Then I took the mending class because again my delusional mind thought if I learned how to take things in, I could stop paying the dry cleaner to fix my clothing. I mean he charged me practically nothing for all of the hemming and yet I was convinced it was much more worth it for me to learn how. You know in my spare time when not at work or with the kids I should spend a couple of hours taking up some jeans. {insert eye roll here}

I was on another planet when it came to sewing. I was totally convinced it would be nothing.

Let us enter the real world shall we?

I left the brand new sewing machine in the box until A was about 4 months old. At that point I volunteered to help J’s pre-K class make pillows for Passover. The kids decorated white napkins and the teacher gave them to me with another napkin to make the back.

My mom had to come pin them for me because of course the absolute master I was I couldn’t even figure out how to pin them. It was literally sewing four sides and I was lost. Thank g-d these were for kids who wouldn’t notice, because crooked was my middle name that day. It was embarrassing.

Let us please remember this was going to be so easy.

ONE YEAR later I finally buckled down to take my first garment class that actually used a real pattern. It was a wrap skirt which uses Kwik Sew 2954 I chose to use Amy Butler’s Daisy Chain Fabric Dandelion Field Mist. Three classes for three hours each and I’d have a new wrap skirt. The first class was just learning to read a pattern and cutting the pattern out. I couldn’t believe it took that long to cut a pattern and fabric. My mom laughed at me because again I was not on this planet when it came to sewing.

Anyway, I wore my new skirt. My co-worker is going to give me some fabric to make her one too. I figure practice right? Let’s hope the lines on her skirt are straight. Here’s my skirt. Cute right? I think I’ll take another class…

Please excuse the look on my face, I don’t know what happened.

When I started sewing I wanted to get a little box that holds all of the small notions.  I didn’t want them floating around in my big sewing kit.  I decided to check out Create For Less a great on-line shop for everything crafty.  I found the Snapware Stack ‘N Stack container.  Once it arrived at my house I embarked on planning to use  this organizational genius to its best ability.  I have pins in one box.  Seem ripper, tailor chalk, measuring tape in anther box.  The third box is for a tiny pad of paper with sewing notes.

They come in different sizes which makes it wonderful to think of all of the other things they could be used for.  They also have a Ribbon Dispenser with the slats to make dispensing ribbon a snap (no pun intended).

Going back to being a mommy for a second, consider it for little toys your child has.  The large ones could hold a ton of those matchbox cars or polly pockets.

I also thought it would be a great way to sort your make-up.  I think if I did that I’d have to come to terms with how many lipsticks I actually own and really how can another lipstick do any harm?

Try these stackable containers you’ll find many great ways to use it.

Last year I decided to take up the art of sewing.  It is not as easy as I would like it to be.  When I started this little adventure a very good friend of mine, who is an expert sewer herself, got me the Thread Catcher.  Again, the sellers on Etsy amaze me with their creativity and ability to come up with something that is not only useful, but suddenly needed.

The Thread Catcher is a pin cushion and mini trash can all in one.  This bag hangs from any table because at the top of the bag it is attached to a tiny bean bag that is very heavy.  That bean bag acts as a pin cushion.  Then in the bag is a mini pocket to put a pair of scissors.  The big bag is used to putting scraps of fabric or cut off thread into.

Now that I’ve tried so desperately to accurately describe this wonderful little contraption go check it out.  If you do any kind of crafting at all you will find the Thread Catcher ingenious and you too will wonder why you don’t own one yourself.

This whole post has inspired me to get my sewing projects out again.  I will definitely be taking the Thread Catcher to my sewing class next month.

A friend of mine gave me a sewing pattern for a child’s art portfolio as a gift.  The directions are so simple to follow.  The best part is the end result: a great art portfolio your child can carry around with them wherever they go.  Right now I’m a novice sewer so I know the ones I made aren’t made to perfection.  I intend to keep practicing making this case, because it will help keep any child organized when they are out and about.  We all know how important it is for your lil’ DaVinci to carry their art tools all of the time.  The store, Flip Skip Jump! on etsy is currently closed, but they will be back shortly for anyone to buy the pattern in a few weeks.