You know I had a post planned all out but I can’t seem to remember what it was. But in other news here are some pictures of recent projects finished.

The Baby Blanket

And a wallet for my mom:

So the wallet is way bigger than the ones I’ve been doing, and it didn’t come out just like I wanted it too. But nevertheless my mom loved it and as soon as I gave it to her she started switching things over. I bet you can guess the theme I was going for…Neapolitan ice cream. I know the teddy bear fabric is not ice cream related but I put in there for three reasons 1) The colors worked with the brown, pink, and cream I used; 2) I didn’t want to have a solid color for the lining since I was using block colors for the details (plus I did want to piece together the lining like the exterior) and 3) I love the print and it’s a nice surprise when you open it up, you aren’t expecting this whimsical fabric. So I’ll be trying it again but not anytime soon I didn’t have the right kind of fleece which is why it ended up kind of off. On the plus side it’s very squishy!

The baby blanket came out pretty good, I think it’s a bit small but it’s just a decorative/top blanket so my mom said it’s a good size. I have to do some serious writing this week so I wont be doing in sewing. Plus the freelance work is starting to pile up.

 

You know what really bothers me? Is when someone can make assumptions about me and be so wrong. According to my Dad I have no ambitions and no plans for my life. I suck and I’m more than happy to be living with my parents, so his job as my father is to making me very uncomfortable because then I will be motivated to do something with my life. The sad thing is that’s not what bothers me, what bothers me is one he thinks I’m that lame, two he has never in my life asked me what I want to do with my life. How can you make assumptions about a person who you don’t know a damn thing about? Better yet how could have given life to someone, lived with them for 21 out of their 23 years of their life and not know them? But what’s really important how could I not know that I wasn’t that lame? I swear you learn something new everyday, so for those of you planning on being a parent someday. Your job as a parent is to be a total jackass, then your kids will grow up and want to do something with their life. Yeah, logic from a Baptist minister for you.

As you can see, I’m not taking what he said to heart, because one he didn’t say it to my face. And most importantly I know I’m not that lame and I know I have plans and right now I’m experiencing a major set back. Because five years ago a voice told a certain all knowing Baptist minister to quit a well paying job without any kinds of savings or backup plan a live off his wife who at the time had to go and find work, because she had been on disability for two years after being diagnosed with degenerate disc disease. Since that time I’ve given more than half my paycheck to my mom and all my savings that was earmarked to my future so I wouldn’t be where I am today. But then again I’m lame so that doesn’t count, in truth I planned this all out but I don’t make plans cause I’m lame.

In other news, I did do the bag for my mom, but it’s way to small for what it was meant for. So now I have to go and get some more fabric and make a bigger bag. She loved the way the first one came out and wants to carry it for personal reasons.Here’s some pics:

  

After I finished it my mom and I went to Walmart and I tested it out, it’s big enough for me and all my junk I cram into a purse and it held up. We then came home and my dad gave that little speech to my mom. I was kind of pissed because well I’m sure you can guess so I did what I always do when I’m pissed I organized. While we at Walmart I picked up some things for my growing sewing habit.

First a fabric container, yes it’s pink.

Before I had my fabric in piles on the counter:

 

But now they have a home!

Also got a container for my scraps:

A container to hold my tool things

 

But the coolest thing is the container for my buttons, I don’t have a empty shot but here’s some with it full:

 

 

I separated them in the ROY G BIV fashion and the neutrals in the back. Worked out pretty well. After all that I was mighty hungry so I fixed some pb&j tacos and was quite happy once again. I took pics of that too!

Just incase you can’t tell…I finally got some batteries for my camera!

As promised here are the pics from my recent sewing tries. It’s a image heavy post so sorry in advance!

I did myself another wallet, using the black flower fabric and the pink fabric. It turned out better than the one before. Both sides are evenly space, so the cards fit in just right and the dollar bill is amble enough. I didn’t use interfacing on it so it’s still a bit flimsy but I used it this weekend on the shopping trip and it worked fine. Since I rarely carry a purse when I’m not doing serious shopping, it fit right inside my pocket.

