The Need to Create

I've been thinking a lot about the new normal we are having to live with. I don't mind being cooped up at home. I'm mostly an introvert and don't really need too much social interaction to feel fulfilled. Mike and I have both been very busy figuring out how to work virtually but also enjoy cooking, hiking and binge tv watching together. We haven't been on too many hikes since the order to wear masks, but we've been enjoying a few shows we missed out on in the last few years and have enjoyed our dinners together. 

I'm feeling a bit burned out on virtual teaching and spent some time tweaking my schedule to fit what my students and parents seem to need, planning for the last few weeks of school and trying to figure out how to make schooling work for next year. I did some cleaning and organizing of my work room and have felt the desire to start sewing and creating again. My first project came from a book I bought this past winter - Sewing Happiness by Sanae Ishida. It's a wonderful book about the author's journey to health and finding joy in creating. There are several projects I'd like to try in the book. I've been wanting to make a kitchen counter recycling bag since we've moved into the house. I don't like seeing our recycling sitting on the counter and we often have to take several trips to the recycling bin. So this little fabric basket works to pretty things up and is handy when we take things down to the bin.

                                                                           

I like to use fabric I have on hand for projects like this. I had to do a little seam ripping of the outer fabric (which used to be a curtain) to make it fit the pattern but, hey, I've got time. The inner fabric is from a footstool cover I made last year. I used a contrasting thread color mostly because I don't have any more white thread. I used up a lot of my neutral thread when I was making our masks. I like using up what I already own. It keeps me from having too much in my space and is an additional way to use those creative juices.

I'm really happy with the result. I think it adds a little color to the white of the kitchen and hides the ugliness of the recycling. I'm not exactly sure about my next project. I have a baby quilt in mind but also would like to make something special for each of my kindergarten students who will be moving on in the next few weeks. Stay tuned to find out what that may be!