Feeling inspired

It has been a bit of a challenge to get back into the swing of things since our vacation 2 weeks ago.  I dropped off my machine for some TLC a couple of days before we left and picked it up on the Tuesday after we returned - a total of almost 2 weeks without sewing.  I will admit it was like pulling teeth.  Knowing how much work I needed to do to get ready for the Garlic and Arts festival  the end of September wasn't helping.

This week, the first items I made were the heart trivet and oval basket.  The print and the red were fabrics I had found on vacation.  As soon as I saw them they said apron to me.  When I finished these two items I said to myself, isn't it a shame that the design on the peach colored "Cole Slaw" fabric was no longer visable after I had turned this lovely fabric into a coiled item.  HUMM....why not made a round basket and applique part of the fabric into the bottom inside and then use the coordinating fabrics for the sides?(bottom left bowl).  I had never made a pictorial basket like this before.  All sorts of ideas started coming to me.  WOW, I can make a runner/wall hannging and then make a pictorial bowl to match, which is exactly what I did!  The runner is in the center of the photot with it's matching basket, bottom right..  I have been appliqueing hearts onto trivets for awhile now but I find it myself being very inspired about making some more new pictorial bowls!   http://www.newenglandfiberarts.com/products/prod_detail/604