A shot with it closed

Opened and empty

and with my Christmasie cards!

After I came from the shopping trip with no new fabric I decided to use more of what I had. So I got the fabric that was originally meant for a dress I was going to make, I did this bag:

I had to make up the pattern because I wanted to see if I could. So I looked at some pictures of other purses and figured out a simple pattern and using some of the techniques from the “large purse” trail I came up with this. I love how it came out. I mean I really love it. The strap is the perfect length and it’s big enough to hold one of my writing tablets. I used some of my new buttons for decorations.

the button closure…I used a pony tail holder to create the loop.

the inside of the bag, don’t you just love that fabric? And I made the pocket, the slot on the left is big enough to hold a card or loose dollar bills, two pen/pencil slots and the slot on the right is big enough to hold other random things.

A detail shot of the back, I did a line of green around the top for decoration then did a “V” in the back to add interest. Here’s a picture to show the size or it, that’s a 9in x 7in notebook:

Then I did a wallet for Jen, cause she asked for one. She said she didn’t care what kind of fabric so I did a funky combination. I’m not sure the colors go…but I like it. I hope she does too…

A shot of it closed, it came out so much better than any of the one’s I’ve done before.

Opened

Dollar bill part, see I told you funky combination. Well you would think I was done but no. Remember how I said I can’t stand failure. Well the “large purse” ended up being a failure. The strap was too long, and one side started coming apart. I didn’t like that it was so long…nor that it did turn out right at the top. So I redid it. But this time I did a different style.

 Before                                                                     After!

I just used the same fabric. I didn’t cut any new pieces, just that for the inside, which is a different fabric. It’s smaller than the first one but it’s so freaking cute in real life. And because I reused the fabric the straps aren’t as long as I would have liked, they are long enough but I like mid-long straps, does that make sense? Here’s a detail shot:

I made the bow and the “ribbon” detail too. I’m going to hand stitch the bow some more just to reinforce it just a bit more.

A shot of it inside, it shuts with Velcro, I did a longer pocket this time. Here’s a shot with stuff in it:

I made slot just for my cell phone and also for my Chapstick. I always misplace my Chapstick…so I made a special spot for it in here. The pen actually fits but since I have it on the counter it’s pushing it up some, and that’s a 5in x 8in notebook, for comparison. They aren’t perfect but I’m so proud of them and that’s what matters right? And that’s it, I have to start on the bag for my mom, either tonight or tomorrow morning, then finish it after my interview. I’m kinda tired, plus I have to do this at the kitchen table, the chair in there is no where near comfortable…my butt is still numb.

This weekend I was able to get together with my friend Jen, and we went fabric shopping. Well we attempted to go fabric shopping. Since I’m still a newbie and learning the ropes, I’m not keen on spending a lot of money of fabric just yet (not to mention I’m still without a full time job). Well I usually buy my fabric samples at Wal-mart, because they usually have some good finds in their clearance pile. However the Walmart here that had a fabric section, did a major remodeling last year and they took that section out. The other one never had a fabric section to begin with. So we went to the Walmart in the next city over, I had the four projects in mind. The baby blanket, the bag that wasn’t a tote, the cap, and the quilted wallet. Plus I wanted to get some other random fabric just to have.

The first thing I noticed was I don’t know what’s a good amount of fabric to get when you don’t have a specific project in mind for it. Does anyone out there who sew have a good suggestion, how much do you usually get of random fabric? The second thing was Walmart clearance sucked this go around. So then I looked at the regular price items, because it’s still pretty cheap. Well I found some fabric for the baby blanket, that was a $1 a yard.

It’s a pooh looking bear (but not pooh), with a pink and tan plaid, I choose a maroon fabric to be the back and baby pink yarn for decoration. I was excited about that, mainly cause I had no prior idea of what I wanted. I know I wanted it to be girlie, because she’s have a girl.

