Cleaning is a dangerous thing...

Last week before leaving town, I asked my husband to help me move some boxes in my sewing room closet, so I could get to my box of batting.  Since I rarely finish anything, the box was at the bottom of a full closet.  Of course, with boxes out and reachable, I couldn't stop myself from looking into them and doing a bit of purging and organization, and one box led to another and pretty soon I had a giant mess, which wasn't the plan at all.

As you can see, I don't have the lovely, organized sewing room so many of you do!

Two long days later, I had gone through most of the boxes/bins and most of the rest of the room (except I forgot the upper closet).  But, it was organized (more or less!) and I'd found only a few more unfinished projects.  With a clean work area, I was itching to start on my latest obsession, the Roseville Album quilt by Kim McLean. 

A bunch of talented quilters are making this quilt (or other quilts by Kim McLean) over on the blog, Glorious Applique, and I just couldn't resist joining them.  I spent several days in careful deliberation about my background--these were the final contenders with some of my leftover scraps from the Bordered Diamond quilt:

Peach, Water, Sky, and Magnolia Spots (Kaffe) and Scribbles by Patrick Lose (Kauffman)

I initially wanted to use a black and white spotted background, but they all seemed too overpowering.  The one above had potential since the black was softer, but the overall cast of the fabric seemed too cream-ish for the bright Kaffe colors.  The Peach Spots seemed too strong for the pinks I planned to use.  I liked all of the others, but in the end decided blue (Sky) would be most versatile for the fabrics I have and tend to use.  (I also really wanted a lavender, but couldn't find it, and the blue is close!) 

So despite all the unfinished projects around the house, I ordered the background fabric, the pattern, and a few more fabrics for this and a couple other projects, as well as doing a bit of shopping while away, and so had some lovely fabrics to play with when I got home.

Guess I like pink & red!

As far as any other progress, I've promised myself that I will finish the two tops I've shown on here before seriously starting on the Roseville.  (Ok, I admit I have opened and looked at the pattern and washed up all the fabric.)  But this weekend, I attached the borders to Bordered Diamonds and just have to stitch together its backing before it can be quilted.  Maybe I'll take a photo of it tomorrow to prove there is actual progress!