After peaches

17 comments
In my last post I showed you my vacant sewing machine. Well, this is the other side of the room today. Last Friday I had big plans for some weekend sewing projects and I pulled out my scrap bin and several fabrics from my shelf to cut some squares of lots of different fabrics. But because the peaches couldn't wait - this didn't go very far. So this is what it looks like. A mess.

I don't like to leave messes like this in my sewing room but here it is all waiting for me. And this is only part of it. Its going to take me all week to cut and reorganize I think.
In addition to finishing up patterns (wow that is a process in itself!) I've started a new quilt. Here is a little peak. I know there are lots of house quilts out there but I am approaching it from a tad different method of construction. We'll see how it goes.
I've talked before about what a groupie I am of Mary Mashuta and her sister Roberta Horton. Yesterday Mary's new book arrived at my house. It approaches machine quilting from a little different perspective. Mary's fabrics and methods really speak to me. I am energized by her designs and reading about her process.
Last night I took a few minutes to skim and read here and there. I am excited to try out some of her machine quilting methods.
Mary's quilts are full of stripes and lots of color and fabric mixes.
I like her approach to fabric and her ideas of what "works" together. I was at her lecture on color a year or so ago and it has helped me in my approach to color and fabric.
At the very end of the book Mary has a paragraph that talks about something she and I were both taught as children. Mary's mother was a teacher and her mother's motto was to try to 'learn something new everyday'. Well my mother (Freda) wasn't a teacher but she used to tell me the same thing and was a great example of that herself. My mother was constantly taking classes and learning new skills or perfecting the skills she already had. I used to wonder why she bothered taking classes when she was so "old" (I was a kid when I thought that.) My mother's example has rubbed off on me. I find great peace and happiness in learning new things and working on my skills.
-nanette
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17 comments

Des said...

I love ANYTHING that's foolproof! I can't wait to see what you're doing with those houses. I LOVE house quilts. Have I made one? uh, no. Do I want to? uh, yes! Actually, I have like 60 little house blocks that need my assistance getting finished. any moment now.

Joanna said...

Love the house - I am itching to make a house quilt of some sort. But I want to know where the photo of the 'mess' is!! I like to see other people's sewing areas being a mess so I can feel better about my own not-so-perfect space!!

em's scrapbag said...

I love Mary also. I took a class from her last year and was probably at the same lecture you attended on color. Isn't she just fabulous!

Di~ said...

great motto. I think I'd love a class from Mary. I'm curious what her methods are? I'm doing some machine quilting today! That gray, pink and blue door house is awesome!

Eileen said...

Um.. you must have accidently on purpose forgot to upload the picture of the mess. But I don't believe for one minute that there really IS a mess.

If you have time.. come over and grab a badge I have for you.. there are no obligations and you don't have to pass it on. I just want people to know you deserve one!

Ginger Patches said...

I love her sense of color! I first read about those sisters in a Kaffe Fasset book I have. I have that book on my wish list :) Thanks for the review!

CJ said...

I see no mess. I don't mean that to ME it isn't messy, I mean there is no picture :D What's with that?
The house block!!!!! SO CUTE! I love the little border print in the windows - looks like curtains and that is just SWEET! So this machine quilting book - is it for home sewing machines or longarm? I like that quilting on the dotted fabric quilt. Something I would not have thought to do. Good advice from your mom. I think that wisdom is the push that I need to go to the quilt guild meeting tomorrow night.

Thimbleanna said...

Hey Wait! I want to see the mess! THat little house block is adorable -- I can't wait to see the rest of them.

Betsy said...

That book looks great! Thank you for sharing.

Colleen formerly of South Africa said...

The peaches looked yummy, and the house is too cute.

Lisa said...

Cute house! and now, I have to check out the new book! looks intriguing!

sewtakeahike said...

Oh look Nanette, it's a house! Did you mean to do that??(wink,wink) It's so pretty I believe I could live there!

Karen said...

I love the house block! I'm working on a Red House quilt. I love the way you used different fabrics on your windows and doors. Any peaches left???;)

Amanda Jean said...

my mentor nancy (who is a good 20 years older than I am) is always taking classes and learning new things. i find that very inspiring!

Lily Boot said...

Ah Nanette! And you've got THAT book too! It is currently bouncing back and forth between my amazon basket and save for later list - now that you have shown me those lovely pages, I'll HAVE to get it. And your house is sooooooo prettty! I cannot wait to see what you do with it. p.s. thanks for sharing your mum's advice - I've kind of lost sight of such thinking over the last couple of weeks and just looking over your posts and reading this has inspired me to hop over my hump and get back to enjoying my lovely days and blessed fortune of fabric!

Nan said...

I also try to learn something new every day. I look at it as a gift I am giving myself. I am fascinated by that quilting book. I may have to buy it!

Anonymous said...

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