It's a Goldilocks Thing

My favorite fabric store "Fabric of Vision" is closing their doors. It's sad and it's also happy. Good friend Sandi can start a new chapter and who knows where that will take her. What an exciting start to the new year! And while I won't have that special fabric store right at my fingertips, I do have the knowledge and confidence to look and find fabrics I want and need in the future. Thank you Sandi for the years of great fun, heavenly fabrics and kind education in all things sewing.

So what's Goldilocks have to do with anything? Well, I got a little chair I had admired for many years at FOV.



An old metal folding chair that had been quilted. I bought it to go with my new Schacht Sidekick spinning wheel and the height and portability is just right for that, but I also found out it is the perfect chair for threading heddles on the Macombers.



 Just right and so cute too.

The Sidekick was a gift from my folks and what a fine spinner it is!



I am so impressed with this little wheel and I can leave the  heavier Matchless at home.



 DH Gene gave me a fiber club membership, so something wonderful to spin arrives at our mailbox once a month. What a great Christmas I had.

On New Years Day I organized my fabric stash. I did a lot of shopping at FOV, everything is being sold at 50% off, everything and who can resist a good buy.

Gratuitous ear cleaning shot

 It certainly made some fabrics obtainable price-wise. My shelves are stuffed with beautiful fabrics and good memories!

New patterns have also found their way into the stash.



Tina Givens had a half price sale on her printed patterns and while the drafting is rarely great, these are two I really wanted to try and they look easy enough to correct or modify. I have some Vogue Designer patterns that will be available in an upcoming giveaway. Next post!And some sewing finally happened in the newly organized sewing salon. This is my own pattern far removed from its beginnings as a Grainline Scout Tee.



I used some handwoven fabric as details.



The fabric is a cotton/poly/? blend with a woven leaf texture on it. I don't usually use black but everyone needs at least one good black garment and this is mine.



The Murphy loom weaves again. Prayer flags for Charlotte and a few others who have lost beloved pets. This is the new style of flag.



 I will bind it in while silk top and bottom. The colors are represented by the stripes in yellow, green, red, white (tan in this case) and blue. The prayers are in silver and colored silk. The binding will give me an opportunity to sew things to it.

Right before Christmas I got two Ina Garten cookbooks and have had great fun cooking from them. I love her style and the simplicity of her recipes.



 I even found the most perfect lemon cake dessert. It's made with yogurt instead of butter and is divine!

We've celebrated Christmas, my Mom's 78th birthday and our 16th wedding anniversary in the span of 7 days. It has been a busy time. I hope the start of 2016 finds you all energized and excited for whatever the year may bring. Lets hope it's a good one eh?

Parting shot: Don't be afraid to adopt seniors. They are simply the BEST! Just ask this guy who came to us as a nine year old. He'll tell you. ;-)