Gratitude Friday and more work than progress

I've been busy this week, so very busy. It feels like walking on a treadmill busy though, lots of moving but not really going anywhere. Oh, I guess I have got quite a bit accomplished if I take inventory, but not enough yet that I see the end in sight. I did finally finish up a couple of orders for some very patient customers. That takes a bit of a load off my shoulders. I hate it when folks have to wait longer than promised. My spacious sewing room and generous work table seem to shrink when I've got several projects going. While in the midst of my flurrying about I surveyed the mess and my steadily shrinking  work space and I wondered if other this happens to other people. You know the ones, the organized and tidy people. Do they paint themselves into a corner with fabric and scissors?  Later that day I read this post and had to laugh. Yes, it seems others do run out of room to work. At least it is evidence of productivity, or a crime scene depending on how you look at it.

One of the orders I've been working on included diaper bag. I wanted to make a bag that included some patchwork and also had pockets on the sides to hold sippy cups or bottles. Using this bag as my inspiration this is what I came up with. I like it, but as it turns out it  wasn't what the lady who ordered it had in mind so if anyone would like a quilted diaper bag with a patchwork pocket it's available in my Etsy shop.

The red and blue printed fabrics are really cute, they are reproduction feed sack prints from Hancock Fabrics. I really like the tape measure fabric but Alyssa and Kelli both say they don't. My one vote beats their two because I'm the one driving the sewing machine.

Enough chit-chat, let's show some gratitude already.

As this week comes to an end I am glad to have marked some items off my list that have been hanging around much too long.

I am also grateful for a home that is heated. Baby it's cold outside!

I'm grateful for Mitch's work ethic. That's one hard working man.

I'm grateful for Casey's blue eyes and Alyssa's beautiful smile.

Thank you so much for the birthday wishes for Casey. I feel like a bit of a fraud reading all your kind words about what a good mother I am. The truth is, I fall way short when it comes to being Casey's mom. I have so much to learn about communicating with teenagers and I'm running out of time. Casey is 17 now and Alyssa's 19.  I can only hope I don't mess them up too much before they are on there own. Oh well, that's what therapy's for.  Right?

Comments

[pam]

Your wook space looks so tidy to me. I'm sewing away in a tiny little spot on my big table covered with stuff. I guess I never really put anything away, just pile stuff up.

I love your bags, and your creative use of the embroidery machine. Mine sits idle but this year I'm going to put it to use! I love the monogrammed bags you make. Very nice.

[Me,MyselfandSewing]

Don't feel alone regarding the mess. I just spent a day this week cleaning off the mountain from my work table and surrounding area. It was getting soooo bad, I felt I was buried alive. It felt good though to get it cleaned up and to actually use the whole work table instead of the little corner I was using.

[LLA]

I don't know - your mess still looks pretty tidy to me. Where are the animal hair tumbleweeds? The plates that no one managed to carry into the kitchen (much less load in the dishwasher?) The boy-socks strewn everywhere??? (There are always so many blessed socks all over my house - you'd think that each one of my "boys" had seven feet each...)

Also - the Mama who didn't love the diaper bag - her loss, it's gorgeous. So glad to see that it got snapped up already... Maybe she'd love a backpack, like mine? 'Cause it's pretty fab...

Grateful for you, and for your thoughtful Friday lists....

[Sarah]

Love the bag! Glad someone snapped it up. And I'm with you on the craft room! I'm feeling the same way, lately.

[Di]

Love the bag and bib Autum...they are just gorgeous. I know how you feel about mothering teenagers... it's frustrating when you try your best to be a good mum but it doesn't seem to be enough. Hang in there Autum. I'm sure your kids are going to be fine.

[Kristy]

A very belated happy birthday to Casey!Looks like you are doing a great job of bringing your teenagers up Autum xxx

[Dawn]

The bag is wonderful..The fabrics are perfect.
I, for one, love the ruler fabric..
Happy belated wishes to your son..

[erin]

um, autum, you should see my work space. it looks like that almost all the time!

[Amy]

Hey Autumn - nice stuff. I had to laugh cause I've been sewing only a few days since returning to town and my room is a COMPLETE DISASTER! So true!

[Sandy]

Hi Autum! The bib and bag are awesome!

Ha! Therapy. Show me the perfect parent. Communication is something we all have to work at. I think our generation (or at least in my family) communicates far better than when I grew up. I learned everything from friends. Happy Saturday!

[Catrina]

I LOVE how that bag turned out! And I'm also lovin' the tape measure fabric. Beautiful work :)

[Diana]

You're not the only one! My work consistently spills out of my craft room and into every other room of the apt. In fact, I'm currently working on a patchwork duvet cover, and the fabric for it is all over the craft room, my cutting area is my dining room table, so there's lots of fabric in there too, and the finished panels currently reside in our bedroom...it's a mess! your room looks great!

:) D

[Thimbleanna]

The bag turned out really cute Autum! I can't believe how quickly you got it done -- you're so talented to whip it out with no pattern. Since the original mother didn't want this diaper bag, does this mean you'll be showing us a replacement soon? Love your gratitude Fridays!

[jessica]

great bag and bib.
as mothers we are always doubting ourselves. perhaps that is a good thing, it makes us look deeper.

[Elisabeth]

Congrats to your son!

And I'm sure you're a wonderful mom! The most important thing is love & it's obvious that you got plenty of love to give to your children!

[kathryn]

oh dear, that worktable looks familiar! :)

The bag and bib are wonderful--how I wish I had an embroidery machine. You do such fun stuff with yours! (my vote is for the tape measure fabric, too)

Please don't be so hard on yourself. You can't argue with the love that was expressed so perfectly in your last post. Anyway, I'm starting to think that parenting is synonymous with guilt.

[lindiepindie]

Your week sounded like my week. The hours kept flying by and I was busy, but I couldn't manage to cross much off my list. And I've been working on a diaper bag, too! Glad yours sold - great job.

[Molly Adams]

I love the bag! You did a beautiful job, as always! Being a Mama is the hardest job I will ever have, especially of teen agers. You always have to remember, girl & boy teenagers are also different! Boys, shun away, girls tell you it all and then some!

Great job & have an AWESOME week!!!!!!!!

[Nonnie]

Just discovered your blog from Tales from Pixie Wood. I really love your work and your work room looks very tidy to me. Also, I think the tape measure fabric is great. Really fun

[Maureen]

I just receive the package! Yeah! Thanks so much.

[Melly]

mmmm workspaces are a BIG trouble. I try and share mine with my husband and I have to admit that it is a big bone of contention in our house! Love the bag and love, sniff sniff, the letter to your son. My boy is only 4 but it just struck such a chord with me. First time visitor and love the blog - will be back much more often.