A simple gift from my cousin

I came home one night and saw this package on top of my desk. I went out and asked my cousin what it was and she told me that it was a gift from her.

Excited (because who doesn't love gifts - especially spontaneous, no-reason ones), I opened it up and saw this precious measuring tape.

Needless to say, I LOVE IT.

I'll be carrying this one in my purse all the time. You never know when you need to measure something. Anything.

Meg

Pretty Throw Pillows

Beginner sewers (seamstresses?) like me can do little wrong with making throw pillows as one of their first sewing projects. It's easy to do - maybe less than 30 minutes when you get the hang of it. This tutorial that I used from Sew4Home didn't have those pesky zippers that I still have yet to master.

I bought this fabric way before I started my sewing lessons because I planned on using it as a lampshade cover. The pattern didn't work so I just stored it in a box down in my closet. So happy that I was able to make use of it now. The fabric is just so pretty to be kept away.

As you can see, it really doesn't match the other pillows so I guess - more throw pillow cases to go?

Meg

Last Minute Gift

One of the few things I thought of before I slept last Saturday was that I was going to spend Sunday making my first sewing project - a drawstring bag that I found while browsing the internet.

But plans, as they always seem to go, have a tendency to change.

I woke up with a text from my friend asking me to come over to her house to celebrate the first birthday of...

her dog.

Yes. It's pretty frivolous, but she's a first time pet owner (at least I think so) and it wasn't really that serious. It was just an excuse for people to get together and eat.

My mind automatically thought of the sewing projects for pets that I passed through when I browsed. I didn't have a pet so they were irrelevant to me at that time. But suddenly, I got the idea of making a birthday gift for her dog.

I found one easy project from Sew It Love It - a dog toy made out of fabric scraps and I thought - great! Fabric scraps! I have a lot of those.

So off I went to my sewing machine. My execution was a bit messy, but I think it ended up okay - overall.

I was nervous since I didn't know if the dog will actually like it. It is flowery, and the dog is male but the main point is that it was colorful. Color = Cool for dogs, maybe?

After a few moments of ignoring it, the dog finally played with it. And the other dog did too.

Made me so happy and proud. Heh.

 

Not bad. Not bad at all. :)

Meg

Book Haul

I've been visiting the fashion aisle of my neighborhood bookstore lately. Here are some of the books that I took home with me.

(L-R) Paris Street Style, Fashionary, and Drawing Fashion & Style

I love French women's effortless sense of style which is most commonly described as je ne sais quoi - something that cannot be defined, but it is attractive or pleasing. How do they do it? Paris Street Style is filled with interviews and tips so you can achieve even a little of that certain something that makes French women chic.

Some pages from the book

The Fashionary is something that I've wanted to buy for the longest time but, like learning how to sew, took ages for me to actually do. In my mind, there's a certain level of commitment that was involved in buying it - meaning that I am definitely going to learn fashion design/sewing.

And how cute is the pink cover and the mint ribbon?

I got the Fashionary first and then the drawing book a few days later because I thought I needed help in doing fashion illustrations. I definitely have to make some time reading and practicing that book.

Meanwhile, I did a page on my Fashionary - copying the three outfits from Paris Street Style that I posted above.

I haven't colored them in yet because I'm not sure if the paper will stand up to watercolors or colored pens. 

As a side note, I am thinking of taking a watercolor class for beginners. I already know the basics but that was a long time ago and I haven't been practicing so this will be like a refresher course for me.

Never too late. :)

Meg

Meet Katie

My Katie

 

I did it! I finally bought my first sewing machine! And I am beginning to wonder why it took me so long to do so.

I have a habit of naming my machines/gadgets like my computer, my phone, my hard drives... This one I named Katie - inspired by one of my fashion icons Kate Middleton aka the Duchess of Cambridge.

It's a BM2600 and the exterior is white with violet details, and since violet is associated with royalty, I thought it was really fitting.

I am so glad that I figured out how to set it up on my own. You can't imagine how excited I was when I successfully winded my first bobbin!

My first few stitches using Katie

Now I am really itching to do more sewing projects. Perhaps I can scour the 'net for those that are targeted for beginners like me. :)

Meg

Progress

I learned how to use the edging machine today. I found that it was relatively easier to use than the sewing machine, but I still made a lot of mistakes before I got the semi-hang of it.

 Edges

It does help that I had light, comfortable flats on. I think the reason why I had such a big problem with controlling the pedal on the sewing machine during my first day was that I was wearing my Converse sneakers which were kind of heavy. So, I'll keep that in mind from now on.

Love these flats from Forever21

This was my third lesson and I hope my instructor isn't too disappointed with me because of my lack of progress. In my defense, I don't get to practice my sewing skills besides the once-a-week class. That's why I decided to finally take the plunge and buy myself that sewing machine this week. I'm already in the pot, so why not go all in, right?

We're going to do the first project next week - an unlined pencil cut skirt. So excited! I already have an image of it and will probably go crazy at the fabric store later on picking out materials. Sewing it will be a different story, though, cause I still haven't mastered the locks and zippers and all that stuff. Hopefully when I get my sewing machine later I'll be able to practice and improve my skills.

 Meg

Happy to fail

Failure. It's a scary thought, right?

When I told my friends that I was thinking of learning about making clothes, they were supportive, of course, but I remember telling them a throwaway comment about "what if I sucked at it?". Here I am, almost thirty, and most people my age already got careers and family and their lives sorted out. Me? I'm embarking on something totally different from what I envisioned myself being or doing years ago.

And, yeah - what if this wasn't my thing? What if I learn that I have absolutely no talent or skill for sewing? 

That hesitant first press of my foot on that sewing machine pedal was exactly like pressing my foot on the gas pedal of a racing car with no brakes and you didn't know whether you would crash or survive the drive. Like a drunk, I couldn't sew a straight line, broke a needle, and lost my thread at least five times. I even accidentally sewed part of my measuring tape to the fabric I was working on. 

I know it's ugly, but somehow I feel like they are the prettiest stitches I've ever seen in my life.

Thoughts of leaving the class flitted through my mind. The air-conditioning in the room was arctic and I'll work better next time when I bring my cardigan. I've already tried my best today - let's go home now.

But there was also a part of me - the better part of me - that reminded me that nobody expects me to be perfect the first day. I was there to learn and not to prove that I was a genius at sewing. I wasn't.

It made me happy, in a way. Being perfect means that there's nothing else to do. Perfect is easy and boring. Failing and working hard afterwards to succeed is more interesting. Knowing that I have some goal to look forward to is better than whiling away all of your time with fruitless pursuits and empty distractions.

So I might not get it right this moment, but I still have six months to go. And, as I learned today - both in sewing and in life - slow and steady wins the race.

Meg