I Heart Sewing

This weekend I sucessfully completed my first articles of clothing! I am so proud of my creations, and it makes me even more pumped to work on the rest of my Christmas gifts.
This year, about 85% of my gifts are handmade, and you can see them all come to life through my blog! Yay! Above I have posted a sleeper for my soon to arrive neice Audrey, and a sweatshirt for my nephew Brady.

Here's the newest update of the "Memorial Day" picture for Grandpa LaVanway. I have stitched most of the blues, moving left to right. It's amazing how little was done, but the change is phenomenal!

Time to get back to it! It is so soothing and relaxing to lose yourself in the stitching. Time flies by, tv on as noise in the background...love love it.

"Memorial Day"

Here is another project that I have been working on for a while. It is a cross-stitch for Grandpa LaVanway, named "Memorial Day". I go through waves with cross-stitch projects. I LOVE watching the picture create on the material before me, but my hands do not enjoy being cramped up for long periods of time! So, I am picking it back up, and hopefully with moments dedicated over the next six-eight months, it can be ready for father's day next year. I would normally set an earlier date to finish, but I am going back to school this year, and in about a month attempting to conquor Anatomy, so I'm not making any promises. :)

Elephant for Miss Ella!

Here is the long awaited 2nd project, elephant that I made for one of my best friend's daughter, Ella. This was a bit of a journey - elephant almost didn't make it off the shelf! I learned very quickly that curves are not your friend when first learning to sew! Hence, the tiniest arms, legs and trunk! But, as I have been consoled for what my husband originally coined an "anteater", the quirks and imperfections are what make this elephant special! Turns out, Ella adores the elephant, even when it only had 1 ear, and I just had to repair her this weekend.

All in all, that is what I sew for! To make people happy, to put a smile on someone's face! And when that smile comes from a child, it is all that much more rewarding. :)

Create!

I finally finished my first, successful, sewing project yesterday. Now, I had made pillows, but four straight lines does not constitute a creative endeavour in my books.

Above you see Steggie - a present for my nephew Brady's 2nd birthday today. I think he turned out pretty stinkin' cute for a first timer! Felt and quilting fabric, and the help of the book "One Yard Wonders" allowed me to create this.

Next two projects:

1) laptop bag

2) jumper for ella

I am completely in love with my sewing machine - I never thought I would say that! It is so relaxing, and I love a challenge, so figuring out these patterns and measurements is great for me. Plus, I have always loved to express myself in crafts, and this is my new medium. I picked up on it relatively quickly, which always makes me happy. My patience wears thin very quickly :)

I think I will post all my new projects on here, as a journey through my sewing experiences :)

Wow, so I have let more than an entire year pass since my last post. I hate to admit it, but I have let my confidence, my passion, and most of my opinion fall to the side again. I have let my worries and other people's convictions rule my life, and I have to say it has brought me nothing but stress, heartache, and what I am considering a form of mild depression.

BUT

I'm not going to let it beat me. I'm ready to own my life. I'm ready to bring another life into this world. I have so much to offer and give.

Here are my goals for the year, in no particular order:
*Become a mother
*Run a marathon
*Learn to sew
*Enjoy my husband and the awesome life we share
*Truely love getting up in the morning, because I am living each day with passion and conviction

Here's to regularly writing, loving, living, and enjoying what is out there to offer....

Ciao!