Block 8 Joy in the Ordinary...

 

As I write this blog post August is just hours away, and so we edge closer to the end of another season. Each year I long for August to move slowly so that I can enjoy every moment of winter's farewell, and especially this year as the season has been a tad cooler than usual in our tropical corner of the country, and with it I felt my body able to rest more, giving in to the weariness accumulated over the previous long, hot seasons. It's been lovely to snuggle my feet into socks and slippers when I rise and move around the kitchen preparing our breakfast whilst still dark outside, a thick cardigan warming me as I work. Oh yes, I truly love this time of year. 

Being the end of a season, with spring only a month away, my mind gears up to re-organise spaces in the home, and this past week it was time for a jolly good scrub and scuttle of my sewing room. Measuring 100 sq feet (or 3 metres x 3 metres) I have a lot of things to squeeze into a small space that doubles as sewing room and Elefantz office. There's nowhere for my computer so that is out in the living room.

The "before" photos are below. Many cups of tea and a lot bit of chocolate sustained me as I worked here for three days...

I began on Saturday morning, pulling almost everything out of it's place in order to decide what to keep and what to let go of. It was also an opportunity to gather the many stitcheries from my original designs over the past 10-12 years and sort through them - some to use in projects, some to re-photograph for patterns, and others to sell in my Etsy shop later this year. The huge job of sorting/organising 'stuff' came to a conclusion mid-Monday morning, and then it was time to sort through all my paperwork and business stuff. Everything was completed by Monday evening, at which time I sat down and made plans for selling, donating, using and creating storage. 

I'll show you the "after" photos in another post sometime in August. 

Tuesday morning I gathered the pile of UFO's which had been put aside as I cleaned out the room, and made decisions on what order they'd be completed in coming months. The large quilt projects are now also in order so that I can focus on one at a time and hopefully (slowly) complete them over the next couple of years for the grandchildren or daughters. I also spent a couple of hours re-photographing some of my older designs, the ones I really love, to pop in MY SHOP soon. 

But back to the newest pattern in this year's free block of the month, Joy in the Ordinary

It's was quickly sketched and stitched last Friday, but it was only yesterday that I realised how well the little embroidery hoop and needle marries with my new theme for August! With a pile of small UFOs (small in comparison to a quilt) carefully sorted on my cutting table at the moment, it really will be a month to "Finish what you started"...

I'd love to know if you have a pile of unfinished projects too? I chose not to count the large projects that take many months or perhaps a year to complete, like appliqued quilts (of which I have five in various stages of progress, plus two of my own ongoing BOMs being shared here on the blog with you), but am focused on the smaller UFOs which easily accumulate, because (for me) the fun part of applique or embroidery is finished but the sewing together of the whole project has barely begun. 

IMPORTANT NEWS...

I'm going to share another blog post tomorrow or Friday, with a very special 'extra' free pattern for you, as an encouragement to begin working on your own UFOs, so be sure to drop by or go HERE and subscribe to get my blog posts via email. 

Please note, this is NOT the same as the newsletter I send out a couple of times a month - that will be ending August 30th, as my newsletter provider is closing and the cost for me to move to another newsletter provider will triple what I pay now. 

Use the link below to download the new pattern

DOWNLOAD block 8 of Joy in the Ordinary

Missed the previous seven blocks? They are HERE

I will leave any other news for the next post, which will be before week's end. I have finally gotten myself organised to blog regularly, and as the focus in August will be finishing what we started, there'll be a lot of different things to share - and not just sewing. Golly, I am so excited to be able to regularly blog throughout the next month and hopefully on through the rest of the year. God has put many things on my heart and you'll hear about those along the way too.

So, my dear friends, I shall sign off to day with a prayer and a blessing over you all...may the Lord who is so gracious, provide for you in the way you most need through August, and gently nudge you if you're stuck, redirect you if you're going the wrong way, and speak words of life and encouragement if you are wandering in the valley. 

Okay my lovelies, go gather those UFOs and let's begin a month of finishing some of them. Let me know in the comments what you are planning, what UFOs you've completed, and any other news about your life right now. 

God bless and sending you the biggest hug, 

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