Unlike most people, I look forward to the ending of summer - summer is mostly work for us. We never take a vacation in summer. We have a boat - we have taken it out one whole day this entire summer. We have property that always needs to be maintained and this summer was a lot of work towards that goal. Our construction company works more in summer hours, which means more work for me. Not complaining, I love our home and property, it just means work; and of course, I wouldn't complain about the business that keeps me in fabric. So as I typed September in the heading - I thought - wheeeee! Summer is over; by the calendar anyway.
My August mosaic
The one thing I really wanted to make was the Travel Duffle in the first photo. I did go on one short trip by myself to a family wedding and I wanted to have the bag for that trip - which I did! Now my Grandmother wants one, and I'm supposed to be working on that.
Two years ago I would not touch paper piecing with someone else's 10 foot pole. Now I can't stop. I saw this block on Instagram and wanted to make it immediately. The pattern is from Kristy who blogs at Quiet Play. There is a whole series of sewing related blocks and she just posted the 9th and final block today. There are prizes for linking up your blocks. I didn't know about this group until I made this block, but I think I'll be making more of the series.
My block used a lot of Kaffe Fassett fabric scraps, I have wood floors, my closet doors are white, and my walls are the same color green (without the white bits).
Photo 2 - Oilcloth totes I made one for the VBMQG swap and I gave the other to a friend. I'll be making another for myself soon.
Photo 3 - My row of blocks for a Flickr Swap - Strip Quilters
Photo 4 - Lined Drawstring Bag for a MQG swap - I should be getting one too.
Photo 5 - Ohmagah love these two bee blocks! I'll be making more of the Aurifil block.
Photo 6 - made 3 of my Tula 100 blocks. I have a total of 6 done. Out of 100. I feel a bit behind.
Photo 7 - blocks for the VBMQG BOM
Photo 9 - this is a 6" paper piece star that will be part of something I'm making for the Sew Sew Modern 3 Swap. This photo went onto Explore on Flickr - if this has never happened to you it is an honor but then it feels a little weird too as people you can tell aren't sewing related start commenting, and until you figure out the photo is on Explore you wonder what is going on.
Photos 10,11,12 are all bee blocks
I did an intense cleaning of my sewing room in August. Trying to keep it like that.
This summer has also meant a huge lifestyle change for me - do to a medical condition I had to radically change my diet. Watch my protein and eliminate sugar. And exercise. No longer just a choice, but something I have to do to remain healthy. Something I should have been doing - but now I am with more purpose and determination. Giving up Starbucks was hard (loads of sugar) giving up sweet tea even harder. I did not start using any artificial sweetener, I decided that would just be something else I would be addicted to and have to give up later. I have lost weight, stopped snoring (according to those who share my bed) and I can fit into some clothes I had stored away - you know those 'I'll keep these for when I lose weight' clothes. Well, I finally did fit into some of them!
Happy September everyone! Let's get to sewing (as soon as I get back from vacation)
Linking up Lily's Quilts for Fresh Sew Day.
6 comments:
Great projects. I like the blocks you made. Enjoy your vacation!
You had a very productive summer despite all the work. I am seriously considering making the travel duffle too. Love yours.
Love your paper pieced sewing room!! Hopefully with summer over you can have a nice holiday.
I love the duffel and all the blocks. I bet one can go out in the boat in the fall, maybe you will have more time. I hope you are feeling better, I have been working on better eating too and structured exercise (did a lot of work outside in August which I counted) is on the list for September too.
Seems like you didn't have too bad a month! :) Hope you find more time for yourself over the next month.
Go you Mary! Well done! I don't eat a lot of sugar, but the small amount I do eat would be hard to give up! XX
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