Sneak preview ... and a call for opinions!

My dearest quilty friends, ya'll have been so wonderfully patient with me and my trials and tribulations here lately, that I feel the need to impose on ya'll once again! Ya'll have been so kind as to name the eZine, give me suggestions on what patterns to include, and have even been so sweet and supportive as to give me feedback on the blog design as well. Well, no good deed ever goes unpunished, so I'm asking for help again!

I've uploaded a sneak preview of the cover (by the way, if it's too small to see, just click on it and you'll be taken to a bigger version) and I'm hopin' for some feedback, opinions, critiques - whatever you can spare the time to comment - on how it looks (ya'll have already helped sew much on the content!). Sew what do ya'll think? As you can tell, I love "beach-y" colors (considerin' I love the beach enough to move 1200 miles from where I hung my hat for 30 years, that ain't too surprisin', right?!) - but how do YA'LL feel about them? Too bright? Too "out there?" Or just too "Ow! My eyes! My eyes!?"

*** In my own defense, to me, beach-y colors are just plain cheerful and optimistic. And if anything brings out the cheery optimist in me, it's quilting and ya'll!! ***

Please give me a holler - or just take the time to vote (once again, I'm asking you to vote on another poll! I'm startin' to feel like a politician!) ... whatever you have to say, I want to hear it! :-)

Again, ya'll, thank you sew much for all your help, suggestions, comments, and howdy-do's! Ya'll have no idea how much I love hearing from you!! :-)

Quilty hugs!!
Connie :-)

To redesign or not redesign ... I give! What do YA'LL think??

Well, shucks, I was really frustrated the other day when I wanted to post some pix of the items I was talking about (the flexi-curve, the taboret, etc) - I wanted to give ya'll a better idea of what I was talkin' about - and each time I inserted an image, much like last year's fruit cake, it just did not look right at'all. In fact, VERY much like last year's fruit cake, it looked downright scary.

So, I'ma thinkin' about doing a redesign of the blog ... something that will allow me to upload images AND look "right." 'Cause really, if'n ya'll can't visualize what I'm sayin' what good does it do? I can write all day (and believe me, I sure can!) and unless I use references to what ya'll know personally, it doesn't do much good, now does it? :-/

So, one blogging site that I really like is Heather Bailey's blog ... nice, bright colors, easy to understand and navigate ... AND room for great pix! I'd also like to get some tutorials up here soon. Of course, first things first - I've got to get the eZine finished and off to your e-mailboxes! I'd really love to get that done before you start sayin' "Sew Very Creative, who?"

Alrighty, if ya'll could be so very kind as to let me know what you think about this idea, I'd awfully appreciate it ... I've got a poll gettin' set up to the left there, asking for ya'll's opinions! Hopefully, by now, ya'll realize that I care about what you have to say!! :-)

Big ol' quilty hugs!!!
Connie :)

Too much fabric or too little space??

Some days, it's almost hard to tell the difference ... aw, shucks, I'm kidding - there's NEVER any such thing as "too much fabric!" Though as your cabinets bulge, your shelves groan, and you lose small notions (and QIs), I'm sure it can SEEM that way!

Sew since throwing away that "extra" fabric is out of the question ('cause you ARE eventually going to use that novelty fabric that you bought 10 years ago, right?) and you can't exactly ask your hubby to sleep in the closet and give you the bedroom for fabric storage (I can think of no better way for a hubby to "prove his love," can you? LOL) we have to come up with clever ways to economize space AND try to keep your space an inspiring sanctuary - rather than a creativity constipator!

Closet case:
If you're lucky enough to have a closet in your sewing space (if not, you can use your side of the closet in your bedroom - who needs clothes when you can have fabric, right?), invest in a closet organizer. These are usually meant for storing sweaters, shoes, extra sheets, etc, made of canvas, and hang from your closet rod. Stack your fabric (the fold of the fabric facing "out" of course!) in these "cubbies" and keep the stacks neat by inserting cardboard (the backs of writing pads work extremely well - thick enough to be sturdy, but not so thick that you sacrifice space) between the stacks.

Get artsy with your project storage:
Invest in a (fairly) cheap taboret (the kind artists use to flat file store their work or keep supplies close at hand) ... Target (NAYY) sells a nice quality one for $30. They have "flat file" drawers that close and lock (much like a pencil case). You can store your fabrics, templates, pattern, thread, etc, in one "case" and take it with you into the next room, into the car, or just to protect your supplies until you're ready to work!

Or if you've not got a quilt plan or project in mind, but want to keep your fabric choices together, you can put your coordinated fabrics into one case for safekeeping (and to prevent you from using one of those fabrics in another quilt!).

