MY Christmas Wish List
 

First of all, let me say how much I have gleamed and learned from all your vast knowledge from this site. Listed below is the new tools and things I have added to my Christmas list. I am eager to know what is on your Christmas list?

Needle Nanny by Piece of Cake Design
Kay Buckley's 4 inch scissors
self-healing mat that will rotate
Creative Grids's non slip crazy rulers
a retractable extension cord to take with me when I meet my friends for sewing day. We meet once a month, and everyone just brings whatever they want to work on...FUN!

I am sure there will be other things, I will see or hear about on here, that will be added before Christmas:o:D:thumbup:

I'd like the cleaning fairy to clean and straighten out my sewing room. It's one of the bigger bedrooms. Just so much STUFF that I can't walk around, or even scoot my rolling chair to my design board! Too many boxes of fabric, projects and scraps. Things piled high. And an inch of dust.

I guess I already fulfilled my wish list yesterday at an estate sale. I got a 1948 Featherweight with the "card table"..the machine and case are pristine! so much so that it looks as if it's never been out of the case, and for some readon, included 2 foot controls. $200.00 for all. Thank you, Santa--I must have been a very good girl this year (so far!)

You will love the rotating mat. I have two and the favorite is an Olfa. It's green which is the color of mat I am used to cutting on. It's actually square. It was my first one and I got used to it. Then I bought a Martelli which is white and round and I just don't like it that much. Doesn't turn as easily. The Martelli is actually bigger and I thought I'd really like it, but I guess I just need more time with it.

Does that cleaning fairy have any extra time?

I also have an Olfa rotating mat and dearly wish I had bought the larger one. Mine is only 12 1/2 inches square.

This sounds horrible but I would love for Santa to find DH a part time job. He decided to retire about 3 months ago and I was definitely not ready to have him round the house 24/7. He keeps trying to be helpful--which I appreciate--but usually ends up either getting in my way and making me feel guilty for being frustrated with his 'help'. Ok whining finished.

I had to look up Needle Nannies. Interesting.

Dear Santa:

All I want for Christmas is more time! I have plenty of fabric, notions and gadgets (although I could list many more that I'd like) but what I really, really want is just more time to use and enjoy what I have :)

Thank you in advance -

Christine

A 30yd roll of batting.

We probably live too far apart. I'd hire him to install a couple of smoke detectors and replace some light bulbs I can't reach. Could an older neighbor in your area use him for handyman projects? My husband did all of our handyman projects before he died in 1995.

mine are not really sewing related but sure would help me on quilting projects: a gift certificate for weekly massage by an excellent masseuse (sp??) in our town (ok, I'd settle for every other week!) and someone to come in about once a month and really clean my house--I do a lousy job of keeping up (quilting is soooo much more fun) and DH not too willing to clean either!

Can you suggest some volunteer opportunities to him? Your local public library, mentoring in a school, delivering meals on wheels, etc.? Or maybe you could teach him to cut fabric for you... in another room! Good luck!

For a rotating mat can I recommend a "Matilda". I think mine came from Amazon and it's the best one I've ever had and I've owned 3 different ones. It spins freely as a Lazy Susan would. Can't square up quilt blocks without it.

Oh, this is such a good reminder that it is time to get in and straighten up the sewing room. It is so easy for this busy room to get out of control. I needed your reminder to get in there and "get'er done". My Cleaning Fairy is on vacation this week so I will have to do it myself. Besides, she is unreliable and put things in odd places just to make me hunt for them endlessly. :o

I had to really think hard on something to 'need' for visiting Missouri Star Quilt in Hamilton Mo. What I'd written on my sticky note was Tula Pinks crazy quilt ruler. They couldn't find one anywhere but one of the ladies said MSQC has one. Oh gosh even better. I bought it without looking at it, and I absolutely hate it.
And Tula Pink doesn't have one, she used the EZ brand one i think, looking more closely at her quilt

Be careful what you wish for, you might get it :)

. I am Green with envy! I really want a table for my Featherweight and simply can’t find one at a reasonable price.

I did the E. Burns paper version of the scrappy crazy blocks. All one needs is paper, the size of the block desired, cut the shapes you want. After cutting the paper, glue it to poster board and add your seam allowance to use as your templates. Works great and does not cost much in time or supplies. Use your ruler on the templates to hold it secure while using the rotary cutter.

I bought a Matilda rotating mat this year and love it! I had one of the square Olfa's and my new one works a lot better for me.

Would be nice but I just can't justify the cost! I do a lot of 6" blocks so have cut an old mat to an 8" square and just turn it.

