A Continuation On My Cutting Table

I see you did come over from my Duck Out of Water post on the file cabinet project.

Part II of that project is putting the table-top, a top salvaged from an old desk, atop the file cabinets.  You'll remember I left the 12" space issue hanging.  It really bothers me to lose that much space.  With the cabinets side-by-side, there is no access to it, and once I get the wall storage cabinet(s), there'll be no access from the end either, so, a total loss of good floor space.  What to do?

Floor space in this room is at a premium.  With my intended purpose it will not work to recess the cabinets.  To do so would make it nearly impossible to utilize the space in the top drawers.  Unlike commercial grade cabinets, these don't fully open - losing in a sense, the back 4" of each drawer so to recess would be bad indeed.

without the top on yet, shows the difference between 25" from the wall to the front, versus 30" wall to front.

I gave this some thought, and really wrestled as to what to do, finally coming to the conclusion that it would be better to lose 5" of table-top space, than it would be to lose 5" of floor space given my compact quarters.  So Marty has approval to take that former desk top down to the garage, pull out the skill saw, and lop of 5" along the entire length.  Why 5" you ask?  The table-top measures 30" x 60".  My large cutting mat measures 25" x 37".  So 25" depth is the minimum depth required.  If I ever got a larger mat, not something I foresee doing, then I'd have to cross that bridge when I get to it.

I'm at a standstill until Marty gets the saw out and cuts it.  He just got home from the gym and is eating his dinner and relaxing for a moment.  It might get done tonight; he doesn't seem to be in a hurry - unlike me.

 waiting *** waiting***waiting

In place, with the  top cut to 25" deep. 

OK, now, it's been done.  I like the look.  Sleek, clean.   I wonder how long it will take before it gets too cluttered to work on?  Also, since I removed the little white desk entirely from this room, I'm thinking I may leave the sewing table where the desk was.  It's easily moved and for now, gives a little extra surface...until I put the machine back in.  The only downside to this position is it puts the TV at my left back/side.  When I'm sewing and want to watch something I suppose I could push the main desk/sewing cabinet towards the TV (not shown, but would be to the right in the room's corner from the chair) and set the portable table in front of it.  I'll find work-arounds until I get the storage cabs, and the acrylic insert for the sewing cabinet.  With that insert, I can take the sewing table down completely giving me just that much more open feel.

There's lots to do to put things away, and get files into the cabinets. 

My Prize Arrived

On Monday, the books I won from Quilter's Newsletter arrived.  I wasn't home when they came, but when I got home and came into my Creation Station, there the parcel was, laying on my desk.

Here are the books I received:

Easy Weekend Quilts

 I can see making a number of quilts in this book, including this one shown on the cover. 

Simple Shape Quilts

 This one too, has some in it that appeal to me.  All are truly simple and would work up quickly.

Quilt Retro

This one has only a couple that appeal to me, particularly one called Linoleum Floors.  I grew up with linoleum floors; never had carpet until I moved away from home and my apartment had the variegated green shag...who remembers that awful stuff?  We "loved" it back then.

T*Shirt Quilts Made Easy

The last book, is this one on making quilts from T-Shirts.  My boat doesn't float with this one, but I'll have to look at it a little closer and then make a decision as to whether to keep it or pass it on.

A big thank you to Quilter's Newsletter for this give-away.  They frequently have give-aways.  One with fabric was recently offered (now closed) but I couldn't enter because of my win within 90-days - their policy.   

**********

I've not sewn much over the last two weeks as I've been working on a different organizational project.  On Monday, before meeting up with Panda, I pressed and trimmed some of the units for Part 2 of Alllietare.  I still have more to trim, then I can add the rectangle that makes it look a bit like a Santa hat.  Our progress is slow.  Panda had gone out of state for a week so we didn't meet on the 7th, and since she wasn't home she hadn't done much sewing either, so we're both at about the same place as each other.  I will have to make an intentional effort to make some progress.  There's so much to do on my organizational effort and I'm really focused on it, so sewing is taking a back burner for the most part for now.

A Notification Received

I just received notification that I was one of the winners chosen at random at Quilters Newsletter for one of three sets of books.  I won set 3.   Fun, fun, fun. 

From My Mailbox

Once upon a time there was a give-away on a quilt blog that I follow.  I left a comment and promptly forgot about it, especially given that at the time I was still doing the back & forth between two states stuff.  That was last Mother's Day!  I've become pretty nonchalant with give-aways feeling my chances of winning are pretty slim, though in my six years of blogging (inconsistently I might add-but you already know that) I have been a winner a couple of times.

At the end of November, I was reading through the blogs and saw my blog name as the winner of the giveaway at Simply Stitching Along.  I need to say thank you to Deb for the things she sent.  She had a bit of a delay (hey, life happens!) in sending it, so included a few extra items.

Here are the goodies I received:

Two 100 Blocks magazines, and a Quilts from 100 Blocks.

The one with the orange strip across the top was in the initial give-away; the other two are bonuses :)  I see a lot of nice blocks in there, but have yet to really delve deeply into them.  I'll just say I've been busy with so much other stuff myself lately.

Another bonus item, a mystery....book!

Did you notice the title "Threads..." [my blog is Webs of THREAD-quite apropo] and there is a quilt on the wall above the fireplace and the pillows are quilt designs. 

Back cover description.

I don't get in a lot of book reading, but I think this will definitely be read soon.  I like a good mystery, and a statement also on the cover that I didn't photograph says it has a generous touch of humor and a smidgen of romance.  Intriguing indeed, so yes, it will be read.

fabric :)

Fabric always gets a big smile, especially with a scrappy quilt lover like me.  The 5" squares are 42 different novelty fabrics and I looked at every single one and oh my they are cute and I can see them in an I Spy quilt or two, and I needed them as most of my stash fabrics don't do well for that purpose and I've been wanting to do one for my grand-kids.  The two little bundles (also bonus), 42 2.5" precuts each, are so lovely.  I love the soft, romantic feel of so many of the Moda fabrics.

Thank you Deb, I'll be having a lot of fun with these goodies.

March-ing On

February has blurred right on past us, even with an extra day!  

Yesterday was the first day in a week in which I've touched my sewing machine.  I worked on the first half of the blocks (the 'headless geese') of Part 2 for Allietare.  I have yet to press the corners up and make sure they all measure correctly.  The week before, I'd spent all of 12 minutes doing 4 units (to make one block) of Part 2, so that when I get together with Panda, we can compare how we're doing.    She sent a message saying she was having a problem with her Part 2 units but didn't elaborate.  I took a look when we got together, I convinced her she was doing ok but should be pressing the other direction.  All is well. 

Stacks of -headless geese - and 4 units of 'Santa hats'.

We spent about 5 minutes conferring on our projects and then headed to the mall....I'll continue with life from the past couple of weeks over on Duck Out of Water in order to keep this blog quilt/craft-related.  I hope you'll join me there.