Reading, thinking and planning

My favourite part of sewing anything is finishing it. The cutting out of fabric drives me to distraction, the sewing part I enjoy, but the finishing is just wonderful. Seeing something unique, that I've made, all pressed, neat and ready to use for the first time gives me such satisfaction.

Here's the apron I made last week - I'm wearing it almost constantly because I love it so much. Even C admitted that it isn't too embarrassing if I wear it to pick him up from school sometimes.

.

The pattern is an old favourite of mine from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing. As well as a brown one for me, I've also made it in various colours for Anna. You can see it being beautifully modelled by her here! The fabric on this new one is a luscious deep indigo and purple Martha Negley print on one side, and lilac with lime green polka dots on the other.

.

Doesn't it go well with my tights!

.

The other aspect of sewing which I love, is that of being inspired by other people. There are so many blogs that I read and get inspired by, but there are also many books that I go back to time and again. Sometimes for the patterns, sometimes for the pictures and sometimes for both. My two latest acquisitions are these:

.

.

Sew Fabulous Fabric by Alice Butcher and Ginny Farquhar and Country Garden Quilts by Kaffe Fassett. I've had the Sew Fabulous book for a week now, and my eyes have been greedily taking in all the projects. I keep coming back to the one for those flowers on the front through - I want to make a whole plateful of flowers just like that! And there are not just one but two gorgeous apron patterns in it. I may never have enough apron patterns.

.

The Kaffe book is more for gazing at than sewing from. Although one day I've promised myself I will make one of his quilts. It may be a five year project, but I'd love to do it. The photographs in his book are so wonderful, I could gaze at them for hours. That man will drape a quilt over anything!

.

This latest book of his has Jane Brocket as his guest designer and there are instructions in the book on how to make her allotment garden quilt, using some other Martha Negley fabrics. Maybe I'll make that one as well!

.

And then as if that wasn't enough inspiration for one week, my copy of Selvedge also dropped through the letterbox today. A Selvedge subscription was a Christmas present from my sister-in-law last year, and each issue is filled with unexpected and quirky articles and photos. Sewing books make me fizz with excitement and enthusiasm, and Selvedge counters that by making me feel more sophisticated and knowledgeable about my fabric.

.

What's inspiring you at the moment?