"I'll get to it this summer."
"That's a great summer project."
"We have the whole summer to do that!"
Please tell me I'm not the only person who says these things. Every year the myth of summer vacation calls to me, convincing me that two short months are long enough to accomplish all the leftovers from the ten months before...not to mention taking trips, cleaning my house from top to bottom, and getting everything ready for another year of home schooling in August. As I sit here looking at my sewing to-do list, my house & school to-do list, and my calendar for the month of July, I can't make the numbers work unless I cut back to about five hours of sleep each night, an idea which -- trust me -- is not going to be good for anybody in this house. A few things have to go by the wayside, and I've decided that since there are so few of us sewing along, one of those things will have to be the Graph Paper Quilt Along. I hope you all will understand.
I couldn't bring the sew along to a close without showing you Small Project #3, the incredibly talented Chase's amazing Mini I-Pad Pouch. While I don't have any such electronic devices in my life, I wasn't about to let that stop me. I love this little pouch to pieces. If you want to make one of your own, you'll find all the instructions right here. My pouch is lined in a cheerful retro style fabric by Denyse Schmidt, and I used a musical print by Tim Holtz from his latest round of Eclectic Elements for the outer flap. I quilted the piece with a lovely peach colored thread by Aurifil. For me, the hardest part was deciding which patchwork panel to relegate to the back of the pouch. Can't we just have two fronts?
So as I near the halfway point of our summer vacation, I'm officially waving the white flag of surrender. I'm willing to admit it: I can't do everything. I figure I might as well make peace with it now, reset my expectations, and stay off the hamster wheel. After all, what am I going to remember a year from now...crossing every item off my to-do lists or taking time to actually enjoy my life?
Something tells me the second option is the way to go.
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ReplyDeleteGood for you for taking something off your plate! I had restrained myself and not joined your quilt along because I too am seeing summer slipping away and already have enough sewing projects to get to. I hope you get to enjoy a little down time this summer, but it does not sound like it! There is a myth about summer being a relaxing time when you don't have anything to do, but I am a teacher and I promise that is not the case. There are all the appointments you postpone during the school year, dentist, optometrist, physical. The trainings for work I have had to go to two already with more pending. Summer is not really down time for teachers or parents!
ReplyDeleteIt's so true. I was just telling someone the other day, it's been a long time since summer was "relaxing". Probably about since I became an adult!
ReplyDeleteHi Heidi, love your gorgeous pouch. Good on you for saying 'no' to something on your huge to-do lists. Try and take a bit of a break, you deserve it! I really liked your idea for the GPSA and hope that maybe one day when life is a little less hectic you may be able to run it, or something similar again on your blog. I would love to join in and sew along with you when things settle down in my own life too. Take care & enjoy the rest of your summer with your family. Cheers, Kelly
ReplyDeleteGood for you!! Love the pouch!
ReplyDeleteHi Heidi, I just found your blog a few weeks ago and have really enjoyed it. I know exactly how you feel about summer. I have gotten so little crafty stuff done this summer so far. We, too, are almost at the halfway point (we partially homeschool, through an alternative school program). I feel like as my kids get older, I actually have less creative time in my day. I just counted back and it's been just about two months since I sat at my sewing machine. I really crave some sewing time, hopefully soon.
ReplyDeleteTotally understandable! I had hoped to join your graph paper quilt along except I ended up not finishing up work and going down in hours until literally this past Friday, so my 9 weeks notice turned into 12 weeks notice by then I was already behind. Here I had hoped to spend more time with the kids this summer and now I only have 2 months left. How did that happen? So take your time. Breathe. Enjoy your last month of summer because in the end family is all that matters as well as a happy mommy!
ReplyDeletesmart decision. I'm all for getting off the hamster wheel and enjoying life a little bit more. Oh, and I do the same thing, by the way. Too many plans, too little time though :)
ReplyDeleteHey...I might not have joined along but because of your idea I did sketch out a quilt for 5" squares that I'm going to make for my nephew when he graduates from Johns Hopkins.....in three years!:)
ReplyDeleteTake a deep breath....face forward....and enjoy.
ReplyDeleteoh! please re start the qal in september!
ReplyDeleteI completely understand. I've enjoyed the Graph Paper QAL as it finally got me doing something with my scraps. And now that I've started, I'll keep going with or without the QAL. Thanks for the motivation to get started.
ReplyDeleteAhhh, summer...the lure happens to all of us I think. It makes me look forward to it every year only to struggle then finally win just in time for school to start. I enjoyed the idea of the graph paper QAL. I have never actually participated in a QAL, I hope to one day and yours was an interesting idea. Good for you for knowing when to cut back. You have set a good example. Happy summer!
ReplyDeleteI feel like we are sharing the same brain! I just to my husband the other morning, OMG, summer is half over and the house isn't half done and my sewing projects are DEFINITELY not half done and I haven't even made it in to the library to catalog all those books....EEEK! I am glad you are setting the example :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you are choosing to enjoy your summer. The QAL inspired me to get the baby quilt I needed made ready ahead of the baby - so thank you for that. I've also enjoyed the small patchwork projects. That iPad cover is too stinkin' cute. I'll have to make that once my 12 year old (who has only intermitingly shown an interest in sewing) finishes the quilt she suddenly decided she wanted to make. (Pieced squares by the way!).
ReplyDeleteSelfishly I'm really disappointed. I've some squares looked out for this weekend, and the ATM pincushion has been much admired. But I completely understand. I think most of us are unrealistic with our craft plans. Have a wonderful summer, and it hope you feel able to start this back up some other time.
ReplyDeleteYour statement about more projects then summer ring true with each of us. This pouch is so perfect for so many things.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I was very tempted to join your quilt along when you first mentioned it, but I didn't for the very reasons you mentioned. (Well, I don't have children at home, but I want to enjoy summer without so many demands on my time. Enjoy your summer, and the time with your kids.!
ReplyDeletegood luck with the never ending to do lists. the projects you have shared are absolutely gorgeous. I was planning to join in late but I totally understand. Maybe you'll restart later or share more ideas of gorgeous projects over time... maybe everyone is like you trying to fit 10 months into 2 and can't do everything. Thanks for you generosity anyway and I stumbled across your blog from someone who had the graph-paper QAL logo (sorrry I can't remember who) but I will for sure read you often! Enjoy the break
ReplyDeleteYou aren't the only one. I have been so much more busy this summer than I ever was during the school year, it has been crazy!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the break...we certainly try to use the summer to catch up with all outdoor projects and indoor, not that we've ever been fully successful, but we muddle along and count our blessings with each completed project. Happy summer!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Heidi! Love your pouch too! Enjoy this time :)
ReplyDeleteSo as you'll see from the date of the comment, Heidi, the thing I've had to let slide is blog hopping. I just sat down to tackle two weeks of old BL feed because I feel like I might miss something... better late than never! I won't be doing much commenting till summer's over and I have a tidier schedule, but I just had to post here - your patchwork is GORGEOUS! I have some of the prints you used, but not your eye to pair them. Can you come over sometime and pull fabrics for me to make an amazing mix like you've achieved? ; )
ReplyDeleteExcellent choice!! Your patchwork for this project is uplifting and beautiful as usual, but so is your candor. You're absolutely right, summer gets away from all of us. You do right to see the signs :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this with us! Some really amazing ideas.
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