I spent some time sewing the last two weekends. I was unmotivated both times, but plowed on because I like to see progress and my head is more right when I am making. The crazy star quilt top is complete. Another quilt top that I finished in August got a backing. I'm holding out high hopes for basting this weekend and quilting over Thanksgiving.

I've been reading every night before bed. My kids just finished their first trimester of the school year and I was thinking of the amount I have accomplished for myself in that time. The list of books I've read since school started is long and there was only one I didn't like. I'll post it later this week - no time for the links right now. I have been working solidly on other things as well. Things I'm not ready to throw out there, but I want to remember that despite all my doubts (which were and still are big), I am proud of myself.

Kate turned eleven yesterday. And this is blowing my mind. How did we get here? It doesn't seem possible, but it is. She is an amazing, helpful, smart, beautiful, stubborn, strong-willed, enthusiastic girl. I feel blessed and lucky to call her my daughter. She had a nice birthday even thought it was a school day. I let her eat whatever crap she wanted (cupcake after school, pie at the restaurant, cake later - oof.) and she even consented to practicing her piano without any fuss. Fatty and I gave her a sewing machine of her own. The two of us set it up in the playroom and she got busy trying out the fancy stitches on scraps. It was fun to watch.

Fatty's birthday is closing in on us, with Thanksgiving and then Jane's birthday to follow. I don't think I am making any Christmas gifts this year. Well, that's not true. I'd like to finish the snake trails quilt for my nephew - crossing my fingers on that one.

The dog just came up to the back door with a bird in her mouth. Nice.

Back here soon.

Just popping in quickly to let you know about a wonderful sewing event taking place next April in Colorado - The Makerie Sewing! They have a star-studded list of talented teachers (Amy Butler, Heather Jones, Liesl Gibson, Jenny Hart to name drop a little) for four four-hour classes over two days. There are meals and yoga, too! It really looks like an amazing event and if I can figure out how to get there myself, I'd love to go.

They are also offering a scholarship! It includes the classes, meals, lodging, activities plus a $500 travel stipend. Nice, huh? The scholarship deadline is quick approaching...November 5th. Update: the deadline has been extended until January 15th! Go check out the website to see how you can apply.

And because I can't post without a photo...here's an instagram of the snake trails sewn. Now to cut the background!

Thank you all for you good suggestions and comments on my sleeveless tova. I haven't looked at it again. I know I will try to correct the fit in some way, but with the beginning of colder weather, working on a sleeveless top just hasn't appealed to me. I will get there, though, I'm sure.

There have been moments this week when I have wanted to sit down and pound out a few paragraphs on the computer about things I have made in the last few months, but it has been hard to find a good moment. I do have things to share, but they aren't photographed and all that stuff takes time. And truly, right now, as I'm typing this, I should be doing something else entirely. But I'm fried and spent and just need to take a moment for myself. Most of the week has been packed full of things that needed doing, that still need doing, and other things that need even more attention, but that I have been neglecting. That elusive balance thing? Even more so elusive for me recently. But! I am still trying to find it, still working hard to find my groove.

Things are happening in the background around here that I am not ready to talk about on the blog yet. It's all good - really good, actually. But in the meantime, there hasn't been much time for making. I found myself almost in tears on Tuesday night because I can't find the time to wash my car and really, it's so not about my kid-crumb infested, dirty vehicle. When I thought about it on Wednesday morning, it's more about how am not creating anything at the moment. Not trying new recipes, not sewing quilt squares, not even knitting although there is a small project in my purse at all times. No handmade Halloween costumes this year, either. I miss the creativity and the joy it brings to me. And the time to do it. I miss that, too.

All that said, I took 30 minutes and started cutting some fabric for a quilt.

It's a start.

Back in July, I started making a sleeveless Tova for myself. I was really excited to use the gorgeous green Nani Iro fabric I picked up at Purl in June. I knew the Tova fit me - I wore the Liberty one a bunch last winter and spring. And based on my success making sleeveless Tovas for the girls, I thought this was a no-brainer.

I was wrong.

There is something off with the fit on me. The gaping under the arms and the too large shoulders totally surprised me when I tried it on. I think the problem has to do with the fact that I had to make an XL to fit through the bust, when a L is just slightly tight but fits me under the arms and through the shoulders. To say I'm bummed is an understatement - I love this pattern . And I love this fabric, too. It was expensive so I don't want it to sit unworn in my closet. But what to do? I'm kind of at a loss. Do I try to take it in under the arms? Or do I just try to use the fabric in some other way?

All that said, I'm glad I attempted it. I'll take it as a teachable moment....muslin, muslin, muslin!

I'm back. Completely exhausted, but happy to be home.

