My Nana's Thread

My "Nana" is the one who first inspired me to sew (second being my mother-in-law). My Nana passed away several years ago. When I was little, she had a big bag of leftover fabric squares in her closet. I would visit her house, which was next door, and play in the fabric. I remember making little square pillows by hand. They weren't the greatest, but I was a little girl and I tried my best! I also remember seeing her in her own homemade dresses.

During the month of December, I went back home to visit family (this is why I haven't sewed anything in a month!) I saw my Nana's old sewing machine stand and started looking through the drawers. I found a lot of her old thread. Since I am the only one in my family that sews, I asked if I could have it! I thought it was neat to go through her old sewing things. My dad even showed me a suitcase filled with old fabrics. I wasn't ready to take it quite yet, but maybe in the future, I can be creative and make a few things with it!

Now that I am back home, I hope to sew a few things in the new year. I saw a lot of handmade fabric ornaments over the break that I wanted to try to make. I also want to start making a few dresses for my daughter. But first, I need to get my home organized for the New Year and hope to get more sewing started in January!

My First Stocking Attempt

I didn't use a pattern for this, and you can kinda tell, but for my first stocking attempt, this isn't too bad! Everything stayed in it. The only thing, I forgot to add the loop!

I Finished My Red and White Apron!

Here is my last apron for the 2010 year! I will return to sewing in 2011!

Currently Making a Red and White Apron

I am in the process of making a white and red apron. I am taking smaller steps and doing a little each day. For example, one day I will complete the cutting and sewing of the main piece. The next day, I will cut the neck strap and tie straps, and pockets. And finally, I will sew the straps and pockets onto the main apron. If I break the project up this way, I can average 1-2 aprons a week.

Here is my progress so far.

I am currently working on the pockets and straps. This apron will look similar to the black and white one I created just a few weeks ago.

Don't Have a Gift Bag? Make One!

Are you a sewer with lots of fabric on hand? I didn't have a gift bag that I needed for a party early tomorrow so I thought with my "one month of sewing experience" that I would make one! This was originally a pillow case that I made, but I turned it into a reusable gift/tote bag! Now they can use it for whatever they want and it should last longer than a gift bag, and very cheap to make.

Craft Fair and Etsy

Well, the craft fair did not go as expected. It was a nice fair, with lots of vendors. We just didn't have the community coming in like we had hoped. It was a very slow day, but a great experience. It gave me some ideas on future projects! The vendors ended up going around and buying each others items! I even picked some things up myself!

I have slowed the production due to the upcoming holidays and with the way things are going, I may close my Etsy and focus on making items for those interested in my town. I am getting enough inquiries on items here that I really don't know if I want to manage a shop online and worry about shipping. I also want to focus on making things for my daughter, like Spring dresses and clothes, and maybe some items for around the house.

Etsy is neat, I'm just not sure I'm ready to take that route since it takes so much time and effort to put into each project! I'm interested in also making items for donations if anyone from around here asks for that. I would love to make blankets and pillows for the less fortunate!

Thats an update. I am currently making a tote bag to put birthday presents in for a one year olds birthday party coming up soon, instead of using a gift bag. Its actually cheaper than a nice bag, and will last a while!

Camouflage Pillow

I used the fabric up that a friend gave me to make my very first project with several weeks ago today. I made a pillow and blanket set. Tied it up with some ribbon to add a special touch for the craft fair.

Craft Fair Craziness

I am participating in my very first craft fair this Saturday. I really do not know what I have gotten myself into! I have been in production overload just to have some inventory, but I do have to say that it has been an adventure and has been so fun learning how to sew and come up with cute items. I still have a ways to go in learning, but wanted to show you what things look like when you are trying to rush to get items completed by a certain day.

Before:
This was after I had finished my final apron for the craft fair. Things had literally piled up and my table was a disaster! Thread pieces and scrap fabric were everywhere. You can also see that I invested in the larger cutting mat for larger items. I already love it.

After:
(Ahhh!) I can find things a little easier now!

New Aprons!

