Superhero Capes

The first thing I wanted to sew was a superhero cape for my boys.  I set out to do just that.  I searched the web high and low and found the perfect tutorial.  And this is when I learned that while tutorials are great and wonderful, it's ok to think outside the box and do it your own way.  However, don't be surprised when it doesn't look the same.  lol  There is a good chance if you stray from the directions you probably won't end up with the exact same cape.  I was SO proud of my cape when I made it.  I was showing it off and couldn't be happier.  But as I made another one it got better.  And I made a few more and realized my first attempt was an embarrassment.  But this is how I learn.  Trial and error.

 My very first cape.  It's reversible yet I made it Superman on both sides.  It was a learning moment. :)

The first row of pictures are my second and 3rd capes.  They are reversible.  Each cape has a Superman logo and then one cape has a star and one a J.
The second row of capes are for my friend's girls.  Each had a princess crown on one side and a S on the other.

This is a picture of a Batman/Captain America (ish...not the full logo) cape I made for my friend's grandson.  I didn't ever get a picture of the final product, but you get the idea here.

 And FINALLY after begging my son for a month he let me make him a new cape.  Batman and Superman.  

It is really hard to tell in the pictures, but there is a pretty drastic difference in the first to last cape.  But the kids LOVE them!!  They are played with nearly daily.  They are easy to wash and still look great months later.  Even if this was the only thing I ever made, I think it was worth it to learn to sew.  I find great joy in making little kids happy with a superhero cape!

Branching Out

Once I learned to sew and then crochet I knew there was a whole new world opened up to me.  I have slowly decided to try my hand at other crafty type projects.  Pinterest has been my main source for ideas.  I've really had fun perusing the web to find my next great idea.  But not all ideas come from the internet.  Sometimes I'll be walking in a store, or at church, or at the library, or anywhere and see something.  My mind will start turning and turning and I'll get an idea.  It takes everything in me to remember what I was doing in the first place and not drop everything to immediately start crafting.  It's a sickness.  And I should seek help.  But crafting is more fun than grocery shopping.  I'm not sure I want the help.  :)  

I attempted to make a stuffed turtle.  My son LOVES it, but I can only see room for improvement.
 Stuffed animals are fun to make. 

Just a simple Happy New Year sign made from cardstock and ribbon.

We made photo props for a photo booth.  

This menu board has changed my life!  I LOVE IT!  I plan to make it cuter in the future, but for now it is very functional and I'm happy with it.

These are just a few of the things I have made this year, but I've been having fun getting into paper crafts and ribbon and hot glue and how can I forget mod podge.  The possibilites are endless.  I hope my hands can keep up with the ideas I have.  

Crochet

Once upon a time I was perusing on Pinterest.com and I came across an awesome lego blanket.  It was then I decided it was time to try to learn to crochet.  I bought yarn, hooks of different sizes and set up my laptop.  YouTube was going to be my teacher.  And teach me it did.

I made this on my first night.  

Then I kept going.  It turns out I kind of like to crochet.  But it is really hard on my hands.  So I don't get to do it as much.  Here are a couple of other little projects I made.

I have made several other things as well, but I haven't made that blanket, yet.  I keep saying I'll get to it, but I love fast projects and that big blanket is anything but a quick project.  Someday...Someday!!

Here is my first real baby hat I've made.  I love this pattern.  This particular hat was given to my friend who is having a baby boy soon.  She loves it, too.  Yay!

(please excuse my model...I don't have a baby and even if I did I've never had a baby that had a normal sized head.)

It's too bad it is FULL of mistakes.  I don't think you can see the mistakes so easily when you weren't the one messing up.  I'm trying really hard to let go of perfection.

I hope I can keep crocheting (at the very least baby hats).  I really do enjoy it and I really like the end results.

The Beginning

Nearly a year ago I decided it would be a wonderful idea to purchase a sewing machine.  I did a little research online and about Thanksgiving time my new sewing machine arrived.  I was so excited I ripped open the box right away.  I feverishly read the owners manual.  I said a few curse words under my breath (don't tell my mom) when I couldn't wind the bobbin.  I slipped a few more obscenities when it came time to thread the needle.  I sewed a few crooked lines on some scrap fabric.  And I stood up from the table and declared to myself that I had tried and sewing wasn't for me.  I put everything away and went about my day.

My very first sewing machine!

I felt defeated.  I was ready.  Here I am....a mother of 2 small boys...and I can't even sew a straight line.  I may as well turn in my woman card.

My good husband came home from work and asked about my new sewing machine.  I rolled my eyes like I was 15.  He's a good man.  He didn't say another word.  He had listened to me ramble on and on about how I was going to learn how to sew and I needed a sewing machine and I couldn't wait until Christmas...I needed it NOW.  I drug that man and my 2 small children to JoAnns on BLACK FRIDAY to buy a few sewing essentials.  What a good man, right??  And then it came.  My husband loved me enough to go to JoAnns on black friday.  We were both naive....we didn't know.  Have you ever been to JoAnns on Black Friday?  I wouldn't suggest it unless you know what you're doing.  It's a little chaotic!  He supported my crazy desire to learn to sew.  I couldn't just give up after 20 aggravating minutes of trying to sew one straight line.

And just like that I was on top of the world again.  Over the next couple of months I found online sewing lessons (remember I have 2 small boys...the only free time I have is after 9pm), YouTube and various tutorials on blogs.  And I was off.  And over time I've started to have more and more successes in my sewing and crafting hobby.  But the fun part is all of the mistakes.