“Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.” ~Robert Fulghum

Inspiration is a fickle mistress. I have a huge project list and I am accomplishing very little. We had such a great, relaxing summer that I long to be at home, sewing and playing with my kids. Work was a fun, inspirational place of sharing project ideas, coffee and wonderful conversation. It's a little different this year. I am trying to find my path, but a lot of unnecessary nonsense (at least in my eyes) is draining my energy.

But I don't want to write about that. I just had to get it out, so I can move on. I am still sewing a little every evening. Puttering away on my Halloween table runner and working on my pillow. I haven't gotten out of the petal cutting phase on my pillow, as every time I sit down to work on it, something weird happens. Not enough fabric for a certain petal piece, or just plain old confusion that leads me to turn on my TV and zone out. Fantastic.

Final block placement. I think.

I am looking forward to the next month, however. I love October! I'm hoping it brings with it some changes at work and home. More balance, I'm hoping. I found some really cool Halloween fabric at the Calico Whale. I think the spooky tree fabric would make an awesome pumpkin! Check out that fat quarter, too. Does it not scream "pumpkin stem"?

I "grew" my pattern piece on the copier. Heh heh.

I plan to teach a couple of classes at the Calico Whale and make some shop samples. I picked up some beautiful oilcloth and this cute tote pattern to do just that. Shelly has a ton of it in her shop-all different colors and pattens. And P.S.- they are food safe! Hello lunch sacks and sandwich wraps!

Just 2 of the many patterns. They were all so cool!

My copy of Sewing with Oilcloth came in the mail the other day, and it is a beautiful book full of fun, do-able patterns. It also came with a cute bookmark, so what more could a girl want? Kelly's blog, Oilcloth Addict, is one of my favorite places to visit.

I also want to start reading some books from a local book club and actually go to some meetings. Something I used to do, but life ran up and shoved it out of the way. Balancing what I love to do with my family and my job is certainly key to my happiness. I don't think I am in balance right now. I know it is close, as long as I don't get caught up in the unnessary nonsense.