Getting Back to the Crafter In Me

I used to be such a crafter. One year I made all my own Christmas cards - about 60 or 70 of them - with Classic Pooh Christmas stamps. I even embossed them.

I crossstitch, too. I crossstitched the most beautiful wedding picture for my friend who was getting married. It was huge - like 18 inches by 2 1/2 feet - and it took me 18 months. I sat in front of the TV night after night (no boyfriend at the time, obviously!) and just zoned out as I did it. I crossstiched her a Beauty and the Beast picture, too. So beautiful and elegant - her favorite movie. (She stopped talking to me about a year ago for reasons I have no idea. I've stopped trying to call her - but that is a whole different story. It makes me sad.)

Both of those things were before I had a digital camera - so I have to dig into my old tub of photos to find and scan them.

My favorite craft project was for my bridesmaids when I got married, all ... ahem ... eleven of them. And the three junior bridesmaids - and the three flower girls. I KNOW. But I was second to last of all my friends to get married - and there was no way I couldn't ask them all. And we had a fabulous time. My mom joked that if you wanted to be in the wedding, throw on a blue dress and get in line.

But I digress. I wanted to show you what I made for them ...

The younger girls all got these ... they are jewelry boxes. I went to Michael's picked up a bunch of unfinished wood ones, and went to town. I made a bunch of different designs - this one was my favorite.

For my bridesmaids, I found a bunch of cutting boards at the Dollar Store - and again, went to town ...

Did you count 11? I sure did when I was painting them. Andy was living in his apartment when we were engaged, I set up shop right on his living room floor. Right in front of the TV. I sat there night after night watching my shows and painting away. I loved it and looked forward to it so much.

Why did I stop? I loved it a few weeks ago when I made the girls' vests. I remember painting and doing crafts in the townhouse - crossstitching and painting and making doo-dads. I know that when the girls were first born I stopped for a bit - but once they were sleeping through the night and Andy's and my sleep patterns got better I started again. I sat at the dining room table and flipped on the TV ... wait. I sense a pattern.

When we moved to our new house - the TV was put in the playroom - not in the main living area. I need background noise! I get lonely in silence.

Andy is setting up a TV up here for me. When his busy season starts (he's an accountant) he doesn't come home until after 10pm at night, and works Saturdays until 3pm. I'll have lots of time on my hands. I have mostly sewing projects in my head right now. I am so excited!

It was SEW easy!

(Just sent Andy off with my camera - and I haven't downloaded pictures of yesterday yet. I'll get them up ASAP when he gets home! In the meantime ... )

I had a garage sale a few years ago and made $250. Not too shabby. I knew I wanted a sewing machine - so off to Target we went. Oh how I love Target. Except if I knew then what I know now, I would have gone to the sewing maching store here in town and got a wee-bit more advice on what to purchase for my needs. I want to quilt. Badly. But I don't have the special attachment that is needed to keep the top and bottom of my quilt together when I sew ... too complicated. I have a few quilt TOPS - but they aren't attached to anything.

I took a sewing class and learned how to work with a pattern - three years later I am finally able to use this knowledge. I decided that before I have 8 years of "I want to be a princess" (times two) ahead of me, I wanted these girls to be cowgirls. Easy right? I could get most of the costume out of their closet - get them a hat and a vest and be all done. Then I had the idea of making their vests myself. Off to Joanne's I went (I'm always off to somewhere) - found awesome cowprint fabric, some fringe, and a pattern. I could do this.

First I got my favorite tool, it's like a pizza cutter for fabric. Awesome.

Then I pinned my pattern in place. I was so proud of myself that I remembered to pin the back of the vest on the fabric fold - I caught it at the last minute!

All cut out ...

Pinned 1/4 inch for the armholes. I don't have any pictures of me actually sewing at this stage. I was concentrating too hard. (Eeew - I think I need a new ironing board cover.)

The tension in my bobbin was WAY off - this was what I cut out of the back of one of the pieces once I started sewing. I was mightily annoyed.

Here is the fringe! It totally makes the vest. My mom said just the vests alone made them look like they worked at Wal-Mart. "Cool!" I thought, "Do Moms get a discount?"

On went the fringe - love it.

I had enough fabric left over that I was able to make them trick-or-treat bags, too. Super cool.

Finished product! Katie was a trooper - she was my model and kept trying it on for me to make sure I had the measurements correct.

I am open for business. Who needs a wedding dress ... ? Anyone?