Starting With The Basics...

I've always been one who likes to read the entire "users manual" of a product before I actually use it. In fact, I even read the back of shampoo bottles in case they have any "tips" for washing your hair that I may not know about already. You would be absolutely amazed by the things you can learn just from reading information that either comes with, or is posted on products. I hate the feeling of just floundering around until you get the hang of things. I need a direct path to success or else I'm not interested. I feel like for the last couple of weeks I have just been floundering around with this sewing thing. I've decided that I need to get to work here and learn how to sew because I have a LOT of things I want to make. So I've been looking around on the internet the last couple of days trying to figure out HOW I'm going to learn this. I don't really want to go somewhere-like a little shop that has classes; well I take that back actually I DO want to do that but have NO time between working a full time job, a part-time job and raising a two year old adorable little boy. So I have to find other ways to learn and it has to fit in my schedule and there might be days or (God Forbid!) weeks or so where I may not get to my sewing machine so I need everything to PAUSE until I can get back to it. I started looking at Sewing Books...there are tons out there including The Complete Idiot's Guide to Sewing; Sewing for Dummies, Sewing With Grandma,... you get the idea. I actually looked through a bunch of books and nothing really jumped out at me like "OH THIS LOOKS SIMPLE!"  I did some more searching and somehow, somewhere (divine intervention, perhaps) I came across THIS SITE and I think my days of floundering are over.

It's an ONLINE HOME-ECONOMICS class! A work at your own pace kind of class! A stop and go as you please kind of class! It never expires! No one's there to pressure me!! I love it already and I haven't even started! You have to pay for it, it's $50.00 BUT it never expires, so once you pay your $50.00 and get the password to get into the actual "classroom" blog you will have access forever! FOREVER!! The class includes 27 step-by-step projects, each project is a little more difficult than the last and features a new skill that you will learn! It even promises to make me creative! Like create my own stuff creative! I'm not totally convinced this is possible...but I guess we'll see!!

I cannot WAIT to get started (I hate waiting!). Ugh however I have a huge road block in my way... my !@%#$& craft room! I wish I would have never taken THIS picture because now I am obsessed with making-over my craft area in our basement. There's really two problems with it the way that it is now. The first problem is that really I originally fixed up the basement so my son could have a playroom....slowly I'm taking it over with my "stuff" and that's not fair to him...oh and it makes our basement look like it could be on an episode of "Hoarders".  The second problem is that since I'm taking up most of his play area I clearly don't have enough room for my "stuff"! So...the obvious solution to this would be to move all my stuff over to the OTHER side of the basement and organize myself over there. Sigh. That's going to be a lot of work!! In order to move everything to the other side of the basement the perfectionist side of me has to make sure that I have all my ideas/plans "just right" before I get started moving over there. Sigh. First things first I have to make a craft table, yes you heard me right- have.to.! I need a table to stand at so I can cut and measure and other "stuff", this is non-negotiable...one has to be there for this to work out. I found some great ideas on pinterest. The idea I got my husband to agree on was purchasing two bookshelves and a piece of plywood to look make something that looks similar to this: 

So clearly I need to do ALL of this before I can truly START my home ec class. So I found the two bookshelves I want to purchase for like $30.00 each at Walmart, BUT of course they are only available online so that means I have to order and wait...I HATE WAITING!! I have no patience, I do not wait. I think things through but then once I've made up my mind it's go time. My husband on the other hand is an "yea that's a good idea" but there is no pep in his step to get it done.I haven't bothered him too much yet because I'm still trying to finalize the plans in my head. Do you have ideas for me??? Please share them!! I need to get this done and get started with my home-ec class!!

The Art of Learning how to Sew

http://0.tqn.com/d/sewing/1/0/a/G/2/learn2sewprintouts.jpg

I'm not sure what is happening to me. Maybe it's a mid-life crisis?? Maybe I'm finally realizing that I do have a home-maker feminine side??? I was actually talking with a friend about this recently as she is going through the same thing. I've never been overly interested in the fine art of home-making. I never liked cooking, I only cleaned because I like a clean house, and anything else domestic? No thanks! Until probably about two months ago or so. It's like suddenly I kind of enjoy cleaning and organizing my things so I know where they are when I want them, and apparently I've decided that I want to be Martha Stewart (well...ok let's not go that far; she's had a rough couple of years recently). I haven't really even decided yet if I'm actually "good" at anything that has to do with homemaking, but so far I have really enjoyed learning how to sew....and also talking with people about sewing. It's weird, but in a good way...I think.

Let's talk about cleaning. My favorite day of the week is Sunday. Partly because I work two jobs and this is my only day off and mostly because I get to spend the day with my little boy! So a relaxing Sunday used to be laying in bed or on the couch all day watching Lifetime movies, well then I had a baby so that came to a halt pretty quickly. After having Riley my favorite way to spend a Sunday was to google and girgle at him all day and get nothing done. For some odd reason my favorite way to spend a Sunday now is doing laundry and other misc. cleaning while Riley bums around "helping" me or just running around the house. It's like the perfect mix of interaction with him and productiveness.

