Are we having fun yet?

One of the downsides, I'm finding, to ramping up for craft fairs is that I have zero time to make anything for ME to enjoy! Even though I have a month long vacation coming up from my day job, I feel like I have to be in super production mode.  It's taking a bit of the fun out of my normally fun little hobby...

So, to carry me through, I'm daydreaming of all the projects that I'm going to be diving into that are just for me! It's a bit of delayed gratification, since I won't be able to really jump in until December, but it's fun to start planning...

The Amy Butler Weekender Travel Bag

There's the pattern, sitting right on my cutting table.  Taunting me.  

Yes, I know it's ambitious, but I really want to try something new!  Speaking of something new...

Garment sewing

Ok, well, newish. I first learned to sew clothes in my 7th grade home ec class, and I made a few dresses that were very early-90's country chic.  Ugh.  The trauma of how hideous those were, in retrospect, lead me to abandon the idea of clothes making for a while.  Time to jump back in!  I bought this pattern not too long ago, and I think it may be my first foray back.  This is the particular one I think I'll start with:

My Swoon quilt

It.  Will.  Be.  Done.

An ottoman makeover

I bought an ottoman for my bathroom when we first moved into the house, and some time ago, the supports completely gave way.  Mind you, I'm not a hefty girl, but that sucker broke to the point where, when I try to sit on it, my tush sinks down about 8 inches.  I mean, check out this sag:

Time to bust out the wood working skills and reinforce that sucker, and reupholster it while I'm at it.

A curtain for my sewing room

It's just a sad looking window.  It is, in fact, too sad for me to take a picture of.  I've actually got a length of fabric sewn for it, but I need to install the rod and figure out how to configure the fabric.  A straight shade?  Pleats?  Who knows.

A new quilt for the guest room

Old quilt - must go away! 

I made a new duvet cover out of an old quilt top last year when the in-laws visited, and I thought it was a great solution.  A tiny hole in a down comforter meant a duvet cover to contain any stray feathers, right?  Um, no.  By day two of their visit, it looked like a gentle snowfall was going on when the ceiling fan was turned on.  Sigh.  I'll probably rip the duvet cover apart and actually, you know, quilt the quilt top.  But of course, that means that I need a real quilt for that bed.  I suppose I could use that quilt top, but it's a very good reason to make a nice fresh quilt.  Besides, that room needs some decoration, and a freshly designed quilt could be a great starting point.

And last, but not least....

New potholders!!

What kind of quilter doesn't even have enough time to bust out a couple of potholders?  Me, right now.  That's who.  Mine are disgusting and gross, and I won't even bother you with a picture of them.  Yuck.  I'm hoping to make a few like this one from Prudent Baby: