The Gift That Keeps on Giving

For my birthday two months ago I received a new to me sewing machine and some cash to learn how to use it. Well, learn how to reuse it.

Back in high school I took a home ecomonics class--one semester of cooking, the other was sewing. I made two pieces of clothing that year during class. Five or six years later I tried my hand at it again and failed miserably!

Seventeen years later I am giving it a third shot. And I am really enjoying it this time around! It has been so fun looking at patterns (free ones online are the best) and fabrics. There is even a small group I have started sewing with once a month. LilE loves that I am making things for her. She just lights up everytime I show her something new.

Now for a look at what I have been accomplishing around my house.

My first project. You can read all the details of what I did HERE. (Including tutorials)

Since I could make the cutie pants, I figured I could probably handle a straight line. My bathroom was in need of a makeover (see before pics HERE). A couple of curtains help hide all our junk. Now I need to work on decorating.

SERIOUSLY, the colors are the same in person--the flash on high gloss paint makes it look nasty!

Remember, you are looking at the awesome curtain!

I also made LilE a larger hooded towel. I had one a friend made for me and I just copied it.

I quickly learned that pins are hard to use in a teeny box. So I whipped up this fun pin cushion using scraps from the ruffle pants.

LilE likes to push all the pins into the cushion.

On the first night with the girls we made this skirt. LilE wore it all weekend. Seriously. (But not with this matching top. It was a pink striped shirt. Classy.)

Kama made me a Crayon Roll Up a while back. I thought I would give it a try. I used THIS tutorial. Love it! And super easy!

The lady at one of the sewing stores in town says once you make something once, you should make it again within two weeks so you will remember how to do it (especially for beginners like me). On the second girls sew night we made another pair of ruffled pants. LilE loved her new Christmas pants so much she asked if she could wear them to school the next day. Only three more weeks until she can!