my current stitchery project is sitting on the arm of the sofa. On the other side of my sofa spot is a fold down table where I generally keep my drink, the TV remote and the threads and scissors for my current project.

I would love an arm caddy and a thread catcher to toss the thread ends in - are you reading this my Stitching Angel???
More and more leaves are turning red on the tree outside our patio. I hope you can see the red leaves in the photo.
Tomorrow I should have some photos of the stitcheries I've been working on. I'll be finishing them tonight. Next up is the binding on a baby quilt.

I hope you're having a great week!
Sweet P

Bead Books, Blocks and Doily

Thanks for all the well wishes on the new grandbaby. I haven't spoken with my son since I got home. Hopefully I'll see them tomorrow for football and I can get all the pertinent details.

Previously I was looking for a pattern for the beaded mats my grandma used to make. As luck would have it, I went on E-Bay and started typing various search phrases. Finally I found a listing on these two books. These are the exact books my grandma had! I couldn't believe it. Of course I had to have them and was the only bidder.
Here are the photos in the book of the beaded mats grandma made. I have made the two on the left. These were lost in our move from Florida to New York. The mats are made with 8 mm beads. I wonder how they would look made with smaller beads.
Here is a photo of the blocks in my mom's Shoo Fly quilt. The pattern is from More Nickel Quilts by Pat Speth. The white paw print fabric and the black polka fabric are the constants in the quilt. The other half of the HSTs are made from assorted nickels my mom chose from my nickel stash. While visiting her I was able to finish 40 blocks and the HSTs for the remaining blocks are done.
There is an 82 year old woman who is a client in the care facility where my dad lives who makes these gorgeous crocheted doilies. My mom bought me one as an early birthday gift. The quilt is about 18 inches in diameter. Isn't it gorgeous?
Here is a close up of the doily. She says she crochets to keep her mind active. I hope when I'm her age I can do work as lovely as she does.
I had planned to spend today sewing to get caught up on my challenges and swaps. However, my body seemed to have other plans. It told me to rest today. That's what I did. Rested and napped and rested some more. I hope I feel better tomorrow as I have two deadlines on Monday.

Happy Sunday!
Sweet P

Quick Check In From Minnesota

Just a quick post from Minnesota. I am enjoying my visit with my parents. I had dinner with all my brothers the other night and it was a good time.

On Tuesday DS #2 called me. He asked me if I was ready to be a grandma again! Of course, I am. I do not know my first grandson very well (long story). But this grandchild is going to live 5 miles away from me and will be spoiled by this grandma.

So what's a new grandma going to do? Shop, of course! Mom and I went to Target. I found these adorable onsies. A nice little wardrobe to get started.

We went to the quilt shop and I found these clearance half-yard fabric cuts.
I can see two or three little quilts coming from these fabrics.

I have been working on mom's Shoo Fly quilt. Here is what the table looked like last night. This morning I have a pile of ironing to do so I can start assembling the blocks. I won't get the quilt done before I leave tomorrow, but I have made significant progress.

I am way behind on reading and commenting on blogs. I won't be able to catch up until I get home this weekend. I hope everyone is having a great week!

Sweet P

A New Accessory

Last week Valori Wells offered free necklaces from Miss Carmen. I was one of the lucky ones to get a necklace. It's a pendant made from Valori's fabric! Isn't it adorable? It is so light weight I don't even know I have it on.

I finished all the goodies for my Tote Bag Swap and it will go in the mail tomorrow. Then I can start on my Stitching Angel goodies.

Good news: I went searching on E-Bay for patterns for beaded mats like the ones I showed below. Lo and behold - I actually found the exact book my grandma used for the mats. Along with the book is another she had of bead projects. How lucky is that?

Have a happy weekend!
Sweet P

Happy Quilt Anniversary to Me!

That's right four years ago today I started quilting again! I was drawn back into quilting when I saw a charm quilt at DH's aunt's house made of the aprons his grandma used to wear while working at a hairbrush factory. Little did I know when I saw the quilt where I would be four years later.

My foray back into quilting started with the plan to make a baby quilt for a friend. I didn't know where to start. I did an internet search for on-line quilt classes and found Quilt University. I signed up for their Start From Scratch Class. I never finished the quilt from the class. I had made some poor color and fabric choices and it didn't look good. If you've never taken an on-line quilt course I recommend Quilt University. They have a great variety of classes. The teachers are wonderful and the students are fantastic.

Then I discovered Yahoo Groups and mystery quilts. My first mystery quilt was made for my DH. A Red Sox and Patriots quilt. This was also the first completed quilt top I made.
In April 2006 I discovered the world of blogging. I'm still amazed at the multitude of quilters I have met through blogging. I read blogs more than I read the daily news and I never get tired of reading them.

Through blogging I have learned to enjoy my quilting. I have learned about stitcheries. I am learning about adding beads to my quilts. I have learned I can't wait to travel to meet more bloggers. Most of all I have continued to find new friends.

