Things Are Improving Around Here!

Well.......I finally got Christmas packed away on Jan. 8, except for three redbird wall hangings and the poinsettias, both of which I'll keep out until probably Valentine's Day.  It just seems too early to break out the Spring-looking things and flowers yet!  I decided to straighten the big sunroom closet after packing half of it with Christmas stuff, so that took a day or two.  

For a more restful accomplishment, I decided to print all my blogs from last year.  That wasn't a very big job, but it did take a while to get them printed and in my blog notebook.  Are any of you printing yours?

Next I decided to tackle the quilting closet in the sunroom.  It was a disaster that had been happening for months!  Fabrics still in the plastic bags from the stores were piled everywhere, as were scraps from several quilts, patterns and rulers out of order, etc.  Just a general mess everywhere!  I'm glad to report that now all fabrics are in plastic tubs and sorted by projects, and the scraps are in a tub too!  Batting trimmings had been stuffed in the top of the closet, but I can report tonight that even those are in fair order.  I trashed most of the narrow strips less than 3" (why I saved them I'll never know!), and today I stitched the others together (my new toy did a great job!) into pieces that will be just fine to be used with my cheap muslin for free motion practice when I can find time for that again.  (I'm still not giving up on that --- yet!)  Best of all, every tub is labeled and easy to get to.  I had to get about four different sizes to make best use of the space, and it works like a charm!  I'm proud of it!  Now if I will just maintain it!

I found lots of articles I had printed, some photos I had printed and stuffed in an envelope rather than putting them where they belong, and a few other things of interest.  I found a bag that had all my notes, newsletters, etc. from the quilt guild I had belonged to for many years.  I dropped out in 2007, but still had all those papers, including the entry blanks on my quilts I had entered in the various shows, as well as the show program books, etc.  It was interesting to review all that history again, and of course, I'll keep some of that.

One guild newsletter from 2005 had an article I'd like to share here.  It had been copied from a guild newsletter from somewhere in East Texas, but it is information everyone should read, so here it is:

A FEW GOOD REASONS FOR BUYING FABRIC
It insulates the closet where it is kept.
It is less expensive and more fun than psychiatric care.
A sudden increase in the boll weevil population might wipe out the cotton crop for the next ten years.
It keeps without refrigeration; you don't have to cook it to enjoy it; and it never has to be fed, changed, or walked.
It gives extra weight in the trunk of your car for traction on muddy or wet roads.
It helps keep the economy going.  It is our patriotic duty to support cotton farmers, textile mills, and quilt shops.

A quilting buddy and I had agreed before Christmas that we would not be buying more fabric for a long time. However, after considering those reasons, and knowing that I will be attending the One Stop Shop Hop in Waco, Texas, at the end of January, I may have to change my mind.  Don't you think that would be okay???

Still no pictures, and no real piecing or quilting, but can you tell I'm at least thinking about it?  I'm even going to the quilt guild meeting tomorrow night as a guest of a friend, and may decide to join up again, although I really like doing my own thing rather than spending so much time on guild projects.  I'll think about that tomorrow and decide.

In the meantime, I think I'll hit the sack!  Tomorrow will be another busy day, but at least it will be around 70 degrees with lots of sunshine.  That always helps my spirit!

Happy stitching, everyone!

---"Love"