::Happy Weekend::

Hi, there everyone!  I know we are happily plugging through our weekend and it is sadly half over!  Today has been an amazing, busy day.

First thing this morning, I popped over to the European Market in my town and picked up these lovelies.  What a start to the day!  I also sat down for a homemade donut and cup of coconut flavored coffee in a budding coffee shop.  I just love small-town living.  And I did feel a bit "European" waltzing through town with my bouquet of flowers.  It's almost been exactly one year since our family vacay overseas and I am missing Europe!!

This afternoon, I trekked to Chicago for my fourth sewing class.

I was only one of two students in the class and it was very nice for the class to be so small.  I didn't have to share an ironing board! [ha!]  This little wristlet has definitely been the most challenging of the classes I have taken so far.  I need to make another one [stat!] before I forget the tricks and tips I learned in class.

It has a nice strap for carrying.

And I love that floral lining.  Look at those pockets! Fancy-shmancy.  I had originally picked out a different fabric to use for this wristlet.

But I made this bag ------- ^ this week and fully intended to put it into the shop.  However, I made a minor error in constructing and don't feel fully confident in selling it.  So I will enjoy it for however long it lasts.  Now I have a matching set perfect for summer!

Speaking of summer, the weather man is telling us it will be warm tomorrow.  I think that is one of the reasons I am so tired right now.  I am freeeeeeeeeeezing cold!

One last look at that lining.  Looooooooove it!!

Have a wonderful Sunday!
Rebecca

::squaring up fabric::

I took Home Ec class when I was in eighth grade but I promise I was one of the worst students ever!

Now, that I've taken a few sewing classes in Chicago, I [love] to sew!  One of the best benefits to taking a sewing class is learning simple tricks that will make the finished product the best it can be.

One important thing I have learned is squaring up fabric.

It's really easy.  Just line up the edges of your cut fabric up to a straight edge [table, ruler, rotary cutting mat] and make sure the edges are square.

Here is how my fabric looked this morning:

Not only did I have to square up the fabric, I sliced a bit off with the rotary cutter.  :)

To get your fabric looking all square like this, you have to stretch gently to "pull" the fabric the direction it needs to go.

Now it's all squared up!

What are your thoughts on this?  Do you square up your fabric?

I had never heard the term until I took that sewing class and I'm so glad that I did!

One more thing....I will be sending out a newsletter for my shop today, HEY!

Do you want to receive it?

Click here!

Happy Tuesssssssssssssday!

::nautical and nice::

Just added to the shop!

A nice punch of yellow and white stripes!

Check it out here!

Happy Thursday!

::new tote bag::

I took my third sewing class at the end of March.  The teacher that taught this class is nothing short of amazing!  I had the opportunity to take my first class under her, as well.  She is patient, organized, and super-duper talented.

I know, I know, I know there are tons of small businesses in the handmade world that make tote bags.  I understand that.  However, as I work to target my local community, I want to add tote bags to my shop.

My absolute favorite type of fabric to work with is home decor fabric.  I love the weight and feel of it.  It's great to sew with and makes the product sturdy.

The outside fabric of this bag is home decor fabric and the inside is a cute patterned cotton fabric, probably a quilting weight.

And, the bag stands up on its own!! Making this tote bag in the sewing class blew me away.  It was of a much better quality and design than I had anticipated sewing. 

I hope to offer these bags soon.  Hopefully, the sales associate for this particular fabric company that I have been trying to get in touch with will either return my call or email me back. [cross my fingers!!!]

I love taking this bag to work.  Here are a few things I typically carry with me on a daily basis:  my Indie Biz notebook, lotion, wet wipes, a snack, and tissues.  Waaaaaay exciting!!  :)

Have a fabulous Tuesday, everyone!  I am checking things off my to-do list like nobody's business.  It feels so good to have a productive day + it is sunshining outside.  BONUS!!!

::alterations::

Ah! My first alterations order is d-o-n-e!!

This was the perfect first alterations job.  They were used work pants that needed a little hemming.

Seriously, that stack of pants probably weighs ten pounds.  My poor little machine had to work hard.

