A Fully Finished Bluebird Stitch

I stole away from chores and appointments yesterday to finish my bluebird stitch.

I ordered the called for ribbon from Country Stitches Online. The pattern is called Bluebird out My Window by With Thy Needle and Thread. The ribbon color was "tobacco brown" and said it was seam tape. Just let me say if it is really seam tape whatever they do in the dyeing process was amazing. It was so soft.

I stitched it on 28 count Cashel linen and sort of wished I had tried the recommended 36 count. Either way, I really liked the ribbon attached to it. I could have even used a longer piece, but again I liked it so I am pleased. It will find a home on my shelves in the living room for a while. The final product measured approximately 5" X 7". It might have fit in a ready made frame well.

The cloth was a remnant piece from the quilting store. It did have the designer name on it.
It is "Windermere" from Brenda Riddle Designs.

I will hopefully get in the sewing room today or tomorrow and finish my little umbrella for April or otherwise April will be gone before I know it.

Happy stitching,
Sandy

A Little Decluttering and a Little Stitching

Where did last week go? I am not really sure. It did fly by quickly though - that I can say.

In between all the many errands that I did for myself and others:) I did some decluttering which didn't really help the overall household chores, but made a few places look better. Hubby decided he wanted  me to rearrange some things in our master closet. I decided it might not be a bad plan, so I tackled that. It all looks better, but not picture worthy as we have just a standard walk in closet. Nothing special, but I can say it is all clean of dust bunnies and neatly organized.

Not the master closet, but my sewing room. You have to be in the room to see this view. It is a happy view for me...all my favorite things mixed in with some sewing and stitching stuff.

Then, it was onto the sewing room. I have been thinking about getting rid of quite a bit in this room since I made the decision to lighten up on the sewing. A decision that has made me feel lighter in mood.

See that top left blue basket. It has LOTS of pens and pencils. Check it out below.

Have you ever seen that many? Remember we are school teachers here. Every workshop gives you a pen, plus the many that I collected of different colors. I should have a lifetime supply.

On the surface this room didn't look too bad, but opening a few of the cabinets was stressful, so I devoted a day to this room - well, a day of coming back to do things in there when I didn't have to run here or there.

This set of cabinets got an overhaul and are much emptier now.

I have been a fabric hoarder. There really isn't another word will do besides "hoarder." It wasn't pretty! I was pretty brutal with myself and honestly felt much like the way I felt when I cleaned out my clothes after retirement and losing weight.

A sick kind of feeling of how much money you spent and the fact that you really wasted that money. I could take the time to try and sell it, but I have to be honest...I hate doing garage sales or trying to sell things.

I took every piece of fabric out of the cabinets and hauled them into the close by bedroom. I put them into various piles such as: definitely donate, maybe yes, maybe no, I will really use this, I might use this. Yes, the piles were insane, but I worked through it and then decided on an amount to keep.

I had a little sad party about it and then just boxed it all up nicely and labeled the box as to the wonders in it and am praying that someone will walk in Goodwill and be so happy that I donated it.

The lesson learned here is ... don't buy it unless I REALLY plan to use it that week.

Out of the three cabinets, this is the only one that houses fabric anymore and only one shelf. 

After I unloaded the fabric cabinets, I tidied up a few other places in there. I still have so many things that could probably go, but I have to plan for a mission trip, so I am going to wait on making all those plans. If I don't use those crafty items, some of them are going which will free up two large drawers in there.

This is the messiest of the drawers. It is kind of the catchall of supplies I don't want up top. Do you think I have enough tape?

I have lots of storage in this room and quite frankly there is a lot of it not being used well, but I enjoy being in there, because it is "MY" room.

Remember my writing box that I bought at the antique sale???

It sits on my counter and corrals my scissors, rulers, and a few sewing notions.

In other news, Gus turned 10 months old yesterday. He is doing well. As I write this post, he and Lemony are rolling in the floor having a morning play romp. Lemony is usually good for two of those a day. She would have made a good mama dog.

I have said before I have to wait until he sleeps to photograph him, because he is in MOTION a lot.

I have more to share this week, but I tell you I have lots of appointments, so it may be another slim posting week.

I promise there is a stitching post in there soon...

I have been stitching on Home of a Needleworker...

And these two projects are sitting on my counter just waiting for a little sewing time.

I actually ordered the exact ribbon to finish this one. I don't think anything else would do.

The view from my kitchen windows...

The geraniums are popping. 

I am stopping for now and will try and be back soon,

Sandy