My family has been essentially locked down since March. My young son went from library visits and park play dates to only Mommy and Daddy, and he has had some adjusting. With being homemaker, preschool teacher and mommy, my me time vanished. It was the same for my husband.  I quickly found that without a creative outlet, I did not feel like I was at my best.

My first thing was to share what I like. Drawing, stamping, working with color and sharing cards and creations are what I love. I showed my son some things I stamped, and loved watching which things he liked. He loved some colors. He figured out what they were for and would tell me 'cousin Shae' if a card was meant for his cousin, or 'Auntie'. My mother sent him a Melissa & Doug stamp set and took off. I soon taught him how to use my cling and photopolymer stamps on blocks

We create cards and strips of paper with his favorite colors and shapes. It has really helped us be calm while in isolation. It gave him inspiration to read as well. I had been struggling finding a way to connect letters with reading for him.

Several times a week, my husband watches Jason while I go into the office. It is where my husband works and where my craft table and craft items are. I love to create and brain storm in there.  I send out several cards a week to family and friends. I have found with this pandemic, reaching out to people is very important to me. I hope to brighten people's days with a handmade card just for them!

Today I decided to blast my creativity block with something new. I opened Pinterest and saw a color combination that I loved. I didn't have the Distress ink or some of the tools used, so I looked at what I had and adapted. I created a few tags based on what items (stamp sets and embellishments) fit on my half of the table.  Jason loves to create, and I leave a station set up with his construction paper and bin of crayons and markers.

Here are a few things I created and am sending out tomorrow.





This is the Bloom with Hope Stamp and Petite Petals Stamp set with some subtles paper. I also used a thinlet from a sizzix product. I will get the name if any one would like to know.  

current projects

Being a new mom doesn't leave a lot of 'me' time for sewing. I am normally running to the changing table and sitting in the nursing chair for the majority of the time. Yet sometimes the planets align and wonderful things happen- I can sew!  I have been working on my new wonder, the Pfaff Passport 3.0, an early Christmas gift from my mom.  I absolutely love it. I spent the first 20 minutes of my me time spinning bobbins- the machine does it by itself!  In my husband's words: "That's cheating'.

I have done some initial work on my fabric trays. I was originally only making mug rugs, as I am very new to the sewing machine world. I only have had the machine a few weeks. Yet with my mother's instruction and encouragement, I have branched off into tutorials.  In addition to the video of fabric trays I showed you, I also like this tutorial that I found on pinterest
seekatesew

I'll be hopefully uploading pictures if nap time holds!  What are you working on?

Fabric trays!

As Jo Anns was having a sale and Fat Quarters were 75% off, I had to pick some up to complement my growing stash of Fat Quarters. I may have gone overboard a little bit

The black is to go with the red that I bought last week and the solid pink is a lining for my drawstring pouches, sun-glass cases and my fabric trays.  The Simplicity pattern was 40% off, so I never need to buy pajamas again.  I am nearly 6 months postpartum and finding clothes that fit is crazy- one day I fit my pre pregnancy shorts, the next day I look like I'm 4 months pregnant again.  I'm going to custom fit my pajamas / lounge pants so that I no longer need to worry about it.  The pretty pink plaid is the material for my pajama pants.

Patterns for Pirates also offers an SOS pants that I mean to check out, but I know that leggings are a bit beyond me right now.  I only have a straight stitch and not the zigzag that I need for the rayon/ spandex of pegs.  If you have a zigzag, be sure to check out Patterns for Pirates Facegroup page- she offers a code in the pinned post comments for FREE leggings (Peglegs) and Pencil skirt.  Isn't that nice?

These knits are what I bought for an essential tank from Patterns from Pirates. Only $9 for the pattern and only needs a yard of knit!

I am currently cutting up my Fat Quarters for my Dad's fabric trays.  I bought some novelty football fabric for Dad & Mom that I'll pair with orange & black fabric.  The idea came to me from this Pinterest post at Clover & Violet


I wanted to see a video before I started sewing, so I found these


This is what I envisioned:

A basket for the kitchen 'Danish bread basket'

This is something new that I have learned today- Fusible Fleece & Interfacing

I had bought fusible fleece and was disappointed to learn that I needed something else-  this is for a new project that I am interested in, fabric trays. I am making a few to organize my bathroom, my jewelry and hair things and as always, small notions in my sewing room.  It is so appealing to place a few fabric trays on a larger tray and carry it from sewing room to living room so that I can sew and watch the baby play.  Have you ever learned fusible fleece?

I'm so happy to have found clothing that I can sew

I picked up some cheap patterns at Goodwill and was immediately humbled while I laid out those tissues with the patterns.  The patterns use terms that I have to look up & check my Youtube videos on.  Anyone with a baby knows that you don't have a lot of time when you have two hands to yourself to cut, piece & sew, so a night of research just to get to sewing was not how I wanted to spend my night.

I looked online in my Facebook group, Just Sew, and I found someone posting about Patterns for pirates

Check out the pretty Patterns

It sounded a bit too alternative for me, but I was shocked to find something adorable and 'me' right on the first page.  I joined the Facebook group Patterns for Pirates Sewing PDF Pattern Group and was welcomed in with open arms and encouragement about my first sewing for me project. Turns out that they had just the thing- the pinned post shares a code for a free pencil skirt and 'peg legs' leggings! I was shocked and excited.  I watched the video on how to sew the peg legs (you know me and my Youtube tutorials! ) and I was thinking 'you know, I can do this'.



Husband pulled out my mom's vacation sewing machine that does straight stitch and I'm going to sit down and practice some straight stitches. While at the Goodwill, I picked up a bag of linens for $2 - some really cute patterns and solids in there. I'll practice making cloth napkins & place mats while I decide on what sort of pattern I'll make first, peg legs or a pencil skirt. I'll be buying fabric - brushed poly- next week, so check back to see what comes up!

Zippered Pouch Tutorial

Hello,

I am working on getting my fabric ironed out for some sachets & pouches.  I recently tried to buy zippers for a cosmetics bag pattern that looks promising, but I made a mistake and bought a zipper that is too small. I don't feel like returning it, so I found a great tutorial to use it to learn a new skill, creating a zippered pouch.  I love this tutorial- straight forward & clear.

On other projects, I have cut & pinned my sachets & completed my mother in laws Christmas present. I'll be sure to post how I made those as soon as I have time to shoot. Thanks for reading.

Sharing a drawstring bag tutorial

Hello,

I wanted to share with you a tutorial that I have watched several times to learn a new skill for my handmade Christmas. I found this video easy to follow without a lot of irritating effects that distract from the simple sewing.

I attempted to make this bag when the internet was out and forgot the first 2 steps.  I am attempting to save this bag- I neatly stitched the top of the bag to make a pouch without a closure.  I'll likely add an elastic and a button.  Check back as I'll be posting pictures of the finished piece.

This was my first time using water soluble canvas and I truly enjoyed it- it was easy to use and disappeared easily with warm water.