next quilt...

i usually arrange my schedule so that my entire friday is free to substitute.  but if i don't get called, or it's a holiday break, i have the entire day free.  it's a fun time to do some sewing, which i am slow at and need LOTS of time to accomplish small amount of progress.

i'm going to finish up the quilting project for the class i'm in now, but i'd love to make a patchwork quilt next.  looks simple enough, right...?

so i'm thinking maybe one like this

source

 or this!

source

or this

source

sew what?

i got a sewing machine for christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  i am sewwwww excited to learn how to sew.  [pun intended]

some things i've been eyeing as a first project are....

an easy-to-sew jersey skirt, although the creator said she's always hesitant to sew w/ knit materials. perhaps harder?

from HERE

or perhaps my own version of this pretty pillow with a similar fabric

from world market

a tote bag

from this tutorial

the last couple days have been filled with we-just-got-back-home-things like laundry, grocery shopping, bank, oil change, car wash, etc...  but as soon as i have a chunk of free time i'm going to hit up the youtube tutorials for beginner seamstresses.  VERY BEGINNER. like, how to get my sewing machine out of the box, beginner.  

in the meantime, i've been thinking about/ pinteresting ways to reorganize my craft space. i am SEW lucky to have a space in the basement to leave out all my scrapbooking stuff.  it's way easier to use when i can just leave it out.  

current craft space (messy!) 

not sure what's up with my computer - it's making all my pictures look crazy. dark. sometimes with extra neon colors. anywhoooo....

the space works well for my current scrapbooking stuff (this picture was taken mid-project) but i want to make room for sewing too. and i want things to be practical, accessible.  so i'll have to use the space slightly more efficiently. plus i love organizing, so it's a win win!  here are some cool ideas (some of which are completely unrealistic).

for all the random small stuff (buttons, paper flowers, paperclips, etc...)  

or this 

 or this! magnetic spice containers - sold @ ikea cheaply :)

 if this lady can get all that in a closet, i can use my space well. 

file scrapbook paper. i love filing stuff (seriously) and have tons of paper - not sure why i didn't think of this earlier! i'm imagining files to fit in the cube shelves or on the bottom shelf of the book shelf.

this would work well for paper too if i can't find the right size files. 

peg board!  i'm seriously considering this for that ginormous wall. 

smaller pegboard might make more sense since we live in a rental temporarily.

easy way to keep ribbon. cheap too! 

 very fun way to store thread... although i don't have that much thread. 

woohoo! this all makes me excited to craft and learn to sew and organize!

Project Fail

so i was feeling crafty.
and thought this was cute.

i decided to actually try one of the crafty things i pinned on pinterest.
i already had this shimmery frame - just had to take the mirror out.  i tried to type the words but the printer kept feeding the cardstock through crooked.  So, I got blank bookmarks from michael's and a pretty red pen instead. also got some red foil wire and mini clothes pins.

starting materials

plan was:

cut book marks (to be 2 x4)

round corners

write christmas words

remove mirror

string foil behind frame horizontally - pin with thumb tacks

clip on words with mini clothes pins

admire my craftiness

but then, i tried to force the mirror out and....

it broke.

project fail.

i had already cut the bookmarks to size, rounded the corners and wrote the words.

looked for a frame but didn't love anything i saw. 

then we went to chicago for christmas and i lost interest.

haha maybe next year!

:)