Lafayette Quilt Shop Run

I don't usually write about shop hops, retreats, or general getting in the car and going with my quilting friends.  However, this was such a fun trip I had to talk about it.  We took off with threat of bad weather, to take Polly's sick machine to Lola Pinks Quilt shop to get it fixed.  We browsed and I bought nothing, but the others bought small things.   

Then we took off to J & B quit shop in Sunset.  Now this shop is stuffed with fabric .  It's very hard to find things in there, but I had a mission.  I'm doing a swap with my group Apple Crispers' and we're doing nine patches and half square triangles.  The pattern is by Lynn Roddy Brown.  She used green setting triangles.  I had to try this, so I'll use one or the other.  We'll see.

 The best part was we ran into Joann sister in law Jean and her friends.  Hugs and introduction all around.  Then we meet them for lunch 11 of us in all.  Really had a great time.

Next, we went to Broussard to a quilt shop called A and A Quilt Shop  Such a nice shop with lots of great offerings  Here, I found this Christmas fabric on sale.  They had a special on end of bolt and I got it for 50% off. Yea! My intent is to make and Irish Chain lap quilt for me.

Sewing room happening

This is my work area by my machine  Here, I'm working on Circa 1800's Club.  These are the last two batches of 50 with 10 of us altogether.
I'm messy when I work, always have been.  Since these are 2 In. finished seam allowance is critical.  Thank goodness for the little template you see here to trim these up.
And of course the ever present cup of coffee.

A closer view, couldn't decide which so I put them both.

I have switched now  to my scrape cutting area.  Again very messy and ever present cup of coffee.

I decided to work smarter and made me a rough list of what I'm working on.
My scrapes are the current ones out in plain sight.  So many others hiding out.  Mostly these are for Leader and enders I have in progress.

Tiding Up

My tidy bobbin ring!

My top drawer

I've been reading on the "Blogger" so many really good articles on cleaning up the sewing room.  What I've taken from all this reading is doing small things and get some progress made.  These two pictures are just  small things, but sure feels good to have done.

One article I read suggested putting away 5 things when you come into your sewing room each time.  Now I'm not always feeling like going in there, but when I do I put away 5 things.  

Another thing Ive been doing is stopping and sorting, throwing out things no longer needed and clean one area.  I'm doing this all over the house. 

The Year Behind

Progress on the Five Year quilt, I"m now ready to applique' to the border  fabric I picked out with the help of the Sewing Ladies

This quilt is from the I Love Churn Dashes Quilt  Still needs binding.  I showed it at Happy Scrappers last month.  Lots of good suggestions for Bindings.

I'm not sure this has ever been on the blog, and I'm not sure when I made it .  The quilting is beautiful and I this Polly did the quilting. I gifted this to my brother in law for Christmas.

This quilt sampler was a pattern from the LQS which has been closed for a while, like years  ago. I gifted this one to my sister in law. I love the back.  I pieced it from the border fabric and a tonal from the line of fabric.  Don't remember the line. I think they named the quilt Louisiana Purchase.

The biggest gift back for me was how happy they both were to receive these quilts out of the blue and the quilts went in their room so well.