A Couple of Crafts and my new friend, "Singer"

Now for the big reveal -

Let me introduce you to the new joy in my life...

(Grandma, I know you resisted this photo, but I think it's sweet and you look lovely!!!)

My grandma gave me my very first sewing machine!!!  Even more special, it is the one she has used for years.  I know, I know, in the blog world I am lagging way behind in the dust of some savvy seamstresses.  Not any longer!  Look out you creative crafters - I'm bound and determined to learn how to use this thing!    Here are a few on my list that I am most motivated to try:

Rag Quilt Letters from Happy Together

I have been aching to make these ever since I saw them!  What great gifts for little ones from a teacher.  Please note:  I will NOT be attempting to quilt them!  Let's not get ahead of ourselves here!  My Little Gems is also a great source for this.

Buttercup Bag

LOVE this...so cute.  I know this would be quite an endeavor, and obviously way over my head right now, but I'm one determined girl...and definitely a dreamer! :)

Sock Monkey

This might be funny, but it's certainly no joke. :)  For whatever reason, I would just love to make one of these cute little monkeys!

Even more exciting for my grandma is why she gave me her old machine in the first place.  Look at this beauty that she recently received from a friend:

Now that is an authentic antique.  I am looking forward to some fun times ahead with my grandma's help on some projects.  She has been sewing since she was 7 years old!!  Which is why she said she didn't even know where to start with teaching me.  She suggested I take a beginning class somewhere.  Any suggestions??  I am thinking JoAnn's might be a good option, or I might try a small local fabric store.

Thank you for your generosity and for bringing joy to my day Grandma!!!

Although I didn't have my handy dandy new sewing machine last week, I was still busy working on some cute crafts.  One was the princess wand I said I was planning to make for my niece.  It worked out quite well, and was really fun to make!  I was so excited to give it to her.  I ended up pairing it with a cute book called, "Gigi: God's Little Princess" by Sheila Walsh, which I thought was very fitting, especially since she's holding a wand like mine on the front!  Come to find out there is even a cute DVD with the same name as the book.

I wish I had a wonderful tutorial for you, but being my first try, I was so focused on getting it right that I wasn't thinking of taking any photos.  Basically I drew and cut out a bunch of free-hand stars, which was the most frustrating part.  I used it as a pattern for my felt, (the dark pink was glitter felt!), and cut out two different sizes.  Then I used a regular needle and thread, sewed them together, and stuffed it gently with filling.  I painted the handle with silver glitter paint, then wrapped it in ribbon, after hot-glueing the end of one ribbon to the bottom, and one to the top.  I also used a little hot glue to secure the dowel rod into the star.  Then I finished sewing it up.  I'm not sure how long it will last, but it seemed pretty secure for playing with when I gave it to her!  Braelyn had a very fun birthday party and she is a super sweet little princess!

And finally, a little beauty for myself:

  It's only natural that a teacher who lost her job last year would have to find something to do with the yards of fabric she had on her bulletin boards!  So this is what I'm doing with it.  I have honestly been wanting to make one of these headbands forever, so finally I did.  I wore it all weekend too!  I was just so excited to finally join the fabric flower making family!  Basic steps: 1. Start with a strip of fabric.  2.Tie a knot at one end.  3.Twist  4.Glue (I used hot glue)  5.Roll  6.Repeat.  I am excited to try many more projects like this in the near future.  There are some great tutorials out there, and I particularly like the inspiration from these posts at Little Birdie Secrets and The Mama Monster.  Here are some other ones I have made but have yet to do anything with yet.

So there is my craft joy for the day!  Hopefully this means much more to come, and a whole new side of me in the blog world.  I might be slow to catch on, but eventually I come around.  :)

And because she says, "If you made it, post it," I'm linking to "Get Your Craft On!" at Today's Creative Blog!

I'm also linking to "Fabulous Friday Finds" on Frou Frou Decor!