Your worth it !

Morning,


Loopy D's Studio



Taking a break from working on my new long arm machine yes I have a new toy and loving every minute I get to use it. While I was drinking my morning coffee and reading the new Quilt life Magazine there was an article that made me stop and think.

We as women make our homes express ourselfs and our tastes through color, decor and nic knacks but do we have our own space to create & play. Our kids have play rooms, our teens have the basement, the men in our lives might have a man cave or a garage but do we as women make space where we play? Last year I took a course on working in small places. The instructor had a slide show of quilters spaces. Now the quilts these ladies made where wonderful but the space that they worked from sucked. I know it's not right to have all your sewing items and machine in the hall closet . Really you could not find a better place to work in ? Or the dinning room table , again family dinners are not as common but your machine is at the wrong height and the lighting stinks. Are we not active in paying the bills that we don't place value on us ?



Molly & Me with quilt
I cut in half to play on.



When I got my first Longarm frame it was 10 feet long and about 2.5 feet wide, my son was flabbergassed that I was taking up all his space in the basement. I looked him in the eyes and said did you pay the morgage? I think not so this machine stays. It's taken me some time to claim more of my house for myself but once it happened well the house reflecs my passion. Now don't get me wrong I worked at the kitchen table for about six months . Then one day after moving the machine again cause we eat family dinners together I said to my husband we have two spare rooms and how often are both filled? My studio space was born. Last year an organization company came in and helped me take control of the space and I have never looked back.  Last week my Millenuim arrived , Molly as I call her (anything that cost more than my first car needs a name) Well this set up is 14 feet long, four feet wide do I need to say more she takes up alot of space but my son and husband smiled and knew I am happy.

So take a look at your space , do you have one? If not why not? When you have an area that is just yours where no one touches the tools or moves a project you can walk away do something else then come back to it and continue . I don't care if you quilt or scrapbook when you have a hobby you need a space that your family does not disturb. Your more productive, creative and most of all happy . Now go look around your home is there a corner or a small room that you can claim ? I am thinking you can find it,  so that's your challenge this week take time and space for you.  Would love to see your spaces so post them. Now back to work I go as the quilt that is on the frame is not being finished with me on this machine.

Breath



Mr Bone's on Bass
Quilt top design by B. Sparrow
Skeleton all Mine.



Afternoon , Well I did it I took the plunge. Today I bought my Millennium Long arm machine. Breath. Wow okay you may not understand why I am so over whelmed. When I bought my first car I spent $8,000.00 dollars, was okay with that. Next car 22,000.00 dollars , went into the washroom and got sick. At that point in time I hated thinking I owed so much money. Today well I spent more than that in my Pj's,  but am doing a small happy dance.

You see I am taking a step forward. I have ran a day home for almost 15 yrs. For the most part it's been great but as with every job you have good days and bad days. It's time to look forward and have the conversation with ones self. Is this what I want to be doing in five years. Well easy answer NO it's not. Next question  -  what do you want to be doing? Again easy answer, although five years ago I could not answer that question.

Since I started quilting I found my voice . And yes as with everything in my life went for it with all my heart and soul. When each day is a gift use it well cause it could all be gone tomorrow. (Life scare when my son was five). Now discovered that I enjoy the quilting as much as the piecing maybe more so. Piecing is fine , following a pattern is wonderful but I have never been one to stay in the lines so where does this leave me? Simple answer do the work that makes the quilt a quilt.

Now for the next four months I will be travelling all over the country taking classes from some amazing Long arm Art's. Yes they are artist when they can make a flower come to life or a feather float in the corners of a quilt. These teachers have been doing this form of art for years and I can hardly wait to soak up what they have to offer. Next week it's classes with Sue Patten whom is amazing.

Found a name - Loopy D's quilting & Long arm studio. It makes me smile a combination of my favorite companion ( Luna ) we call her loopy cause she runs in circles and does these silly little loops when we are heading out. And a long arm artist makes many Loops.  D is for me and the rest is  what we do. Plus those that know me know that I am a  little bit loopy for the most part.

So for the next year will be working on improving my skills, building a clientele , designing more so Loopy D's can offer a little more crazy to ones quilts.

Long term plan be able to make this addiction pay for it's self and be able to take two weeks off a year. So yes today I spent money but in the long run it will pay for it's self and I can work when I want. Plus I can go for a coffee with a friend or have lunch with the girls.

Scary to be moving into the unknown but I think life needs to have risks and one should at least try. I can always be a Wal Mart greeter . Okay evil laugh I am not that old.