Mama Has Been Sew Busy

While I have done a bit of sewing over the years,

it has been quite some time since I've pulled out the machine.

(Let's just say that I think the 3 younger kids

were unaware that Mama knows how to sew.)

I think the last thing I sewed was dining room and living room curtains . . .

10 years ago . . . and I never liked them, but couldn't afford to replace them . . .

"sew" I always felt like a failure in the sewing department.

I have had a few projects lined up, though, and waiting

for me this past year, since we have done

quite a bit of redecorating.

"Sew", our Dining Room Table has been "decorated"

with the Sewing Machine this week.

And, it has been "Sew" Much Fun.

Project #1

I re-covered an ottoman for the Rec. Room.

(When we sold the 3 matching sofas and 2nd ottoman

last year, we kept 1 ottoman for me to re-cover,

to coordinate with our new sectional.)

I went with a completely different style,

"sew" I stripped it down to the bare box.

I didn't have any type of pattern;

I just knew in my mind what I wanted

and started measuring and sewing.

I'm pretty excited about the finished product.

Project #2

I made a curtain for our School Room Door.

Our School Room is painted Red, White, & Blue,

"sew" I went with a Red Checkered fabric for this side.

However, our hallway is painted Purple and Beige,

"sew" I went with the Purple Checkered Fabric for the other side.

Project #3

I re-designed a curtain for Josiah's Bedroom.

Our basement windows are a bit of an odd size;

"sew" a valance is too small, but a curtain is too big;

"sew", I purchased a valance to match his bedding,

and then added on two ruffles to lengthen it into a curtain.

Funny Side Note:  I did not notice until posting this picture,

that Papa forgot to paint the window trim when he repainted the bedroom.

Project #4

I made a valance for the Kitchen.

One sweet child said, "Wow.  

It looks like you bought it at the store.  

It doesn't even look homemade."

We bought new Purple Drapes for the Living Room and Dining Room last year.

Behind the drapes, we hung these cotton "shears",

also using the shears as curtains on the sliding glass door.

When I bought the shears, I bought one extra panel 

in order to make a matching valance for the kitchen.

I just loved the scalloped, embroidered edge along the bottom;

"sew" I just cut the bottom off to make the valance.

Project #5

I made a runner for the piano.

I love to decorate the top of the piano;

and I have a couple of nice seasonal runners,

but had been wanting one for the "off season".

Since I had the rest of the curtain that I made the kitchen valance from,

I just sewed up this little matching runner with some of the extra fabric.

Not only did I have fun making these projects,

but I also enjoyed seeing how inexpensively I could do them all.

For the Ottoman . . . 

I used Duck Cloth, and found some remnant fabrics,

which cut the costs significantly.

For the School Room Curtain . . .

I also used remnant fabrics.  The purple checkered fabric

was the exact size needed, without an inch to spare.

I didn't cut any off.

For Josiah's Bedroom Curtain . . .

I used an old blue valance that we already had,

thus the need for 2 "ruffles" rather than 1 attached piece.

For the Kitchen Valance and Piano Runner . . .

I did buy 1 curtain panel,

but had shopped and shopped to find a

good deal on these curtains at Target.

I still have some fabric left,

"sew" I think I will make a couple of throw pillows

for the Living Room Couch.

Wow!

I have REALLY enjoyed working on these 5 Sewing Projects this week.

(in addition to 4 yummy baking "projects", 3 days this week).

I think the creativity of making the 

"Baby Shakes & Daisy Cakes" 

last Friday put me in Project Mode.

And, the "Success" of my weight loss

gave me the emotional and physical energy

and determination to tackle so many projects at once.

Now . . . 

I am off to Scrapbook with the Church Ladies this weekend,

and can't wait to see all that I will be able to accomplish.

My creativity juices are certainly flowing this week.

Do you sew?

What types of things do you like to make?