Serging Ahead!

As if I didn't have a long enough list of craft projects and new ideas waiting to be explored, I had to stumble upon a new toy!

Purchased from Goodwill for only $39.99, I knew it was a gamble. But with Goodwill's 10 Day return policy for electronics, I knew it was a sure bet to pick up this Simplicity Easy Lock Serger and give it a whirl. After finding a PDF of the owner's manual online, I knew I was in great shape! All of the original accessories were included (rare!), plus four full cones of black thread - that's $15 in savings right there! After 45 minutes of using the manual to learn how to thread the darn thing, and another 15 minutes adjusting the various thread tensions and stitch lengths, I was finally in business!

Now, I was under the impression machines were invented to make life easier for humans. My new Simplicity Easy Lock Serger does just that - it enhances simple projects and simplifies certain tasks. But on the other hand, a whole mew world of crafting and sewing possibilities open up for me, making my life anything but easier!

I'm eager to try some of the fab ideas in "Ready, Set, Serge!" by Georgie Melot. Check back to see just how I put my new toy to use!

A Gift for Grandma

To celebrate my Grandmother's blessed 80th Birthday, I embarked on a grand adventure, fraught with frustrations, perilous pin pokes, and broken sewing machine needles - but ultimately made of love and filled with joy and fond memories. I made my grandma a memory quilt - my very first attempt at quilt making EVER!You can see the charming results above. I collected baby pictures of her children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses, and great grand child. After scanning the photos into the computer, I chose to colorize all of the photos in a black and white scheme to compliment the fabrics I chose. White Pima Cotton and Black Cona Cotton accent the white-on-black & black-on-white Moda filigree fabrics bordering each of the family photos.

Over 50 years of my Grandmother's greatest treasures and accomplishments (her family!) are pictured on this memory quilt. And in memory of my late Grandfather, I hand-made appliques of baby red cardinals for family members I didn't have photos for. Crafted from felt, I hand stitched embroidery floss accents and outlines on each gentle birdy. To amplify the black, white, and red color scheme, I added a red satin border on the outer edge of the photograph panels to complement the cardinals.

After 4 months of sewing, ironing, and embroidering, the results may not have been sheer perfection, but sure joy was created in celebrating the wonderful life of my grandmother!

My New Toy!

I needed a short break from blogging and from crafting to recharge those creative batteries and reclaim those lost spaces of my home that occasionally get swamped in crafting mayhem. Those die-hard craft-a-holics out there know exactly what I'm referring to! While on that craft-less leave of absence, I made one of my first, real adult-like purchases - my first sewing machine! :)

After scouring customer reviews online, checking out Consumer's Reports, and getting helpful tips from a seasoned sewer in the aisles of Jo-Ann Fabrics, I finally settled on this Kenmore 15343 Model. At an affordable price (under $90!) and with many beginner and experienced crafters singing its praises in customer reviews, I couldn't resist the allure of this sleek machine. When you ease your foot onto its pedal, you can just hear this baby purr!

With summer finally here, I won't be posting as often as I did in June. But do check back often to see how I put my new toy to use! I'll also continue to post random recipes, sources of inspiration, and photos of my finished projects.

Keep this site bookmarked so you too can see just What A Joy you can have when you too let creativity take over!