I think the dumbest question I asked in my early quilting career was, "What is a stash?" I never realized people bought fabric just to have it. When my grandma taught to sew we only bought fabric we needed and used it all up.

What was the dumbest question you've asked in your quilting career?

So how am I celebrating my anniversary? After I work for a few hours I will work on some stitcheries and maybe stitch a few postage stamp 4-patches. Tonight football season starts here in the U.S. It is my favorite sport.

Happy stitching!
Sweet P

Bead Mat Pattern?

Good morning! Fall is definitely on its way to New England. I have a few more red leaves on the trees. The nights are cooler. The Canadian geese have been flying around our area for over a week now.

I have joined the Bead Journal Project this year. I have my design in mind and need to find the time to get working on it.

I'm searching for some old bead patterns. The two mats below were made by my grandma in the early '80s. I used to have the book with the patterns. However the box the pattern book was in was accidentally thrown away during a move many years ago.

I know how to make the mats, but I'm really looking for the book because there were other patterns I would like to see and possibly make. I remember there was a pattern for a Tiffany lamp cover in the book. Does anyone, by any chance, have this book or give me some tips on finding one?

These mats are not my Bead Journal Project. I'm thinking of making a few for Christmas gifts. If you can help me out I would be so grateful.

Sweet P

The Lady in Red and Her Man

Before I show you the Lady in Red I'll share my first of the month photos. Here is the view on the right side of my deck. The trees are starting to thin a little and there are a few more red leaves.

Here is the view to the right.
You can see the mill building between the trees.

Last week I teased you with my red purchases. This past weekend I finally got to wear the new clothes.

We had to get to the wedding early as DH was an usher. The wedding was outdoors. The afternoon was hot. The air was filled with teeny, tiny obnoxious bugs. I did what any self-respecting Lady in Red would do - I stayed in the car with the AC on! What did I do? I decided to play with my camera and took self portraits. Here's the best one while inside the car.

Here is an outdoor photo. I was looking at the sun filtering through the clouds.
It's my favorite photo of me.

Without further ado, here I am in full view —
complete with red purse and shoes.

This is my man in all his glory. Isn't he gorgeous? And he's all mine!

I did a little work on my postage stamps while on the plane Friday night. Other than that, I haven't done anything quilty since then. I do need to get working though. I have quite a few deadlines in the next few weeks.

Happy stitching and thanks for stopping by!
Sweet P

Coffee Time Quilt Studio Tour

A couple of my on-line groups have been sharing photos of their sewing rooms. I thought I'd join the fun and share mine as it looks today. So grab a cuppa of your favorite beverage and come along to Coffee Time Quilt Studio.

My studio is at the top of the stairs. This is what you see as look straight into the room. The windows face the east and I get tons of morning light. My design wall is to the right. It is an office divider wall I got from work. The rocking chair was a Christmas present to me. It is painted in Red Sox red and blue and has Red Sox logo on it. I use it as a place to do hand work or when I have my laptop in the studio or as a work space when company comes to visit and sew.

Here is my main work area. The table is for the sewing machine. I have a small storage unit I bought from IKEA for my sewing machine tools, extra hand needles, rotary blades, etc. The kitchen island I bought as my moving in gift for the studio. I use as my cutting and work space. In the base cabinet I store WIPs. It has four drawers that hold miscellaneous odds and ends. There are four open shelves that store some completed tops, a few books and printing supplies.

The north wall has two 5-foot closets. The one in right is all mine. What do I have in here? On the top shelf the baskets hold some UFOs and fabric. The box is all my Christmas fabric. The next shelf down is another box of UFOs and there are some other storage containers you can't see. The next shelf holds completed tops and my sewing extension table. On the right is my pine cart that holds cut scraps. The plastic bin holds FQs. I use the bar stool when I want to sit and design. I got it free when I purchased the kitchen island.

The left closet holds a mix of stuff: winter coats on the left; a hanging shelf from IKEA I use for storing backing fabrics; DH's old shirts waiting for me to cut apart and use them. There is some batting in there too. The moving box on the floor on the left is scraps. The box on the right is desk top items from our old place. I need to clean it out and pass on some of those items.

As you turn to the right from looking at the closets I have this shelving unit from Target. On top are my collectibles: pin cushions, jars of buttons, a doll. The red and yellow baskets hold various future projects. The purple basket is my stitchery work. On the bottom shelves are printouts from my Quilt University classes and notebooks of quilt patterns. The wooden box and the container under it hold my machine threads. The pink table cloth on top was my great aunt's. It's probably the most girly-girl item in the studio.

Next to the shelves is my previous cutting table that now holds my 32 inch flat panel TV (I have to able to watch my sports while sewing, don't I?). Projects I'm working on will often fins a place to rest here. Underneath the table is my antique sewing table (BTW, lemon oil and a day in the sun got rid of the musty, smokey smell). I always keep a couple of empty boxes on hand for mailing out goodies. There are two paintings I made for our old place that waiting for a second life in our new place. I will probably cover them with fabric and hang them somewhere. Even though the cutting table, sewing table and kitchen island were purchased a different times, they are from the same furniture line. All of them need to be refinished and I'm thinking of using some Red Sox and Patriots colors to do that.