I have seen elanore burns use a ruler that has multiple slots for cutting strips. She cuts in a quarter of the time I take, so I am thinking of looking up what that ruler is, and buying one. Time saved during the cutting process is a big plus to my old knees.

WOW, Mermaid .... what a great find!

I will certainly look into the Matilda cutting mat. I have only just started looking, and I wasn't sure what size, but now I will look at getting the biggest I can when I make my decision.

I love Eleanor Burns, so I will definitely look up her technique on crazy blocks.

Can't think of anything I really want or need in the line of sewing or quilting supplies.

My biggest wish list - everyone else get their stuff out of my areas so I would have room to spread out my stuff.

I haven't really looked at new products or gadgets, either. I'm feeling old(er) at the moment and my energy level is low. I am in recovery mode from a total knee replacement and we are dealing with some family issues with are also zapping my enthusiasm.

But - I hope that you get your wishes granted - and that you are happy with whatever it is that you wanted. :)

I think when we start out - we want "everything" -

Then we get "everything" -

And then we get to a point where we want to get rid of "almost everything"

This is a great thread. My birthday is coming up and the other night my husband asked me if there was anything I wanted. I've been so blessed and have so much that I really couldn't think of anything off the top of my head and told him I'd get back to him. I might *have* to have a rotating cutting mat. Keep posting everyone. I might find something else I just *have* to have! lol

I would like a cleaning fairy, too, for my sewing room AND the spare bedroom. The sewing clobber seems to have morphed on into that room.
My husband helped buy my new machine and that will be my birthday and Christmas gift from him. :-)
Also, we're going to Nova's FW class in February, so my Christmas wishes are done. Except for the cleaning fairy...has anyone seen her?

DH retired a few years ago, and as much as I love him, if he had not gone back to work for a few hours a week, I would lose my mind. He does not deal with boredom well, and I can’t be his only entertainment. I have things to do. He pumps gas a few hours a day. Not as technical as his career, but gives him people to talk to besides me. Win, win. We don’t need much money, so what he makes just makes life a little more pleasant, and keeps us friends. Lol.

My DH and I have finally decided we are not going to exchange gifts, we have so much and really are getting rid of a lot of it.
I love my Accuquilt and have been buying their storage boxes to keep my dies in - I love those boxes! So those are my Christmas gifts. Accuquilt has been adding dies lately, with embroidery designs, soooooo.... I am taken care of.

This year for my birthday and Mother's Day I did send a quilt to a LA to have it professionally quilted. My DDs and DH contributed to the cost since it was $300.00. (It is for a full size bed and I did not have them bind it because I really like to do that.)

Lisa, I got my Matilda mat on Crafsty half price. They have good sales. Worth a look!

Actually, I do have more than enough. I would like time to get things done. And, more joy in the world.

How True! I don't want things to control me. Therefore, I am downsizing my quilting items so I will be able to concentrate on the items I love to make. Clutter will be decreased -- in theory. LOL

I think I'm going to ask for one of the SewEzi tables to use for FMQ since I don't have a cabinet or table for that. I took an FMQ class and the teacher recommended them.

It doesn't sound horrible. I totally understand about your husband being around 24/7 - it's a difficult transition for both of you. I know because I've been there and still am adjusting. I find myself leaving the house or going back to my sewing machine or computer to get away. As one of my best friends put it, "too much together time."

That’s exactly where I am...

Rob

Wow happy for you - you got a great deal!

I've looked for those Featherweight tables - they are so hard to come by and expensive. I'd love one too!

I retired a year before my husband. He thought I was having a great time so he retired. Ending: I took two part time jobs. (Actually now we are both home now, but try to do some things together, and some apart. Seems to be working.)

I have both of the Olfa rotating mats and find myself using the smaller one more. I don't seem to have enough room on my cutting table to be able to rotate the big one without hitting some of the stuff that's taking up space there.

I know what you mean about your husband being underfoot since he retired. My husband is someone who can't sit still, so he always has to be busy. Luckily, he found something that keeps him occupied. What's that old saying, "I married him for better or worse, but not for lunch."

Leslie

The ruler you are referring to is made by June Taylor. I have had one for years I don't know if Joann's still carry it but that's where I bought the one I have. Mine has slots for different size strips but Eleanor has the 2 1/2 inch one. I bought mine using a coupon.

I made my own rotating mat about 5 or 6 years ago, all I did was use a lazy Susan and a cutting mat that had warped. I put it to good use when Jenny Doan came out with the disappearing blocks. Works like a charm and I think it's about 15 inches round. I think the amounts they want for some of these things are crazy unless you have no concerns about money. I would rather spend on fabric or threads.

there is a co. that makes reproduction tables for the featherweight...google...can't remember name but should be easy to find and they aren't too expensive.