Valerean

After making the August tote for my calendar project from fabrics I found in a thrifted bundle, I worked happier and with more enthusiasm than I have in a long time. I don't know what it is about making something out of fabrics that someone else chose, but it definitely motivates me. I have quite a bit of fabric left over from making the tote, as well as the rest of the bundle to use -- a couple of pounds' worth. I love using fabric someone else chose and that I acquire in random bundles to make things. This quilt here is what I made from a pound of fabric scraps that I bought from an Etsy seller. Ten years ago I bought a bag of scrap fabric at the county quilt show for $3.00, and challenged myself to make something from all of it, using every bit. Here's what I made out of that, and it was such a fun challenge I want to do it again. I think in my continuing effort to get over my lack of desire to quilt I'm going to make something from the thr...

I have to say, August was one of the most fun months this year for me because of all I the projects I accomplished. Maybe it's the effect of summer on me, but it really boosted my spirits. To kick off my creating I wove another, beachcomber's edition basket using a vintage rope basket and handmade art yarn spun with sea shells, crystal beads and sea glass beads, and crocheted the lining out of thrifted variegated chenille blanket yarn. I solved a mystery by turning three balls of thrifted, unlabeled yarn into this throw, and identifying the yarn brand and colorway in the process. I crocheted a couple of drawstring pouches while testing some new-to-me yarns. I altered a pair of capris into shorts, and tailored a pair of jeans to fit me better. I made Iris, a giant amigurumi cat, entirely out of scrap yarn. I crocheted a little purse for Iris out of an odd ball of French yarn I got in a thrifted lot. I kept it simple and made a fun tote out of thrifted...

There was one piece of fabric in the vintage bundle I bought at the Coop that was perfect for a much-needed quick project, so I took that and a piece of yellow print that worked with it and made a mat for my nephew's dog's food and water bowl stand. I just sandwiched the two pieces of fabric together with some batting, and machine quilted it in a diamond hatch pattern that followed the lines on the print. It turned out to be good machine quilting practice for me, something I really need to do every week now. I've been using placemats for this bowl stand so I'm glad to have a nice new mat for it. I might make a few more since we seem to be dog sitting quite a bit lately.

In three weeks fall will arrive , and that's the season I dislike most. Everything beautiful and green from summer begins to brown and wither. Pumpkin spice, which I don't care for at all, is everywhere. This is the worst stretch of the hurricane season, too. I saw Halloween decor being put out in stores back in July, and I was so not ready for it. Christmas decor will follow, probably well before Halloween. Fall ends four days before the winter holidays, which I really dread every year. I am trying to change my attitude toward everything I dislike, so I'm going to enjoy these last three weeks of summer, and then find ways to appreciate fall rather than hate it. Be the observer instead of the prisoner, my spiritual teachings say. I can do that. I can also steer myself into happier directions. For example, Halloween was wonderful last year because I really got into it. I made Halloween costumes for thrifted stuffed animals. I had a Halloween party and...

My guy and I had the chance to visit Ormond Beach in the middle of the week, which was beautiful and almost completely empty. To see more pics, check out my album here .

I found this patchwork quilt top for a song at one of the antique markets we visited, and it's kind of a mess. It's unfinished, the fabric choices are odd, and sewn so poorly it doesn't lay flat. It was also sewn together with zig zag stitches, which I've never before seen a quilter do. Anyway, as it is I can't save it or finish it, so I decided to recycle it into stitch practice pieces. I do want to hand stitch some reclaimed patchwork into my September tote, so I really need to practice and see what I am still capable of doing. I put together two mug rugs and a mat for practice stitching. The rest of the quilt top will be repurposed for other projects. I also learned some things doing this. I'm not going to be able to feather stitch or embroider much longer, as I fought my fingers just to get this much done. I can only manage huge straight stitches unless I use a very small, very sharp quilting needle, which was a nice revelati...

At the moment I'm thinking about what I want to do next year. My guy and I are not getting younger, and he's having issues now that require more of my attention (not yet in decline, just getting older.) One thing I spend about an hour a day on that I don't need to is updating my three blogs. Should I finally give them up and quit online journaling? Pros: I'd gain an hour of free time every day. I don't have much of an audience now, and that will continue to dwindle as online friends and any other interested parties go elsewhere for content. I'm not really contributing anything meaningful to the online writing community anymore since going freelance (nor do I feel I have to. Did that for fourteen years.) It is a time sink, and since I maintain my own handwritten personal journals I will still have a place to put my thoughts. Cons: I would probably not spend that free hour doing anything for my guy, as he sleeps in these days, so my mornings would b...