It's time for the August monthly report. See past reports here.


Finally made it back to this space for last month's report! We're going to keep it short and sweet, because I didn't finish a single sewing project in August. Michael was off work the first week of the month and then worked from home the next week. My Mom also came to visit, so there was a lot of things keeping me from finishing things. I did sew though, I worked quite a bit on my green quilt I mentioned last month.


To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in August:

August Fabric
Used up: 0 yards
Brought in: 1 yard
Net: 1 yard
Year to date: -36.75 yards

August Yarn
Used up: 0 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: 0 yards
Year to date: -1823 yards

As I mentioned, no finishes this month so a pretty quiet month on the "used up" front. Only intake was a bundle of holiday fabrics from a friend! :)


My main activity this month was a whole lot of puzzles. I have needed to stay extra cool this summer to manage my autoimmune disease, so I've spent a lot of time indoors when it's been hot. I ended up getting hooked on puzzles like never before! My Mom sent me home with a bunch from her collection and we collected more all month. I've thrifted a few too! It's been relaxing, and I love that it's a non-screen activity. I've been struggling with anxiety and it hit an all-time high this summer. When I get really into a puzzle, it's a chance for my mind to take a break from thinking about everything else. Now I work on a puzzle a little every day!


I've been on a house-plant killing spree, but I must have done something right because one of my houseplants bloomed! This Hoya was finally happy enough to bloom. It was such a nice surprise.



The garden is full of blooms, lucky me! The vegetable garden has slowed down, but the dahlias are in their element at the moment. Still totally obsessed with these flowers. I love bringing them inside and spreading them throughout the house.

Have a great month!

Animal Crossing Maker's Tote

As I mentionted in my July monthly report, I made a Maker's Tote for my brother's birthday last month! I wanted to share it with you all today. I didn't take a ton of photos of it, but that's okay. The Maker's Tote Pattern is by my friend Anna Graham. This is the third time I've made it, and I just love how they turn out! Here are my first two: Sheep Maker's Tote and Corduroy Maker's Tote. My brother recently got a nintendo switch, so I wanted to make a bag for him to carry it in when traveling. I had a feeling the small size of this tote would be a good fit, and it is! I happened to have some animal crossing fabric that was given to me by my friend Amanda. That was the starting point for the bag!


From there I chose some basics to coordinate. I didn't want anything to take away from the main print. I used some blue-ish Essex Linen for the binding and handles (not sure which color!), and this cute black and white blender for the side panels.

The lining and pockets came together from one of my prints from Dreamin' Vintage and this blue fish fabric that was in my "in between bin". I keep a bin with fabrics I don't know what to do with. Usually they are fabrics that I've had for a long time and either way to use up or pass on to a friend. I left both exterior pockets off of this bag because I was short on time.


Overall I think it turned out pretty cute! I was rushing to finish it and I accidently sewed the handles a bit farther apart than I should of, but that's okay. Still works! I handstitched the binding down in the car ride home and was able to give it to my brother in person! Hooray for a successful handmade gift!

You can find the pattern in Anna's online shop here: Maker's Tote Pattern

Happy Sewing!

July Monthly Report

It's time for the July monthly report. See past reports here.


This month my sewing was focused primarily on two projects. The first was to piece backings for my indigo courthouse steps quilt and my kaleidoscope quilt. The second was to make a present for my brother for his birthday. I'm happy to say I succeeded in both efforts! I got both quilt tops/backings in the mail for longarm quilting and I made my brother a Maker's Tote. Hoping to share photos of that project soon.


I also picked up an old work in progress again, what was supposed to be an all green quilt. It's been so long since I started cutting it out though, that I changed my mind about what I wanted. It will no longer be all green. I'm adding in purple and turquoise, because why not! I have about half the blocks pieced, but I still need to do a bunch of cutting for the other half.


To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in July:

July Fabric
Used up: 3 yards
Brought in: 6 yards
Net: 3 yards
Year to date: -37.75 yards

July Yarn
Used up: 0 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: 0 yards
Year to date: -1823 yards

I bought a good amount of fabric this month! I ordered some double gauze fabrics from Bunny's Designs. She's closing her shop, and I wanted to show some support. Be sure to check her instagram too (@bunnydesigns) for updates. When we were back in Ohio at the end of the month we stopped at the Polka Dot Pincushion and I picked up a few cuts of Kitty Corn by Urban Chiks*. It's so cute!


