Sample making CRAZINESS!

It has been a CRAZY week at my house. I have squeezed out every possible extra second of my time I could to finish up my class samples for the Fall Class Session at Seams Like Home! 

You would think that I would start earlier.. not try to cram it all into the last week before samples are due, but NO WAY, I wait! (I always know the due date too.. in fact, I'm the one who sets the deadlines! :P) 

And of course, my hubby had to go out of town this weekend for work, so I've been staying up WAY too late working on stuff! 

On the plus side, I'm only teaching a few classes this session so I didn't have that much to do.. and with my awesome new sewing room set up, I really enjoyed the time I've spent with Gertrude! 

(Shameless Advertisement: I picked up the new #97D foot for the 9mm Bernina machines, and OH MY! is it amazing! As you'll see here in a few, one of my classes is a mini series.. we're talking 1" strips here people, and the new foot made all the difference in the world!) 

Anywhoo.. getting back to it.. I'll be teaching three classes this fall! They are, Free-Motion Quilting Series, Jaybird Quilts Mini Series and Beginning English Paper Piecing! I've really had a blast making samples and can't wait for the new session to start (looking forward to some adult time) and seeing what my students choose for their projects! I always find inspiration while teaching! 

As promised, here is a sneak peak for you!

 If anything you see here looks like fun, come by Seams Like Home on Friday, Saturday or Sunday this week to sign up for the class! Sign ups open on Friday, and our sale starts that day too; 20% off class fees and supplies! It is a great time to sign up! 

Hope to see you in class this fall! I might even let Gertrude out to come to one or two!

Happy Sewing,

Enjoli (and Gertrude) 

Sometimes Done is better than Perfect!

Sometimes I feel like I have a better working relationship with my seam ripper than my sewing machine! (Sorry Gert!) And some days I wish those corners would just magically match up with no effort on my part. And most days I am afraid that if anyone looks too closely at my project they will see all my imperfections (or the chocolate smear from a helpful little munchkin).

I worry, stew, throw my hands up in the air and decide I'll seam rip tomorrow. Then I go to bed. Of course I lay in bed and wonder "Should I seam rip? Should I just keep sewing? It will quilt out right?". I find myself agonizing over something that is supposed to be fun. I mean isn't that why I sew, to enjoy myself and relax? I do it for the satisfaction of saying, "Yes I made that!". And yet I criticize myself the whole way.

Of course, after a good nights sleep, I come back to the project and realize, "I don't have time to seam rip!" I have maybe 10 minutes before the kids realize I'm gone and hunt me down! So I remind myself.. "This is for me, I'm supposed to enjoy this!" and I just keep sewing. And most of the time, I can't even find that imperfection again.

I finally realized that if I tried to match every corner perfectly, I would drive myself crazy and would not enjoy the process or the finished product. I realized that I'm not perfect (despite what I tell my husband) and that it is ok if my creations have imperfections. Aren't those imperfections what make our projects unique? Isn't "handmade" about creating from the heart? Isn't it about the closeness you feel to someone who gives you a handmade item? (Just go with me on this okay guys!)

Every time I see pictures of perfect quilts, I tell myself "Anyone can do that!"; what I can do is so much better because if there ever was confusion between my project and someone else's, mine can  quickly be identified by the little imperfections! :)

The moral of the story: Take your time, enjoy the process and revel in your "little imperfections" because darn it, you meant to do it that way right?!

P.S: For those of you who make "perfect" quilts, just know that despite what I just said,
I am totally JEALOUS! :P

New Fabric & Hair Color

Hey All, 

So it seems that even though I feel like my week has been crazy busy, I get to Sunday night and always wonder.. Why am I so tired? I didn't actually get that much done? :P You probably know how it goes! 

So, the two things I can remember from my weekend are...

1. I bought every piece in the new Charlie Harper line we just got at the store, and

2. I dyed my hair "Dark Cherry Brown", which isn't a new color for me, but my roots were starting to creep out! 

Here is the proof for you! Excuse the crazy state of my hair.. I.. yah.. I have no excuse.. that's just how it looks at the end of the day! :P 

OH look..I also painted my nails and hung my un-bound Hexie quilt up! I do have the binding, but haven't found the motivation yet to put it on!

In other exciting news, I get to head to Nashville on Wednesday with Mom and Sis for Bernina University, which is going to be awesome. 

We will get to see the Bernina Long Arm, which has me all a flutter! :P I have had to make all sorts of promises to certain husbands that I will not bring one home or consolidate our kids into one room just to make room for one. (He spoils all my fun sometimes! :P ) 

I think Gertrude is a little jealous of my eagerness to meet this new machine! I promised her that nothing hasty would be done! 

Hope you all get a chance to sew this week! I'll keep you posted on my fun discoveries in Nashville! 

Happy Sewing,

Enjoli (and Gertrude)

P.S: The contest from last week is still open so head over and check out last week's post and enter to win a fun little prize! (Hint: It will have something to do with EPP!)