March #SewCrazyChallenge

Happy Monday to you!!

I finally found time to do some sewing over the weekend (along with learning very quickly that when Derick is gone I can make a MAJOR crafting mess).  Apparently having him around forces me to put things away...

I seriously woke up Friday morning to take my dog outside and frightened myself with how messy I was!

Messy or not, I was able to finish March's challenge with only a few days to go! I am so very excited about this little bag I made.  I am going to give the little bag to my friends little girl...I hope she loves it. 

I found the pattern on Pinterest a while back and as soon as we were told we could make a bag for this challenge, I knew I was doing this one.

It was simple, but has some super cute details.  I love how there a little pockets on the outside and the straps add a great texture to the already awesome fabric I found.

Seriously...spent $3.00 on this entire bag.  I'd say I hit the jackpot!

Before I leave you for the day, below is my quilting progress!

I know...just fabric strips.  But, they are all sewn together and ironed! Next step will be to cut them into squares and start assembling the quilt top!

I'm so in love with the colors and can't wait for it to be finished!!

February's #SewCrazyChallenge

I have been slowly working on this challenge all month.  Unlike last month where I finished it in 1 day...I wanted to make this one last.  I learned new things and practiced old skills.

February's challenge was for the Home.  There were multiple options...a set of pillows, some oven mitts, or a bean bag.

As soon as I saw the pillow challenge it reminded me of a Pin I found on Pinterest for inspiration and thought it would be PERFECT!  THIS is the inspiration pin and here is my pillow.

It was one of the hardest things I have ever done.  I boughr multiple colors of fringe, cut each tassel off and then re-attached them all together in an alternating pattern.  

I know there was a better way to execute this but I feel the end product was pretty darn good.  

Pepe sure thinks its the best pillow she's seen lately!

As for the other pillow with ruffles, I wasn't able to find a Wool Fleece mixture at any of my local fabric stores so decided I'd grab a few fat quarters and make the heart shaped oven mitt.  

I have used attempted bias tape before and after I was done I KNEW I was doing it wrong.  After doing some research I came across this amazing tutorial and was so excited I had a project to try it with.  Not only was I going to sew on bias tape 'correctly' but I was going to make my own!!! DanaMadeIt has another tutorial on her blog on how you can easily make bias tape out of 1/2 yard of fabric.

3 bias tape makers later...I DID IT!  This has opened so many doors for me I can just tell.

I love how I was able to match the colors perfectly.  There are a couple of hiccups around the tip of the heart but I know with more practice it will only get better.

I already have a project in mind to get more practice.  So many things going on in my brain...I just have to do one at a time!

Hope you enjoyed my contribution to the #sewcrazychallenge and make sure you stay tuned for next month's! I can barely contain myself...

I'm horrible at this patience thing.

Sneak Peak...

Not much going on around the house this weekend, just relaxing and enjoying the snow day!

I am so glad I was able to make it to the craft store yesterday before it hit...otherwise I'd be having a long boring day.

Since yesterday's post about my quilting issues, I purchased normal cotton thread and Mr. Dino officially has a tail, a head, and four feet!!  So glad I didn't give up.

Other than playing quilt, I have started thinking about my submission to the February Challenge!  I don't want to give away too much so I'll just you a sneak peak at my fabrics and you will have to wait on the final product.  I am actual doing two of the ideas because I just couldn't decide!

Stay tuned for a tutorial!

Learning to sew with a challenge

Since I got my sewing machine for Christmas I was on a mission to find something fun to do right out of the gate.  When I stumbled upon Crazy Little Projects my heart was full.  She was looking to start something new for 2014 and so she presented us with a Monthly Sewing Challenge! I signed up immediately and I was done with the project in 4 days.  Yep, January 10th...with 21 more days to wait until the next challenge.

Merp.  

I have decided to wait until the end of the Month to share my project outcome just so you don't have to wait as long as I did for the next challenge.

The challenge was to do something you have never done before.  There were 4 different options given (of course you could something on your own) but I chose to do the project that incorporated a FEW different things I had never tackled before.

Zippers

and

Pintucks

Here enters the Pin Tuck Pouch

This tutorial was brought to us by Simple Simon and Company and I think it was a wonderful one at that.

I love the fabrics I found (and I learned that sewing is not cheap...since then I have found this website that tells me how to REALLY shop at Joann's...it has saved my life).

The one challenge I had was figuring out how to sew the second side onto the zipper...I literally took this apart 3 different times before it finally made sense!

After I made my first one I was so excited I threw out a 2nd one in about 20 minutes.  And did it so fast I put the zipper on the wrong end of the fabric. HAH! That's what I get for thinking I was the coolest thing to ever touch a sewing machine.

Either way they turned out fun and my sister is loving her new addition to her purse.  I am using the other one to keep sewing notions in.

I really can't wait until the February challenge comes out.

Stay tuned to see what I'll be learning!