I am a planner. I love planning ahead. And I know that the best laid plans don’t always go as planned. But I can still try.

Last year I spent Christmas sick on the sofa. Dog sick. And I didn’t finish any of the handmade gifts I’d plan to give. This year I thought I’d start in August, so at least I’d have a chance, with sick-days built, in to finish everything.

So periodically, I am not promising when, here on the blog, I hope to give a few updates about what I am stitching, knitting, and concocting. (Mostly because those who would want a surprise can’t read and the others who can read and will be future recipients, don’t read here.)

So far, I’ve nearly finished this embroidered pouch…and I’ve just started on this linen stitch knitted scarf.

The embroidery pattern is from the book A Rainbow of Stitches by Agnes Delage-Calvet, et. al.

And the scarf is the Cerus Scarf by Hillary Smith Callis. I am knitting in Huacaya Sport Alpaca by Furnace Mountain in Chocolate Heather.

When I asked my mother the other morning over the phone what she wanted me to give her for Christmas, she just laughed at me. Are you as crazy as I am and planning holiday gifts in August?

It has been a while since my crafty itch has really itched. Feeling under-the-weather usually has me sitting around knitting, stitching, or drawing. Hot and humid weather with a heat index of 107 degrees also usually has me indoors doing something cool, with a glass of iced tea. But this summer, it hasn’t been so. We’ve been doing a lot of book reading. Jig-saw puzzling. Cooking yummy gluten free recipes. And drinking a ton of water while waiting for the cool-weather Gods to come a bless our abode.

But I digress. I was so delighted when this book came in the mail. I am in the midst of researching educational opportunities for my children and wanted to learn a bit more about the Waldorf philosophy of teaching. This book is a wonderfully delightful read with a lot of information about Waldorf schooling and interesting activities and crafts aimed toward children 2 – 4 years of age.

Though I am not totally sold that such an unstructured education like Waldorf is right for my oldest, this book completely plays to my crafty, saw-it-in-a-book-wanna-make-it side. So, I set to work pulling out my yarn left overs to make a very petite and exceptionally cute knit bunny.

And thus followed, a small heap of c0lorful remnants made the journey to my sewing machine to be stitched into an adorable orange dress for my daughter’s dolly, Kaylee.

What are you crafting? And what comes along that inspires you?

Lately I’ve been doing a lot of cooking. Chopping, rinsing, blanching, searing, sauteing, and braising gives me plenty of time to think. Think about my son’s bean plants that need a bigger pot. Think about the handstand my daughter did at gymnastics. Think about how our first year of pre-school is almost over. Think about how I want to try a new homemade lotion recipe. Think about how excited I am to see my hydrangea bush bloom. And think about our highly anticipated premier farmer’s market visit TOMORROW!! Gosh, I cannot believe May is here.

But amid  all the culinary flurry, I have been missing my sewing machine. I miss pinning (although last night I found that I don’t miss getting a pin in the finger.) I miss the iron. (Okay not really that part.) I miss the butterflies I get in my tummy right before I am to cut into that fabulous piece of fabric I in no way want to screw up. I miss the sound of the needling going up and down, and the fly wheel going around and around. I miss the feel of the pedal under my foot, and I miss the quest to seek out a new creation, one stitched step at a time.

It has been a little lacking here on the sewing inspiration front. So with a couple new purchases, I hope to ruffle my sewing feathers, alight anew, and begin to create a bit of summer here with my sewing machine. We are starting with this fabulous textured orange linen. I just love linen. A 4T safari shirt anyone? Okay, maybe not to blend in with the safari, but rather to stand out at the playground and stay cool this weekend in 90+ degree weather.

I didn’t mention the Debbie Bliss magazine. I have to finish another orange sweater first…some seam stitching and blocking…*yawn* And then maybe I will let myself tackle this oh so stylish hooded kaftan in bamboo/merino. I just love summer knits.

Have a wonderful inspired weekend.