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Wednesday, August 19, 2015

In Mom’s Sewing Room!

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Yesterday was a day for just being together.

We didn’t do much of anything, but we wound up in mom’s sewing room as she had a couple of things she wanted to show me and a couple of things she wanted some ideas on.

I’m game!

I love seeing what she has done with her little sewing space in the little cottage house she lives in.

Do you spy her featherweight?

I was so excited when she got the little machine to take on retreats and to simply sew with.

Her big beast Pfaff is off to the left under the pile of fabric we were sorting! LOL!

The big Pfaff is great for the simple machine quilting that mom does, or sewing through heavier things like jean quilts for the grandsons.

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She has made good use of her space!

She has even added a little folding table as a cutting table, and has use of a closet for storing yardage:

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Cutting up and kitting up!

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This area is what we started working on.

She’s got bins like I do, but wanted some help with the jumbled and folded pieces that were in them by color.

I gave just a few hints on how I personally work with things, and it is going to be different dependent upon the kind of cuts someone stashes, or the space they have available.

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Green bin looking much better!

Mom has 5 sons and also works with a lot of recycled fabrics from shirts.  Guess who she has to blame?  Instead of having pieces folded in small bundles and placed in the drawer in a double layer assortment, we refolded until the pieces were as tall as the drawer so she can flip through them easily to find what she needs.

There weren’t enough greens to fill this drawer so we stuck in a plastic shoe box that can hold her cut squares that she has kitted up, ready to work with.

The big thing is to not to have to DIG for the fabric you want, but having each piece visible by the fold at the top.

Use the entire height of the drawer to make the best use of the space within the drawer!  This might mean some creative folding on your part to fill the container you've chosen to use -- but it is better than having things behind things, or things under things.  You will know what you have in plain sight!

Her drawer system will work for everything from fat quarters to pieces less than a yard.  We agreed that things more than a yard will go on the shelves in the closet.

It’s a start – it will take her a while to get where she wants to be with it, but at least she now has a direction she is eager to go.

We also started a discard pile, and those pieces she no longer loves or wants will be donated to the local thrift shop where they will be adopted and used by someone who wants them.

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SO cute!

This is mom’s “My Favorite Things” hexie quilt she has been working on off and on over the past 3 years.  She works on it when she feels like it and each word means something special to her.

It is amorphous!  It is growing in its own direction without boundaries or borders and she is designing as she goes, finding this a very creative and freeing process.

She said she will work on one word at a time, forming the words purposely in NOT a straight line, and then figures out where the word is going to go and how to fill in the spaces between words with flowers and other neutral hexies as background.

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And Sew it Grows!

Today’s plan is to take another long morning mountain walk, and head into the little town of Crouch to do some window shopping and wandering.  There is an art gallery I’d love to see, and who knows what else we will wind up doing in a very small town where everyone knows everyone ((and everyone’s business!))

It’s our last day together and we need to fill it full enough to last until the next time I am able to get away for a bit of respite on Mama’s Mountain.


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31 comments:

  1. You are so lucky to have a mom who loves sewing/quilting as much as you do. What a beautiful thing to share! LOVED the ideas for sorting through stash and organizing ... you are a wealth of information and knowledge in this area. Her hexie quilt is adorable beyond words. I had no interest in hexies before but seeing hers inspires me to think about a "gratitude" hexi quilt. Enjoy your "mom time" ... so precious! Linda

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  2. Your mother is so cute. Energetic. Creative. Resourceful. Thanks for sharing.

    P. S. The apple has not fallen far from the tree. :-)

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  3. I love your mom's favorite things quilt! Her sewing space is adorable! You don't have to have a large space (although that is nice!) to have a wonderful inspirational space. What a wonderful thing that you two have a shared passion! Thanks for keeping it real Bonnie and "mom"!

