No sewing

Lazy California days. I guess I'm getting my reading fix. During the year I have VERY limited access to English books so while I'm in the States I find myself just lounging around reading almost anything. My niece's young teen books, Leiya's homework books, old Time magazines and old Guideposts that my mother saves throughout the year. I'm not picky about reading material.

I have lots of free time on my hands and it seems such a waste to not be sewing! At any other time I'd be using every extra minute to work on one of the numerous quilting projects I have going, but here I am without a sewing machine or fabric. I think I'm going through withdrawal. I even feel out of the loop because this morning Marcy (my sister-in-law) and I did spend a couple of hours at JoAnn's and though I had a list of things I wanted to buy, I couldn't really get my head together.

My list said I needed backing for the Wonky Word, for the 365 Challenge, for the Orange Crush and the Feathered Star and for a Wicked quilt, not to mention yardage for the latter three quilts. But actually I came away with bits and pieces for the Wicked and the Feathered Star. I don't think that was too smart, because when buying just a few fabrics at a store, and hoping to supplement them later from other shops I tend to forget what I've already bought and have a worse time than ever coordinating fabrics. I know I sent some pink fabric home with Tetsu (for the Orange Crush) but for the life of me, today I couldn't remember what it looked like...

My niece did mention that she wanted to make a pillow case and so Marcy and I picked out fabric for that today. My niece, at 14 already has her own sewing machine (she took a home economics class this year) so she is anxious to use it and make something. I'm looking forward to that project and I remembered that Tracey was making pillow cases so I think I can help my niece over this weekend.

I guess I forgot to mention that Takumi toodled in the evening before Tetsu went back to Japan, so we did snap a couple of pictures of the four of us together. We haven't had a family picture together in a couple of years so though we all look pretty grungy, this is what we look like nowadays. Takumi has already gone back to his apartment but he promised to show up again before I leave. Looking good and happy (friends, please note, Takumi smiles now!) and we celebrated his 23rd birthday by going out for frozen yogurt and buying him shoes. Big thrill!