I spent a couple hours sewing yesterday.  I haven't had this much fun sewing in a long time.  Pure fun, I tell you.  This project is working so well that I can hardly stand it.  Really, I am so excited that I am practically giddy!  A few loose ends to tie up and I will be back tomorrow with the finished product....Have a great day!

While we were in Florida last month, my mother-in-law helped me adjust the pattern for this sun hat from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing.  I have a big head and it was immediately evident from the pattern that it wouldn't fit my noggin.  We added an inch to the crown and the brim, adjusting the top accordingly (don't ask me how - she did most of that part).  We cut it out of some inexpensive fabric and I put it on my head thinking that it would definitely fit fine.  Yesterday I was finally able to sew my version.

So what do you think?  I am not sure about it.  It is still a bit snug.  The brim is super long - I can barely see when I am wearing it.  I asked Fatty if it was good or goofy.  He said, "Yes."  I guess that means it is good and goofy....hmmm.  Not sure what I think about that either.

I would like to make it again.  This time I think I would use 1/4 inch seams to give myself a bit more room around.  If I do that, I think I would have to cut the height of the crown some and I know I need to cut back on the brim.  If anyone has any tips, please pass them along.

My first choice would be to re-do this one, but I don't think I can.  I hate that I used my pink Amy Butler fabric and it doesn't fit.  I might hand it down to Kate - she inherited my big head.  I would have to cut the brim down a bunch.  I am thinking of just taking the pinking shears to it so I don't have to rip out all the top-stitching on the brim.  I know the ends would fray, but it could be kind of cute, couldn't it?  Really, couldn't it?

And I am definitely making the next one out of muslin.  Lesson learned.

Here it is:  the sewing room, or studio, if you prefer that.  I call it both.  I painted it this beautiful turquoise-y blue last August and have been dreaming of getting it organized since way before then.  I did it and know that if the machine hadn't been gone for three weeks it never would have happened.

Here is the machine in its newly spruced up home.  I hung the peg board and keep patting myself on the back because it was a great idea.  No more lost scissors, rulers, embroidery hoops - they all have a home.

Here's the view I have while sitting at the table.  I covered a piece of plywood with cork and then fabric.  It looks a bit empty, but I am excited to fill it up with all the little things I have hoarded over the years.   Fatty hung the thread racks awhile back and I added the old E and photos of my little family.  And that little painting in an oval frame is an antique that my former boss and friend Susan gave me.

Next to the peg board on a blank spot of wall, Fatty and I installed a flannel board.  It small, but handy.  I like to lay out patchwork to visualize it and I think this will help.  It can also hold all the little bits of the appliques I like to do.  No more lost pieces!

Behind the table are shelves filled with fabric and trims.  The cottons along with the trims and buttons are organized by color.  The rest of the fabric is organized, too.  You probably couldn't tell how, though.  There is a stack of wool felt and some larger flat folds of cotton.  Throw in upholstery weight fabric organized by room/project and you get the drift.

Set back a bit from the other shelves, these hold the nuts and bolts:  books, patterns, supplies and super large flat folds.

On the next wall is a little alcove covered by a makeshift curtain (it still needs to be hemmed) which hides more stuff.  The ironing board can hang out of the way when not in use.

And on the door is this collage, made my friend Suzanne.  It always makes me smile.

You can see before pictures here and more photos of the finished space over on flickr.  We have family in town and a big weekend ahead.  If it's quiet on the blog, you can probably find me sitting in my chair, soaking it all in, loving my little space.

I about jumped for joy when I read that the March/April Tie One On theme was ric rac.  I love ric rac.  I immediately had a grand plan, and of course, did not stick to it one bit.  I had this vision of chevron stripes done in ric rac - all in one color, varying widths of trim.  Well, that would have taken me forever to line up properly (and straight) and I didn't have that much time seeing that I just welcomed my sewing machine home.  I stayed with stripes and am very happy with how it turned out.

Typically I don't go for orange, but I like the way it looks with the bright yellow and green.  My favorite part is the giant green grosgrain ric rac.  I found it back in the fall and immediately had to have it because it was ric rac and it was green and it was grosgrain.  Did you know I like grosgrain?  Yup, I do.  A lot.

Oh, and for you, Dad:  Hooray, hooray, it's the first of May......

Hip Hip Hooray!  I have a sewing machine!  Just in the nick of time, too.  The March/April Tie One On deadline is tomorrow.  I am happy to say that I've got some sewing to do!  Back tomorrow with an apron and pictures of the sewing room later this week.  Joy!

I love the shadows the afternoon sun made on the sewing room wall.

The room is almost finished.  I need to hang some things and put a few more items in their proper places.  Oh, and vacuum.  This little room requires a very thorough vacuum job.  It amazed me how many threads were on the floor once I cleaned up all the other stuff covering it.  But I digress....The room is coming together nicely.  I smile every time I walk in there.  It's going to be a very happy place.

The machine?  Well, that is an entirely different story.  The new parts came in and were installed successfully.  Hooray!  It just needs more new parts.  Yup, more.  These are covered by warranty (a pleasant surprise) and have been ordered.  So I wait...

Do you ever make something and it just doesn't turn out how you had hoped?  I am certainly guilty of that.  Remember those tiny yo-yo's I made back in the fall?  Those were a bad idea - just too small.  They sat forgotten under a mound of fabric until this week.  Then I shifted the pile to my table and looked at them each time I went in there to clean.    So this is what I did:

I strung them on a piece of embroidery floss.  Why?  I don't know, really.  I didn't want to throw them away, but I don't have a use for them at the moment.  I kind of like them strung up like that.  And where did the lone red one come from?  I can't even remember why I have that.

I think I am going to hang them on my inspiration board, once I make it, that is.  Maybe they will inspire a project.  A doll quilt, perhaps?

The good news...some pattern filing and some memo boards to make for the sewing room and I will be 98% finished.  The other 2% - well, it requires a sewing machine.  That's the bad news...I am still waiting.

Spring break is over, the kiddos are back in school and I am without a sewing machine.  Yes, that's right - without a machine.  I took it in for a tune-up before I left and apparently, it need a little more than just TLC.  It requires a couple of new parts and lucky me, I get a big repair bill.  Yikes.  And of course, this all happens as my mind is racing with ideas and I have a huge urge to get sewing.  There are so many things I want to make, but just can't without my machine.  What to do?

The obvious choice was to go in here and tackle the mess.  I spent a good chunk of time on Friday and Saturday folding fabric, organizing and trashing out.

This is what's left.  Scary, huh?  The rest of the room is pretty well done and the table has been the dumping ground for all the little things that are still homeless.  It will get cleaned up and organized or there won't be anywhere to put the machine when it comes home.  And that would be very sad because I want it to come home.  Soon.

On another note, thanks for all your nice comments about my photo posts last week.   I always enjoy a week where I do more showing than telling.