Project Announcement for week of Mar. 1st!

OK, so the project for next week is...a table runner! I am so excited to start this project, and I plan on each Monday of the week being my kick-off for new projects. I had been pondering, looking, and browsing the Internet, as well as sewing books just to get some ideas of what my next project would be. I feel confident that this project will be easy, but also beautiful!

The project comes from Craft Stylish, and is supposed to be an easy table runner for the holidays. Well, it's not the holidays, but I still thought I could make a runner to be used on my breakfast room table since this particular table is bare, give or take a few placemats.

I have some home dec fabric that I am digging out to prepare for this project, and I will post an update of how things are going with the project every two to three days. I think I will finish the project before the week is over, yet I will reveal all my finished projects (and provide a review) by Sunday. Then, the new project for the week will be announced on Monday.

Well, I hope you followed all of that! This post is mainly a way for me to have a written plan as to what I am doing, and also for you to have an expectation from this blog. I would love for anyone that wants to sew along with me this week to jump right in! Besides, you have a week! And maybe we might even be able to help each other figure the project out! On the other hand, if you would much rather wait to see how the project comes together for me, that is perfectly fine, too.

Until next time, stay sew filled!

Photo of the pillow cover I sewed with my niece

Here is the pic I promised of the pillow I sewed with my niece! It is an envelope pillow, which means it has a flap that opens on the back so it can be washed if it gets dirty. I got the idea from Crafty Gemini's blog and video on making an envelope pillow cover, and her instructions were super easy to follow! The pillow took about 1.5 hours to make start to finish, and that is only because I mistakenly measured the back piece. I think it is a great idea for a 1st project, and there is a pillow form inside of the pillow. Sorry I don't have a photo of the back of the pillow, the picture quality was not as good as this pic is.

Let's get it started!!

I am so excited to be starting this blog, and let me tell you why:

I am one of those people who loves browsing the Internet, bouncing from site to site, and reading all those interesting blogs out there. I am particularly drawn to blogs about sewing. Sigh! Where do I begin? My relationship with sewing has been one of love and hate. The days of love come from actually finishing a project, while the days of hate come from ultimate frustration experienced while at my sewing machine! Either way, I am so drawn in to sew, yet a little bit wary to do so also.

Until now, that is!

My change of heart developed mostly this past weekend when my nieces came to visit. My oldest niece, at age 7, has been waiting for me to sew her a dress since she was at least 5 years old. I just didn't have the heart to start a dress for her until I could be sure that I could do one well. So instead of giving her another excuse as to why I was not done with her dress, I told her I would help her sew a pillow instead.

She was so excited, and I let her pick out her own fabric (the equivalent of an army uniform, but it was pink instead of green) and we got to work washing and pressing the fabric. When all was said and done, I even let her sew the seams for one of the sides of the pillow. It was wonderful! She learned something, and my heart stirred to continue with a craft that I had put away for a while.

In the meantime, I have never lost my desire to sew. I just got so frustrated, and probably too ambitious with my project choices. I do so love to admire all the sewing blogs out there, yet I have not found one yet that is created by a beginner sewer like me--a person who can sometimes get lost in the pattern envelope terminology, and the instructions.

Well, that is my inspiration for creating this blog!

I want to divulge the good and the bad of sewing. The days I get it wrong, and the days I get it right. My plan is to sew one beginner project a week, building on my skills, until I am able to get quite proficient. After sewing my project, I will provide pictures and a review of how difficult the project really was to sew. It is my hope that this will help other people that are starting (or re-starting) their journey with sewing. My reviews will always be honest, and my recommendations will be too. I invite any feedback from any of you, and I would love to get to the point where my readers can sew along.

So, sit back, relax, be inspired, laugh, unwind, smile, and be prepared to be sew filled!

*BTW, I will add photos of the project my niece and I did soon!