Sunday, January 10, 2010

For the birds and blogging....

First of all, on my list of things crafty for 2010, I forgot to include the enchanted monthly swap....Every month we change partners and send them a woodland ornament and a few goodies..Val at http://yarnigrasswapspot.blogspot.com is the hostess and each month she also issues a challenge or two..This is the first month and the ornament theme is acorns and pine cone...The challenge... a random act of kindness and do something for the birds...Both were easy and fun....I love birds, always have and have a backyard full of birdhouses...I made some suet and seed filled orange cups and hung them...Cooper must be able to smell the suet because he wants them bad....I hung them in some nice birdie places....

As for the ornaments, I have some ideas but I haven't made them yet....I also completed a rak, but that is a secret...just cause why brag? I try to do a lot of nice things for other people just because.....
Tonight I finished the quilt top I showed in the previous post....tomorrow I am going to go get backing and thread for it...I think I am going to quilt it in orange. I have been on an orange kick I know...I like happy colors...I also got out the two quilts that I need to finish piecing so they are in my line of sight...Other wise, I will start on something new and forget about them.
I also took some pictures of my creating space upstairs and this is it being used....I pretty much have it organized the way I want now and I can find things! Our whole upstairs is a long peak roofed attic...The part that we refinished in orange and turquoise, opens up to my room where I sew...It was already carpeted and painted so it was the perfect place to set up shop....

This is the end of the room.........All my little treasures are all over the wall..Whatever strikes my fancy at the moment...I also have books filled with atc's and postcards and my scrapbooks up here. They are some of my most prized possessions...

This is my quilter and frame..What I love about this room is that there is enough length for it...It is 9 ft long so it is an issue. Below it I have five bins...one for scrap booking, one for scraps of fabric, one for big pieces of fabric, one for batting, stabilizers etc and one for ongoing projects...It isn't pretty, but it works...


Across from the quilter is my 1940's wood ironing board and my cutting table...I keep a Rubbermaid container under the table for all my patterns...I only keep them if I am going to use them again...I have been good about that because I have a tendency to hoard patterns and magazines...I also have my great grandmas treadle singer against the wall....I have baskets of paint and supplies and it is a doo dad holder...I keep my books underneath, on a shelf and on my computer desk...


Here is the entry to the room....I don't usually close the door between the playroom and the sewing room...I have a baby gate for the door and Jace plays with his toys and still can see me in here, which he loves...This is one of his favorite rooms because it is just filled with all kinds of fiddly little things....Where do you sew? I love seeing how people work and how they organize...I have seen some fabulous spaces...mine is just about me and what I am comfortable with...I am at home here and it feels good.
Oh yeah, and a picture of THE car... you know the one I am in debt for...Here it is Jean....I even wore matching red boots...

I also really wanted to talk about blogging.....I had to eliminate anonymous comments because I was starting to get a lot of spam...I also got an anonymous comment from someone letting me know that they thought my blog had gotten better....I really have been thinking about that...What makes a good blog? What do you like to read or see?... To me a good blog has pictures, I can get to know the person writing it and it isn't a space to rant or be negative...once in a while I don't mind...we all have our days but I tend to like upbeat...I love seeing what people make and how they did it...Funny stories and insights are a big hit with me. I think it is all a balance. I also will visit a blog with a big following but if no one ever replies, well I guess they are just too big for me...I always try to answer everyone and if I haven't, I am truly sorry...I mostly write for me, but I want the people who read my blog to enjoy it too...What can I do to make it better? Please let me know what makes a blog "readable to you...I really am interested!!!

20 comments:

Quiltingranny said...

Love the matching boots and I love your space & you needed it so much! I am trying to get my stuff down to the basement to have room and then I won't be running back and forth all the time. Your blog is awesome. Anonymous seems to be hitting everyone lately...haha!

Jen xo said...

The pics of sewing space are wondeful i get so frustrated cos i know i have it but can never find it.

What makes a good blog?

hmmmm, lots of pics, art i like and little sneak peaks into peoples lives which arent always happy but where you get to know them.[ in blogland anyway!]
i think its your blog so you can write about what you want, no one has the right to critisice. Ive seen some pretty rude comments lately so why visit....

oh and bloggers who post regularly something im not good at....jenxo

Pat said...

Your sewing space is wonderful...thanks for showing it to us. As for a good blog, I used to answer every comment but now I am getting 20+ comments a day and with working part-time and tryng to do my hobbies AND I also read over 100 blogs each day, something had to give. SO....I only reply to comments if someone is new to my blog or if a specific question is asked. I wrote about that on my blog not too long ago...about why I could no longer comment. I felt it was better to go read the blogs of others than to spend my time replying to all the comments on mine. So....if you don't get a reply on my blog (or on others) that might be the reason, so don't judge us too harshly,okay? LOL

Kerry said...