The London leg of our trip was all business, but I managed a stop at Liberty for a little stash enhancement. I went there in search of the remnant table, which on our last trip 2 1/2 years ago was a mecca of good deals. No remnant table in October. Only in June and December/January, just so you know. Still, I found a sweet bundle of tana lawn in blues, reds and greens for a quilt for the sunroom and then purchased yardage of the red solid lawn for a backing. The other stack is the quilting cottons that are also available in the U.S. I hadn't been able to see them in person so I was happy to pick my favorites.

New fabrics give me the itch to get sewing, creating, making, but my time is so limited right now. I've been struggling with how to fit the making into my schedule. There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day. I know I can figure it out, but I think I am going to have to get creative. Maybe an hour a day? Or setting aside one morning or afternoon? Ideas, anyone?

That said, I do have some finished things to share. Back with the good and the not so good just as soon as I finish the last load of laundry and go through 10 days worth of mail.

I'm *almost* finished packing for a trip that Fatty and I are taking tomorrow. (Oktoberfest, anyone?)

I'm going over the information for the babysitter, hoping that I haven't forgotten anything. (And knowing that they are going to manage just fine without us.)

I'm strategizing about how to squeeze in a workout in the morning, a trip to buy a raincoat and taking some cushions to an upholsterer. Something is going to have to give. And I think I know what that is. (The chairs are going to have to wait).

I'm wondering how many pairs of shoes is too many. And trying to figure out which ones should stay back. (Sorry, Toms. You aren't making the cut).

I'm charging camera batteries, getting ready to back up the computer and deciding if one lens will be enough. (I'm thinking the 18 - 135mm should do the trick, but I'm on the fence about the 50mm)

I'm not cleaning the house (which is what I should be doing).

But I am waiting on Fatty to open some champagne. (We're practically on vacation.)

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See you back here when I return. (With something crafty. Pinky swear).

Back in the summer, I was contacted by Creativebug and asked if I wanted to take a look at their site and offer a giveaway on the blog. I immediately said yes! I had heard about the site and had been anxiously awaiting its launch. I knew this was going to be something that I would like and use, and I bet many of you will, too.

The premise behind Creativebug is simple. For a montly subscription fee, you get unlimited access to all of the art and craft workshops on the site. Let me repeat: UNLIMITED ACCESS TO ALL THE WORKSHOPS. Pretty amazing, huh? Even more amazing is the list of well-known and extremely talented instructors including some names that are probably familiar to you: Anna Maria Horner, Heather Ross, Natalie Chanin, Cal Patch, Liesl Gibson  - and these are just some of the seamstresses. The class list goes beyond needle and thread. There are also classes on paper crafts, jewelry, ceramics, knitting, crochet, entertaining and more. Really it is too much to list.

I was able to preview the site and was very impressed by the quality of the videos. I loved that I could pause or go back a bit to see something again if I needed to. Also, the vidoes are broken down into steps so it's easy to do one or two steps and come back later to finish the project. Perfect for someone like me that often has a half hour or hour to make instead of large blocks of time. And really, nothing beats seeing someone actually make something and explain it at the same time, does it?

I encourage you to go see what Creativebug is about and if you like it to subscribe. There are classes for everyone and I think it is so wonderful that there is this amazing educational resource for crafters and artists right at our fingertips. Plus, they are adding workshops every week! If there is something that you have been wanting to try, this is a great, low-cost way of learning that new skill from skilled artisans that you normally would not have access to. Amazing, if you ask me! 

Creativebug has generously offered a free one-month subscription to one of my readers. To enter your name in the hat, comment on this post and tell me what kind of classes you would like to see at Creativebug. If you are already a subscriber, tell me what classes you've taken. I'll keep the comments open until Thursday, September 27th at 8:00 p.m. EST and then choose one winner at random.

Good luck!

I've been knitting a little bit. A couple of rounds here and there on this project. I've got another onein the car that comes with me to piano lessons and volleyball games.It's slow going, but steady, just the kind of work I need at the moment.Something to keep my hands busy and quiet my mind.

I've been sewing some, too. Little things that are not at all newsworthy. I want to sew big things, like dresses and quilts and then more quilts,but my days are pretty full at the moment. I'm hoping for a few hoursin a row at some point this weekend to get one quilt top basted. Thenmaybe next weekend I could quilt it.

Bookwise, I've just finished The Tiger's Wife and started the new Tana French book. Heather Ross Prints has been devoured by myself and Jane. I've already designed something and had Spoonflower print it on fabric. Tea towel calendar, anyone? But more on that later...

Enjoy the weekend.

(Don't forget to enter the giveaway for Knot Thread Stitch - you have until Sunday night!)