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  4. Your mom's hexie quilt is lovely, and so creative! I'm so glad for you that you've had the chance to have relaxing family time. Regarding folding fabric, here is a YouTube video I came across for folding fabric that's one yard or less so that it all folds to be the same size, except for the thickness. One yard would be thicker than a fat quarter, but they'd both be 3x5 (or whatever the size actually is). The video is less than 5 minutes long. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOh6zuXzLBI

    AndiRaeS in MN

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  5. Next time you are in Arizona you are more than welcome to play in my space!!!! I love meeting your mom if via the Internet and I loved seeing her sewing space--ALL of us do what we can. I really enjoyed spending time reading the tips you helped mom with---now I have to get to playing with scraps I just filled drawers with but not tin this manner--thanks you for everything including time with mom!!!*~*CAROLE*~*
    wippysplace@gmail.com

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  6. i agree with parallel quilter about not having a interest in the hexie craze but seeing your mom's quilt has me rethinking the situation. love her creative hexie quilt!! no matter how many times i organize my stash using various methods, i seem to love tearing through fabric, holding it up, tossing it around and digging about in all the wonderfulness of my little bins..

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  7. I love love love your mom's hexie quilt in progress!!!!

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  8. Tell your mom that that is the best hexie quilt I have ever seen. I love her chosen words.

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  9. Hexilicious! Did she see a quilt like this or make it up herself? Amazing talent in your family. So glad you could help her get her sewing space in shape a bit. BIG HUGS for her from me, I would adopt her if I could.

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  10. You are so lucky to still have your mom around. I only wish I could share my passion of quilting with my mom now.
    She loved to quilt, but mostly used the cheater cloths, but would hand quilt each grand child a quilt of their own.
    Beautiful hexie quilt that your mom is working on!

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  11. Your Mom's hexie quilt is inspiring! Is that "skate" that I spy in there? So glad you were able to help w/ the sorting and folding... what a great daughter you are! Enjoy~

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  12. My Mom tried to teach me to sew I resisted. Then I had 3daughters and a son and a DH, so I had to learn. From 1995 to now I have quilted. One picture that I wish I had was my Mother sewing. I have it in my memory. I have the privilege of sharing this passion with my oldest daughter and she is a professional longarm ear too. Your Mother looks so young. Try to spend all the time you can with her. Love you, deanna

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  13. Thanks to you and your Mom both for letting us elbow in on your time together. Love mom's hexie quilt it's so creative! And the shoebox in the drawer...well that's a duh! So simple yet so effective!

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  14. Your Mums quilt is gorgeous, what a wonderful idea. We all need "slow burn" projects in our lives.

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  15. That Mom time is precious. My Mom and I would clean out closets, work on crochet items, take walks and just enjoy being together. Life is too short, enjoy your time together.

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  16. You are so fortunate to have your Mom..And she Quilts!! how perfect. she is a Darling too I must say. Love her hexie quilt..ingenious!...big Hug for Sadie girl.
    Debra in Ma.

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  17. Bonnie, I did a little sleuthing (yes I also love genealogy) and found only one Civil War soldier with a similar name. Peter Castellette enlisted in January 1862 with the 20th Regiment, Illinois Infantry. It shows the unit mustered out July 1865 but I couldn't find his record to show if he was there that whole time. There is a "General's Note" that shows the original enlistment name was Castillette. In addition, I found Emilie Theise born 1859 in Illinois in the 1870 census in New Ulm, MN with just Dorothea and in the 1875 census with Henry (age 55) and Dora (age 55) and Sophia Hebron (age 78). Unfotunately, I couldn't find any other mention of a Castellette or Castillette in family trees or census records. No Stillettes either.

    Love that you have your Mom and can share your loves with her -- family and sewing. They are the best!

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  18. So glad you are enjoying your time with Mom. I believe her hexie project is by far the most awesome expression I have seen. I love her passion. I see where yours comes from and since I'm a willing Bonnie fan I share your passion and feel right at home.Thanks again Bonnie.

