Last year didn't turn out quite as I had thought it would once I looked back on what I thought I was going to accomplish quilty wise, even though I never wrote a post about it. For the most part, Girl Scouts ate up most of my otherwise free time and I wouldn't trade that for the world. Now though I'm a more "seasoned" leader, having one year of Cookie Season sales under my belt and the rest of my meetings for this year already planned out so 2016 isn't going to be as intense Girl Scout wise and I'll definitely have more time to sew.
So onto recent happenings here. My Christmas gifts didn't include a lot of quilt related things as there weren't really a lot on my Wish List but I did find a couple under the tree this year with my name on them.
Santa brought me Amanda Murphy's Free-motion Quilting Idea Book.
This will come in handy later this year as I work my way through actually quilting some of my UFOs, something I really want to accomplish this year.
I also received the coloring Book of Quilt Blocks & Designs.
I know that adult coloring books are the biggest rage right now but I wanted a quilty related one and I can already tell that it has refired my designers brain. New quilt pattern ideas are a-forming.
Though constantly getting up to go to the ironing board is healthier for me, sometimes it takes too long when I'm working on blocks with a lot of steps so last year I bought a pair of tv trays off someone from Craigslist with the plans to turn one of them into a portable ironing station. Because I wanted to leave my big iron on the board I researched the mini iron options and asked Santa to bring me this
which he so kindly did. The portable ironing station will have to wait though for now as one of the tv trays is housing my herbs indoors for the winter and the other one is otherwise occupied temporarily (details below).
I received this adorable figurine from my sister Tina this year (she also bought one for herself) and it now resides on my bookshelf close where I can see it. I love it!
And my last quilty gift isn't really a quilty gift at all per say but they are just as precious to me. BIL's girlfriend crocheted everyone in the house wonderful wool socks and they are absolutely perfect for keeping my forever cold feet warm and toasty while still allowing me to use the foot pedal for my machine. I just can't wear my hard soled slippers when I sew.
The most exciting quilty gift of all wasn't actually for me. It was a gift for Sunshine and No I didn't buy it for her. Aunt Tina called me about a month ago asking if it was OK if she bought Sunshine her first sewing machine or was I planning on doing that. I decided that I was fine with her buying it though when I researched the one she was looking at and read the reviews, I wasn't thrilled with it. Tina was perfectly acceptable with me making another suggestion so after a bunch more research and looking at included features, I suggested this one.
It is a Brother LX2763. The fact that it is made by Brother is pure coincidence, it is the one I liked the most based on the included features, reviews and price, but it is a bonus that it all my presser feet will work on it.
The look on Sunshine's face when she opened it was priceless and she absolutely loves it! She couldn't wait for me to get it set up so she could try it out. I had to finagle a table for it (one of my other tv trays) and since she is really petite and couldn't reach the pedal, pulled out one of her step stools to put that on.
She has been getting used to it every day, digging into my basket of scraps to play with, practicing making straight-ish lines and trying the other stitches it has built in. It didn't come with a 1/4 inch foot with the guide bar like I have so I will be getting her one of those very soon.
A more permanent set up is in the works in her room which is right down the hall from my studio so she'll still be close as we work together. It is just too crowded in my studio for her to be there long term.
She did immediately as for scissors and pins all her own so after we shopped for a birthday gift for her BFF a couple of days ago, we went to Joanns where we picked out a pretty sewing box for her to put everything into.
She also picked out her own pin cushion (yippee that it now comes in colors and of course she picked Pink), a seam ripper and some pins. I already had a brand new tape measure and small scissors that were extras to give her.
I'm sure this year will be an adventurous one with her sewing wise as she is eager to learn and if this is anything like her other pursuits, she is an extremely motivated child and will be itching to make quilts all on her own before I know it.
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8 Comments:
What a fabulous gift for Sunshine. Your two are going to have so much fun together with sewing creations. Happy New Year.
This is the little machine I got last year for a back-up and for travel - I don't use it a lot, but it serves it's purpose. And the choice was because it is a Brother (and features fit my needs) and my feet from the old Brother fit it, too. Lay some painter's tape to mark the 1/4 inch for now.
Happy New Year. Sunshine looks so happy with her present-yah for aunties! Love your gifts-I got Amanda Murphy's book before Christmas am finding it great for inspiration. Very well laid out and written.
Those Sunshine pics are precious!
The little iron looks like it may be the same as my sidekick. It does not shut off, which I like!
Oh what fun you will have together stitching away! As a mom too..I understand that other things with the family get in between stitching and goals - but it is all good - and they will totally remember that more ;-) Enjoy them!
Oh, she is just so adorable!! I was a Girl Scout leader for several years, and I still think it's a great program for young women. Good for you!!
Oh SUnshine is a petite little one isn't she! And what a great little sewer!!! Your post MADE my day!!
I'm slow checking in on you, but how fun for Sunshine! That is so exciting. It's been quite a while since either of my kids touched the sewing machine, but I'm hopeful that one day they'll get back at it.
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