Patchwork and the Summer Sun

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What is a girl to do when it is 102 degrees out and the coolest place to hide is 3 feet in front of the cooler? She works on paper patchwork applique of course. I've made about 15 of the little hexagons and about 10 pentagons from assorted fabric from my Zakka collection. I think my first project will to be to sew some on the flap of a messenger bag. I also moved my computer desk today so I'd have a bit more workspace. I was playing bumper cars with the chair at the other desk. We were both getting annoyed, so I put more space between us. I had a much bigger desk at the old house so I'll have to see about solving that dilemma.

The view from my desk. Scrub Jay.

 

I rented a metal container so I'd have lots and lots of workspace and so I could get all of the crafts out of the house. I failed to take into account that in the winter it gets cold in that metal box and the sun goes down at 5 PM and in the summer (which seems to have started in March and is still going through August) its just too bloody hot to work out there without frying my brains. So now I mostly work in the house. Which makes sewing difficult because the sewing machine is out there in the container and there is no room for anything else in the house. Every day I try to get more stuff out of here, not put more stuff in here.

His container. Mine is next to it but looks the same.

Zakka Zakka Zakka

I went a little crazy today and dove head first into Zakka. Evidently I'm the only one that didn't know about this trend, because when I looked it up on Pinterest, there were dozens of boards of Zakka crafts and home decor items. When I found out we were going to Hobby Lobby today I specifically looked for fabric in muted tones to use for Zakka. I never buy muted tones, so I literally had no fabric that would work for this aesthetic. Lucky for me all calico was 30% off or I would have just walked away. The muslin I needed wasn't on sale, but it was only $2.99 a yard and I used my 40% off coupon. So visions of little Zakka elephants are dancing through my head. I have to preshrink everything first so after I get to the laundromat I'll show you the fabric. I sorely miss having a washer and a dryer or it would have been done already.

Zakka combines things I love doing; namely patchwork, embroidery, and sewing. A friend of a friend gave me two books full of Zakka projects, but since I intend to sell the things I design, I won't be using any of the things in the book, just the concept. I already ran across one blog where they are having a sew along of every single project in the book! 

My daughter married into a Japanese family, so I'm thinking she will love this Japanese inspired style trend. I need to figure out something cool to make for her or my grandson.

Love the chicken fabric.

Pre-washing the fabrics I chose for Zakka crafts.

Combining Halloween and Zakka

Halloween Zakka Pentagons

I'm doing my best to just keep my wits about me and work. Just do the work. Keep reading my Louise Hay book "Meditations to Heal Your Life." Keep breathing. Keep eating. Ground and center. Ground and center. Love myself the best I can. Be kind to myself.

I got some things done today. I got a bit done on my hummingbird embroidery that I forgot I even had after I closed the lid on the embroidery kit a month ago. I worked some on my knitted hat for my granddaughter. The other one had blown off the porch. That's what I get for not putting my toys away at the end of the day. I couldn't figure out where it had gone.

I started a Zakka project inspired by the books Zakka Style and I Heart Zakka by Rashida Coleman-Hale but it won't be in the Zakka muted colors. It will be orange and black. By the way, Pinterest has a ton of Zakka boards if you need ideas. I'm doing paper piecing with pentagons. I'm just not sure what I'm going to put them on next. Maybe a tote bag. Maybe a Halloween apron. So far the pentagons have a pumpkin, a witch's hat, a skull and a bat. I thought if I'm going to list Halloween stuff on Etsy I better get cracking. Or cackling. Or something.