Sweater to Ruffle Scarf

I finally got back to sewing a bit yesterday. I LOVE this project- it was pretty quick. I think I'll make like 10 more with old sweaters I have.

I was given this cashmere sweater from my friend Susie. Hi Sus!

(this is always what happens when I try to do projects)

Ok, here it is:

(oops, kinda fuzzy)

Just a plain ol' sweater. But soft. Really soft.

I came across THIS tutorial a while ago. That's what I used.

And here's how it came out!







(don't mind the background on these pics, I was in my 6x6 studio at the music store where I teach. Hey, I never claimed to be a great photographer.)

Lovebirds Wreath

I made a wreath.



It's white because it's winter.

It has love birds because it's almost Valentine's day.



Josh thinks it looks like toilet paper.



I think it looks like a winter wonderland.

I used this tutorial.

It was easy, fairly cheap, and didn't take nearly as much time as the tutorial said it might. I kinda want to make some mini ones in different colors for a bare wall I have.

That is all!

Things that make Snails happy

1. Josh's semester is over, and he is now on break with only ONE SEMESTER LEFT!! Hallelujah, praise Jesus.

2. It's been a busy week for my etsy shop, Sewing Snails. If you had checked it last week, you would have seen "0 sales." But if you look now, you will see "7 sales." Seven!! Wahoooooo! This makes Snails very happy. Ok, half of them were family, but I did have a few real sales this week too!

3. I am a year older than last time I blogged. Yep, I turned the big two-three on Dec. 10. I don't feel much different. Just a little more blah. I feel like being 23 is a really boring age. 21 is like, "wahooo I can drink!" 22 is like, "wahooo people don't think i'm a drunk 21 year old anymore!" And 23 is like, "meh. blah." Oh well. I got some clothes for my birthday, and also... (see next point)

4. My techie/geeky sister Bekah purchased some URLs for me for my birthday. (Is that what it's called?) Yes, she thinks of those kinds of things. She's also the sister that helps me when my font gets bigger and bigger with each paragraph and I can't fix it. And then she laughs at me and posts about it on facebook. Well anyway, you will soon be reading my blog at musingsofasnail DOT COM. Yay! Or is it abisnails dot com? I forget.

5. I played Handel's Messiah this weekend. It was so lovely. I've heard so many of the pieces my entire life, but I never played it until now. I've been humming "All We Like Sheep" all weekend and trying to teach Josh the bass part. Hil. Arious.

6. I've been sewing. Sewing sewing sewing. I've had several orders for things from family members, and I'm trying to get it all done in time for Christmas. I definitely will, I'm just not sure anyone will be getting presents from ME this year because I have had no time whatsoever to shop.

I will post pictures of the things I've been making this week! Have a GREAT Monday, everyone.

I made this new bag this weekend. I present, the Lotus Bag:Let me tell you, it was QUITE a challenge for this novice sewer (what's the difference between a seamstress and a sewer? I like the word seamstress better but I feel like maybe it is only for people who make clothes?)

Anyway, I used this pattern/instructions from CraftApple. I am quite proud of myself, though. It wasn't really a tutorial, it was just measurements and very broad instructions, but I managed quite well, thankyouverymuch. I was supposed to put a little arch in the bottom seam to make the bottom a bit rounder, but I forgot to leave extra fabric so I just did it straight. I think that would have given it a better shape. I like it, but it's just a little long and awkward. I also didn't feel like buying leather straps, so I just made fabric ones.

For some reason, whenever I try to measure things out, it ALWAYS comes out wrong. I was never very good at math, and planning, thinking ahead, you know, all that stuff that is essential to sewing. I am getting better, but I usually just get frustrated that my measurements don't match up the way they are supposed to and I end up just doing it based on what looks "right." You can tell that my measurements are a little off because the diagonal lines aren't quite at the same angle.

