Just in time for the 4th of July! This little stars table topper was such fun to make. I don't do paper piecing very often, so a small project like this is what it takes to keep my skill set sharp. When I first got started I could barely remember which end was supposed to be up, but by the seventh or eighth star, I was up to speed again.
The pattern is by Laurie Simpson and is in the Moda All Stars Mini Marvels book. I printed the paper pattern right from the book and had no issues with it not being accurate. The finished blocks came out 3 1/2", every single one of them.
My weekend was quite productive. I recovered a new pressing board for my ironing station, as the previous one had warped very badly over the two or three years I have been using it. You should have seen my husband and I scrabbling around on the floor with the staple gun trying to cover the new board with batting and a fabric covering. Neither one of us does so well on the floor anymore. My husband found out that after his double knee surgeries, he can no longer kneel.
I just put the new board on top of the old one. Hopefully the new one won't warp. I will use my thick wool pressing mat as often as possible and maybe that will help.
Can you see how badly the bottom board warped? It was like ironing in a valley.
I also reorganized my book shelves and pattern storage system. My patterns are in the five white bins on the top shelf. I need to go through them and toss the ones I know I will never use. I also went through my books and discovered a duplicate of a good one, so I will do a give away at some point this week. I eliminated a couple piles of books which made room for six project boxes on one of the shelves.
What a good feeling to get a ton of crap stuff off the floor and stored away in the closet and on the shelves. It is a pleasure to go in my sewing room and just sit in my chair and look around the room at my accomplishment.
Hope you all had a lovely weekend.
Your shelf looks lovely! I have found over the years that my quilting room is so much more enjoyable and I'm more,productive when its clean. Now I keep it that way all the time instead of doing massive cleans ups that I would dread. Happy quilting!
Posted by: Susan Quinn | June 22, 2020 at 04:53 AM
The mini is fabulous! My sewing room is the worst ever as I've pulled a ton of fabric for a Jewel Box. Yours looks nice and organized now.
Posted by: Susan S | June 22, 2020 at 05:58 AM
I have done the same organizing in my sewing studio also, since I made such a mess during the marathon virus sewing! Love my clean studio now, although it won’t last long. Seems to get into a mess again as soon as I start pulling fabrics for the next project! But I’ve read that you can’t be creative without creating a mess. So there you have it. We are just creative. I can deal with the mess.
Posted by: Sharon | June 22, 2020 at 05:58 AM
Amazing how organization can free up space.
Too late for your new ironing board, but I cover mine with aluminum foil first.
Shelves look great. Enjoy the new ironing board.
P.S. Iron a piece of freezer paper to the surface when working on a messy project.
Hugs
Posted by: Pam O | June 22, 2020 at 06:21 AM
Your little star quilt is really cute and the border fabric you chose is just right. Doesn't it feel good to straighten your sewing room. It actually feels physically good to me when I get it done and it makes me want to start a new project. I only wish it would last longer...
Posted by: Linda Kay Smith | June 22, 2020 at 07:03 AM
I looked for the Mini book over the weekend while visiting a new quilt shop. They didn't have it in stock, so I walked out with a Kim Diehl instead. This is still on my wish list; I love everything you've shown.
Posted by: Mary | June 22, 2020 at 07:05 AM
You've been pleasantly productive. The stars and the sampler-in-progress look great! Funny how long we try to get "just a little more use" out of something, like your pressing board. (For me, right now, it's the big mat on my cutting table. I need to get a new one!)
Posted by: Nann | June 22, 2020 at 07:25 AM
Yay for a productive weekend! I have a lot of patterns too and have sent a bunch to the thrift store. I also have a big bag of sewing stuff to donate to a group that keeps youths/teens busy. I figure even small triangles and strips can be used for collage and art if they don't work in quilts. Your stars look terrific.
Posted by: AnnieO | June 22, 2020 at 08:13 AM
Love your mini stars! Wonderful! And having a tidy, organized space is a great feeling. Enjoy!
Posted by: Debbie R. | June 22, 2020 at 08:34 AM
Your stars table topper is sweet. The border fabric reminds me of sparklers being twirled around. Perfect for your celebration.
I always find that it feels good to have a clear out and I usually discover things I had forgotten that I had. I've been going through quilting magazines and scanning the patterns that I want to keep into my computer. That way I'm leaving the magazine intact to donate to our local thrift shop... or a quilting buddy.
Posted by: Donna | June 22, 2020 at 08:58 AM
Great job on the topper! Your little stars really 'twinkle'! Once you sort through your patterns you might think about donating to one of the guilds affected by fires in California. Have a good week!
Posted by: Jan | June 22, 2020 at 09:09 AM
What an inspiration you are today Nicole. I need an ironing station, so I can put some storage under the ironing board which just has wasted space under it at present. I have built in book shelves in the sewing room in my new house and a shelf all along the window. Whatever landed there when I moved in is still there. I would love if it looked like your book shelf. I guess I won't be getting knee replacements since I already can't kneel and replacements won't fix that I guess. Knees don't do well on stairs either.Somethings just have to be accepted. I have a new bundle of Laurie Simpson to quilt with, can't wait to get to it.
Posted by: Stephani in N. TX | June 22, 2020 at 09:15 AM
I am so impressed! It looks great! I need to do some major "rearranging". How come it is so much fun to quilt and such a bother to clean up the aftermath?
Mary
Posted by: Mary Kastner | June 22, 2020 at 09:51 AM
a duplicate book? why, that has NEVER happened to me! ;p seriously, the room looks lovely. I love a well organized space.
I cleaned my sewing room 2 weeks ago because I was having the window cleaner come and I knew she would totally judge me if she saw the mess! I love having clean windows and screens. ;p
Posted by: Ina | June 22, 2020 at 10:15 AM
It's always satisfying to complete a thorough clean-up. I'm doing it more piecemeal now though, as I have 5 projects going at once, I'm cleaning up a bit after I finish each one.
Posted by: Cathy | June 22, 2020 at 10:24 AM
Love your mini stars! I'm so jelly that your room is so clean! I can't throw away things, I feel so guilty, so maybe I need to swap or sell. Your room sure does look inviting!
Posted by: Anita | June 25, 2020 at 02:27 AM