Sewing on the Go!

When my Mom got sick, I decided to move to her house to care for her. This is a big decision as it's impact on my own life is still becoming real to me.

I am leaving my own home and moving from Kansas to California for a very extended period of time. This was an easy decision for me. I looked around my house and packed up my car with all sorts of projects to do. Quilt tops that were already cut out, applique projects that had fabric already chosen, knitting projects (new). And threw into my car everything that I thought I might need in order to keep "Sewing on the Go".

The list included my Singer featherweight sewing machine, scissors, thread, needles, rotary cutter, a small cutting mat, my applique thread carrier....

So, I got out to California and the one thing I didn't pack was FABRIC!

How could I have been so dumb. I have an online fabric shop, so I have no shortage of fabric. Until I left home. I have NO fabric. NO Stash. I can't live like this.

The first week I was too busy to care, going to the hospital every day was enough. But as time went by I began to realize that I was having fabric and sewing withdrawal. I looked up the local quilt guild and paid them a visit. Perfect timing! They were having a bazaar. And there were ladies selling fabric. Vintage fabric (oh I love those), fat quarters, new fabric on the bolt. I borrowed some money and brought back my first stash in my new digs. Now, where am I going to store a fabric stash in my Mom's house? Well, that doesn't matter, just GET IT.

I'll share more about that later.

So, it is getting closer to time bring Mom home and projects start running around in my mind.
I have been asked to make and display some art quilts for sale in a small Califonia community put on by their Art Council. Yep, I have projects, but NO FABRIC. Well, just in time, an online quilting friend is having an open house to sell FABRIC. I take a break from the hospital and drive 45 min. to have the priviledge of buying FABRIC. I picked out a nice selection, purchased it and headed back to hospital. Im feeling better, I have FABRIC.

But I need more, so I call my good friend in Kansas.. "How would you like to do me a favor?"
"Well, of course, what do you need?" "I need FABRIC" My wonderful friends went to my house and spent a whole Saturday cutting me a nice FABRIC stash, put it in a box and mailed it to California. It arrived in two days and I am happy!

But getting to the point of this story, we arrived home from the hospital and I have fabric and I have projects. I thought I brought all I needed in the way of supplies, so let's get sewing.

My first project is a Bow Tucks purse for my good friend to give as a gift for Christmas. She included the fabric in my box, so it's all good. I start setting up a place to sew...Hmmm. I'm used to my nice sewing room at home where I can have everything at hand and I don't have to put it away between sewing sessions. Not so here.

I brought a small cutting mat, but when I start looking at it, I can't cut across the width of the fabric on that. A quick trip to JoAnns with a 50% off coupon and Im in business again.

Well, the dining room table is the sewing place of choice. I'm getting set up to make the little purse. Get out my featherweight, get out my little travel iron; "Mom, where is your ironing board?" "Oh, I haven't ironed anything in years, I got rid of it" Now, my Mom doesn't get rid of ANYTHNG! Except the ironing board.

Well, we are a "make do" family. Here is my little sewing area with the "make do" ironing station. Two towels on the table, so I don't scratch or mark the table, a nice big board I found in the closet, a sheet over the top of it all. I can put the cutting mat on top of the sheet when I need to cut and remove it to iron.














I was also a little worried about just how much I could sew through with my little featherweight.


Here she is!

Well, she breezed right through all the layers of the purse without a hitch. All it needed was oil, oil, oil. Im thinkging it hadn't had any in quite a while. She drank it up. She is purring along now, quiet and strong!



Here is the first of my projects made "On the GO". It's going in the mail tomorrow. Hope it arrives in time for Christmas!