I can sew anything!

Okay, I know I definitely can't sew everything, but I feel like I can. Why, you ask? Because dearest Mr. 246 spoiled me this Christmas. He got me this:

A new sewing machine! Not just any sewing machine -- a Brother cs6000i. Allow me to geek out for a moment: It has SIXTY stitches. It's quiet! It's light! I can do free-motion quilting! I can do quilting, period. It came with a walking foot even! It even came with the large table addition thingy (like above) AND a case! You can even change the max speeds so your stitching is even! And change your stitch length and width with a touch of a button! (Do I sound like a commercial yet?) I'll quit rambling about it. You can read more here at Amazon.

So, of course I had to try it out all the stitches immediately (except button holes, 'cause I'm scared of those still):

I can't get enough of all the decorative stitching. So wonderful. Of course I wanted to run out and buy a ton of stuff to sew but after looking at a stack of fabric I bought without any purpose (and still hadn't put away) I decided I needed to use up some of my stash so I practiced making my quilt lines and binding by making Luna another blankie. (Because 4 kajillion isn't enough for one child.)

It's just two pieces of flannel. I used a piece of fleece for the batting and I kind of like how that turned out. It's super warm, but of course it needs to be worked in. I might keep it around to sell or give as a gift since Luna has so many blankets already.

I decided my first real project will be a quilt for our bed. One of my unofficial goals for 2013 is to redecorate our room. (Well, actually just decorate it since we haven't.) Here's a pic I found from Pinterest that I'm kinda going for:

Image credit: click here.

Here are some of the fabrics I picked up today (I'll also be supplementing from my stash.):

I can't get enough of the folksy fabric, or the peacock fabric. This quilt is going to be wonderful! Mr. 246 and I have decided we're done with anything matchy-matchy and will be likening our abode to "The Burrow" from Harry Potter and I couldn't be more pleased.

Another thing I'm working on:

A Mario crossstitch. Who knows if I'll ever be finished. In the end it should look like this, but I forgot how long crossstitch takes. I proposed it for an OWL for the Harry Potter Craftalong, but I'm half tempted to abandon it. I suppose I could keep trucking along at a snails pace. It only takes me so long 'cause I can't sit and cross stitch forever. It makes me go a bit cross-eyed after a while.

So yea...that's what I've been up to. I have to go back to work Wednesday but I'm pretending this vacation will last forever. What's Mr. 246 and Lunabean been up to while I've been having all this crafty fun? Looking cute, as always:

Goodnight!
Ms. 246

50 Projects in 2012 (Part TWO!)

Alright folks, I'm back. The countdown to 50 projects for 2012 continues...25 more. I haven't counted in advance, but I'm trying to see if I can or have already hit 50 craft projects for 2012. Read more about it and see the first 25 projects in this post. Let's get back to it...

#26: Baby crib quilt - Purple border, yellow background
#27: Baby crib quilt - Pink border, orange background
(Again, I apologize for the crappy picture.)

Does a pinterest fail count? If so...
#28: "Rainbow Sugar Cookies" These things made me resort to drinking with how horribly it all turned out. Every time I go to bake I seem to forget that I can't stand baking.

#29: Tie-Dye Onesies - I made a couple, some others were made by friends for my baby shower.

#30: Re-Upholstered dining room chairs. Mr. 246 helped with these. They were originally that brown swede and we chose a green/yellow swirly pattern. So freaking easy. I may have to change them again and again.

#31: Crocheted squares for Knit-A-Square charity project. An organization sews them all together to make blankets for AIDS orphans in Africa. Inspired to make these due to the S.P.E.W. (HP Charity Crafting) craftalong on Craftster.

#32: Small Cuddle Texture Blanket out of a scrap I had. Sewed it all up nice for Lunabeaners.

#33: Another S.P.E.W. Project. This one was for Snuggles. You make soft snuggly blankies for shelter animals. :( The way that this lady feels about cats is how I feel about shelter dogs.)  It's a double-stranded crocheted mini blanket. I think it's about 30x30 inches.

Another shot at the blankets brings us...
#34: The second blanket in the pile is a blanket for Lunabean. (I had originally gotten the fabric on clearance to make blankies for the doggies, but it was so lovely and Luna liked it a lot so I made her one as well.)
#35: The "snuggle" on the bottom of the pile is for the Snuggle project as well.

#36: Set of "Defense Against the Dark Arts" HP ornaments made for the "Back to Hogwarts 3" swap on Craftster. They include (from left to right kind of):  A boggart trunk with a boggart of my partners worst fear - losing control, Mad-Eye Moody (Mr. 246 helped since unless I have therapy before hand I cannot work with clay), a set of three mini chalkboards with lessons on the Unforgivable Curses, in the back there are two DADA textbooks, a small Scabbers in the middle, two hand painted, decoupaged Prof. Umbridge kitty plates, set of three "In case of dementor attack" chocolates.

#37: Another project for the "Back to Hogwarts 3" Swap based on my partners favorite store - Weasley Wizard Wheezes.

#38: We nicknamed these "Jackson Pollock's Balls", but they're really Oreo Truffles. Quite delicious but also quite decadent. You definitely can't eat a lot of these.

 

#39: Crocheted Owl Bag - Made for my pseudo niece (my brother's girlfriend's child) since she was starting kindergarten (and it was her birthday). Her mommy said she loved it and was carrying around socks in it. Yea....I don't know. Haha.

#40: Crocheted Infinity Scarf: Modeled by Mr. 246 who now wants one of his own. ("Is this a girl thing? Can guys wear cowls?" "I think so!") Based on a pattern I found on Ravelry which I can't find again at the moment.

#41: Tiny Pumpkin - Made just yesterday in honor of Halloween.

#42: Chalkboard Calender - We are lost without this calender. It's kind of fun 'cause I get to decorate every month.

#43: Moon and Stars Baby Hat - Followed directions for a newborn size and unfortunately it never fit.

#44: Ear-flap Baby Hat - mentioned in previous post

#45: Slouchy Crochet Hat - not pictured. Made for a friend for her birthday and I forgot to take a picture.

Whew...so I've made it to 45! I'm impressed. There's probably a thing or two I'm forgetting, but I'm still impressed. I have a couple long-term projects that I work on from time to time - a granny square blanket which I work on when I have nothing else to work on. Here's a sneak peak (sorry for the picture quality, it's from my phone):

It's got about another half row currently. I know it doesn't look terribly wide, but once it's done (It's going to be 12 squares x 12 squares) I'm going to made a pretty wide border. 

The other in progress project I'm working on is my Harry Potter quilt. I'm following the pattern here from HP Paper Piecing. I must admit, though, since Luna's been born I haven't broken out the sewing machine too much. I don't have a designated spot to sew so I just set up at the dining room table. When I do paper piecing there's a bit more involved because you have to iron so much and it's just a big production I feel like. I can't wait for the day I have a craft room.

Well, I think I can make 5 finished projects by the end of the year. I'll update as I go. Then I get to start planning crafts for next year. First I must get through the holidays. (I finally feel like an adult because I am somewhat dreading the holidays. Not enough time to get things done, we have to travel with an infant, there's too much to fit in in too little time. It's just forced. I'm dreaming of a relaxing Christmas, but I have a feeling it won't happen this year. Anyway, this topic can fill a whole other post. I'm just being a Scrooge about Christmas today. Hehe.)

Thanks for looking!

Kindest Regards,

Ms. 246