Whatever your sewing motivation, some fabric stores and online shops have special summer savings, semi-annual fabric clearance and major coupon offerings to take advantage of this time of year. In addition to local and online fabric shops look over your incredibly useful scrap fabric collection, left-over fat quarters or remnant textiles for fabric resources. Many gift sewing projects can shrink that fabric stash considerably.

Consider the following ideas when sewing inspiration is at times hard to come by. The suggested sewing projects are easy-to-sew using just basic sewing skills, some fabric pieces, and most instructions can be found online at numerous sewing sites on the web.

Holidays to Come - time to begin planning for cooler weather and easy gifts to sew, make a list, check it twice! Cute pincushions in a vintage oval frame or delicate porcelain tea cup, kitchen potholders with pockets, fabric trivets, easy-bordered table runner, covered hanger secret-safe, hanging kitchen towel, and cute fabric ornaments.

Far from Home - travel neck pillow (butterfly shape works well too), weekender bag, eReader or tablet case sleeve, tie-dyed throw pillow, T-shirt memory pillows using transferred images, and luggage tags. Recently moved students or friends may appreciate a monogrammed laundry tote, taco-style cord keepers or fabric roll-ups to keep all those power cords corralled, and a sleep mask for hopeful sweet dreams in those new locations.

Off to College - dorm room gift ideas: embroidery hoop sewing kit. Create a pocket on a large square or circle of fabric to stretch onto a wooden embroidery hoop. Fill the pocket with a few thread colors - black, white, navy and tan, package of hand sewing needles, small scissors, safety pins, a few straight pins on a felt square, tape measure, seam ripper and a few buttons. Easy to hang on a wall over a desk with a removable adhesive hook. Instead of a sewing kit, turn the embroidery hoop pocket into a first-aid kit with band aids, aspirin, antibiotic cream, tweezers(for nasty splinters), alcohol cleansing wipes, and throat lozenges.

Back to School - reusable snack or lunch bag, roll-up pen/pencil case, hair scrunchie, fold-over or drawstring gym bag, pillowed lap desk, locker caddy, pocket tissue pack holder, fun pajama bottoms, reading pillow with book pocket.

Get a jumpstart on holiday gift giving by sewing heartfelt, handmade items. Let the new graduate know how important their new life journey is and that the memories they will carry will last forever. Give the off-to-college freshman a great start with a personalized gift sewn or crafted with care, and reassure back-to-schoolers that they are embarking on a new adventure.

Sew happy, sew inspired.