Two different sets of needles [microtex and denim] and three broken needles later, I am happy to return this order to the owners today.

Experience is priceless, I say.  What a fantastic opportunity to learn!

See, I've been busy.  Sorry there has been no posting here...

Happy Thursday, everyone!

::three in one::

Here goes three blog posts wrapped into one.

First of all.....Scripture memorization. How goes it? Just o....k....! I basically have the first two sections of eight verses memorized [what is each section called....I missed most of the Sunday school lessons on Psalm 119]. While I am not as far along in my mega memory month goal as I would like, I am memorizing and that is a good thing.

Secondly...I made my third pillow tonight.  I whipped it out like nothin' doin'.  haha!!  It feels so good to sew.  Now that I'm getting the hang of using my machine, I feel like simple pillow covers are too blah and boring.  I need to spice them up a bit.  Yay for progress!  I'm also looking into taking a second class over at my favorite sewing and fabric store.  Can. Not. Wait. 

Thirdly....my thankful list.


411. plenty of time this week to work
412. snow, snow, snow
413. laughter, homemade soup, and conversation around the dinner table with the family
414. a check in the mail for unused things sold on Ebay through a local store
415. green lights when I am in a hurry [never under-estimate them]
416. Oma is feeling better [one round of chemo down, five more to go]
417. my Momma [love her]
418. an email from a missionary friend [halfway across the world in Zambia]
419. a lower estimate and the price being approved to get the bumper fixed [I never blogged about my fender bender, did I??]
420. psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs

Happy Monday, friends...

::oh boy::

To start off this post, I must say that Christmas was wonderful.  It was very low-key but it was good.  To start on Christmas Eve, we went downtown for dinner.  Then Christmas morning, I sleeeeeeeeept iiiiiiiiiiiiiin.  We are not an "early bird" family but we also don't sleep in much.  I was pleasantly surprised that no one had woke me up by 9:45am.  So I was the last one up.  We had devotions together, ate breakfast, opened our gifts, and got ready to go see my little Granny.  By this time, it was after 1pm.  We spent time there, had dinner at 4:30 and then just chilled.  It was great.

Yesterday, was my first day off in I-can't-remember-when.  If I'm not cleaning in the morning, I still have my nanny job. Well, I didn't have to work at all yesterday.  So I decided to finish making a second pillow to match the one I already had.  Well, a very, very long story made so very, very short is that I got a new sewing machine yesterday.  I used my Christmas money and an early birthday present from my parents.  [Very early.....squeak....we're weird like that!]

I didn't know a sewing machine could be so a-mazing.  As I left the quaint, little shop, the proprietor said, "Happy Sewing!"  I didn't know that was possible!  So I am thanking the Lord for His direction yesterday and praying for new opportunities to open!

::the whole she-bang::

 ::buttons::

 ::more buttons::

Happy Tuesday!

::an amazing day::

Saturday was an amazing day. In this post, I mentioned that I found a store that offered sewing classes.

W-E-L-L.

I went to a class on Saturday.  Out of all my little ventures that I have made the past few years, my instructor on Saturday was the nicest and most helpful.  She started at the very beginning [here is the "on" switch for the sewing machine] but never made one feel silly for asking a question or not knowing how to do the simplest task on the sewing machine.  Awesome.

I bought some cheap-ish fabric hurriedly Friday night at Wal-Mart.  While I was waiting for the class to start, I ended up buying new material for my project.  [I'm so glad I did.]

I'm serious, in my opinion, fabric choice is at least 50% of the success of a project.  This material is incredible.

Okay.  So here's my pillow.  I am not patting myself on the back [yet] because a)_I did this project with a helpful instructor close at hand and b)_the material is fabulous.

After class, I marched right back upstairs and purchased another 1/2 yard of the same fabric which forces me to make another one [and soon]. 

::the bigger picture::

::the zipper--not bad for a beginner::

::an up-close and personal view of the brown bird::

::the perky little corner::

I have never been so excited about sewing in my life.  So we need to get our sewing machine fixed pronto so that I can whip up another pillow before I forget what I learned.  And I plan to take another class there.  Whoop!