{via Keep Calm Etsy Shop}

Remember when I told you that I bought a sewing machine?  Well, I’m sad to report it’s been collecting dust since we moved and I haven’t completed any new projects.  Life has just gotten in the way and then the overwhelmed feeling of where do I start?  I’m going to tell you where I’m going to start…

As I was doing my nightly blog read the other day I came across a Home Ec class on the Smile and Wave blog.  What, could it be?  An online sewing class?  Where every project is pretty much awesome?  Oh and I learn new techniques along the way?  I’m in.

Yep, I signed up.  For an awesome class taught by the lovely ladies of Smile and Wave, Freckled Nest and Courtney Janelle Sews.

Do you want to sign up too?  We can support each other along the way.  I’m looking for others to turn to when I inevitability get confused and start to create havoc on my sewing project.

Here are the details and part 1 of the 26 projects.  Here is part 2.  Looks awesome right?

Who else is in?

I recently saw this tutorial from Hazelnuts (via Indie Icing) and was instantly loving the adorable custom mug cosy!  How cute is that?

Adding it to the must have list for sewing now.  I’m getting out my sewing machine this weekend for some projects and I might be making use of this tutorial.

Any recent tutorials you have found and added to the to-do list?

How was your weekend?  I was busy, but had lots of fun catching up with friends and family.  My brother is currently a student at the college I went to, so we got to go back to visit him and pretend we were in college again.  While I don’t want to go back, I do miss the fun and seemingly carefree days.  Anyways…

I finally caught up on some blog reading over the weekend after being very behind and found few party details I loved. I saw this party on Hostess with Mostess and thought it was so cute.

How can Curious George and this colorful party not make you smile!?

Sweet Tooth blog featured a fun DIY cupcake bar.

This would be a great way to have a fun dessert display without spending the money on fancy cupcakes and treats because your guests will decorate them for you.

Create special invites for a tea party by painting with tea. Love the soft and thoughtful tone of these invitations. Want color? Use colored pencils instead.

This DIY fun was found on Sweetest Occasion, with DIY tutorial originally on Creature Comforts.

Happy Monday friends!  How was your weekend?  Were you out and about or relaxing?

Remember when I told you I bought a sewing machine?  And that my experience is at level 0? Well, the weekend we bought the machine I decided to make a pillow.  Really had no clue what I was doing, but with help from Mark we figured it out.  Please note, this is the most basic pillow ever.

As I was trying to learn to sew, I didn’t take pictures of the process.  Hopefully in the future I’ll be able to when I don’t have to concentrate on just sewing a straight line.   Basically I chose 2 fabrics and then also used muslin as a liner for the inside to give a more polished look.  The muslin was by suggestion of the woman in line with us at the checkstand.  We went home, sewed the pillow and then stuffed it.

After stuffing the pillow we tried a by hand blind stitch to close it, but it didn’t look great.  Then we decided we should try a zipper.  The zipper didn’t look great either.  So, we went and found a zipper tutorial and then tried again.

Still following?  Yes, there were 3 versions of this pillow before we finished.  Oops.  I promised that I’d show you the real projects even if they weren’t perfect, right?  We just kept making it smaller since it started off rather large anyways.  Below are the pictures of version 1 and 3.  Version 2 didn’t get a picture.

Here is the front of the pillow on version 1.

Obviously I wasn’t ready for this picture, ignore the awkward face.  You can see how we used brown fabric on the back to match the details of the fabric on the front.  You can also see that the seams aren’t perfectly straight.  Some of that is due to stuffing though.

And here is our final version sitting in its new home.  2 versions later it’s much smaller than what you see above.  What do you think?

The pillow isn’t perfect, but I’m happy with it.  It was a good first project to get the idea of how to use a sewing machine.

What I learned from this project:

• Making bobbins
• Threading my sewing machine
• Sewing in straight lines
• Adding in a zipper (sort of, need some improvement in this area)
• That stuffing can look really weird sometimes and I want to try pillow inserts

Well, that was the first project.  I found a bunch of patterns on sale for $1.99 for pillows, aprons, purses and other fun things.  My next project will be using more of a specific pattern to create something.  I’ve also seen lots of fun ideas on some sewing/craft websites and blogs.  Suddenly I’m much more aware of any project that has a sewing machine involved.  Any fun sewing tutorials I should know about?

Happy Friday!  What are your weekend plans?

I’ve been using Mod Podge (or decoupaging) as long as I’ve been crafting.  I remember using it back in elementary school and I still think it’s a necessary supply to have in your DIY/crafting kit.  The first year Mark and I were dating we did handmade gifts instead of buying each other expensive gifts since we were poor college students and just liked the challenge of creating something special.  Probably 80% of the gifts I made that year involved Mod Podge on some level. Anyone can use Mod Podge, it’s easy to figure out with the only risk being a bit of messiness and sticky fingers.

Needless to say, I like Mod Podge. Awhile back I found a crafting blog, Mod Podge Rocks that was devoted to the love of Mod Podge and featured endless amazing projects. Mod Podge isn’t just for your elementary school homework project, it can be used to create all sorts of amazing pieces for your home. I thought I’d share a few inspired projects I saw to either convert you to being a “Mod Podger” or just give you some extra ideas if you already are a convert.

I loved these Tree Canvases I saw on a recent post fromSimply Modern Mom via Mod Podge. Something about this project is so simple but charming.

Take something old and make it new. I think the tray originally from good will is the perfect example of creating something special out of nothing.

We’ve been needing some new coasters and I like the idea of how you can incorporate color with these. I do question how long-term they’d last with water rings. Anyone try this before?

Here is another great idea for simple and affordable art. How many times have you seen beautiful tissue paper that will inevitably be thrown away after it’s used to wrap a gift? Here is a way to make it last.

While this would be great for your home, I think this fun silverware holder would be perfect to make for a party to incorporate a specific color or theme.

And last is one of my favorite Mod Podge projects I’ve seen.  Featured on the Martha Stewart show, you can find instructions here. (found via Mod Podge Rocks)

By the way, I’m not in any way sponsored by Mod Podge or receiving credit for this post.  I just like it.   I have an upcoming project of my own that will involve Mod Podge.  Hopefully I can finish and share with you soon.

Do you Mod Podge?  What’s your favorite “go to” crafting supply?