I have pretty much the same sewing space as yours - the upstairs area. I share mine with my 2 kids, it's their playroom too. I LOVE what you've done with your space............i wish mine was as tidy and ordered!!!!
It's the 1st time i've visited your blog - i love it:-)

Unknown said...

i love your space, i just have a corner of the living room. we have a very small house, but i love it just the same. i'm like you, I like to see pictures on blogs...

Anonymous said...

Hi Melinda,
what a fun creative space!
to me, if a blog post doesn't have pictures I just skim over it.
looking forward to knowing you better :)
Missy

Laurie said...

Hi Melinda! I agree with everything you said about what makes a good blog. I love pictures, especially of what people are working on, their spaces, and the little things in life that make peoples lives interesting and unique are what I look for. Love this post by the way, thanks for all the great pics! I'll have to clean up my work area and post some new pictures!

Chickens in the Basement said...

Love your quilting room! Mine has the same ceiling, but that's where the similarity ends. Mine is SOOOO not organized! Want to come for a visit?

Looks like you use some similar colors and fabrics for quilt. I love color!

Anna

Chickens in the Basement said...

Okay, so I look at pictures first, then I go back and read. I should do both before I start making comments. I think your blog is great. I used to keep a journal, but got really bored with it. This is a way of keeping up with life, but keeping it fun, too. I was always afraid someone would read my journals. Now I'm afraid no one will read my blog! Go figure!

I saw your birdhouses and feeders on the Yarnigras blog and was jealous of all your unique feeders. My birds are just the best enteretainment!

Looking forward to having you as a swap partner!

Happy Day!
Anna

Margaret said...

Fab creative space! I dream of a room like this! AND isn''t that the dress swap hanging on the wall??!! squeal!!

I love your blog and the view you give us into your life, don't you go changing a thing!! Mx

Courtney Short said...

thanks for the reminder about the challenge .. I just so happened to be doing something for them today anyway.. I will be blogging about it soon.. I love your craft space!! I too love seeing how other ppl organize and where they work. Unfortunately right now I have to craft in my dining room.. but at least I have a spot to do it I guess ;-)

Robin (RsIslandCrafts) said...

What a great craft area! I like how the playroom is right there but still separate. That way the kids can still see you but not get into everything.

I enjoy your blog. Blogging is a personal thing yet you still want to blog ab out things that may interest others. I love pictures. I have to admit that if the pictures don't catch my eye I just skim the blog entry.

I understand that people with busy blogs or busy lives can't always reply to each and every post. What bothers me is if I ask a question and nobody sends a reply.

I like that you mentioned it is all about balance. Life and blogging are all about balance. I like to walk the line between my crafting and my personal life. I like to give just enough information for people to understand/relate to me but not so much that my life is out there for everyone to see. We all have to decide just how much of ourselves we are going to put out there.

I do like when bloggers post regularly. Daily, weekly, monthly, it doesn't matter. I get used to a bloggers "rhythm" and know when to check out their blog to see what's going on.

OK...time to go off to my itsy bitsy teeny wheeny little sewing area in the corner of the living room lol.

Lorraine said...

what are they on about?? No wonder they remained anon! there is nothing wrong with your blog..I love coming over and visiting and your fabric creations are amazing and inspirational. Sounds to me they are just jealous so just ignore them..I would! Anyhow love your studio you lucky thing and the size of that quilting machine!!! thanks very much for your great comments about my latest craze fabric postcards!

gin said...

I love your room. We have an upstairs room with the same ceiling and with a connected bedroom. How cool is that!!! I wish I had a quilting machine like that.

Julie Harward said...

Hi there...thanks for your visit to my blog and your kind words! I agree with you..when a blog gets to big to have a interaction with the commentors it's too big! I have stopped following some of those..(I told one lady that in a real nice way) and she emailed me to tell me how busy she is in her life...I thought, well you just took the time to email me, it could have been a nice comment back! LOL Come say hi any time :D

Micki said...

What an incredible sewing area you have! It is just gorgeous, and I am sure you will enjoy each moment there.
Micki

hetty said...

Love your sewing room! And your new car! And your matching shoes!

Elizabeth Golden said...

Hey Girl so glad Christmas was great for you and yours. Love the creative space. Especially the blue and orange, my two favorites! The car is great. Love the boots! You look so happy! I am so happy for you!

Pam said...

I love your room. You have so much room for all your supplies and equipment. It looks like a great place to be creative. I love reading your blog.

Yarni Gras! said...

your room is awesome! I love the new car...and BOOTS!
I don't know what makes a blog 'good' either! Why do people 'follow' up one day and take themselves off as a follower the next? So strange.......