(not) As Crafty As I Want To Be

I never really considered myself super crafty, but as time goes on, the things I have made on my own increase in number. As a kid, growing up, I had to take home ec. and learn how to sew, but I was never really good at it. The clothes I made in high school were seldom worn, and quite ugly. I was not adept at picking out fabric that would make a nice looking (insert article of clothing). I remember I made a blue (bright blue) and white striped sweatshirt. I wore it only a couple of times. This was before I was aware of World Cup soccer, and cheering for Argentina was cool. Hmmm, maybe I can use that as my excuse if people ever call me on it :).

I tried knitting too, but I used to have so much tension, I couldn't get the needles under the yarn, and I would have lots of holes. Flash forward to my years in Chapleau, and I needed to take up a "hobby". I knit a couple of blankets and a sweater for my best friend, and another for her baby. I made umpteen hats and scarves. Nice enough that they were bid on in the school bazaar. I have let knitting fall to the wayside, again, but now I am into sewing.

Currently, my issue with doing crafts, and sewing is that I rarely have time to myself to start a project, let alone finish one. Last year, I had to make myself a gypsy dance outfit. I was able to get out and work at my friend's place (plus I was pregnant, so only had one little munchkin to "distract" me). Now, if I want to do any sewing, I need to make my husband aware that I am not to be disturbed and I close the door. My two year old daughter likes to play with my sewing machine (and pins, and needles and scissors). It is not conducive to completing a sewing project.

If I do decide to start a craft project, I basically have to finish it as soon as possible, or it will never get finished. Case in point: I have been working on a quilt for my son for six or seven months now. I just never get enough time to do any work on it. I will buy fabric, and it will sit in my craft room for months (or over a year) before I decide to do something with it.

Amazingly, I managed to make a window treatment for my daughter's room in one day! I found a super easy pattern for a tie up curtain, and I managed to start and finish it (almost) in about 6 hours. It would help if I read the instructions thoroughly before I started sewing. The project might have taken even less time. I am quite impressed with how it turned out. I hope it will go with the new paint job we are planning for her room. Here's the link, in case you want to try these curtains. http://sew4home.com/projects/window-treatments/84-ribbon-tie-fold-up-shades

Now, I say I almost finished because the original window treatment was attached with hooks, and I needed to put grommets into my curtains. I bought the grommets, but I didn't put them in for another two weeks. Plus, because the hooks are so narrow, there was a risk they would tear through the fabric. I had to buy a quarter round to have it rest on the hooks, and support the weight of the fabric. The curtains are heavy duty cotton, plus black out material, quite heavy.

Other "crafty" projects I am proud of are my jewelry (which I got into because of Julie and Danielle at Mimi and Lulu's. How I miss their shop! It was so great when it was down the road from me). I was able to make quite a few necklaces and bracelets because I only had my daughter, and she was still napping in the afternoons. I was never into making jewelry, but after a couple of workshops, I was hooked.

I also made some felt stockings. The first one was for my daughter. I made this at Mimi and Lulu's too. Then, a couple of years later, I made stockings for the rest of the family. I was supposed to make them the year before, but morning sickness prevented me from finding my scissors, and the project was put on the back burner. Yes, you read that correctly. I couldn't find my scissors, and I blame my morning sickness from making me not think clearly. They ended up being in my knitting bag. I found them when I started another knitting project, a few months later.