Crafty weekend: Finished bird project and paper flowers

I finished the bird project! It's pretty cute. I had some issues hanging it since I didn't think out the logistics of hanging something that is top heavy. But as long as no one breaths on it, it should hold the proper position. (The bird patterns and idea came from Spool Sewing.)

Since I had a few extra birds, I added this guy to the mix.

I also created what I like to call the wave of happy flowers. (Don't mind the crafty clutter and the prehistoric ironing board.) I'm not 100% on the design, but it works for now. Yellow flowers make me happy.

Super successful crafty weekend. I guess that's what you get when you take Friday off and watch daytime television while getting your crafty butt in gear. (Sidenote: the Regis and Kelly Halloween show was HILARIOUS!)

Adventures in sewing: The birds are DONE

The birds are done! The birds are done!

I still don't have the rest of the supplies I need to complete the whole bird project that's in my head, but I have 10 complete birds. Go me! (Some of them need a little cosmetic surgery, but I'll get around to that, or I'll just accept them as imperfect and be happy with that - I'm thinking option two.)

Old pictures and mason jars

When my parents came to visit, they dropped off a few boxes of what they like to call "my stuff." I prefer to call it "mementos of my youth that they saved over the years and don't know what to do with." I now have quite a collection pictures, awards, drawings, certificates, trophies, news clippings, etc. Great. More boxes of stuff that I feel obligated to keep.

But I do have to say that some of the pictures gave me a good laugh and inspired me to want to actually do something with them (at least for the moment). So I took a tip from Young House Love and A Beautiful Mess and used some mason jars to come up with a little display. I love the idea, but I'm not completely happy with the way I have them set up, so I need to work on that (and don't mind the inspirational quotes plastered to the fridge).

Here are some of the images up close (and some that aren't in the jars).

 

  

I would like a sewing machine…and to learn how to sew

I’m all about the handmade craze that’s taking over the country! And I always find fun projects that I would like to do, but I have to cross a lot of them off the would-like-to-do list because I don’t have a sewing machine and I don’t know how to sew. It makes me sad. On top of that, I’m forever hemming pants by hand (which takes hours because I’m really slow and get distracted easily), stitching up dog toys in the hopes of preserving their lives, fixing seams, etc. and I think all of that would be a lot easier — and look a lot better — if I had a sewing machine and knew how to sew. I know what I want for Christmas!

This leads to another thought I’ve been having (for probably almost a decade): very few people have handmade pieces to pass along to family and friends. Handmade goods were a dying art form and I’m beyond thrilled that they’re making a comeback! Now I just need to learn a few more crafty skills and become part of that comeback! I have a quilt that my Dad’s mom made and I use it on my bed every winter. My mom made me a flower girl dress, first communion dress, Easter dresses, parachute pants (thankfully I’ve out grown that phase of my life), Halloween costumes, dolls, etc. Yet somehow I managed to be sewing/knitting/crocheting/quilting challenged. As noted previously, I did have a little foray into knitting, but it stalled. And I was making jewelry for a while, but then I got a job — such is life.

I need to work on not getting overwhelmed by all the things I want to do! I don’t even have a sewing machine and I already have a list of projects (sewing and non-sewing) that I want to accomplish. I need to formulate a plan.

Step 1. Get a sewing machine (or at least start saving up for one)!

I’m now accepting donations. :)