For Christmas I got a sewing machine from my mom. This has opened completely new worlds for me and I just can't learn fast enough!! I've learned a few universal rules about the (internet) sewing world, here they are:
Rule #1. Every novice starts with pin cushion and as they learn move up to a handbag....it's like a right of passage. If you don't make these things you're not a "true" sew-er! :)
Pictured below is my right of passage:


The pin cushion thread catcher! Ta-da! It took two tries but success feels great no matter how many times you have to start over!! This brings me to the next rule

Rule #2.Everyone in the crafty/sewing community is SO NICE! I think I'm used to the world of academia where you better watch what you say and think so that you're not plagiarizing a thought or idea that someone else has already had. This is soooo false in the craft world! All the blogs sort of link back to each other and people are practically begging you to take their ideas...and then send them pictures once you have! I love that!! And now I will give you the LINK to find this pin cushion thread catcher craft to try for yourself! Here it is: Pin Cushion Thread Catcher Tutorial  I will also shamelessly share a link back to my OWN blog where I talk about my first attempt at the pin cushion: Anyone Can Be Crafty, Right?

Rule #3.You pretty much need to have a craft room, be thinking about a craft room, planning and organizing a craft room in order to be a super-crafter.

While on the topic of a craft room, I would like to talk about mine. You see I was super proud of my craft area until I took a picture of it the other day! Now I'm mortified!!
Here's sort of what I imagined it looking like:

http://housetohome.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/96%7C00000c18c%7C3993_sewing-machine-4.jpg

Uhh, here's the harsh reality:

I'm so embarrassed! That is painful to look at!!! Some please call A&E and turn me in to that Hoarders show! Send a clean up crew. Yes, I am definitely going to have to do SOMETHING with this area. Any ideas are welcomed!! 

Ok lets move on, quickly!

Rule #4: Masking tape and painter's tape are a MUST for beginning sew-ers! I cannot cut or sew in a straight line to save my life!! I read a blog on Prudent Baby to use tape to help you sew straight. So I put a long piece of masking tape on my sewing machine at the seam line I'm using and suddenly I CAN sew straight to actually save my life!! Same with cutting fabric. Well part of cutting fabric goes under rule #5, however it's important for you to know that putting masking tape on the end of the fabric helps keep your lines straight while cutting as well.

Rule #5: You have to make PATTERNS for things, don't free-lance!

So with my first pin cushion attempt I just measured and cut all the pieces separately. This I believe is part of the reason it did not turn out! None of the pieces I cut matched up! I complained about this to my mother who said she couldn't just cut without a pattern and she suggested I go to a fabric store and purchase one of those Simplicity kits that comes with a pattern. I had my little heart set on making THIS particular project though and the next day she called and said I could just measure out and make my own pattern!! Brilliant! So, I used computer paper and my beloved masking tape to make these patterns for my second attempt at the pin cushion:

This was a life saver! I cut everything a lot faster and my project turned out great! Thanks, Mom! Side note: I put the masking tape all the way around the pattern, for some reason having that on the edge prevented me from getting off course and cutting the actual pattern, I'm literally worse than a preschooler when I don't have a guide. It's bad.

So, my next project that I'm currently doing is top secret because IF it turns out it will be a gift for a friend. BUT I will FOR SURE be addressing the craft room issue again soon!

Anyone can be crafty, right??

Anyone can be crafty, right?? Mmmm, I'm not convinced. Crafts, particularly sewing actually runs on both sides of my family! My mom sews, my grandma enjoyed sewing, I have many aunts who like to sew...so I should be a natural. I think that is what is so frustrating! For Christmas I asked my mom for a sewing machine, nothing fancy just something simple. I even suggested she get one of those little ones located in the girls area of the toy section. My mom went on a hunt and found me the simplest (adult) sewing machine out there. I've mastered the whole threading, winding the bobbin, etc. So after mastering that I was ready for my first project. I went to trusty old Pinterest.com to see what I could find. I came across a website called  http://www.prudentbaby.com/  they had a list of all the things a "beginner" sewer needs and then this really neat and so-called "easy" project to try. The pin cushion/thread holder, even as I type it I can fee my body tense up with frustration. You can find a step-by-step guide to the project here: http://www.merrimentdesign.com/pincushion-thread-catcher.php.
The first night went well and I completed the pin cushion and two straps:


Night #2, completed the bag:


Night 3 is where it all went wrong!!! I was trying to sew the lining into the bag and I ended up with a horrendous mess which I then tried to fix by hand-sewing which also didn't work....oh the horror.

So I got some different fabric and I'm going to start fresh...Wish me luck!