The Making of Summer
Summer is always a different pace for me work-wise. For years I struggled with the balance of working from home with 3 kids out of school for the summer. I felt guilty when I wasn’t giving enough attention to my work (productivity!), but I felt guilty if I wasn’t constantly providing “the best summer ever” for my kids. Now, my kids have gotten older and some of them work, and drive, and they make their own lunches! But there’s still the strong pull to do “fun things” during the summer, to make plans, to be checking things off that summer bucket list. Over time I got better about leaning in to the change of pace. I’m better about making time for work when I need to (reminding myself there’s a reason I chose to work for myself), but I’m also good at letting summer be summer. Especially as a person who lives in Minnesota, summer is oh so short. We feel the need to make the most of it while it’s here. In fact, I secretly kind of love a stormy summer day that forces me to stay inside because there’s no pressure to “Get outside!” And really, summer feels like it should be a time to re-fuel, take a break, and adopt a slower pace.
“In my experience, it’s in the act of making things and doing our work that we figure out who we are.”
Something that’s a new shift in my summer approach is a more conscious move toward “making.” I’ve always loved the act of making things, in all kinds of areas (which I think is common for people who are creatively inclined). In fact, there have been times in my life where I didn’t have space (because of jobs, kids, etc.) to make and I always felt a frustration or a tension there. Summer has become a season where I give myself permission to explore making in all forms. And this can be a challenge because my work is also heavily based in making! But there’s a difference between making with that kind of intention and making for the sake of creating because you just want to. Sometimes it’s cooking and baking, it’s often gardening, or sewing, and more non-digital art-making (including new materials or mediums). So I’m going to share a little bit of my making from this summer. I’m such a believer in the importance of making, in whatever way lights you up.
ART: This summer I’ve been painting these little miniature landscapes. I take kind of a “3 layer approach” and choose a sky color, a ground color, and whatever lives in the “middle.” It’s really relaxing and fun and I enjoy the fact that they’re miniature and un-intimidating. Next up: I’ve had some supplies for block printing for years and I’m determined to do something with them this summer.
IN THE GARDEN: I’ve been an avid gardener for almost 20 years and while I don’t have a huge garden I love taking care of it. Well, I love taking care of it until about mid-August and then I want to burn it all to the ground just so I don’t have to deal with it anymore. Ok, that’s an exaggeration, but it’s no lie that it’s a good thing my MN growing season is short. The past couple years I’ve been getting cutting flower seeds from Floret Farm to try new and unusual varieties. There are some tried and true veggies I always plant, and I usually try something new to me (this year: watermelon radishes). I love growing herbs and there are always zinnias. I’ve always liked to bring in cut flowers from my garden but last summer I got more “serious” (she says seriously) about making “backyard bouquets”.
SEWING: I’ve had to really consciously give myself more time to sew. I’ll admit it’s been difficult to have both the motivation and the time to do it magically align. I finished a mini quilt/table topper with my new Honeycomb Hill collection, using the Economy block tutorial from Amy at Diary of a Quilter. And I’m making good promise on my version of the Penny Quilt by Kitchen Table Quilting. I so love this pattern and I’ve been working on a version using my first fabric collection, Midsummer Meadow, for about a year and a half! I’m so close to the finish line! My lineup for my next projects include the Mini Plaid-ish Quilt, also by Erica. She’s just started a quiltalong so I’m hoping that will help me manage my progress. Also on my wish list is to start some kind of mono-tone quilt with Sawtooth Star blocks, and I’ve been wanting to make pillowcases with my kids this summer too.
COOKING/BAKING: My, my, my, so many good things to try. Some new favorites: The Best S’Mores Bars from Pinch of Yum (I can’t overstate how good they are), also her Non-Alcoholic Margarita has been a fun summer sip. I’m currently making ALL the recipes with zucchini …. IYKYK. My son is learning to bake, so we’re doing an informal “baking course” when he feels like it.
All in all, it’s the makings of a pretty good summer.