Author Archives: alisonshirley

About alisonshirley

My true love is cross stitch, but I also dabble in a few other needlearts and love to quilt and craft in general.

A Quilting Table

For Christmas, I wanted a new sewing table.  For years, I have used an old computer desk and it was just no good.  I wanted the bed of my sewing machine to be level with the table top to make sewing easier.  I looked for a premade table to purchase and, oh boy, were they expensive!  Even the used tables were outrageous!  Way more money than I wanted to spend.  (I prefer to spend my money on stitching supplies and quilt fabric.)

Then, I had the brilliant idea to search the web for plans on how to make my own table.  And, voila!  I found numerous tutorials on how to make your own custom sewing table. I ended up using the easy to follow instructions of the Blue Dinosaurs blog.  She uses an Ikea INGO table and a few simple supplies found at your local hardware store.  As luck would have it, there is an Ikea store just down the road from me.

So, I did what any self-respecting grown woman would do – I begged and pleaded with my wonderful husband to make this project for me.  And he said yes!  Did I say how wonderful he is?   He even went to Ikea without me to buy the table.  And words cannot describe how much he dislikes that store.  He is a great guy, isn’t he?

This is the result.

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Isn’t it beautiful?  I love it!  It still needs a little sanding and eventually I will paint it a pretty color.

I can’t wait to use it!

Here is the link to the instructions:

http://bluedinosaurs.com/diy-platform-sewing-table/

  

A New Start, Undecided

For my New Year’s Resolution, I want to start (and finish) a new large project.  I have a few in my stash so after digging around for a little while, I found these two.

1420256795512This one is titled “Sarah Woodham 1770” by Shakespeare’s Peddler.

1420256531445 This one is “Loose Feathers” by Blackbird Designs.

But which one shall I stitch?  I love them both.

Oh, I have a great idea.  I will just start them both.  Why not?  I CAN DO IT!  I know I can.  If I set my mind to it and really try hard all year long, I know I can finish both.  Yeah, right.

A positive attitude!  That’s all I need.  And LOTS of free weekends to stitch!

I just need to pull out my A Game and get to it!  Now off to the store to pick up fabric and thread so I can get this party started.

New Year’s Resolution

I am not one to make New Year’s resolutions.  But this year is different.  I am making a New Year’s Resolution.  And it is… (drum roll please)… to CROSS STITCH MORE!

I did very little stitching in 2014 and I want to make sure that changes in 2015.  That is why I am starting this blog.   I am hoping that it will create some accountability for me and get me motivated.

My goals for this year are to finish two WIPs that have been sitting around for a while, start (and hopefully finish) a new large project which I haven’t decided on yet, and start/finish two small butterflies that are part of a set.  And I also want to actually “Finish” a few projects that I have completed the stitching on but am too scared to cut up to make into Christmas stockings, frame, and/or make into pillows and ornaments.

My problem is that I love to start projects, but when it comes time to complete and finish the project, I get a little distracted.  I love the process of deciding on the fabric, picking the threads, and daydreaming about how fabulous it will look once I get it done.   But halfway through, it starts to get boring and I start thinking about the next project.

But this is the year for change!  I WILL FINISH SOMETHING!  And I will catalog everything on this blog and share my successes (and probably a few disappointments) along the way.

I am looking forward to a great 2015 and I hope you are too!