Sewing Lessons 101

Here she is. The sweet little sewer! We got out our pattern and looked over the directions. I instructed her to always use a scrap piece of fabric to run through the machine before starting on the project. Why? So the tension is adjusted and there's not loops on one side (loose) and a pucker on the other side (tight) of the fabric. Make sure there's two pieces of fabric or one piece folded over so the stitch has the right amount of thickness to go through. It's a good gauge of how the finished stitch will be. Lift up the presser foot and lay the fabric under it and gently release the presser foot back down. Hold the end threads so they don't get sucked back under the needle and get tangled up (very common to the newbie).

Go ahead, get in there. Be cautious but don't be afraid of the machine. Feel the fabric as it gets pulled under the presser foot.

After the fabric has been pulled through, rotate the circle on the right of the machine (it moves the needle up and down). Rotate toward you so the needle is on it's way down, then lift up the presser foot and pull the fabric out; clip the "tail" or ends of the thread so your fabric is free of the machine. Look at the stitch and see that's the same on both sides. Open the fabric and see if the stitch is even on the inside too. It's done! Good job!

First Embroidery

Love this picture! She didn't even know I took it. I was setting up the sewing maching and saw that she stole my embroidery hoop. I thought it would turn into a big mess with string aroung the outside but she did great. She followed the markers of her own design.

My Purse

Ok, this is a little ridiculous. I'm actually carrying my embroidery in my purse. I had a minute the other day during the kids' music lessons and decided to get this out. We got this great idea out of Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule. You give the kids a piece of small fabric and let them draw a picture. Then you embroider the picture and make it into a bookmark. The ones I gave away at Christmas to both grandmas were a big hit! And where do I steal my time to finish these little things? ...at places like music lessons.

Kara's Cupcakes

Another lovely lady in the creative world made these cupcakes as a gift. Same party as the apron party with a different ounce of talent. These cupcakes were handmade in the wee hours of the night (confirmed by texting the Apron Girl at almost 1:00am). I guess you just can't schedule creativity! Nice job, Kara!
The pattern was bought on http://www.etsy.com/ by Bugga Bug. Wonderful ideas to be found!

Apron Girl

This apron was made by a dear friend Jessica. I was so proud of her for doing this first time pattern. I think she was a little uncomfortable making it, not sure she could do it, but pushed through to success with a beautiful piece. It was a birthday present for another friend and, after conquering the mommy's apron, she came up with a mini apron to match. So cute, Jess and good job for sticking to it!

Winding Yarn

This is a picture of my daughter winding some yarn for a scarf that she wanted me to make. She picked out the colors and told me exactly what she wanted! The picture is a few months old but I'm posting it as a precursor to projects on the horizon. I might be knitting her a dress (if I think she will wear it more than once) and I will be teaching a couple of girls to knit. Who would have thought our amazing craft night would become multi-generational.

She's had the start of a project by going to the yarn shop, winding her yarn, and watching mommy make the garment. Soon, she will be making a small piece with lots of pictures attached!

Valentine Cupcakes

For Valentine's Day, my daughter and I made cupcakes. I know that is not completely creative but it was super fun! ...and I would like to say that I value the work that Duncan Hines has gone through to make such a wonder cake mix for me. Not creative? I know but busy moms have to make concessions and this was one for me.

I need to put the picture into perspective. These cuttie cupcakes are only the size of your thumb. They are dangerously small so it's impossible to keep track of calories. On the flip side, they are the perfect size for tiny little hands.

Cardboard House

One of my dear friends got creative and painted this precious box into a cottage getaway for her toddler. It's so darling and colorful that you just wish you could shrink down to size and play in it yourself!

The amazing thing? That we die-hard recyclers feed off of each other, which in turn, breeds creativity! Good job, girl!

Yo-Yo Heart

My daughter helped pick out the fabric for this heart. We decided to make yo-yos and attach them to a felt heart. Sooooo sweet.

I tried using a yo-yo form that I bought at the fabric store. Totally worth the money! It was very easy to use, my edges were finished and they all came out the exact same size. Something to think about for a yo-yo quilt!

Gift of Sewing

Sometimes I forget that sewing is a skill and a gift, taught with love in my case, not necessarily financial well-being. All of that to say, I am slowly teaching the gift of sewing to my daughter. She loves her Hello Kitty Janome machine and has really taken to the straight stitch. She is amazing with color coordination and ideas. I love watching her mind sprout with possibilities!

....added bonus? She loves the fabric store!

Yarn Basket

This is the yarn basket I inherited from my grandmother. I'm so excited that I get to fill it up with my creations and bits and pieces of projects, just like she did. She was a sweater designer and knitting fanatic. I can only hope to be the same.

The stripe piece is a poncho I knitted, with love in every stitch, for my (then) two year old. Little did I know that a poncho is not the most practical thing for that age, always getting in the way when she would bend down to pick something up...great for pictures not for play!

Sewing Bag

This is what I leave every morning. I say goodbye to my sewing bag full of projects I'm working on, intend to get to, and finished but never really put it all away (for nostalgia, of course). When our power went out this weekend, I told my husband, "Don't forget my sewing bag!" I knitted my fingers to the bone this weekend and finished two pairs of gloves for my dear friends. Better pictures of finished gloves soon to come.

Starting Out

Well, it's my first blog post. I'm a little nervous and excited all at the same time. What a wonderful thing to share life experiences and artfull expressions that encourage people to use their talents. Since I don't have an amazing piece to post quite yet, I'll start with the winter wonderland outside the window...