What Happened to Summer?

I can't believe that school has started and that Labor Day is a little over a week away!  We have had the most wonderful San Diego-style weather here this summer - I guess time flies even faster when the days are sunny and gorgeous rather than oppressively humid and unbearably hot!

I have been busy shopping, cooking and packing for my girls as they head off to college, but I did manage to squeeze in little mini-retreat at the lake. I only took hand work, so I don't have a lot to show for my time, but I did manage to finish another star.

I think this one may be my favorite so far.  The colors are a little off in the photo - it's actually more blue.  I love the fabric.

I've managed to slip in a little time at my sewing machine over the past few weeks, too.  I decided to leave a project out on the table and just do a few minutes here and there as time allowed.  I've managed to progress from this:

to this:

In just a few short sessions.  I want to get this one assed because this pattern has an appliqué border.  I've always wanted to do an appliqué border and this one is fairly reasonable.

I still plugging along on the rug.  I really wanted to have it finished by now, but just can't seem to find the time or the motivation to keep it going!  It is getting closer...  

Maybe I can shoot for Labor Day?

A Year of Stars

Yesterday was the 13th and final meeting of my hand piecing class. I only managed to do finish one of my 12" blocks this month. I had really planned on setting the project aside for a while now that the class has ended, but after pressing my latest block this morning I decided to lay them all out to see how far I've come.

While I still have quite a bit to do - 6 of the 12" blocks and 7 of the small stars - I'm amazed and excited by how much I have actually finished. My appliqué and hexies may have to sit on the back burner a little longer!