Here’s the rest of the fabric…notice a trend? Yeah black and pink, it’s for a bag for my mom. I couldn’t decide which one to get some I got a half a yard of each. They were various prices, I think the highest was $2-$3 a yard. So I was kind of bummed with the choices, I tried to look for some boyish fabric, because my brother had asked for a wallet. But I didn’t find any I liked. Jen found some nice green shinny fabric for her hubby, who was with us for the firs half, she was only going to get four yards of it to make a shirt for him. Some how she walked away with 8 and 1/3 of it thanks to her husband. (He decided he wanted a pillow, a shirt and a quilt from the fabric, he’s no longer allowed to go with us fabric shopping.) They got their fabric cut while I was looking for mine. Then the lady walked away. I though she was still in the area, no. We had someone page her three times, and then after an hour of us standing there, the assistant manager came. Well he was not so nice and the other lady who was apparently working in that department showed up. She too wasn’t so nice. I was not happy with the Wal-mart after that experience.

I also got some tools that I needed as well, a seam ripper, some elastic, thread, d-rings, hand needles, and lots of buttons (they were a $1 a bag):

Well then we had lunch, and then we dropped her husband off at work. We then went to Joanns. I wasn’t to excited about any of the fabric there, and they are way to expensive to be not so excited about fabric to buy it. However I did score an awesome thing. I was looking at the interfacing. They were having a sale of non-fusible (you have to sew it on) and fusible ( iron on), well of course the fusible was more expensive at $5.99 a yard and up, and the non fusible was $1.99 and up. I wanted the fusible because I’m lazy like that. Well there was a thin bolt of interface that said it was damage and it was suppose to be $10.99/yd but to sell it for $1/yd. I was like what’s wrong with it? Jen said it’s wrinkled, so it’s damage, I was like well I’m getting it. She said it was non-fusible, but I was like it’s a $1, I’m still getting it. So I got 3yds of it, turns out it’s so fusible. I tried it on a whim and it was fusible. so I used it on part of the project I did yesterday (when I get batteries for the camera I’ll take pics).

In other news, I have a interview tomorrow for the IT department of our main library. I’m excited…pray for me!

Well after yesterday’s sewing adventures, I was even more determined to turn something out that I would be even more semi proud of. Well before I tell you what happen I must say this: I don’t know my measurements. Apparently having a college degree doesn’t equal knowing your measurements. I never realize how off I am on knowing what’s what? The whole time I was looking up for things to do I would come across things for 22″ of something but I would need two of it. I would say nope can’t do that I don’t have enough, I only have half a yard, but I was thinking was Nope can’t do that I don’t have enough, I only have half a yard which is just like half a foot which mean I only had 6 inches. Do you see the failure of my logic. I don’t know why I though I only had six inches worth of fabric when I could clearly see that it was more than six inches. So now that I have admitted my shame, let’s move on and never speak of this ever again.

So while my Dad borrow the laptop again so he could do some preliminary research for an interview on Friday (speaking of which everyone please keep him in mind, needless to say we REALLY need him to get a job.) I started got ready to do some sewing. Well first I woke up at 5 and print out instructions for the two projects I wanted to do, now that I knew I had enough fabric for. And then I washed my fabric, I didn’t do that yesterday cause I thought it would be okay since I was just practicing. Well after I washed all the fabric I was going to use I went ahead and ironed them. I suck at iron and I don’t actually remember the last time I ironed something I think it might have been about two years ago. Well then I sat down and started the first project. The wallet again. One thing you should know about me is that I hate failure and that OCD came rearing up. I could stand that fact that I had failed horrible and it was perfect ( a perfect failure I could half way stand ^_^)

Well this time I it turned out way better than before and is actually a wallet, it’s not perfect but it’s better. Pics:

this is it closed…the coloring is horrible, when I get batteries for my digital camera I’ll retake them and wont use my phone camera I promise. It’s an hot green and hot pink polka dot fabric and a plain beige fabric on the inside.

