Powerpoint is my BFF

I don't know about the rest of the creative people out there, but I don't think I could live without Powerpoint.  I prefer it over Word or Publisher and is my go to no matter what I am doing.

Today I wanted to make a personal graduation gift for a friend who will be an elementary administrator next year.  We are both gaga for all things Brené Brown and if you don't know who that is, stop reading this and google her NOW.  She is the "Words to Live By" Queen in my opinion.

Anyhoo, I googled images for Brené Brown Quotes and I had a ton to choose from but I just wanted it to be more special than copy/paste.  So I turned to my BFF (Powerpoint) and check out my creations!

 

Who needs anything more than coffee, Powerpoint, an arsenal of fonts, and a little creativity and love?

Made my own paper piecing pattern!

I wanted to make a Sugar Skull quilt square for a friend.  I couldn't find a pattern that didn't look like a minecraft skull so I decided to make my own!  (crazy right?!?)

Here is what I started with:

A coloring page.

Then I divided it into strips..

Tada!  Even the back doesn't look too shabby!

I appliqued the eyes and nose so they would stand out.

I then made a throw pillow!

This was the first time I added a (gigantic) handmade tag!

Best part is that my friend LOVED it!

Mug Rugs and Paper Piecing!

I've decided that piecing and making quilt squares for mug rugs and such is way more doable than a big ol quilt!  So now I've started teaching myself techniques one quilt square at a time!  I have been watch tons of craftsy videos, but it has also been fun just to try some stuff on my own.

 Didn't these turn out great?  The tutorial at Not-so-plain-Jane really was a great one to follow.  Then I decided to piece the trees on my own!  Great volunteer and teacher gifts!

 Paper piecing has become my new obsession and this LOVE pattern was freebie that I have had so much fun making big and small!

Surprised my Husband with a Wooby for his birthday!

So I had tried a quilt before and it was hard.  I also did not sandwich it or do the actual quilting.   It turned out ok, but I wanted to complete a throw quilt from start to finish for my husband's birthday.

I fell in love with the Moda fabric called Table for Two and even though it isn't super manly, I was able to make it work!

I also started sewing with friends this year and one them has an awesome wall of felt to piece your projects together, so you can see I borrowed that idea for this project!  I backed and binded it with grey tones so it turned out just like I wanted!

Reading Pillows!

I have been so busy with life but still mixing in learning in my sewing room. Here are some of my accomplishments since school has started:


These are Reading Pillows.  I've had a blast learning how to mix and match colors AND work with piping!  I owe some major credit to this amazing tutorial at the Polka Dot Chair. They make great personalized gifts.


 

Fearless Sewer on the loose!

New Kindle, New Case :)

I have been contemplating on buying a lighter Kindle (love the Kindle Fire but it is SO HEAVY) so I could read outside and keep my carpal tunnel from flaring up all summer.  I finally ordered one and I love it!  Of course, I needed a cute way to carry this nifty little treat, so here is what I designed:

Notice that I have figured out the cute ruffle thingy, but don't look to close, it is not Etsy pretty.  I love these two fabrics together!

Also notice that I am no longer afraid of fancy snaps!  The first time I tried those suckers, I think I measured and thought it through for an hour!  I just went with my gut this time and it worked!  

I totally equate my sewing trial and errors to old school teachers and technology.  Sometimes teachers that cannot keep up with me when it comes to tech stuff will say, how do you figure all of this stuff out?  I usually just say, the key is "NO FEAR!"  As in, I am not afraid to mess things up, so I will click away until I figure it out.

I feel the same way they do about everything sewing.  I am too worried about messing stuff up like breaking my mom's machine, or ruining that expensive piece of fabric.  Once I realized that parts can be replaced, I am pushing that machine to its limits, and JoAnn Fabrics will always have a coupon for my fabric habit!

Watch out world, fearless sewer on the loose!

Update: Lollipop Bouquet

A while back I posted One Step Away...: 40 doesn't really suck... for a guy friend turing 40.  I decided to go a little nicer for my friend turning 50.  Fun to bring to a party right?

I got the jar at Hobby Lobby for 50% off and I used my 40% coupon for the styrofoam ball (those suckers aren't cheap!)  Add some ribbon, tag, and lollipops and there you go!

Variation: Use Blow Pops and say "Hoping 50 doesn't BLOW!"

Update: I'm still here!

If you are a teacher, you know that some things just don't happen during the school year. I didn't stop sewing or crafting, but I did stop blogging about it.  Since I use this blog to remember what I've done, I really do need to update!

 So here are a few projects I've completed since I last posted:

A few teachers and I decided to have a booth at our school's December Craft Fair.  It was hard pricing things and I would much rather gift my creations, but it was good experience!

I also mass produced a ton of gift card holders for the season. 

I shopped Amazon for most of Christmas, and I was feeling guilty on Christmas Eve waiting on a package from UPS.  So when he delivered the package about 6pm, I left a card, a liter of soda, and some holiday popcorn.  :)






All of my friends are having babies and grand babies so I used this handy dandy You Tube video to master making self binding receiving blankets.

Here are a few that I whipped up...

             

 I even made a coordinating layette bag 

to go with the one for Shelby at Dazzle! 

One of my best friends was having her second baby and really fell in love with this guitar print.  We searched and found it at the cutest little fabric shop called The Stitch Lab in Austin.

Remember, I just started sewing, and I am self taught, 

so she must be a REALLY good friend...

We quilted together a bunch of coordinating fabrics as starting point. I also backed it with minky (again, she is a REALLY good friend).

I also patched together a summer receiving blanket!

Then we decided I could figure out curtains and tada!

Last but not least I conquered the bumper pad and bed skirt.

Brooks Roland Bonn was worth it!

I also was able to conquer my fear of zippers by making a bunch of these cute key chains for my library volunteers:

I owe my victory to Erin Erikson over at Dog Under My Desk.  Her tutorial made it a cinch!

My volunteers loved them!