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  19. So glad you are enjoying your time with Mom. I believe her hexie project is by far the most awesome expression I have seen. I love her passion. I see where yours comes from and since I'm a willing Bonnie fan I share your passion and feel right at home.Thanks again Bonnie.

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  20. So glad you are enjoying your time with Mom. I believe her hexie project is by far the most awesome expression I have seen. I love her passion. I see where yours comes from and since I'm a willing Bonnie fan I share your passion and feel right at home.Thanks again Bonnie.

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  21. So glad you are enjoying your time with Mom. I believe her hexie project is by far the most awesome expression I have seen. I love her passion. I see where yours comes from and since I'm a willing Bonnie fan I share your passion and feel right at home.Thanks again Bonnie.

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  22. My mom sewed many of our clothes when we were young. She could knit and crochet anything! Unfortunately, she had Alzhieimer's and can't follow a pattern anymore. So sad she can no longer enjoy her crafts.

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  23. Your mom is adorable and I love her hexie quilt!

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  24. Anonymous2:10 AM EDT

    Your mom's Hexie quilt is so clever. I love all the favorite thoughts. Enjoy sewing and visiting with her. Time is a precious commodity.

    Susan L
    sususie52@att.net

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  25. I just love this! You and your mom are both adorable! It's so nice to have similar interests. And...all those gardens your posted yesterday! Amazing!

    Your mom's hexie quilt is gorgeous. Maybe you can make a pattern for it when she is done. Hint. Hint.

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  26. How fun you and your Mom are having. Like seeing her small sewing space.

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  27. Incredible Hexie quilt! Like others have commented, you a are fortunate to have your mom to share memories with. My mom passed away 20 yrs ago on Sept 7th. She taught me how to sew when I was a young child. I miss her very much, so by you sharing your stories we all get to share a little piece of your life.

    Little Brewster has been in the news that last few days. A 40 yr old woman was found dead in her home. What are the odds of that happening the same time you are posting about your family history concerning Brewster?

    Thanks for the lovely post. Lots love from SE Mn.
    Susan Paulson
    susanlpaulson@gmail.com

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  28. Incredible Hexie quilt! Like others have commented, you a are fortunate to have your mom to share memories with. My mom passed away 20 yrs ago on Sept 7th. She taught me how to sew when I was a young child. I miss her very much, so by you sharing your stories we all get to share a little piece of your life.

    Little Brewster has been in the news that last few days. A 40 yr old woman was found dead in her home. What are the odds of that happening the same time you are posting about your family history concerning Brewster?

    Thanks for the lovely post. Lots love from SE Mn.
    Susan Paulson
    susanlpaulson@gmail.com

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  29. It is just wonderful that you and your mom can spend such a great time together doing something you both enjoy! Your tips for your mom have been very helpful to me also. So,Thank You!
    I hopeyou have/had a wonderful walk. It all sounds just soooo peaceful.

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  30. Anonymous8:45 AM EDT

    Good Morning, Bonnie;

    How wonderful to have your Mom around to visit with and share you love of sewing and quilting! Mine passed away three years ago. Sewing was her passion. Her three daughters shared that passion, enjoying different interests, with her throughout her life. I am the quilter. This week, I opened a box of her scraps and found several quilt blocks she had hand pieced together when she was a child. In the group, was the first blocks she had told me she had made when she was five years old. I am in the process of carefully soaking and air drying them. As I look at the fabrics, I am seeing that they were probably from my grandmother's fabric stash. She made all the clothing she and her children of eight wore when they were young. I am viewing an evolution of fabric history. The colors of the fabrics are still bright and beautiful. My mother began making the blocks in 1935. I look forward to making a special quilt with these blocks. Thank you for taking the time to share your family with all of us. You are truly blessed.

    Take care.
    Emily
    eppie.doodle@yahoo.com

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  31. Mother-Daughter time is Precious.

    Hugs 'n smiles
    Gerry

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