Then all of her dreams came true...

I got myself a present when I went to the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show... Remember when I brought Bridget home almost a year and a half ago? Since then I've wanted to get a drop-in table so I can quilt on a flat surface.

I tried the Gidget table, and it was way too rickety when quilting, so I returned it. I also looked into Horn and Koala tables, and was disappointed with the quality for the price. So then I looked into building one from components from Ikea/Home Depot, and that would have worked, but wouldn't have a lift capability. I even looked into having one custom made by a carpenter friend.

So when I was at MAQS a few weeks ago, I saw this...

Isn't she pretty?! Solid wood, with a lift, and look at what she does!!!

There is also this little weird drawer thing on the right side, and when I saw it I had no idea what I would use it for, but look - all my little stuff that I need to have on hand when I'm working fit in there perfectly! And I don't have to have everything cluttering the top of the table!

This is exactly what I wanted, with no extra bells and whistles, and I didn't have to pay extra for the flip up table in the back, or the pull out thingy on the left. Perfect! It was a little bit of an impulse buy, so I called my Dad to talk me out of it. Of course he said that since I've been looking for a table like this for a year and a half, I should get what I want. And since it is really good quality solid wood, he said that I could pass it down to my daughters one day. Way to make me tear up in public, Daddy, thanks.

I would love to be playing with it, but I had some minor surgery on Friday and I've been on the couch since! Charlotte is doing a very good job of taking care of me, though - she's a good snuggler!

She's Back!!!

She's back!! After over two weeks at the shop!

Just in time, too, I've got quite a stack that needs some quilty attention - something my old machine isn't quite up to!

I wanted to finish Good Morning Starshine in time for the Blogger's Quilt Festival, but I don't think that's going to happen. I think it'll be done in plenty of time for the spring festival though! :-)

Studio Spotlight Link-Up!

So I've shown you guys my studio before (soon after I moved into my house a year and a half ago), but since Jennifer at Ellison Lane and Heather at the Sewing Loft have been doing their Studio Spotlight series, I figured now would be a good time to revisit my space!

Here is the view as you walk in the door. I love being able to see my stash first thing as I come up the stairs! The table is a cheap folding banquet table from Target that I've put up on bed risers I had left over from college. So now the table's now at counter height, which is much better for my back!

There are a couple of WIPs on the floor under the table, and some cubbies for scrappy bits and whatnot.

My double wedding ring FMQ sampler got hung on the wall, and I honestly think it's the first thing that got hung up after I moved in! The cabinet the TV is on is one I got for free from a friend from school, and there are more drawers behind the doors.

Bridget (my new machine) is sitting on an old kitchen table I moved up here when I got my "real" dining table set. I'd love a drop-in table one day, because 1) the machine bed is a little high for comfort right now, and 2) my quilts are constantly getting caught on the extension table when I'm quilting, which is a pain. Those tables are a pretty big investment though, so that might take a fair amount of planning. I've had a carpenter friend of mine come to see if he could cut out a hole and sort of make this table a drop in, but it would have involved cutting out the front support, since this machine is a front-load bobbin. Oh well.

To the right of the sewing machine, directly across from the cutting table, is my design wall. (Upon which you can see a sneak peek of my current project!) This thing is seriously the easiest, cheapest, and most valuable addition to any sewing room! I just hung some clear command strips across the wall, and hung up some batting with binder clips. So easy. It seriously took all of ten minutes. And that included measuring and marking a level line on the wall, and cutting the batting to size. I actually just added some more command strips above the closet for when I run out of space on the "main" design wall.

Underneath the design wall I have my scrap bins, organized by color. I'm thinking about reorganizing them by size, though, because I think finding useful pieces might be easier that way. I'll keep you posted if I start playing... On top of the cubbies I've got some jars of selvedges and my pins for basting.

To the left of the cutting table and stash are my pressing table, notions wall, and my Tears wall quilt. Love it all. (except the orange wall. it came like that.)


I hope you guys enjoyed the little tour! I love my space, and that's a good thing, since I spend so much time there! What are your favorite things about your sewing spaces? What would you like to change?

Breaking in Bridget

I'm currently working on Bridget's inaugural project. Nothing too difficult, a lap quilt with very simple blocks. It's a good way to get to know her. Learn by doing!

Updates as progress is made!

Me and Marsha Sue

My sewing machine is... vintage. She is a 1978 Singer Stylist, which my Mom got as a wedding present (I think). This is the machine I learned to sew on, and the only machine I've ever used.

She is very straightforward, no bells and whistles, and levers and knobs instead of buttons. Everything is manual!

She has her little quirks and whatnot, but not having ever used a different machine, it's all I know. I've recently started machine quilting, and while she did ok on my first attempt, it is not something that comes easily to her. She was actually kind of struggling. Also, since she was my Mom's, the thought of pushing that machine too far that it is permanently damaged gives me crazy anxiety. It would feel like another part of her is gone. So I've been thinking of getting a new sewing machine.

I looked at a number of machines, and test drove a few, but I really fell in love with the new Bernina 7 series. My Mom had a Bernina, which she loved, and my Dad and sisters are still using that machine for embroidery for my Dad's business. After much debate, I decided to go ahead and get the machine that I wanted, even if it cost more, instead of getting a "placeholder" machine and wanting to get another new machine in just a couple of years.

I ordered the new machine several weeks ago, and they said that it probably wouldn't come in until the end of November. Bummer (I'm an instant gratification fan) but worth the wait. Luckily, I got the call on Wednesday that she was here!! Yaaaaay! Much earlier than expected, and timed perfectly with some days off of work! ;-)

 Meet Bridget!