creative juices

My creative juices seemed to have dried up in this summer heat that finally arrived. It makes me feel fidgety and stifled. It's not that I haven't been productive because I have been. Our nice oasis of a yard is great and we've been enjoying it every day. My summer garden is just about finished and the fall planting time is coming soon. I've got some lettuce, spinach, and snow peas ready to go. Sheesh, I've even done some housework and homeschool planning. So why do I feel so ...blah? I have been crocheting in the evenings and that is so nice. The texture of the yarn, working my way through some new patterns, learning new techniques...it's all soothing at the end of a long, hot day. But still ...blah. I think I figured it out. I haven't been sewing. I've got so many ideas floating around in my head, I've seen so many wonderful projects that are inspiring, yet there just hasn't been any time to sit and sew. I miss it. Well, the other day I visited Tie One On, an apron-y blog by Amy Karol, and I just knew that the current apron challenge was for me. The theme this time around is plaid. Yep, that's it...just make sure plaid is included. Okay, when I think plaid I immediately think blue, red, or green...dark, heavy material that's itchy. Hmmm, not really good for aprons. Nonetheless, I dug through my stash in search of some random scrap of that very thing. I had nothing of the sort. So I called my mom to see if she had any plaid in her stash and she did! And here it is.

It's kind of cloudy today so the colors aren't exactly right. It's a bit more teal, but I am loving the orange. I already had some shimmery cream fabric and some nice big buttons to coordinate and tone down the brightness of the plaid, but I may have to find something in my stash to bring out that orange. I do love orange, ya know. And I think something bright and cheery is exactly what I need right now. I've got a plan in my head and a sketch on paper of how this apron is going to look when it's all said sewn and done. So now that my creative juices are beginning to flow again I hope to have more to share with you...sooner rather than later.
Happy Wednesday! xo ANG