I have found myself knitting and sewing quite a bit lately. I am challenging myself to try new projects that I can learn new techniques from. Sewing is quickly becoming a favorite endeavor. I went through a period in my 20s when I sewed a lot. I guess I would have described myself as a quilter. I made quilts for every occasion - weddings, births, birthdays, and just because. I had inherited my grandmother's old Singer sewing machine. It was olive green, metal, and heavy as all get out. It didn't do anything fancy, but it allowed me to make patchwork to my heart's content.
Then, I went to graduate school, began work as a midwife, and had my babies. My creative efforts just about dried up. It was difficult for me to find the time and space to devote to my own pursuits. I look back at that time and wonder if I might have had an easier time of it if I HAD given myself the gift of creative time and space.
Lately, I feel as if I have found my way home. I have a great Bernina sewing machine and I have a room in which I can keep my supplies out and ready for when I have the time to make something. This makes a tremendous difference in the creative process. If I had to drag everything out of the closet each time I wanted to sew, I don't think I would get as much done.
Here is my new skirt. I've worn it twice this past week, thanks to a spell of mild temperatures here in New England. The pattern was made by tracing a skirt that I already owned and liked.
I love, love, love this bag. It is from
Amy Karol's Bend-the-Rules Sewing. She calls it the "Charming Handbag," and it has indeed charmed me. I made it from scrap fabric I found in my mother's stash (my mother's stash deserves a blog entry all to itself). I added the inside pocket for my cell phone, as I hate digging around in a bag for a ringing cell phone.
The kids and I picked out fabric for two baby quilts at Tala's fabric shop in North Adams yesterday. A cousin is due shortly with twins. So, you know where to find me this afternoon!