(Yes, I was wearing my pajamas when I took this picture! And yes, those are my "booty sweats" Don't judge me. Who doesn't have at least ONE pair of tiny shorts and/or sweatpants with the words HOTT, or BABE, or SEXY LIL 'THANG, or HILTON HEAD written across the tush??)

Anyway, so that's the Lotus Bag. I think I will make more of them, and at least I have had practice now with using more than one pattern on the front and back of a bag.

I also made this, because I didn't have one!
The back.

I got the instructions from Whip-Up.

And can I just say, I am the WORST person at closing seams by hand, doing a slip stitch, I think it's called. Like, seriously, my cat Delilah could probably do it better than me. It's AWFUL, and I HATE doing it. I don't know what it is. I just can't get it to lay right. On this pincushion you can't really tell because the stuffing helped fill it out, but GOSH, I am awful at it. I learned from a YouTube video, maybe that's why? Any suggestions or helpful websites would be appreciated. I am glad that usually when I have to do it (and I avoid it to no end) it is on the inside of the lining of a bag, so it's not very visible. But if I ever have to do it in a visible spot, it won't be pretty, folks.

My weekend

Hi! I am trying to think of something special to do on Mondays- like a funny video or how-to or something- you know, to give Mondays a little lift (not that it matters to me, since Mondays are pretty much just like any other day for me!) So today, the special treat is this link:

Our Best Bites

I don't really know how I came across it, but seriously, these recipes are so good. Most of them are very easy, and you don't have to go all over the world to find the ingredients, which is important to me. I hate buying something I will only ever use once in a recipe.

I made the Spicy Honey Chicken, Spicy Honey Chicken salad with the leftovers, cupcake frosting, grilled potatoes, and creamy pesto pasta so far- YUM! Everything was so good.

Ok, now for my weekend update:

On Friday, I made these:

I actually didn't try them so I don't know what they taste like, but they look yummy! I used the cupcake frosting recipe from Our Best Bites. I did have a taste of that while I was making it and it was sooo yummy and creamy.

Then, Rachael and Austin (sister and boyfriend) came over and we watched He's Just Not That Into You. Did anyone else see that yet? I never read the book, but I didn't like the movie very much. A lot of it is about how girls just talk and talk and get these things into their heads about how much a guy likes them, and they read into these "signals" (which aren't really signals), and inside the girl's head the guy is in love with her, but the guy is actually thinking "when can I end this?" This all seems very true. So, this is what happens in the movie and it's funny and ridiculous, but then everyone is happy at the end and it doesn't seem like anyone learned any lessons! (sorry if I ruined the ending for you).

On Saturday, I had a recital for some of my students: (hence the cupcakes)

Me with five of my students.

They did a great job! I always get nervous before my student recitals because I just want them to do well (and all of their parents and grandparents are in the room). Don't they just all look so cute? I love it. I also make them introduce themselves and their piece before playing, for a few reasons:

1. because it is good for them to practice speaking in public and projecting their voice
   
2. I had to do it, so they should too.
   
3. It is just so darn cute! (is that mean??) "Hi, my name is so and so, and I will be playing such and such." but in a 5 year old's voice. I love it.

It was a very nice recital, very short, with yummy treats afterward.

After the recital, Josh and I went to the mall to get a few new things for our vacation! We decided this past Friday to go to Cancun for a few days! We are very excited/I am a little nervous. You know, just about the kidnappings, drug cartels, and swine flu.... that's all. So, if you don't hear from me by next Wednesday, please come to Mexico and rescue us. Gracias. No, but seriously, they say it is safe, and we will be at a big resort..... sooo, yeah.

So anyway, we (and by "we" I mean mostly "I") bought a few new clothing items for our trip. Then we went to our friends Ben and Lindsey's house for dinner. Fun day!

On Sunday, I made this:

A sunglasses case!

