Day 68: Project Runway

I am a fan of Project Runway.  I am not a big fan of reality T.V. but I like this show.  I think it is mostly to see someone else's creative process and how it evolves in such a short amount of time.  Right now season 10 is on and tonight's episode they are designing for children.  Awesome!  Heidi Klum gave them baby dolls to take care of while they work and also to help inspire their designs to still be functional. HA!  I love it.  It is making me laugh but also showing how difficult it can be to be creative while taking care of your little ones.  I am a stay at home mom right now and I love it.  At times when I want to be creative it can be very difficult.  I am one of those people who love alone time to be creative, especially when I am on fire. This is not something that is easy to accomplish when you have little ones around.  I am not always creative during nap time.  Inspiration and drive can hit me at anytime during the day. I want my kids to be first, which means my creative ideas get put on the back burner, at least until they are teenagers and no longer interested in my attention. (That will be a very sad day for me.)  This is the main reason I use patterns and such while crafting.  I only have so much time in the day and as much as I would LOVE to spend all of my time being creative and crafty, that just isn't a reality.  So if you haven't seen Project Runway, or are a big fan, and have little ones at home I recommend this episode.  No, today I didn't get a project done.  I did get another few steps complete on a quilt for my daughter though.  This design is a mix between what I have in my stash, my four year old's wishes and my tiny bit of creative input.  Humm... this will be interesting to see how it turns out!

Day 66: Dr. Seuss Quilt

Finally!  I have completed the Dr. Seuss quilt! 

Here's the back!

 

Too bad I bought the fabric and started sketching before I realized there was a cute quilt pattern out there already!  No worries, I like to make things more challenging!  I first bought the Cat in the Hat panel and six fat quarters of the fabrics I liked the best.  Then I sketched it out.  After I knew how big the blanket was going to be and what other fabrics I would need to complete the design, I went back to the quilt store to get the other fabrics.  Unfortunately they were out of most of the great fabrics, just remnants left.  That is why I ended up using two different patterns for the back.  I think I goes with the vibrant colors of the quilt! Right now I am still trying to figure out how to best do this Blogger thing, otherwise I would post more pics.  I just can't seem to get them right.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 63: Wine Cork Crafts

Today my friend Nicky and I went to a charity craft event. Awesome! Wish I could do things like this more often.  We made wine cork crafts with a group called Acts of Kindness.  They will sell the crafts to raise money for the Aid for AIDS of Nevada.  What a great way to give back to the community!  Nicky found the meeting through a website called Meetup.com. I think I'll be researching more to find out if there are other craft projects I can make for local charities! Below I am going to post some quick little photos I took of the projects I made.

 

 

Day 62: Motivation

Motivation is a funny thing.  I love to craft but sometimes you need a break from even the things you love doing, not just the dishes.  Last week I wasn't feeling well and crafting was at the bottom of the to do list.  I took this time to remember why I am doing this challenge.  It wasn't to make a craft every single day.  It was to use what I have and stop spending my free time at the stores buying more.  So I am reflecting on what I want to get out of the next year.

• Complete projects
• Don't buy supplies for more/new projects
• Get craft room organized

Even though I was taking a bit of a break, I did still keep working.  I have a quilt I have almost completed.  I feel as though instead of creating and completing big projects like quilts, I was spending any free time trying to rush and finish little daily projects that aren't high on my priority list. 

I am taking the advice of one of my friends and I have made a jar to save up money for when I am 365 days complete. (303 more days to go!) By the end of the year I should have at least 365 dollars to spend on crafts, a dollar for every day I didn't buy new supplies.  This way I won't feel guilty when I go on a craft supply binge.  Hopefully I will feel proud of my accomplishment.

My jar to save money in. Pretty cheesy but I didn't need anything fancy!

Day 56: Date night

This is one of thise days were I am just not going to get a craft done. Although most of my friends know how much if an avid crafter I am. That's why even though I am out on the town I still found time to work in a little craft time. I helped a friend change turn a photo into a magnet. I will not however post the picture as it may offend people. ;) I hope everyone is having a great Saturday night!

