I had a nice time away from home, now I am back and recharged. I have lists of things I want to accomplish and lists of things I need to finish and lists of things I want to start. Then there is two weeks of laundry, vacuuming and dusting, yard work and such to do too. Guess what gets priority?

While I was away, I ordered a light bar set up for my long arm machine. Currently the machine is in the lower level of my home, because it fits there and it is more accessible. The space is nice because it is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. There is a slider door and a large window, but they face east. The ceiling lights are old style can lights with HID lights in them. Due to the ever safety consciousness of CA, I cannot get bright enough lightbulbs to use in them. I checked with an Electrician about changing them to LED spots, but the cans are not the right type. Changing those fixtures (redoing ceiling) would be more expensive than the light bar set up. Being a rational person, I got the light bar. It was relatively easy to set up, I just needed an extra hand to get the bar attached to the legs. I turned it on and wow! my first though was daylight is here, my second was, look at all the dust and thread scraps. Before the next LA project there will be a thorough vacuuming and dusting of the room.

Off site, I got a chance to work on the Tilda appliqué quilt top. Before I left, I basted about 20 pieces to it, that way I could stitch a few on at a sitting. Plus I only had to bring the top, thread needles and scissors. I had some time for a little shopping, I got a few more patterns and a commission project. I have made a bunny from Julie Williams Little Cotton Rabbits patterns a while back, probably close to 10 years (yikes) ago. I really enjoyed making the piebald one and a little sweater for it. I got the fox/deer pattern and the horse pattern. These patterns are well written and many-stepped, but the resulting stuffies are worth the effort. The commission project is for four bench pillows, a few days sewing. I did a little fabric shopping too, I want to make a bed sized Sparrow quilt. The throw size one I made a few years ago, sold quickly, I had briefly wanted keep it for myself. Although it’s a relatively easy block to make, I hadn’t felt the need to make another until I saw the cutting sheet for the bigger one. The pattern is from Pen and Paper Patterns and lucky me, there was a sale on Bella solids at 123stitch.com. I generally used to buy only thread and cross stitch supplies from them, but they have a relatively large fabric selection and notions too.

Before I left, I was also trying to participate in the 21 day decluttering challenge by Just Get it Done by Karen Brown. I made it through the first 12 days, left off on the notions clear out. I have a small dresser that I use for my notions. I think I’ll go through it drawer by drawer, the top drawer is bag hardware and zippers. That should take about an hour, as I want to inventory and organize it. The challenge is to declutter only, but I want to organize it while decluttering. This need to organize is what is stopping me from going through the fabrics. Karen has the fabric decluttering on days 19 and 20. My fabrics are in three systems of wire drawers and shelves. This doesn’t include the large bins of scraps. Eww, I’m getting an overwhelming feeling of chaos just writing about it. It’s not that bad, really. I have a sort-of-plan to do it drawer by drawer. I just need to empty one drawer and then fill it with a category/type. In my mind I have a mass dump and sort scenario, ha! that way lies madness for sure.

Be Kind.