new

My usual sewing routine is pretty loyal to endings.  I'm buoyed by the satisfaction of a good finish, so I don't often let myself start new things until those endings are secure.  Don't think this is evidence of massive self-control.  Nope.  I actually feel more relaxed with fewer balls in the air, plus they spin along faster that way, because I'm focused.

When I working on a class, that all goes out the door.  I usually have a quilt I'm working on publicly, plus a quilt or other project that I'm working on behind the scenes for the class.  I have two "work" days each week when my children are with grandparents.  During class production seasons, I do class work on those days and blog sewing on the other days, in bits and pieces of time.  When I'm not working on a class, those two "work" days are amazing gifts of time to sew what I want.  Hence all the productivity lately!

Well... April brings me back into class production mode.  Last week I sketched and scheduled the new class plans, and yesterday I started on the first project.  This particular quilting class has been germinating for a few years, since my very first class - Curves Class.  It's scheduled to register in August and run in September, so it's a little too early to give away details, but I am getting started. 

So, there's been a lot of NEW afoot.

new fabrics

New fabrics from Ikea.  I've almost bought that large text fabric three times  - literally - so this time I asked my husband to buy it for me while he was in Charlotte, that way I couldn't back out.

new quilt

New fabrics for a class quilt.  See that Ikea fabric on the floor?  It inspired my color scheme and this fabric pull.  Which. I. am. loving.

new projects

And another new project in view of Sewing Through the Year tonight.  I think the group will be making the much-simpler Knickers pattern by Anna Maria Horner.  But, I've long wanted to make these Quick Change Trousers from her Handmade Beginnings book (a favorite of mine!).  Decided to jump on in. 

For those not in the know, I meet with some local friends once a month for a sewing/book club hybrid following Rachel Held Evan's book A Year of Biblical Womanhood.  We discuss one chapter a month while sewing an easy project, and this chapter is "Fertility".  I was wary about getting to this particular chapter given the circumstances, but on re-reading the chapter it's actually totally funny and liberating (as are many of them).  Looking forward to our sew tonight!

Thank-you all again for your warm response to my last post.  It's a comfort to have such good company!

xo,

Rachel