I noticed that I had a huge scratch on my sunglasses, so I need to get another pair before we leave for our trip. I always just buy the cheapos. But I wanted to make a case because that sounded easy and so that my new pair wouldn't get scratched in my purse. Here is the lining:
You can see that I kind of messed up the top stitch. I should have had it on a bigger stitch. It got a little crooked. However, in my defense, it was really hard getting it under the machine because I put some kind of felt in there to make it soft and give the sunglasses more protection. So it was a bit "fiddly" under the machine. I learned that word from a blog I read and I just love that word. It gets stuck in my head. Does that ever happen to you? Just one word getting stuck in your head?

Anyway, last night we went to Rachael's softball game. Good job, Rach!

I think she was embarrassed that I was taking pictures. I snuck this one on the right!

Josh was embarrassed too. Come on people, I am a blogger now! :)

Have a good Monday! Make something yummy for dinner!

I've been sewing these days...

So, something that I have taken on in the past few months has been sewing. I have never sewed before, well, except for in 8th grade- I made fleece pajama pants in home ec. I bought the thickest fleece and I couldn't ever wear them because they were so hot and they were so staticky they clung to my legs! My teacher's name was Mrs. Sleeva- ha! She was destined to be a sewing teacher. Anyway, she was the meanest teacher ever and her hair never moved (not that that has anything to do with her being mean). I remember being afraid to ask questions because she would just get so annoyed. So, I put my sewing practice away for a while, never really picked it up again after that class because I didn't enjoy it. Thanks a lot, Mrs. Sleeva. You are an inspiration, really.

I started to sew again a few months ago because for my arts theology class, we had to do a "creative project." I had wanted to try sewing, so I did that for my project and made this:
Ok, I had a little help from my grandmother! She taught me all the basics of sewing again and using my machine. I made the dress for my class, but also I wore it for my senior recital. It took several days to make, and Grandma Trudi spent more time on it than I even did after I left. It was a fun project, but I don't think I'll do it again any time soon! I did realize I could take on smaller projects- baby sized projects- (that's a hint) and feel like I can handle that all by myself, even with my limited skills.

So now that I gots my edumacation and I'm all gradiated and stuff, I have more time on my hands. I've been browsing through craft blogs, and let me tell you, there are some really creative people out there. I also stumbled across some food blogs and I just want to eat everything. Especially when I am up browsing late at night, my tummy really grumbles. Anyway, that's for another time. I've been getting inspiration from websites like Etsy and Craft Gossip, where they just link to crafter's blogs and write up a little blurb about a cool project a certain blogger has on their site. Very cool, and every time I check it there is something new. And this weekend I am going to an arts and crafts show in Philly! I am excited! I will get more inspiration there.

This is what I did today:
I got the pattern from this lovely blog: tinyhappy.typepad.com. Thanks, tinyhappy!

I added a cell phone pocket and a bigger pocket- all by myself!

Take that, Mrs. Sleeva!

Lydia (my youngest sister) picked out the fabric. Good choices, Lyd! Came out cute!

I even made my own "button pouch" to match with some extra fabric. Yes, I made that name up myself so you can't steal it. kthanks. This was the first time I did button holes, so when I do it again I will make the hole bigger so I can actually fit a real button in there (instead of a bead!), and I will put it up higher. It's basically the same as the bottom of the shoulder bag but with no straps, and a button hole instead of a button strap.

I LOVE making bags. It is very fulfilling. And who doesn't love a new bag?! I learned so much today- I got so much better at sewing around the curves, got to know my friend/enemy the seam ripper really well when I accidentally put wrong sides together instead of right sides together. Arghh! I sewed my first button holes, thanks to good ol' YouTube I learned how to hand sew a blind stitch, and many other small triumphs.
Meanwhile, Samson and Delilah did this all day- yes literally, all day:


Look at my babies, oh how I love them. Samson on left, Delilah on right.





Ok, I will keep you in suspense until next time for my baby-sized projects. And no, this is not an announcement of any sorts! Sheesh, people!