The dahlias have really started kicking off! They're so satisfying to grow, I've been cutting blooms every few days. I love to start the day by taking a walk through the garden after breakfast. Exciting to see how things have changed overnight.


We were able to finally go home for a whole week! We hadn't been back in Ohio since December 2019. And Michael hadn't been back with me in the summer since 2016 I think? It was so nice to be back home. I even took two quilts with me for photos, which really felt normal!



Thought I'd leave you with some snapshots of my parent's kitties (Sanders & Chester), on my quilts.

Have a Great Month!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

June Monthly Report

It's time for the June monthly report. See past reports here.

I can't believe we're already halfway through 2021! I know things have been pretty quiet around here this year. Most of my posts have just been my monthly reports. I wish I could promise that more regular posting was right around the corner, but I'm not sure it is quite yet. It's been a tough year so far personally, and I'm just trying to keep my head above water lately to be honest. I know that I will feel better both physically and mentally, but it's just going to take some time. I still love blogging, but I've also become more private over the years so it's a bit of a balancing act. I actually have a good number of finished projects to share (including three quilts!), but haven't been able to take photographs of everything. Michael is going to help me try to get some photos this weekend hopefully. We'll see. Thanks for sticking with me through this lull in posting!


Most of my sewing this month was focused on this courthouse steps quilt made using fabric I've indigo dyed over the years. I made three or four blocks for this quilt last year but then let it sit. So this month I cut out all the pieces for the the remaining blocks, sewed all the blocks and got the top put together! I am now working on the backing, but it's almost done, just a few seams left. I'm excited to get this one done!

I haven't gotten an indigo dye bath going yet this summer, but hope to at some point. If you're interested in indigo dyeing, I have a post about it here: DIY Indigo Fabric Dyeing Tutorial


I made a few drawstring bags this month, including this strawberry inspired one! This is the snack size from my lined drawstring bag pattern. I got lucky and was able to use a set of extra strings that I made when I shot the video tutorial last year, bonus! It's finished off with some beads because why not. The strawberry fabric is by Heather Ross*, tie fabric by Carolyn Friedlander*, and unfortunately I don't know who designed the green accent fabric. Beads and pattern can be found in my online shop here:

Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern
Round Wooden Beads


I can now share this make from May, a bucket apron I made for my Dad for Father's Day! It fits around a 5 gallon bucket. I thought it would be useful in the garden, he can throw weeds in the bucket and keep tools in the pockets. I used leftover binding scraps from a quilt I made him a few years ago, paired with some plain canvas. I followed this tutorial with some adjustments.


I shared a similar shot of my double gauze quilt in my last post, but wanted to actually talk about it here. It's now finished and it got plenty of use on the couch last month! Just need to photograph it.


To keep myself accountable for my stash goals, I track my yardage for fabric and yarn each month. Read more about how I track here. Here is how I did in June:

June Fabric
Used up: 24 yards
Brought in: 2 yards
Net: -22 yards
Year to date: -40.75 yards

June Yarn
Used up: 0 yards
Brought in: 0 yards
Net: 0 yards
Year to date: -1823 yards

Happy with my totals this month! I finished a quilt along with a few other small projects. I also shared a decent stack of fabric with a friend, so all in all a good mix. I bought some Dana Cotton/Modal* knit fabric this month to make a few t-shirts! I made a t-shrit with it years ago and it has held up so well. Hopefully I don't let it linger too long. I haven't made any clothes in a long while. No yarn related finishes, but I have still been weaving and I picked up a languishing shawl project which has been fun to knit on again.



June was the month that I finally returned to the thrift shops!! I missed going so much. I love to buy secondhand and see what kind of treasures are waiting to be found. Here is a mix of a few things I've found in my first month back! No vintage sheets, but a few pillowcases. I can't leave behind this style vintage towel either, they're one of my favorite things to thrift. A few metal goodies for the sewing room and a little sewing chest of drawers that needs some serious TLC.


This month we also went to our first flea market here in CT which was fun. Picked up a record and some vintage ornaments. I absolutely love this style ornament so I was thrilled to add so many more to my collection. Can't wait to display them on our tree this year.

Have a great month!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.