Hello!

Well, looks like the 200th post did me more harm than good. It's been kind of hard to get out of the creative slump I've been experiencing since March. How is it that I managed to create more when working 7 days a week than now when I'm pretty much free all day?
I've been making very slow progress on my current project and I almost force myself to get to the sewing machine. Of course, once I get there, I feel amazing and re-energized, but it's the getting there that's challenging me.

I know I've been saying the same thing for a while, but I really do hope things improve in the near future, I must say I'm having a hard time even recongnizing myself... please don't give up one me ;)

Back at the Sewing machine

This is how my table is looking. And mind you, my work table is in my living room, so it's kind of chaotic. But it feels really great to be motivated and inspired once again.
This is another Summer Quilt. The first one was supposed to be for my mom's bed, but I couldn't let it go, so it's mine now and I'm still very much in love with it. The second, the retro one as I call it, is for my sister, and it is still a work in progress, waiting for some info from my sister to be able to proceed. And this is the third. I'm keeping it really clean and bright, really great for the Summer temperatures.

I'll keep you posted :) Thanks for being there!

Much love Monday

I still have two hours to go before monday ends, so here goes: Much love monday is on! :-)

Source

This is actually not a very inspired day for me, I have a huge headache and I haven't had that many novelties to inspire me. So I guess it's a good day to love the constant things in my life that makes it worthwhile, that bring me daily joy...

My loved ones
My cats
This blog
My sewing machine (yes, THE machine, just looking at it makes me smile)
Thinking of new projects and the process of bringing smal pieces of fabric together into something lovely
The rain that is falling today after the scorching temperatures of the last couple of weeks

And I guess it's pretty good!
Now I'll leave you with the latest picture of one of my cats, my male tabby, that has decided it was a good idea to sleep on my chest, even though, as I've mentioned, it's been really hot and he's kind of chubby...

LOVE IT! :-)
What are YOU loving today?

What I've been reading...

Two of the presents I received for my birthday. Haven't been able to stop looking at them to actually start to work. I'm still too busy drooling :-)

Weeee! I won a Stylish Blogger Award !!

This is so great! Jessica from Quilty Habit has contacted me to let me know my blog was one of the lucky few to get her Stylish Blogger Award and I am so thrilled! Thank you! Actually makes me feel a bit guilty for not being around lately.
Also, she has a really cute blog, so if you're looking for new blogs to get inspired with, go visit, I'm sure she'd love that! :)

The Stylish Blogger Awards have a couple of rules:
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award  (just did that)
2. Share seven things about yourself.
3. Award six recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact the bloggers and tell them about the award.

So, 7 things about myself. This might actually be harder than I thought...

1- I am crazy about animals, I wish I could work around them for a living. I love all animals and they move me in ways that nothing else does. And God knows how much portuguese animals need people who love and care for them.

2- On that note, I have to confess my cats taught me how to love. Might sound weird, but it is true. I got my first cat when I was 27 and it changed my life forever, They showed me how to love unconditionally and how good it feels to love and be loved that way.

3- I love to drive and I think I'm pretty good at it, I actually get mad when people make fun of my driving skills.

4- I'm a dreamer and a romantic. When I imagine the perfect man for me, I'm constantly drawn to Jane Austen's leading men: proud, a bit on the cranky side, but intelligent, caring and generous. Love it!

5- I love to travel, particularly by plane. The best parts for me are the ones most people dread: the take-off and the landing, it's just so thrilling, I love it!

6-  I love the beach and I love the water. I love swimming. Unfortunately, due to several reasons too silly to mention, I've been to the beach exactly once in the last two years. Pathetic, I know! Particularly considering where I live... I'm going tomorrow to make sure I make up for it this year.

7- There are some Reality shows I'm shamefully addicted to, like Hell's Kitchen, The Biggest Loser, The Ultimate Cake Off and Cake Boss. I could easily see myself making cakes for a living... Or watch reality shows about it. heheheh


Now, for the next stage: Award six recently discovered great bloggers. I'm not that sure how recent these blogs are, but they are a few of my favorite:

1- The Creative Adventures of Little MissPip
2 - MADE
3 - Poppyprint
4 - Punky & Me
5- Swim, Bike, Quilt
6- By Daisy

I'm going to contact them and complete the final stage. I hope they accept my award. So exciting :)

The "Client" knows best

Hello!

I've shown you the first version of the Summer Quilt I've been making for my sister and her boyfriend.
Ater I've shown it to the "client", she was quite sold and was looking for something a bit more light and girly (sorry sister's boyfriend).
Also, this fabric is really heavy and thready and started to unravel, so I decided to just take it all apart and start all over. This time I serged both ends together before sewing and it worked like a charm.

This is the final version of the not-so-retro-anymore Summer Quilt.
It is all Summer, but not quite as strong or unique as the first one, but I do like it.

The dark fabrics kind of blended into the other more cheerful fabrics and the pinks (again, sorry sister's boyfriend!) The greens and the baby blues stand out.

What do you think?

Much love Monday

It's been a while since I've joined Much Love Monday, but I'm needing to reflect on what I love about my life.
I love my cats and my loved ones, I'm sorry if I don't say it enough, you know who you are ;)
I love sewing and how it makes me feel, I've missed it!
I love the warm sun and the blue skies and the lovely sun sets we've been having here in Lisbon.

What are you loving today?

New project :: new spirit

Hello.

This is what I've started doing yesterday. It's for my sister's bedroom so I had to make sure it pleased her boyfriend also. She chose the fabrics and this is what we got:

Or if we turn it around...

I'm doubting these big sections of fabric, I'm considering wether I should cut them in half and add some solid stripes. 

Overall, I'm just afraid It looks too serious, to matronly. What do you think?