An inside view, sorry about the glare…

with a card inside

 

Inside the dollar bill part

Well like I said it’s not perfect in the second picture you can see how I messed up. I eyeballed the middle (when I should have just folded it and then sewed in the crease, lesson learned) so now the card slots are off. One side is way bigger than it needs to be and the other side is just right. I might remove the stitch and hand stitch the middle again or just stitch a second line and call it a day. Also I don’t like how it’s so wrinkling inside, but that’s just my ironing skills at work. I will be trying this most definitely again. It was actually pretty easy once I took my time and read the directions…and measured everything right

Well after this increase in success I was stoked to do project number two.

Well I found two tutes for a simple hobo looking bag, they were pretty much the same, but I used them both because one had better pictures and the other was clearer in words. Well I modified it out of necessary and want, it came out longer and skinner than I kinda of wanted but that’s okay, it works for me. Here are the pics (better pictures to come I promise)

So what’s next? Well I’m gonna take a break from sewing until I can get some more tools and what not…so I don’t know…

The other day my Dad borrowed my laptop to do my sister’s and my mom’s taxes (which reminds me I need to find where my W2 is). Well I needed to do something because I wasn’t sleepy so I couldn’t just take a nap. I didn’t feel like re-reading the limited books I have here. And nothing was on T.V. After about thirty minutes of starring into the void of space, I decided that wasn’t gonna do it. So I shuffled upstairs and started looking around for a random book to occupy my time. And guess what I came across, that little pink sewing machine I bought a year ago. I totally had forgotten about it.

Here’s a pic to remind you of it:

And that remind me of all the fabric that I had bought at random times of that year…

And my head started thinking…hmm…The other thing was I still didn’t know how to sew…plus a lot of the sewing tool thingys were missing thanks to my brother and is asinine need to mess with other peoples stuff. AND I only had a half a yard of each fabric, not much to work with. So I sat there for another hour and half starring into the void of space again. Well then my Dad finished with my laptop so I did a quick search for beginners’ projects. And came up with some good ones, one I don’t have enough fabric for (1/2 yard short) and the other I need a few more inches of at least two of them, plus something called interface, bias tape among other things (missing my seam ripper). Well I did find a tute for a simple fabric wallet that didn’t call for much fabric. So I tried it and it came out horrible. Why? I didn’t measure it right, I didn’t have a ruler so I used one of my tape measures ( I have three of those for some reason). Then I forgot to put in the lining fabric. But then my sister brought over her full size machine that she gave to me, cause she too hadn’t used hers for over a year. Well I tried it again…and again it was horrible…but this time I figured out how to re thread the machine all by my lonesome…and Jess can confessed to how I bulked at doing that on her machine. And I even did the bobbin thingy by myself. Well around 3 something in the morning I was still hacking away at the machine…and I came up with I was just gonna sew stuffs…so I made a bag out of some scrap material and a old night shirt I had that had shrunk in the machine a year or so ago. Here’s a pic or two..

it’s blurry cause I took it with my phone and the kitchen part I was in has those halogen lights…hard and harsh. Well it took me three hours and I was so (semi) proud of it. The straps came from a pink terry robe that I don’t use cause it’s too short. Well then I decided to use the rest of the pink fabric cause I used most of it on the wallet…and some blue silky fabric scraps had in a box and came up with this…

Here’s a close up..

I have the rest of my fabric samples inside…what you can’t see on this blurry pic is that the blue fabric is the wrong side…I got confused around 7 in the morning. On the other side the top part where the pink and the blue come together I sewed it the wrong way so the edges can be seen. The blue fabric was very hard to work with, cause it’s satin-silk type and it wanted to slip and slide the whole time. I also think the tension was to high cause you can see it puckering and what not (I learned that from Project Runway.)

I’m going to try and do some more sewing…I have a project I want to do for my cousin, his baby-mama-to-be is having her baby shower next month and since it’s the first great grandchild it’s kind of special occasion. Plus this way the fabric I bought for that dress I never made will be used for something. I think I have 2 yards of it, maybe more since Jess told me to get more than I would need.

If there’s anyone out there with a good sewing blog or info on beginners tutes and what nots please share!