Day 55: Put together a bed

Today was one of those days when you don't feel sick, but you also don't feel quite right. I never nap, but today I napped on the couch instead of being productive. I feel pretty guilty about it, but I usual only nap if I'm sick. Although I loved napping when I was pregnant, but who doesn't? I did run several ideas through my head of what projects I wanted to be doing. I have two on my list that I am going to research patterns for tonight instead of sleeping. Afterall, I did nap all afternoon! ;)
Once my husband got home from work he brought with him our daughter's new bed. So I am claiming this as my craft for the day. Afterall we did have to assemble it after carrying the heavy pieces up the stairs. Here's a picture of it being put together.

Day 54: Quilt Top

Today I sewed together a Jelly Roll into a quick and easy quilt top!  Thank you to my friend Angela who told me about it and to Heirloom Creations for coming up with this cute idea!  If you go to their website they have the complete instructions on how to make the quilt. I did make a small change, instead of sewing the initial strips together at a diagonal I just kept them straight.

With a Jelly Roll and just a few hours you too can have a cute quilt top made!  With two little ones running around I just don't have the time right now to make beautiful, intricate quilts.  Plus the little kid fabric is so cute I just can't resist it.  I used a Ten Little Things by Jenni Ski Moda Jelly Roll and white thread.  Now I need batting and backing fabric.  Hummm... that one might be more tricky.

Day 53: Ironing

I hate ironing.  There are few things in this world that I hate, one is ironing.  I burn myself. I forget and leave the iron on, then run out of water.  I have to keep an even closer eye on my children to make sure they stay away from the ironing board. I feel like the wrinkles never get out.  But if I want to be a quilter I have to iron.  If I had realized how much ironing was involved before I started this hobby I might not have done it.  But this hobby is here to stay so I just have to suck it up.  

Today I did a lot of ironing.  And a lot of thinking.  I got no actual project completed, but I ironed. I ironed the backing fabric for the Dr. Seuss quilt.  Which now I have to figure out how I am going to do it, because of course I changed my plans when I went to the quilt store.  So I have odd amounts of fabric to do the backing, but not one piece big enough to do a solid back. (which is what I generally like to do)  I think I changed my plans because they didn't have anymore of the Dr. Seuss fabric in stock when I went that day to get the backing and binding (probably in April). They did have "remnants" that were almost big enough.  Well Ladies and Gentleman ALMOST doesn't cut it with quilting measurements.  I am sure I pulled a Tim Gunn and thought "make it work". HA!  So now I ironed lots of fabric and tried my best to come up with a simple, yet nice looking plan.  UGH!

I also ironed strips from a jelly roll.  Theoretically I would think you wouldn't need to iron these, but most of the ends were squished up (yes that's a technical term) and then there was a crease in the middle.  I then sorted the fabric by color and prepped my sewing table to try the new Jelly Roll 1600 craze that is popping up.  I thought this is it!  A quick and cute way to get a quilt top done.  Well I got about four strips into it and realized my fabric is directional, not so good.  Unless I don't care if I have owls and trucks going in both directions.  Hum... I have to think this one over.

So I am going to crawl into bed and think about it.  This is why so many projects don't get done. I do a lot of "thinking" instead of doing.  I am so worried about messing something up or not doing it perfectly that I just procrastinate enough that it doesn't get done.  So raise your glass to another day of procrastination!  But at least I didn't buy any more supplies to add to this overflowing room!

Day 52: Dr. Suess quilt top

The problem with finishing projects late at night is that I don't have any good lighting to take good photos. Hopefully you get the idea and when I finish the quilt I will take a great pic!
This quilt is for a friend's nursery. I finished most of the top a month ago, but had to put it to the side to get a few other things done. I will be excited to get this one finished and give it to the expecting parents!

Day 51: Snowman Wall Hanging

September is National sewing month, so this month I am going to try to knock out sewing projects each day. This cute little snowman wall hanging was something I bought last Christmas time and yet again did not make. I think he's pretty cute!

Day 50: Christmas Apron

Am I way early or REALLY late?  Who am I kidding, it's way late!  I bought the fabric last year to make a Christmas apron and of course never got around to it.  I saw this fabric and couldn't pass it up.  The only thing I could come up with to make was an apron.

The fabric!

