sewing projects

This seems to be the summer where I learn to sew! Actually I've known how to sew since I was a kid and have had a sewing machine since 2006 but due to lack of time, lack of motivation, laziness, and other interests competing for my time I've never really gotten into it.

My renewed interest in sewing started over Memorial Day with a trip to a store in Maine that has an amazing fabric selection. While I was fondling the fabrics I yet again mused aloud that I wanted to make a quilt. I'm completely captivated by handmade quilts and have always wanted to make one. The salesclerk overheard me and then next thing I knew she was telling me about a quilt charity called Project Linus. The store is trying to collect 4,000 handmade quilts by September 18 for babies through age 18. It was the perfect motivation and the next thing I knew I was wandering around the store picking my own fabrics.

The quilt is coming along nicely. I still have two borders and the backing to go but I really like how the fabrics are working together. The quilt is living on the ironing board I've set up in my living room and judging by the pictures I see that I should make more use of the iron.
I'm not quite ready to take on sewing a skirt or other piece of clothing (though I got some interesting ideas for both a skirt and a jacket at an art fair last weekend) but now that the quilt is helping me learn my machine and learn how to work with fabric I see how easy it is to sew. I am really surprised at how much I am enjoying sewing and how much I am enjoying learning something new and stretching my brain creatively. It's been a while since I did anything creative and I've missed it. This week I made pillow covers for my ultra cheap IKEA pillows. The fabric is reminiscent of my college days but I think they (sort of?) go with my couch and the cover the hideous original white of the pillows. It's ridiculous how much satisfaction I got making these covers! (the fabric on the back of the couch is part of one of the borders for the quilt)
The only challenge of the summer of sewing is the heat. It's been a pretty hot New England summer so far and my condo gets very toasty. Between working over my sewing machine (conveniently located in the hottest room of my house), running between the sewing machine and the living room floor where I cut and measure and ironing all the seams I am literally working in a sweatshop. I am thinking of unionizing and advocating for better working conditions :-)