Report on projects planned for sewing camp:
Pajama pants: left at home, still haven't found the necessary elastic
Top #2 and pieced 3D star pillow: left at home due to lack of time to locate acceptable fabrics
Cat mats: left at home and sewed 1 each night before bed
Knit top #1: didn't touch due to lack of space (we were rather crowded together at the tables and I didn't want to risk sewing mistakes on expensive garment fabric)
Substitutes:
Purse size tissue holder = FINISHED! Easy, only took 5 small scraps of cotton print fabric. Replacement for the worn out one I've used every day for a few years.
Unlined jacket bought for $3 at a thrift store, sleeves too tight = figured out how to do the alterations, cut the pieces, pinned the insert into 1 sleeve ready to sew
Back to the original list:
Origami shopping bag = FINISHED! The sewing itself was quick and easy straight lines. Floral print outside, striped lining. Before making another, I want to change the finished proportions which involves recalculating the size of the original rectangle.
Reading pillow = FINISHED! Quick and easy.
I'm very happy with what I accomplished. I spent more time in the kitchen than I thought I would have to do, but it was ok because I enjoy cooking, too.
What helped me the most was having the opportunity beforehand to carefully choose projects for which all the supplies would fit together in 1 square laundry basket (including my tool kit) plus 1 small bag with my rulers and another small bag for the instruction sheets. I knew exactly what I had with me in limited space, so I didn't have to waste any time looking through multiple containers.
All over the room, everyone else was digging through their stuff and complaining about what they had forgotten at home or couldn't find in their bins. I didn't have what they needed so kept humming along doing my own thing. I don't know if I'll ever be able to be so organized again, but it was such a no-stress way to work this time.
We'll have another sewing camp in July. In the meantime, I am motivated to continue sewing at home.