The last item in the room is the bookcase. My cable box is on top along with items that get put down when I walk in the door. Yup, I don't have a lot of quilt books. In fact the lower right shelf is mostly home renovation books. I gave away a lot of books when we moved. I kept those that had techniques I want to try or patterns I'm interested in making. There is a sewing basket my MIL gave me. On the bottom right shelf is my fabric for my Butterfly Garden quilt.

I hope you enjoyed your tour of Coffee Time Quilt Studio. Come on over anytime! I'd love to have you visit me.
Sweet P

Help! Do You Have Any of This Checked Fabric?

Update: I have found the fabric I need! Thanks for all your help!

Hello there! I'm wondering if anyone out there has this teeny, tiny checked fabric in colors other than the ones I have? For your reference, these patches are made from 1 1/2 inch squares.

I have the fabric in red, pink, light green, black, navy blue and purple.

I have a pattern in mind for these patches, but it would be even better if I could find the checked fabric in at least two other colors. I only need enough fabric to make 15 - 20 one and a half inch squares. I'm willing to trade and/or pay for postage.

Please let me know if you can help me out. Thanks!
Sweet P

A Little Red

I always dressed rather conservatively in my former life (AKA before my meltdown earlier this year). While on medical leave I have lived in shorts and camisoles or tank tops. Half my work wardrobe has been packed away and the other half is neatly hanging in my closet.

This summer I've started buying new and bolder jewelry, but not new clothes. No real reason to at first. Until this weekend. DH said he needed to go clothes shopping for new dress slacks, shirts and ties. Since we were going shopping on our way to Boston to see Neil Diamond I had a chance to look at some new clothes.

We are attending a friend's wedding next weekend in Washington, DC and I half-heartedly thought about getting a new dress. Little did I know what I was going to find . . .

A little red dress:

A pair red shoes . . . look at those heels . . .
I haven't wore heels this high in ages.

Of course, a little red purse to go with the dress and shoes . . .
What do you suppose is in the box?

A tie, hanky and cuff links for DH to wear with his suit at the wedding.
Wouldn't this tie make a great quilt? Actually there were a lot of ties that would make great quilts. The next time I need some quilting inspiration, I'm going to stroll through a few tie racks.

This man? This is DH showing off his Summer Poker Tournament Trophy. He won the tournament, the trophy and first place winnings.

I finished my Swap Bag for Linda's swap. I'll be ready to mail the package on Sept. 2 since there is no mail in the US on the 1st. I also stitched a few more postage stamp 4-patches in the car on the way to Boston.

Neil Diamond? He was awesome! Anyone who is Boston Red Sox fan knows that during the 7th inning stretch Sweet Caroline is always played and the crowd always joins in the chorus:
Sweet Caroline - ba ba ba
Good times never felt so good (yell loud) "So Good, So Good, So Good"
etc., etc.
It was so incredibly awesome to see and hear Neil open the concert with the song and then sing it again halfway through the concert.

I can't believe August is almost over. Where did the summer go? I'm ready for fall though. It is my favorite season of the year. Between the leaves changing colors and football I'll be heaven for a few months.

Sweet P

The Daily Mail

I have a "thing" for getting my mail. For as long as I can remember getting the mail from the mail box has been the highlight of my day. I can't tell you why it was important before I started quilting since most mail was bills. But now, squishies come in the mail and that makes getting mail exciting.

Our old place was the only residence in a commercial building and it wasn't until we moved into a residential complex earlier this year that I realized what had been missing in my daily mail: JUNK MAIL!!! Junk mail doesn't get delivered to commercial buildings. We never got anything addressed to: Resident or Our Friends at XXX at the old place. Now it's a different story in our new place.

I am expecting a squishie of postage stamp charms from my Postage Stamp group. The package was mailed from Scotland earlier this month. I thought today might be the day.

A few minutes ago I heard the mailman pull up and anxiously watched him fill the mailboxes. As soon as he left I put on my shoes, grabbed the mail box key and went to get the mail.

When I opened the box I saw this pile of junk mail! Boohoo! No squishie today!
I was just about to toss the whole stack out (none of it was addressed to us personally) when the two items below caught my eye:
They aren't squishies, but they are quilt-related. I've decided to take a break, prop my feet up and read. Probably just as well the charms didn't come today. I'm not in the mood to play with fabric anyway (and if you believe that, I have some cheap land for you to buy).

Thanks for all the suggestions on the table. I thought I had Old English cleaner but when I went to get it I found a bottle of lemon oil for cleaning wood. I rubbed the table down with the oil and put the table on the deck in the sunshine. I'll see how it turns out later tonight. Stay tuned!

Sweet P