How about a Sunday afternoon chat?

Since it's been several days since I've posted, (including missing gratitude Friday) I'm having trouble focusing on one topic to post about. I sat down to post last night and my mind was blank. I started a post this morning about the project that has kept me busy this week but it sounded a little too negative so I erased it. I guess I'll just chat a little about this and that and then count some blessings. How does that sound?

I'll start with that project that's kept me very busy this week,  the one I could get negative if I spent much time talking about. The tee shirt blankets.

I'm only picturing one because they are nearly identical, made for twins. Their mom asked if I could make blankets out of her daughters favorite tee shirts. They will be going away to college next fall and she wanted to give them as Christmas gifts. When she asked what they would cost, I told her I needed to first get an idea of the materials I would need and how long it would take to make them, I'm not very quick on my feet when it comes to thinking and speaking at the same time. She pushed me for an estimate and the number that came out of my mouth...all I can say is as soon as I said it, I felt like Jim Carrey in Liar Liar. Not that I was lying, but that I couldn't believe what came out of my mouth. I wanted to say, "who said that?". It was way, way, WAY too low. Why do I do that to myself? Why should I be the least bit reluctant to charge what is a reasonable price for my time and effort? I don't know. Maybe I've learned my lesson this week. I hope so. I will say they came together nicely, really without any problems and I'm pleased with the results. I'm sure they would be prettier if they were quilted, but thankfully she just wanted blankets, nothing heavy and quilted.They are backed with navy flannel. I think if I'd had to quilt them, it would have sent me right on over the edge.

I never posted pictures of the sewing room after it was painted. I love it as much if not more than the kitchen. It's open to the kitchen since it used to be the dining room and is separated from the living room by french doors. I loved having a space dedicated to sewing but hated having all the fabric and stuff that accumulates on display. I came up with a relatively easy and inexpensive solution. A curtain to hide everything behind. Mitch cut brackets out of wood to hold a long piece of metal conduit from which I hung simple white panels. I want to add something to the bottom since I hemmed them a little shorted than I should have, but that will wait. The curtain extends from wall to wall and completely hides my fabric and another shelf of sewing books and other crafting paraphernalia. It is much more peaceful, both in color and organization. Ahhhh, I needed that.

During the reorganizing of things I came across this in the closet and it made me laugh. 

Not because mama goose is wearing a bonnet, though that is kinda cute, no I laughed because for many years (I'd say up to about 3 1/2 - 4 years ago) this was the only thing sewing related in the house. It held anything you needed for any sewing that might take place and I was not usually the one to use it, Mitch was. I wouldn't even sew on a button. This little tin held some scissors, a pin cushion with a few pins and a needle or two, a couple spools of thread and anything else that related to sewing. It was kept on top of the refrigerator. It makes me smile to think how things have changed.

I may have missed Gratitude Friday but I'll try to make up for it today.

• I'm grateful those blankets are finished
• I'm grateful to have a daughter who did a lot of my Christmas shopping and wrapping while I worked on those blankets
• I'm grateful to have a room of my own for sewing
• I'm grateful to have had the same pastor for 35 years and I'm so, so sad next Sunday will be his last
• I'm grateful for the mild weather we've had this week
• I'm grateful for internet shopping

Comments

[Pam]

TSHIRT QUILTS. Yeah, that is crazy talk. But the woman totally appreciated them right? I hope so, because huge pain in the.. well you know where!

Your sewing room is wonderful. I love how clean and organized it is. My room reminds me of a little hamster cage, with a trail to and from the machine.

Thanks for sharing!! I wish you a Merry-Stress-Free-Christmas!

[Kim]

Your sewing room is absolutely lovely and large. WOW! I love the color. And, I have to ask -- are you always that neat??!!??

[mm]

I'm not a big fan of t-shirt quilts -- I LOVE the idea, but I just really don't like the ones I've seen so far. I think you really did a wonderful job! I hope the girls and their mom love them too.

[capello]

love your lamp and quilt in that last photo.

i've heard the t-shirt blankets are a pain, PAIN IN THE *NECK*, because of the way the give and what not. did you back them with a stablizer?

and it sounds like you suffer from the issue i do: underselling yourself and being too nice (stop laughing, i'm nice).

[Kelli]

Beautiful post. You are a saint for putting those blankets together. You know it is something they will have forever -- and something they wouldn't have without you. :)
Your sewing room is fantastic. My favorite color.