Sometimes I wonder why I can't just use a pattern.  Although I really am terrible at reading the instructions all the way through before beginning so I tend to make many mistakes!  Plus I spend so much time searching for a pattern I like.  Why not just doodle up some notes and make my own design?!?

The finished apron. I think I'll make a smaller version for my daughter.  That way when we make cookies during the holidays we'll match! :)

Day 49: Fabric Pumpkin

I am in the mood for fall! Too bad I live in the desert and don't get to see much of fall! I think the pumpkin turned out pretty cute. Now I want to make different sizes and colors for a table decoration. There are also ideas buzzing around in my head of cute and whimsical ways to embellish them. If only I had more time!

Day 48: Fabric Eggplant

Today I went to a craft fair and saw lots of ideas for future projects. I also saw stuff that reminded me if things on my to do list. One booth had a bunch of really cute fabric food. They were super cute, but super expensive! That reminded me I had bought a Simplicity pattern for some food. So today I made an eggplant. Tomorrow I think I'm going to make some pumpkins to use to decorate for the fall!

Day 47: Attempted Fabric Bookmark

September is National Sewing Month!  Yea!  To celebrate I thought I would try to stick to sewing projects this month.  Today I was reading a lot and didn't make much time to craft.  So I figured why not try to make a bookmark out of fabric.  FAILURE!  My magnets were not near strong enough!  First I tried to use fabric and batting, then just fabric.  Neither worked, I only have a roll of craft magnets and they just aren't strong enough. Maybe I need to research this a little more! 

Supplies: scrap fabric and batting from a finished quilt, craft magnets, thread, scissors

 



 

First attempt with batting: once I turned it right side out and tried adding the magnets I realized it wasn't going to work.

 

Second attempt with smaller piece and no batting

 

The magnets just aren't strong enough to hold together.

Day 46: Rapunzel Baby Doll Dress

In March I got supplies to make my daughter two dresses for her doll.  I got one of them finished that resembles Cinderella. I never made the second one.  This one is suppose to resemble Rapunzel's dress.  That way when she plays dress up her doll can too!

Supplies

The finished dress (don't look too closely or you will see the mess I made with the liquid fray stop, good thing it's just a doll dress!)

The doll wearing the dress.

Day 45: Monkey Lovie Blanket

I've been wanting to try one of these blankets for a while.  Probably the only one I will make. 

 

 

Supplies: stuffed monkey from the dollar isle and two 18 x 18 in square pieces of fabric.

 

Then I cute the poor little monkey in half.  (Good thing the kids are asleep!) Originally I wanted to just sew two seems down the middle and then cut, but his legs and arms were too close together.  After cutting in half, remove some stuffing so that you can sew it closed again.  I should have removed a little bit more stuffing from the front end to help it sew together easier.

 



 

I first sewed together the body parts, then sewed them to the fabric.  Keeping the right sides together I sewed the three layers together at just the two corners with the monkey.  I also sewed several passes to make sure it was secure and could hide those stitches inside the blanket.  Don't forget to make sure your critter has both it's parts facing the same way!  For the last step I folded over the edges, ironed and the sewed a stitch around the edge.  This project took a little bit longer than I planned.  I expected it to be quick and easy.  Then again I always expect my projects to go quicker than they generally do.

Day 44: Crocheted Granny Squares Afghan

I wanted to finish this yesterday, but ran out if black yarn and we were still on the road. So I had to wait until I got back home to get more yarn. This blanket should have been finished years ago. I think part of my procrastination stems from not wanting to make mistakes. My grandmother, we called her G.G., started this blanket for my aunt. She asked me to finish it for her after G.G. passed away. G.G. made all of the granny squares, I just stitched it together and added the border.  I am sure she planned for it to be bigger and have a pattern to the squares, but I didn't have the pattern. I hope my aunt will love it and cherish it for years to come. It will be an empty hole in my closet to not have this sitting unfinished to remind me of G.G.

Day 42: Still on vacation!

Humm...today I was still on vacation but the city I am visiting had two craft strores downtown! Luckily by the time I walked passed them they were closed. Good thing too, they looked like fun! :) I'll be back to my regularly scheduled crafting tomorrow.