First days of summer break

It happens every year!  I wander around the house, going from this to that, accomplishing a few things, but not really settling into any one task.  Is it Adult ADHD or the beginning of summer break?  Most likely, both!  Summer break started a week ago, but today ends my week "off" before summer school begins.  Summer for me always begins with a little anxious, "I don't know what to do with myself" feeling.  Every year, though, things settle into a routine -- mornings teaching summer school; afternoons filled with home chores and fun.  I may still "wander" around the house -- but I'll be at peace with being able to enjoy the moment to think, ponder, and pray as I work in the gardens, do some sewing, cook a meal, clean those closets!, or talk with a neighbor over the fence.  A few of my "wanderings" from yesterday...

Enjoying a lovely breeze while quilting on the porch. 

Watering the flowers.

More flowers ... I see a porch in great need of cleaning.  That will be another day!

Ah, yes, a cup of coffee.  And... the signs of quilting -- pins, a thimble, glasses, and the ever present pile of threads!

Have a great Friday -- full of happy "wanderings!"

On to the quilting...

The sewing machine cover is ready to quilt.  As far as the design goes, it really is quite simple.  As the quilting is added, it will begin to take on a finer look.  Hand quilting is the part of a project I really enjoy the most.  My stitches till are not terribly small, and not always even, but I love the look of hand quilted projects.  Practice makes perfect -- or at least better! :)

It's hard to see, but at this point I drew on the quilting design. It will have sort of a "shadow" effect from the front to the back.  This picture shows it sideways.  The colorful side will cover the front of the machine -- the plain, the back.

All pinned and ready to go into the hoop.

Still working on it...

Last week I boldly announced -- I CAN finish this sewing machine cover in one week!  Ahem... well... let's just say it's still at the same place.  But, I did get some other sewing in.  A few projects with a deadline took priority -- 1) a pillow case for a friend recuperating from surgery, and 2) a clutch for my secret pal end of year gift.  These week -- yes, THIS week -- I will finish the other project.  Well....maybe ;)

Happy Monday!

Fabric for the pillow case.  I used a pattern from the Joel Dewberry Sewing Spaces book.

I forgot to take a picture of the finished product, but this is another one I am making. It came out quite nice, but on this one, I will sew it so that you can't see the seams on the inside.  You always learn on the first!

I had plenty of fabric left to make a summery clutch.  I'm waiting on some Amy Butler fabric to finish off another one soon.

A work in progress...

I challenged myself to finish a new cover for my sewing machine in one week.  I'm hoping to get some time to work on it this weekend.  I'm designing it as I go, so who knows how it will turn out!  Here is the progress.

This will be the front side.  I think I'll add a plain white for the back, but am not totally sure yet.

Back to sewing...

It's been hot here for the past few days!  I sort of feel like a wilted flower when the temps get up in the 90's.  My motivation for sewing has taken a nose-dive as well, so I thought I'd best post something to help hold myself accountable to finishing a project.  When I made the blue curtains for my sewing nook, I no longer liked the looks of the heavy rust colored sewing machine cover I'd made a year ago.  Here is the start of a newer, prettier, lighter look.  Ok ... now I've put it out there, so it must get finished!  Can I do it in a week? I think I can. I think I can. I think I can...