Sewing Central!

I've been super excited about my new sewing space!  This morning my dad and I put up my thread holder on the wall and I started sewing away!  I acquired two of my grandmother's sewing machines (one is in the sewing desk and the other on the floor) and I am super excited to learn how to use them, but for now I am using my mother's old sewing machine which I have always used and is the one that comes naturally to me.  So this little space is holding three sewing machines!  

I have a lamp from my Grandpa, a mason jar filled with buttons, an old vintage Disney tin which holds bobbins and a seam ripper, and my little Tokidoki Cactus Cat on the windowsill to keep me company! I wanted to keep the space simple and clean so I can have an easy time sewing.  I'm sure I will add things and change things in the future but for now it is perfect! 

I have been working on quite a few things this summer so far!  I've been wanting to make a cover for my tablet which is the patchwork with the little porcupine on it!  I have also been working on free quilt pattern I found on Pintrest (but for some reason failed to pin so I have no idea where it is) and I have been really enjoying it!  It is leaving me with tons of triangle scraps so I have been brainstorming some ideas that I can use them for.  I am thinking of doing some more scrap quilts with them or maybe try to do some patchwork bags or cup mats for my Etsy Shop.  I also would like to create some notion pouches and Nintendo DS cases for the shop, but these are all just a few ideas!  For now I am happy to have a permanent place where I can go and be creative and sew!  

Garden Update

One of the things I love about gardening, besides fresh food, is the wonderful ability to feel so connected to the Earth! I love digging in the dirt, seeing worms roam around, and watching the slow but steady progress of a plant beginning to form! The other day I saw the first of our little tiny tomatoes on one of the branches and I got so excited!

I am in no way an expert gardener.  I like to try new things and read blogs, books, and ask other gardeners questions.  There is always room to learn in gardening like what type of plants work with others and proper planting times. All of these things come with practice so I am learning as I go!

This year in the garden I planted lots of tomatoes (a family favorite) and they have been growing like crazy along with kale, spinach, basil, and a new to me plant- brussels sprouts! We have had a lot of rain in the past two weeks and it seemed like out of nowhere my little tiny sprouts got big and tall!  I also planted green bell peppers, but just like last year they are not doing too good (they are planted behind the kale in the photos).  Last year I did not get any peppers until late August and we only got about 4 or 5 of them.  If the same thing happens this year I am going to scrap peppers next year and try something new (like corn!!!).

Every morning I wake up, make my coffee, and go out into the garden to check on things.  For breakfast I have really been enjoying egg whites with spinach and kale!  I also mix in whatever else is in the fridge from the previous night like rice or potatoes!  Note to self- the best breakfasts are leftover potatoes and scrambled egg whites with sauteed peas and onions. Delicious!!

Hope you all are enjoying your summer mornings!

Lazy Saturday Mornings and Life Catch-Up

Spring and summer school sessions are officially over for me!  I have not had much time during the past few months to spend on crafting and on my overall "me-time" which is upsetting.  I use crafting as a stress reliever and spending time with my hobbies helps keep me sane! However, now that I am out of school I feel like I have all the time in the world to spend on long overdue W.I.Ps and to spend on completing my never ending To-Do list!

It is Saturday morning now and I forgot how nice it is to sit in bed with a cup of coffee surrounded by my crafts and books!  I am hoping to finish most of the knitting projects I started a while back beginning with the Rikke Hat and I also wanted to add some more squares to my Burrow Blanket.  I have also started the 1001 Book Challenge which has been super exciting so far!  Some of the books on the list I have already read but I do plan on reading them over.  So far this month I have finished A Journey to the Center of the Earth and I have started David Copperfield which I am really enjoying so far.  I am also hoping to read some finance books.  I got a new job which I love so far and I would like to try to be a bit more money savvy!  I have also been spending a lot of time with my friends who I have not seen for months because of school.  We have been going on some hiking trips and going out at night which has been really fun and relaxing!

Some things I plan on doing in my free time this summer are :

• Go to the gym more!  I have been trying to utilize my planner and I have been mapping out what days I will be going!  my goal is 12 times a month!  I am feeling more comfortable at the gym and I am actually starting to enjoy my time there!
• Finish a new quilt!  I have had most of the fabric cut for a while however the project has been on hold for a while!  I also have been designing a new quilt, however I would like to finish the one I started first!
• Create some new recipes! I plan on bringing my lunch and diner to work to save myself some money! You all know I love to cook so I would like to create some new recipes that are travel friendly and do not need to be heated up!
• Move out of my room! One of the reasons I have not been crafting as much is because I am in the process of moving into my brother's old room.  I have been cleaning, organizing and throwing out a lot of my items so all my crafting supplies are all over!  I am hoping that I will be able to create a nice little crafting corner in my new room to help inspire me and get me out of my little crafting shlump! I obtained my grandmother'd old sewing desk and I would love to sew my quilt on her old machine! Most of my crafting energy has been put into day dreaming about my new craft space, pinning organizational ideas on Pintrest, and picking out colors for my new space! 

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far!

-Jessica