Toodling around the House

I finally did a massive housecleaning this past week- cleared out all the junk accumulated in the "front hallway" and tidied up the kitchen, did tons of dishes, and vacuumed the "whole place." The quotation marks are requisite, since my apartment is not exactly large. And the front hallway is... a couple feet of space between the front door and the living room bookcases, but no matter! It's growing on me. I loved my home in Bloomington best of all, because it was big and had great light and I had a sewing room slash study. This Arlington home isn't bad though- I still miss having a real bedroom, but I do love having it set up with distinct "rooms" and seeing the TV from bed those rare times I do that.

What did I do the second I got it all pretty in here? I decided to tear through all my sewing supplies, fabric, and patterns to try and organize things. I didn't finish a lot of organization, but I did find some entertaining things. I have two copies of two different costume patterns- but at least I know why I have duplicates. And I have an amazing vintage dress, in the right size approximately, but I'm still too scared to try making it.

I made my first eBay order in years - to get 30s reproduction quilting fabric. Or rather, little pre-cut squares. They came in beautifully laundered, ironed, and cut to 4 inches, and I need to get some subtle white patterned quilting fabric to make my pinwheel quilt. This should be a really quick project, once I find the background fabric. In fact, I think I started this whole sewing supply expedition to determine if I already had any! I also wanted to try playing with fabric while watching Project Runway- which is infinitely better this week than last.



Et voila, a bunch of sorted stuff:


I found a bunch of patterns I already have the fabric for and should be ready to work with ASAP: a spiffy long denim skirt in a swishy bias cut (dark denim inherited from my Mom needs to be washed); tons of a burgundy cotton blend I bought at Walmart months ago for a new RenFest skirt; and a quilted handbag (all the fabric is already cut out- beautiful pink and yellow Asian prints).

It's never all sewing around here. An updated sweater back:


And from just after I started the sleeves: