It rained Tuesday night. When I went downstairs Wednesday morning to do laundry I found puddles on the basement floor. The culprit was a detached downspout extender. Did I forget to check it after the landscapers did the fall cleanup, or did it fall off sometime afterward? In any event it took two wet-vac tubs full to get all the water. The 1-1/2" and 2" strip bins under the cutting table got wet. The bins themselves are made out of nylon or polyester and they dried fine. I contemplated putting the strips in pillowcases and putting them in the dryer but then I'd have to iron them -- so I just pitched them, straight into the trash. But I weighed them first--12 lbs so 48 yards in the "fabric out" column for the month. That was the only loss and things are dried out now. (And the downspout extender is reattached!)
Moda fabric designer Deb Strain was the guest speaker at the guild meeting on Wednesday. It was really interesting to meet her and learn about the way she creates. She began as an art teacher. She created a line of greeting cards featuring whimsical dolls and rented a booth at Quilt Market to sell the cards. Moda executives discovered her and -- 28 years later -- she's still designing for them.
She was so lively it was hard to get a good photo -- there she is with one of her non-fabric lines. The sketch in the lower right shows a panel in progress. Its full-color version is at the upper left.
Here is the entire panel in cloth.
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I was able to steal a few moments to sew downstairs -- here's the new project underway. It involves neckties.....
Linking up at Finished or Not Friday
That is too bad about your strip bins getting wet! Will you miss those? I guess we all know that there are always more scraps out there for us to sew with! Deb Strain looks like an interesting presenter!
ReplyDeleteOh no - that's too bad about your flood, but sometimes you just have to cut your losses and realize that your time is more valuable than what it would have taken to wash and iron everything.
ReplyDeleteThat's sad that it was fabric already cut that got wet. I probably would have thrown it too, not knowing what lurked in the rain water that came in.
ReplyDeleteI used Deb Strain's embroidery patterns (12 calendar pictures) when I was working at the sewing machine store, and made a calendar of batiks. The monthly embroideries had velcro on the back so we could change them. I did a couple of the embroideries at home too and still haven't made them into anything. I love her style.
So sad when fabric has to be thrown out. But I probably would have done the same. What an interesting guild speaker.
ReplyDeleteYea, for the “Out Column”!. Water in your space is never fun. Always lots of work. I get it. Neckties? Hmmmm?
ReplyDeleteI would probably have dried the wet strips and then never gotten around to ironing them - you was was more efficient.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend!
Ceci
Oooh, I love Deb Strain and her fabulous artwork made into fabric. You are so lucky to have had her for guild. I feel so badly for your strips. How frustrating to let them go... especially after all the work to cut them and save them. And how overwhelming the removal of water must have been. My sympathies on both counts. You are of strong character to undertake it all on your own.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the water disaster in the basement. It happened often at my parents house so I know what you mean with "two wet-vac tubs". Happy to know only some of your fabric got wet, but 12 pounds is a lot. Enjoy the new project. ;^)
ReplyDeleteWater damage is never fun, it had to hurt just a bit to pitch all those strips. Sounds like a fun guild meeting.
ReplyDeleteTies! I saved those for years but they didn’t make the last move. I’ll be interested to see what you do with them!
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