a sewing table find (and the one in which I utilize a LOT of parentheses)

I'm too embarrassed at the moment to show you the state of my sewing space.  It's currently (and mostly always) a disaster.   We have this awesome sunroom in this house and I slowly took it over when we moved in putting in my treadmill (it's like running outside, right?), my oversized-open-shelved-eyesore of a computer desk (that turned into a makeshift sewing table), and my little blue table (that I typically use my serger on but really love to have it clear for taking photos).

The computer desk is my biggest nemesis (it's sort of like this one).  The lovely display at IKEA with matching boxes and crates and doodads for keeping that open shelving looking pretty is lost on my messy mind.  It needs to go. I bought a much smaller desk, made for just a computer (which is all I need) and moved my computer to the living room (which is considerably warmer in the winter).

Over Christmas break I spent a lot of time organizing my big cabinets that hold a lot of my sewing supplies.  Things that I haven't figured out where to put yet got shoved in the sunroom.  My dining room table is always cluttered with my machine and cutting supplies - which makes eating together as a family in the dining room difficult at best.

So I decided I needed an old fashioned sewing machine table.  Something small that I could move around the house if I wanted to sew somewhere else.  Something that I could put the machine flush with the table for easier movement of fabric while quilting.  Something that was small enough that it couldn't collect clutter, because the only thing that will fit on it IS THE MACHINE.

I was checking out our local yard sale web site and found an ad for a Danish Modern Pecan sewing table.  I emailed.  They replied. I called. I picked it up this morning.

It is in nice condition and I don't even plan on painting it (shocking I know!!)  I didn't even take my machine to see if it would fit.  I figured between me and my aspiring woodworker (aka mrlouwho) we could make it work.

When you flip open the top to extend the table, you see the little hinged parts which hold the machine it was built for (or at least one of the hinged flaps, the back one was gone).  And there isn't a shelf or anything underneath.  But, BUT! The opening is big enough for my machine!

 

My secret plan is to have aforementioned woodworker (or the guys at Home Depot) cut me a piece of plywood (or something) and attach a shelf with some L-brackets to the underside where my machine will sit.  Good plan, no?

Until then, with the extension flap folded up it fits my machine and acrylic table on the top perfectly.

 

And brotherlouwho and I tried it out today and made some more progress on his quilt.  Here's what we've gotten so far.  It's shaping up quite nicely!

 

Where do you use your sewing machine? Inquiring minds want to know!!

sew & tell v3.20: the beginnings of a quilt

So I was feeling the itch to work on brotherlouwho's quilt recently. I feel like there's always sewing to do for my family and then other stuff gets in the way.  So when I asked him if he wanted to help me, he was all sorts of enthusiastic!

I was gifted these lovely Heather Ross fabrics and some Katie Jump Rope by sweet Kim from My Go-Go Life over a year ago, and they've been begging me to play with them.  So during babylouwho's nap the other day I had him help me fussy cut some more 5.5 inch squares for the blocks.

 

I let him sit on my lap and help me sew the blocks together.  My seams may or may not be that straight.  But it's okay, he was having a ball!

When he saw the first block completed he said, "Mom! It looks like a picture frame around the fishies!"  Loved it! He's caught the vision.

And now I've found a cure for my procrastination, just ask for his help with my projects.  He asks everyday now if we can work some more on his quilt.  And we've gotten several more blocks finished!

 

Yesterday when we were sitting at the machine together he said to me, "Mom you're a good artist at sewing."  Are you kidding me?  I'll keep him, tantrums and all. 

I'm working on this quilt in an improv sort of way.  I have a lot of the middle squares cut and I'm cutting the sashing strips as we go.  I have no idea how big this quilt will end up being or how many squares I need.  It's fun to let him help me pick everything out as we go. It's also nice to not spend hours cutting a bunch of fabric out.

These blocks start with a 5.5" square and 2.5" strips (2 strips at 5.5" sewn to the top and bottom.  2 strips at 9.5" sewn on each side).  A classic square in square design.  My plan is to sort of alternate orange and blue the whole way through.  I like the direction we're going so far.  And when he just saw these pictures up here, he said, "Hey mom, can we work on this some more today?"

Your turn to share ~ Show us what you've got finished!
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Please put your (blog)name instead of your project name, it helps us get to know each other better!

i've got amazing friends

And you all fit in that category!

Thank you so much for your nice comments every week.  And for loving sew & tell so much.  You all certainly keep me going.  I have so many things on my to-do list and posting for sew & tell keeps me working instead getting overwhelmed by everything.  Well, maybe I still get overwhelmed, but I like the feeling when I finish something.

Do you want to see some cool stuff some other amazing friends have done for me?

Most of you sew&tellers know E. from pinksuedeshoes.  I've taken to just calling her pink.  She called me a few weeks ago from one of her favorite thrift stores and then texted me a picture of this:

Her question:  I just saw this for $10, do you want me to pick it up for you?
Turquoise? Sewing Machine?  I think you know my answer!  Now I owe her $10, in quarters.  Because yes, that's how she paid!  Love her!  Thanks Pink!

*****
And you may have seen Aunt Spicy's Scotty dogs from a Denyse Schmidt pattern!  I got a surprise in the mail from her a few weeks ago!  She said it was for babylouwho, but I may just have to keep her.

We had a terrier growing up and I've always had a soft spot in my heart for them.  I think these patchwork ones are just so cute!

Aunt Spicy and I were introduced by Amy of Diary of a Quilter (who I met last January).  Amy thought we would have fun together and we lived in the same area.  We emailed and commented on each others blogs and even spoke of the phone a few times.  Unfortunately, because of my crazy having a baby and then moving plan and her busy job we never had a chance to meet.  Until a couple weeks ago!  She blogged about it here.  It was a fun time spent at IKEA!!  Thanks for the pup and the IKEA trip and thanks Amy, for introducing a new friend!

*****
My friend Kim doesn't blog, but should (hint hint).  I talked about her a while ago when she gave me a lovely collection of Heather Ross in pink for my baby girl.  I need to figure out what to make her with it.  Kim and I met at Costco.  She's like a kindred sewing spirit and I was sad to move away before we could spend much time together.  I saw her a couple weeks ago too.  And she sent me home with this:

and this:

and this:

perfect for a quilt for my little guy named:

 

It's a good thing I didn't take a picture of her stash.  If I did, you would all be googling her to figure out where she lives so you could raid it.  She is a kind and generous friend.  I have enough of this to make a twin sized quilt!  I just love those goldfish - they are perfect!!  Thank you Kim!!

*****

I know this is getting lengthy.  I've got a couple more things to show... I'll save them for another day.  But let's just say, baby booties and Japanese fabric.

What's a favorite sewing related gift you have received?  Seriously, I want to know!