I sewed these two aprons recently and they are two of my favorites! I love to find complimentary fabrics and pair them together to see what I can make. And, when there is leftover fabric, I always try to find something to do with it. I made a "peppermint tote" and a little candy jar and used leftover fabric I had from all of my projects.

My Latest Creations

Three Dora the Explorer Pillows

I received a Facebook message from someone at church recently. They saw a photo of my Dora the Explorer pillow that I made for my daughter and was interested in one. I created three with the fabric I had left. I used one yard of fabric to make four pillows.

My Favorite Apron So Far!

This has been my favorite apron so far. It fits so well! :)

Chocolate Brown and Teal Polka Dotted Woman's Apron

You can find this in my Etsy shop on the left sidebar! :)

Sewing Blankets

I found some great flannel fabric for baby boys and girls at Wal-Mart in the clearance section and decided to make blankets with it. These were my first blankets I made. They are a little plain, but to the point, and they are very cozy for this fall/winter season!

Here are the four I made today, two large, two small.

My Very First Etsy Sale and Free Shipping at My Etsy!

I am "sew" excited! I had my very first Etsy sale today. I am happy for that. It just made my day. To think someone out there wanted something I spent time working hard on--meant a lot. I sold the black and white woman's apron!

I have alot of work to do on my Etsy shop. It is fairly new, and I still don't really understand how exactly it works. I need to go in there and do much more with my description I am sure, and need to figure out how to advertise for it. But, the first order was made today and already packaged and will be sent out tomorrow.

I am currently working on some larger blankets. By the end of today, I will have four blankets created, two small and two large. They are so easy to make. I am hoping to have a good selection by time the craft fair comes around. I really hope this works out, but if it doesn't, everything will just go on Etsy and wait until someone wants what I have to offer!

If you are interested, look into my Etsy shop on the right sidebar. I will be offering FREE shipping from now on. I don't like to pay shipping, so I don't think you should pay it either. I also do several price changes and sometimes you may see prices as higher, sometimes lower, depending on what is selling and not selling. I plan to run it like any store does, with sales and price changes!

Thanks for being a reader and hope to see you again!

My First Little Flannel Blanket

I sewed my first little flannel blanket today. There really was nothing to it and is definately a great beginner's project.

Why Didn't I Invest in a Sewing Machine Years Ago?

Her daughter:
Look at that smile!

My daughter:

Look at that fit!

Almost one month into sewing, I am questioning why I didn't invest and try to learn how to sew way before now. I can't even begin to tell you how easy it is, and the feeling after you have made something. I could have made things for my own daughter when she was a baby, along with several baby gifts. I am currently working on some little blankets.

 It "seams" that everything I have made a mistake on (mostly with sewing "seams") I can always go back and fix it somehow, without wasting the fabric, or my valuable time that was spent getting to the end result. I actually just made a mistake on the blankets, which blankets should be very easy, but I fixed it in no time!

The hardest part, in my opinion, when it comes to sewing isn't the actual sewing part. Sewing is the easy part. The hardest part are the measurements and cutting. I was never brilliant at math, and this is easy math, but that is the part that takes the longest and can be frustrating. I already wish I had a larger cutting mat, which is in the budget for the future. Small cutting mats are really only good for the small projects you do, so keep that in mind if you plan to purchase one!

I do have some goals for sewing that I hope to accomplish over time.

*sewing buttons
*sewing bows or accessories onto items
*sewing zippers onto purses
*sewing on velcro
*sewing with elastic waistbands
*making my daughter a set of pajamas (at least the pants to start)
*learning how to sew with the other stitch settings
*accomplishing challenging projects

"Sew" as you can see, there is always something that can be learned with sewing. That's the best part though. It's fun to learn, and more importantly, to inspire and teach others, so hopefully this is helping you to meet your sewing goals as well.

What to Do With Leftover Fabric

I had some leftover fabric from other projects I completed, so I wanted to do something with it. I don't like wasting pieces of good fabric, so I made a few more snap purses as well as another small pillow.

It matches the other one I made a few weeks ago!