Avoid being driven batty:
I don't know about you, but when my LQS or JoAnn's has a sale on batts, I go crazy and stock up! Nothin's worse than gettin' the itch to quilt and not having any batts on hand!

So I don't end up neck deep in batts, I use some "extra" fabric and make neckrolls ... instead of using a pillow form for the rolls, I just use unwrapped batts for the inserts. It makes your bed look pretty (I have about 6 on there, now) and it means more space in your sewin' room! Since you don't actually sleep on the "neck roll" pillows, the plastic isn't uncomfy.

Get a handle on your jellies:
Jelly rolls, a fairly new way your LQS sells "charm packs," can quickly get out of hand (especially if you're ME!). In order to keep some order in the chaos that I call my sewin' room, I use a vertical paper towel holder to store my jellies (the rolls, not the doughnuts or jams!). Find the center of the "swirl" and gently poke your finger through the hole. Once you've done that, you can slip the center of the "hole" over the center of the vertical paper towel holder! Once paper towel holder will hold about 6 ... Or if you have one of those ribbon holders that's never as filled a you thought it'd be when you bought it, you can slip the jelly "hole" over that and store more!

Windows to the soul:
Now this is where ya'll might think I'm a loon! I make curtains out of my long cuts! I'll take about 5 fabrics out of a line, put a casing in the top on each, a hem on the sides and bottom, and hang them up as curtains! I end up with pretty "multicolor" curtains that later, when I get the itchin', I can pull the hems and use the fabric in a quilt! Meanwhile, I have those pretty curtains, and MORE space for bought fabric!

Told you that you'd think I was a certified loon! :)

Nuts 'n' bolts
I saw a fabric shop do this and did it myself at home! When you buy fabric in a bolt, take the bolts and stand them up in a bushel basket! I bought about 4 of these a few years back, and every one of them is filled with bolts of fabric stood on end. It looks awfully pretty and frees up space for ... you guessed it! More fabric!

Alrighty, that's about it for now. I hope to have a few more tips on the subject tomorrow, so I sure do hope ya'll still stay tuned! :)

Tomorrow: More tips on organizing your space!

And the poll results are ...

The Quilt size most "requested:"

Lap size: 38%
Wall-hanging: 29%
Queen size: 23%
Full size: 19%
Crib size: 16%
Twin size: 14%
King size: 3%

How many of you use Electric Quilt:

Nope: 43%
Yep (EQ6): 28%
Yep (EQ5): 24%
Nope (uses different quilt software): 7%

Please keep an eye out for the next poll! :)

Tip O' the Day: "Template Tips"

Whilst I'm a bit inclined to keep all the tips I've got for the eZine, it's going to still be a bit before I'm ready to send it out, so ... I'll be posting a few handy tips now and then in the meantime. Some of these you more experienced quilters might roll your eyes at - but they might help the newbies out there. So if it's one you've heard before, be patient and I'm sure that a few'll slip on by that are new to you, too! :)

No-slip templates:
Plastic templates won't be as slippery when you mark or cut out your fabric if you dab just a tiny bit of rubber cement (a bottle costs about $2 at your local discount store) on the underside of your templates! Make sure they dry thoroughly before using them! Usually the "cure" time is about two hours ...

Smooth template cutting:
An old graphics tip ... when you're cutting out the plastic or paper templates with scissors, always move the substrate (paper or plastic that you're cutting), NEVER move the scissors. You have much more dexterity in moving the substrate ...

Error proof straight lines:
Invest in a cheap $4 Xacto knife for cutting out straight line templates ... they work perfectly on the average quilter's cutting mat (in fact, where do you think they got the idea for the cutting mat from? From graphic design!).

Taming tricky curves:
If you're feeling even more adventurous, and would like to cut out simple curves, invest in a designer's "flexible curve." They cost about $5 for a good quality 16 inch "flexible curve." Because it's flexible, you can mold it to fit the shape of the curve you'd like to cut and then move it to the plastic (or whatever medium you choose for your templates) and then cut! Whilst it's not the sturdiest tool, if you don't approach the task like the "Incredible Hulk," it should suit you just fine n' dandy.

You can also use the flexible curve for marking quilting designs on your top. Scrolls, gentle curves and loops, and the "base" for feathers ... with a flexible curve it's a snap!


Tomorrow's tips: Organizing and storing your fabric!

Update on the eZine, new patterns, etc ...

First, I want to take this moment to thank you, my dear quilty friends, for all the outpouring of love, support, and kindness we've received from you during this very difficult time. I'm still wading through literally hundreds of well-wishing, kind e-mails! I've said it before, and I'll say it again: quilters are the BEST people! Who else unthinkingly props up another person, despite their own troubles? Who else is capable of the care, consideration, and kindness? Who else is just the embodiment of the spirit of community?!!