[Sarah]

Firstly, I am impressed that the blankets turned out so lovely despite your dislike for the project. I couldn't have done that! I have to really be into something to make it beautiful, kudos to you. Secondly, it is amazing how the sewing bug changes you isn't it? I was just telling my husband that I think I have lost some weight because I spend all my time at the sewing machine instead of snacking. Now *that* is a great diet!

[Lori V]

The blankets look great, you have done a terrific job. I love your sewing room, I bet it just gives you such joy working in such a beautiful space. The curtains were a terrific idea.

[Patricia]

I really think I could get alot more done if I had a pretty sewing room like yours. Love, love, love the color!

[Kellie]

delurking to say i LOVE your sewing room - it looks wonderful!!

[Vintage Wine]

The sewing room is wonderful. I would love to have a romm where I can do some sewing and crafting.

It`s difficult to say a fair price just like that! But you shouldn`t feel bad about charging enough money for what you do, because you do it so well!

Best wishes,
Elisabeth

[Di]

Autum - you did a great job on the t-shirt quilt. I love your sewing room - I just wanted to curl up in your chair with some stitching and a hot chocolate!

[Emily]

First, I am SO JEALOUS of your sewing room!!!!! LUCKY!!!
Second, thanks for the honesty of the tshirt blanket/quilt. I had kept a lot of shirts from when my boys were little, school shirts, that kind of thing... lost them to Katrina last year, now, not so sad about that.... I think it would have been a project more for me than them anyway.... oh my, a good thing from Katrina..... is that healing? closure??? not sure...

[lla]

I think that pricing one's work is incredibly difficult - I think that is one of the things that hold me back... I mean, you obviously want to cover the costs of the materials, but the "time factor" is what is difficult to account for... The end result of the t-blankets is absolutely charming!

And I just want to come over, and curl up in your fabulous sewing room, and plunk down in the quilt covered chair and never leave! (Promise I'll try not to talk too much while you're working!) Such a fantastic space...

And how funny that just a few short years ago you were a "sewing kit in a tin" kind of gal. That amazes me and gives me hope... Remind me again how you got started? Because it seems to me you've come an *incredibly* long way from being "I have a pincushion and a few needles, but don't sew on buttons" girl!

[Molly Adams]

Lucky girl to have such a beautiful room to sew in! I love the t shirt quilts. I have never seen one as nice as yours. My girls do tournament ball and I have all these t shirts piled up from various teams. I think ONE day I will try it, just for a memory sake. But I will tell you, yours looks great!

[Jessica Hood]

what a cool idea for a blanket! nice work. happy holidays!

[beki]

I'm horrible about pricing too. Which is why I made lots of stuff (window treatments) for my sister-in-law for free, and ended up cursing the entire time. Near the end I had lots of resentment over it, which could have been avoided if I had just told her a fair price for my time.
I like your curtain solution in your sewing room. I think I need to do that in mine. Sometimes seeing all that fabric, though inspiring, can be a little much.

[Tanya Nichols]

they say the cure or prevention of senility is to learn something new everyday...I would say you are right on top of things...I love it.....LOVE your room and BOY is it tidy...
Enjoy your day!!

[Mindy]

Making a t-shirt quilt is on my list of *big things to tackle* I will remember to yell at you if I need help!

~sighs~ I wish I had a sewing room.

[Me,Myselfand Sewing]

Nice job on the t-shirt blanket. The colour combos look great together. I know what you mean about the pricing. Sometimes it is hard to price when it is something you haven't done before.

[daisies]

your sewing room is delicious and i can imagine what a joy it is to be in :) and i love the t-shirt blanket and now i absolutely know what i'm going to do with my baby's falling apart, well loved tees :)

[wendy]

Great blanket and your sewing room looks wonderful.

[lindiepindie]

Your sewing room is beautiful and the curtain is a great idea.

I'm just like you - I charge hardly anything for my time. Truth be told, our skills just aren't that valued in this country. Since most of my orders come from friends from church, I also don't want to hear about $ problems later and feel somehow I contributed to the problem. I hear you, sister. I do it to myself all the time. But, I do feel okay about being generous with friends.

[Rachael Q]

Love your sewing room. My sewing stuff still fits in a tin that size.

[Gina]

What a LOVELY room! I bet you love spending most of your day in there, I would.

[Alicia G.]

You do beautiful work and deserved to be fairly compensated. Charge what you're worth, lady!