Learning to Wipe Away the Drool

I can't stop looking at this.

Learning to Make Four Curtains Out of Two

We got these curtains as a wedding gift. I LOVE them! They go great in our office. Problem is, there were only two for our four windowed room. I hung them anyway (because I liked them so much) and left our other two windows naked.

Well this Saturday I embarked on a little project. I was feeling confident in my sewing abilities and decided I was possibly capable of making these two curtains into four. They of course would have to be shorter so I decided to go with the cafe curtain look.

Step 1: Measure 33 inches of fabric and cut.
Step 2: Before fabric began to unravel, sew a seam along the cut line.
Step 3: Fold over a one inch hem, iron down, then fold over 2 more inches for a heafty hem. Press again.
Step 4: Sew a hem!
Step 5: Pray that all four curtains turn out the same length.
Step 6: Make alterations when they don't. :(
Step 7: Hang those puppies up!
Step 8: Use safety pins to alter them some more while hanging.
Step 9: Make your husband come ooh and awe over your first homemade curtains.
Step 10: Remember to take pictures of the steps next time so you can ooh and awe the blog readers with visual demonstrations.

So there you have it. I am proud to say that I saved well over $60 with this project.
Here are some before and after shots.

Before

After

Learning to "Use What You Got"

I got this white vase at a garage sale a few months ago. It was in the bin labeled, "Free Stuff."
I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it until at my Mod Podge Party, a small group gal gave me this idea.




Pretty cool, huh?
I simply Mod Podged some tissue paper on it and voila!


Vase: $0.00
Tissue Paper: less than $.10

Learning to Make a Pillow Sham

Dear Pillows,

I want to give you a fair warning.
You might get a face lift now that I know how to make pillow shams.

For example, see this pillow that I've never really liked?















Well, it got a makeover.














No worries though. If I decide I like something else, I can easily slip it's cover off and make something I like better.

Learning to Make a Sewing Machine Cover

Round One

Since my sewing machine didn't come with a cover, I figured I should create something to go over it. Apparently this extends the lifespan of the machine quite a bit. Dust makes it sick apparently.

So I pulled out some of my scrap fabric, looked up some online tutorials, and began cutting. Since the fabric I wanted to use was super thin and sheer-like, I sewed some lining behind it to give it some umph. I also gave myself a few extra inches of fabric since I didn't really know what I was doing.


Since I'm an amateur at sewing it took be about an hour to simply line the fabric. But after both pieces were lined, I sewed three sides together, leaving the bottom open. I was so excited to slide the little beast on my machine to see if it fit.

Not even close
Dang!

I laughed out loud at myself and began to realize that impreciseness is going to be my weakness in sewing.

Round Two

I seam ripped both sides off and made the seam a lot closer to the ends of the fabric. Surely an extra inch will help this puppy slide right on, right?

Well, it's closer I guess.

Round Three

The cover was still too small to cover the base of my machine. Again, laughing at my second failed attempt, I decided to try a new approach. Since I just needed a few extra inches at the bottom, I improvised by making a split in backside the material. Thank goodness for the seam ripper. After sewing up the seams and sliding it on for a third trial, it worked!

To give it more of a rounded and fitted look, I trimmed the corners off. Simply, fold the corners, pin, sew along the folded line that you marked and cut it off.

Drum roll, please....

Not going to lie, I'm proud.

Another Reason I Love My Job Is...

I get to do craft nights

and consider it working!

Last night I introduced my small group to the world of Mod Podge. Like any female exposed to this crafty product for the first time, they're hooked. Needless to say, plans for another craft night are in the works.

Learning to Sew... Something

Since I got my sewing machine AND I've been on a ridiculous craft/decorating kick, I thought I would begin to make a little space in our house dedicated to my creative juices.
It's in the works but here's one little nook I created for storage.

I had an old sewing table that came free with the sewing machine from the estate sale. I figured it could be useful- especially since I can store things underneath it.

I'm not a fan of clutter. I didn't like the look of the storage underneath. It needed a tablecloth to cover them up. And guess who has the potential to create a tablecloth now?! I grabbed some of the scrap fabric (again from the estate sale) and went to work.

I could have made a very simple cloth. Just make a seam around a square of fabric and be done with it. I wanted a little more practice though. So I decided to try to sew in a colored panel down the middle of the tablecloth.

I learned pretty fast that I need to find a better system of measuring and cutting straight lines. I seriously used the hardwood floor boards to make sure I was cutting straight.
I persevered though and despite on major error (thank you seam ripper), I created my first usable project. Ta Da!



I was very pleased with the finished product.






Before and After