An Archie update and a peek into my sewing room

Thank you so much for all your well wishes and concern about Archie,  I passed them on and Archie waggled his ears in thanks!  He is definitely more interested in life since my last post and has renewed his interest in people walking on 'his' pavement, etc.  He's still restricted to very short walks, no stairs, etc. although he did sneak upstairs without me noticing at the weekend - he's very quiet and would make a great burglar!  I'm not sure if he's walking slightly oddly on one of his hind legs or whether I'm imagining it but I'll be sure to mention my concerns to the vet next week.

I was going to share my newly stitched hexies but then I decided to copy Nicky and show you my sewing room - it's not very big but I think I've used every nook and cranny!  I've put numbers on some of the things and labels below as I love to know what other people keep in all their boxes and drawers...

1 = my scrap boxes (or most of them, some are still waiting to be sorted!)

2 = boxes for ribbons & trim and interfacing

3 = Blue Ted (one of my first teddies - he went everywhere with me) and Barney

4 = scraps/small pieces of fusible web
5 = safety pins

6 = beads and buttons

7 = box for scraps that I've been using and need to be put away and a bag for used paper
8 = threads box and project boxes
9 = more project boxes and my cutting board behind them
10 = scraps still to be sorted - it's about a quarter full and I seem to have lost impetus!
11 = bag with all my sewing machine accessories
12 = where my stash lives (and my rotary cutter, etc.) with rulers on the top

13 = bag of tiny scraps - I take them to a local charity shop that collects rags

14 = Going in Circles - no idea where to put it at the moment!

15 = rubbish ironing board for fusible web & other messy things and a horrible draught excluder waiting for a new look

16 = lunch box with all my essential bits - unpicker, small scissors, paper scissors, pencils, pincushion, etc.

And you can just see my sewing machine under the table!

17 = quilt hiding the clothes horse
18 = Panda (my oldest toy) on the comfy chair
19 = wall of fabric postcards
20 = boxes with embroidery threads and other bits - my extension table and knee lift arm are at the side 

 

So, that's how it looks when I'm not working in it.  Today I've been up there making a swap item - it's due to be posted by the end of the month (that'd be in two days time then!) so I thought I'd show you what it looks like when I'm working...

Think it's time I confessed to being a fairly neat worker!

I'll show you what I was working on in my next post but here are the backs - I'm making two identical pieces...

Can you tell what it is yet?!

Some of you may be wondering what I did with Archie whilst I was sewing...if you look closely you can see him on the second photo as I've discovered a way to keep him upstairs with me without shutting him in - it's easier than a baby gate as it leaves the stairs free of bars, etc.  as it's bad enough having to carry him downstairs without negotiating a bar on the stair!  I move the lamp box before I carry Archie down but I've taken to stepping over it the rest of the time!!!  
Edited to add:  For those of you who are worried about me stepping over the boxes...I promise it's safe!  The stairs aren't directly behind the boxes as there's no turn at the top - they start to the left of the boxes where the newel post is so I'm just stepping onto another patch of landing!  I never step over them when I'm carrying Archie so you don't need to worry about me dropping him down the stairs but I promise to be careful!  Thanks for thinking about me!

Knew there was a reason I hadn't put those boxes in the loft!

In other news there is a new Brit Swap just starting up and I'm definitely joining in!  I dithered about joining the first Brit Quilt Swap but the timing wasn't right and I've regretted it ever since so I've been waiting for round two to be announced!  This time it's a cushion (pillow) swap...go here for details.  We have to make a mosaic for our partners and complete the sign up form - I've done the mosaic but I'm still thinking about what to write on my form!  I also need to put something in my profile...

I found it really hard to narrow down my choices but I hope it will give my partner an idea of what I like.

I can't get the links that came with the mosaic to appear as a link - if you know what I'm doing wrong please let me know!  It's fine in Flickr but won't work here...apologies if I've used your photo without credit, I'll do my best to add the links by hand tomorrow and update the post...  Think I've fixed it - thanks Jan!

 1. Craft buttons pillow, 2. Joseph's Coat Pillow Finalist, 3. Solids Swap, 4. The Gobstopper Quilt, 5. Rainbow Double Flying Geese Circle on White with a dash of block, 6. Bird Pillow finished front, 7. Quilt for Rhonda, 8. Fresh Lemons Spools, 9. savvy_4, 10. Colorful Crafting with Jen:  Rickie's Sashiko Pillow, 11. My lovely PTS4 from Heather, 12. YIP 365.81 :: Monday Twinkle
 


Although Archie wasn't best pleased to be taken upstairs while I was busy he soon made himself comfortable

So comfortable and snoring too!

I'd just knelt down to get a better angle when he suddenly realised what I was doing - you can see the shock on his face!

Please tell me you didn't just take a photo of me showing all I've got...

Hope everyone is having a lovely week full of stitching...