Stash overflow and ambitious sewing

The wall behind my sewing machine is meant to display projects that I am presently working on.  Due to my lack of sewing ambition over the past few months, it looks more like a holding pattern.  Today I am determined to fix this.  The floral dress in the middle?  That's a half-finished Shari.  I wasn't sure how to finish the middle section of the dress, as I had originally wanted to add piping at the edges.  Over a year later, I think I'll be happy just to finish.

Hmm...and here you see the antique rocker adjacent to my sewing niche.  It is covered in fabric — fabric that should be in the fabric cabinet pictured below:

These pictures were taken after this morning's cleaning spree.  I either need to do a lot more sewing before my trip to LA, or start giving fabric away.  Hopefully the latter option won't be necessary.  

Time for a quick lunch break (Vegetarian chili with oven-broiled tomatoes with a side of skillet cornbread), a cup of tea and then... Shari time!

Snowed In!

Pretty sure no one is going to park here.

Side street near Ft. Reno park- treacherous indeed!

By now I'm sure you've heard about DC's little snowmageddon. The inclement weather led to an early dismissal from work on Friday as well as a day off today. Despite the city's attempt to dig out, the driving situation is still not the best. While these conditions have left many DC residents with a case of cabin fever, I can't help but think that I have fared much better. After all, what could be better for a sewer/knitter than three whole days inside? Nestled in my little apartment-cave, I have been on a steady diet of coffee, tea, fabric and yarn.

Life has been stressful the last few months. While I nearly lost the will to sew, I did not stop buying fabric. So while home owners have spent the weekend digging out from under the snow, I have spent the weekend digging out from under my ever-expanding fabric stash. I am proud to say that I can almost see my ironing board again.

Aside from the fact that my sewing "room" takes up half of our living room, the other reason I am taking pains to clean up my stash is that I have plans to visit my Aunt in LA again this spring. Visiting LA means I will have to stop by the fashion district. Which means I will most certainly be coming home with more fabric and will need someplace to put it. Last year I purchased 1 yd of silk georgette, 2 1/2 yds of lime green voile, 1 1/2 yds of printed silk habotai, 1 1/2 yds of white cotton/seacell shirting and 3 yds of border print cotton voile (made into a tank dress, last seen here). My goal is to use each of these fabrics before heading back to LA. I will keep you updated on my progress- look for some finished pieces later today!

Fabric Friday

From Left to Right: brightly striped cotton jersey, claret wool jersey, 

emerald hammered silk, black and ivory cross- weave linen

I bought some more fabric last week, after tricking myself into thinking that I needed more.  Clearly I do not need more, as indicated by my Billy shelf that is fully to the brim with yard goods.  The only remedy, of course, is to sew, sew, sew!  Of course it's never fully evident why all these projects-in-waiting do not come to fruition more quickly, but I have an inkling that part of the puzzle is inspiration.  Once I get an idea in my head I tend to fall in love with it, and the project seems to fly off my fingertips like a ball of yarn unwinding.  I'm waiting for the inspiration to hit ;)

Anyhow, here are pictures of the fabrics.  Do you have any ideas about what these lovelies should become?  Any and all ideas are most welcome!