I also want to reassure ya'll that I've still been busy as a bee. While waiting in doctors' offices, waiting to pick up the hubby from work (he works on a military base - and my badge to get on base even labels me his "official driver!" LOL), waiting while another load of laundry dries (strangely enough, even with all the changes his confinement incurred, the housework DIDN'T change - it's still waiting!!), I was on my new lappie learning EQ. It's really streamlined the whole design process! While I'm waiting for hubby to see his doctor (who pokes his knee and says "Yep, you really hurt it!"), I'm designing a quilt!! While I wait for the dishwasher to finish churning, I've designed a new block (to use in a new quilt)! While I wait for the dryer to finish a load, I've "installed" new fabrics!

No affiliation, of course, but EQ has allowed me to keep "quilting" even while I get so many other errands done, giving what creativity I have a much, much needed outlet. It's been a life (and sanity) saver. And it's more than exciting to know that I will be able to provide those of you who've taken the leap to EQ6 the files that I use to create my designs! Knowing that you'll be able to add the blocks I design to your libraries, use elements from my applique blocks the way YOU want to just tickles me to death! I really hope that ya'll share pics of your quilts or even screenshots of how you're using my designs!!

And please let me reassure you that the eZine is still in the works. My hubby's accident HAS pushed things back (obviously) but I still have the files, the artwork, the patterns, the recipes, tips, and sew much more. It's been way too much fun to quit now. And too many of ya'll have contributed for me to turn my back on the eZine now. The last thing I'd want to do is disappoint ya'll!

I'll be dusting off my Mac and getting more patterns uploaded this weekend. I think that, more than anything, is what ya'll have been waiting for! I'll have EQ loaded on my Mac (where it's easier to draw - since I have a tablet and stylus on that machine) and I'll be able to get right on back in the groove of designing, illustrating and UPLOADING!! Nothing makes me happier than to hear how much ya'll like my patterns and I love thinking that ya'll might be using them! Maybe on a quilt for a loved one? Maybe in a wall-hanging for a housewarming gift? Or maybe just to use that yummy fabric you just HAD to buy at your LQS?! :)

Now, I'm curious about ya'll ... I'm going to post a poll asking you who taught you or inspired you to quilt. Please take just a minute to tell me how YOU decided to express yourselves with quilts!!

Alrighty, to close I'll get a little bit mushy and tell ya'll how much I missed you!! I missed the e-mails, the comments ... the feeling that I was connecting with such wonderful people such as ya'll!! Every day, since my first post, I looked forward to posting here, wondering about who was reading this, what ya'll were thinking, what you've been working on ... what you're like as a person (not just someone's mom, friend, sister, daughter, etc - but who you ARE). I really hope ya'll write me and tell me! :)

Until next time ...

Happy quilting & quilty hugs!!
Connie :)

PS - Alma, Debi, Cathy, Yvette, and Heide, I'm writing you back!! Just give me a little bit longer - I have lots to say (but then, ya'll know I'm a talker!!)! :)

Update on "Superman" ...

The update on my hubby
It turns out that he blew out all three major ligaments AND ripped the meniscus (the cartilage between the bones). Worker's Comp (which, as I think I mentioned, we're forced to use since it happened at his work) has taken it's time getting back to us ... but it seems that the wonderful HR woman assigned to us through his work has worked her magic and we're getting a date for surgery!! This has to be the first time I've ever been happy about a loved one "going under the knife." : /

It's been brutal for him. Not a man to sit still longer than five minutes, having to be waited on and "adjustments made for" has really taken it's toll. Once a VERY active Cubmaster for our local Cub Scout Pack, he's had to step down and will be missing many activities in the next few months. It's really been such a devastating time for him.

Now he's back to work and I'm still recovering from taking care of him. Now he can drive his colleagues crazy! Not from being demanding - please don't get me wrong - but from trying to DO everything himself. If I had a penny every time that he tried to do something he shouldn't, on his own, I'd be the richest woman on earth (and you can bet I'd spend it all on fabric!). He's so stubborn! I've had to talk him out of making dinner (crutches on a potentially slippery, wet floor, anyone?), driving to work (it's his right leg that's near useless - his left, from relying on it so heavily, is almost as bad!), and much, much more!!! I swear, it's like babysitting a toddler who's just determined to touch a hot stove!

So, he'll be having surgery on the 18th - he's, of course, looking forward to it. It will be "doing something." It will be a first step on the journey to reclaiming his life. Now why aren't as I excited as he is??