Wednesday, February 29, 2012

It has been a long time...

Sorry it has been so long since my last blog.  Things have been busy - not really sure doing what, but busy. 

We arrived home from Hawaii at the beginning of February and it took about a week to get back on schedule.  But we are now back on schedule and thriving!

My newest adventure has been sewing.  I received a wonderful sewing machine for Christmas from my husband...believe it or not, it was on my list.  I have never touched a sewing machine before.  I grew up with my mother sewing; she would make all of our Halloween costumes, home decor items and other fun stuff.  She did amazing projects.  But I never learned how to sew or anything about sewing machines.  In fact, once I received my Christmas gift, I was a bit stuck as to what to do with it.  I was really excited to learn, but I needed SUPER basic instruction, so I bought the book "Sewing for Dummies" and figured I would start there.  I took my new book over to Black Butte and tried to read as much as I could, but I did not have my machine with me to physically play with it, so it was pretty dry reading.  Plus at this point in time, I was actually afraid to even turn on the machine for the fear I would break it. 

Right before we left for Hawaii, my friend Dawn Marie took me to JoAnn's Fabrics and showed me everything that I was going to need for a sewing kit.  She was so patient and took me aisle by aisle and we picked out great sewing accessories.  The best part was they were having a 50% off all notions (stuff you need for sewing), so I saved a bunch of money.  We also bought fabric for my first sewing project...a pillow case - or rather two pillow cases - one for Tommy and one for Morgan.  Then we came back to my house and Dawn Marie took me through my machine, step-by-step and I learned all about how to wind bobbins and how to thread my machine.  Then she taught me how to do the first pillowcase.  I did Tommy's pillowcase first...if you can't tell it has a "Go Ducks" theme.

Tommy, Dawn Marie and my sewing machine displaying the first sewing project!

Then Dawn Marie left and I was left to my own devices on Morgan's pillowcase.  I never did get a good picture of it, but here is Morgan lounging on the finished product.  She liked it!

Morgan with the pillowcase I did solo.
Upon my return from Hawaii, Dawn Marie and I took another trip to JoAnn's Fabrics because patterns were on sale.  Of course, I could not help myself and I purchased about 12 patterns.  Mostly dresses and a few crafts - as well as my next project pajama pants for both kids. 

Before we left for Hawaii, some of the ladies from Tommy's preschool and I had set-up a sewing date.  We wanted to get together and work on projects as well as (for me) get help on projects - since I had no idea how to sew from a pattern.  The Thursday night before our sewing date, we met at JoAnn's so the ladies could help me find fabric and purchase all that I needed for my PJ projects.  They also bought stuff for their projects, but I was so thankful they were there with me because I had no idea what I was doing.

Then we had our sewing date.  It was awesome!  Joy, Amy, Jana and Dawn Marie all came over and we had a great time.  Joy made a whale, Amy made napkins, Jana and Dawn Marie helped me with my pajama pants for Tommy and I sewed from my first pattern.  I learned how to line up the pattern pieces, cut out the pieces, follow the pattern instructions and sew Tommy's pajama pants.

Tommy's unhemmed pajama pants.
I then spent the whole next day making Morgan's pajama pants...I even "gathered" which made the ruffles at the bottom of Morgan's pajama pants.  I had to read how to "gather" in my "Sewing for Dummies" book.

Yes they are a little large!


Then this past Sunday I worked on Morgan's pajama top.  Thanks to Grandma Jan who came up to visit us for the day, I was able to put it all together and finish it.  It was so fun!  I even did button holes and buttons with the sewing machine!  It was awesome.





So all in all, not that you cannot tell, I love my new hobby.  It is so fun and I feel such a feeling of accomplishment when I finish a project.  So thank you so much to my husband who bought me the lovely sewing machine and thank you to Dawn Marie who has guided me through the entire process.

Cheers to a new hobby and I can't wait for my next project (hopefully a dress for Miss Morgan:))!

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