One Year Blogiversary!

I can't believe it, I just looked at my archives and realized my one-year blogiversary was earlier this month.  Hard to imagine I've been sharing projects in this space for a whole year.  I know I haven't posted anything this week, but I've been collaging away on Seymour, so hopefully soon I'll have progress to share about him.  I was planning to do a celebratory giveaway, but things have been so hectic I haven't had a chance to organize anything.  Maybe a little bit later in the fall.

I'm not sure whether I've mentioned it here, but I'm traveling a ton this summer.  It seems to be one of those years where I'm blessed to have many wonderful celebrations to attend: Anna Ruth's baptism, two weddings, one of which is being officiated by Anna's namesake, a family reunion in honor of my grandfather's 85th birthday, among others.  I'm also traveling to Germany for two weeks in July (for work, but I'm super excited), and then to Wyoming with Mike to see his family.  All of this means that I've had (and will continue to have) limited time to quilt and blog this summer.

I'm often torn; when I'm finally at home resting and not quilting, I feel like I'm wasting time that I should use to "be productive", but I hate feeling like sewing is a chore.  In a similar vein, when I have time to be creative, if I use it to sew, I seldom also have time to blog.  I feel bad for not being in this space as regularly as I would like; all the blog advice reminds us that regular posting is important.  I have to remind myself repeatedly of what I sometimes lose track of; that I sew and craft because I like it, not to generate blog content.  I know that so many of you struggle with the same things that it sounds almost cliche to talk about them.  In any case, I love blogging and interacting with the wonderful crafty community, and getting feedback/sharing inspiration.  I'm not going anywhere, I just hope soon I'll have something to show!

I've also been thinking a lot about the kind of projects I want to do.  I've been working really hard lately on Seymour, and trying to stay focused on him.  Finishing him is going to be a long, long process.  I often have the desire to start some small can-be-finished-just-now project, and to be honest, I may make some re-usable lunch bags next week when I get back, but otherwise I'm trying to stay focused on Seymour.  The deadline for the show I'm making him for is September 15, which is looming very close given how much work there is left and how much I'm going to be gone.

In addition to Seymour and the other projects I already have going (the dog portraits and the Christmas quilt are the two big ones still going, with many other small things in progress), I'd like to do a little more bag making, and I'd also like to make some charity quilts.  I really enjoyed making the charm pack baby quilt for Samantha, and small patchwork quilts give me the opportunity to use fun fabrics I love but that don't fit into my bigger projects.  I feel like I should be giving more than I am, and some charity quilts would be a good way to do that I think.

I'm headed to Denver tomorrow for one of the weddings, I hope you guys have a great weekend!

I'll leave you with an iPhone picture I took before it got hot.