A Colorful Thread: July 2023
Weaving together my life as a maker and other spheres of life.
Best of Stitched in Color {July}
On My Mind
Experimenting:: with spontaneous road trip car camping. I have camped in America, but that was always 2-3 nights at a pre-chosen campsite. My current trip is different because we are not choosing our campsites in advance or planning an itinerary. We make decisions one day at a time, and stay as long as we like in each location. As a result, we might see a lot of France - - - or not.
If you’ve been reading Stitched in Color for any length of time, you have probably picked up that I am a planner. Will this romantic, spontaneous vacation-style be a refreshing break from my well-planned normal life OR leave me feeling constantly unsettled and uneasy? I wonder.
Reading:: Empress Orchid by Anchee Min. I have brought this old favorite and its sequel on vacation. I usually don’t re-read fiction, but vacation seems like a good time to revisit a sure-win. As I recall, it is a beautiful written historical fiction piece about the last ruler of dynastic China. Confession: I have a soft spot for books about female rulers. What does that say about me?
Celebrating:: this gem by @Lopolokko. She made an exquisite Teeter Totter quilt during our sew-along earlier this year. Her starting point: Honey sashing fabric (by Maureen Cracknell for Art Gallery Fabrics) and rainbow triangles. What a splendid little quilt it became!
Anticipating:: the Starbright Stars sew-along! This is a pattern that has been requested time and time again. I am so excited to be releasing it in its own right at last. I can’t wait to see your quilts!!! This pattern is a success in just about any fabrics, I do think. Maybe my next one will be rainbow again, like my first. This color sheet from @Beadqueen (circa 2014!) is totally inspiring me today.
Featured Freebie
Quilted Sleeping Bag Tutorial
Stitched in Color includes a library of free tutorials, more than 10 years in the making. Each month I’ll feature one to spread the good news.
In keeping with the camping theme, how about a very special sleeping bag for the kid in your life? Cotton fabrics make great summer sleeping bags. They’re not hot or noisy in the tent, like synthetic sleeping bags. This is a lot like making a quilt and the perfect excuse to enjoy sewing with some novelty kid fabrics!
Here in Europe it feels like summer has just properly begun because the kids have just begun summer break. In contrast, I hear from my friends in America that the kids go back to school early August this year. It’s funny how different our schedules can be.
Yes, my summer has really just begun. I’m enjoying vacation and also looking forward to a long visit from Aria, who arrives as soon as I am back in The Netherlands. Wherever you are in the flow of summer, I wish you both energy and rest; new discoveries and familiar pleasures.
xoxo,
Rachel