My New Hobby

For most of my life, if I wanted to be creative, I did so with words.  I wrote poetry and short stories and of course, this blog.  But over the past year, I've been trying out my creativity in different ways too.  I've picked up sewing, dove back into embroidery, and have tried my hand at yarn wreaths.

My new hobby?  Crocheting.

It is addicting.  And so very satisfying.  My first attempt--a scarf for Evie--didn't turn out so well.  I kept forgetting to count my stitches so the lines weren't at all even, and it was just an utter disaster.  But I refused to give up, so I tried a somewhat simpler pattern for a hat.  I think it turned out pretty cute.

Then I crocheted a flower to adorn it.  It was exactly what the hat needed.  Now it looks fabulous, if I do say so myself.  Because I'm super humble like that.

It's a good thing Christmas is right around the corner so I have an excuse to create a bunch of things.  My goal is to make most if not all our of Christmas gifts this year.  Personalized gifts made from the heart are always more fun than something mass-produced in the stores anyway.

For step-by-step instructions on how to make your own "darling hat" or "slinky flower", check out Crochet Geek's Youtube channel.  She makes it so easy to follow along, even for a complete novice like me.  She even has videos teaching you all the basic stitches you will need for her huge assortment of patterns. Someday I may even attempt her Angry Bird hat tutorial! 

Wordless Wednesday: Martha's Back

My Etsy

I've talked a few times now about how I've recently started sewing.  And about how much I love it.  It's been a blast playing with different fabrics and trying out new patterns and the like. 

I finally set up an Etsy shop, Susie Homemaker Boutique, though it sort of gives me indigestion just saying typing that.  Obviously I'm still learning, and I can't really imagine people liking my stuff enough to buy it.  But tons of people have said they like it, and would love for me to start selling.

Ask and you shall receive.

I don't have a lot of inventory right now so it's slim pickings over at my shop.  Mostly I'm selling so I can buy more fabric and not feel guilty about it, and I'm just having fun.  Plus, since I'm still new to all of this, each item takes me a little while to produce since I want to make sure its absolutely perfect. 

So head on over to my shop if you're willing, and pass it along to your friends if you love it.  I promise I won't let my Etsy shop overtake my blog, but like a terrified proud Momma bear, I couldn't help but share!

Martha Monday

Anyone wondering what I've been doing today?  No?  Well, sorry.  I'm going to tell you anyway.  Or rather, show you.

How stinking cute are these?  Makeup and travel bags!  I'm still tweaking them to the dimensions that I like, but I'm super stoked.  Personally, I think it was a day well spent.

Where Have I Been?

"Where have you been?!?" some of you may be asking.  Why haven't you been dazzling us with your wit and insight the past couple of weeks?  Or maybe you haven't been saying that at all.  Maybe you've been kinda glad I haven't bogged the blog world down with my random musings.  Either way, I'm here to talk once more.

Remember me telling you that my wonderful, awesome, amazing husband bought me my first ever sewing machine for Christmas?  This one in fact:

Well, that's where I've been.  Sitting right in front of it.  For hours on end.  Producing things.  Hopefully cute things.

I'm a complete beginner when it comes to sewing machines.  Michael had to help me thread it the first time because the instructions confused the heck out of me.  I looked blankly at all the attachments and accessories that came with it, completely unsure what any of them were meant for. 

Thankfully, it didn't take me long to catch on.  And I've been sewing ever since.  I've never been an especially crafty person before so it's like a whole new world I'm exploring.  Fabric swatches and thread weights and patterns oh my!

Here are some of my creations:

Obviously I'm loving the aprons.  But once I started on the tote bags, I think I've found something that could be an obsession.  I've been pouring over bag patterns like crazy ever since. 

There's been some talk of me opening a tiny boutique to sell my (obviously beginner) wares since I've had some interest from folks back home.  Plus, it's a heck of a lot of fun.  But we'll see.  Right now?  I'm just loving the new distractions sewing brings. 

So if I'm not here, it's because I'm sitting at my dining room table, pondering my latest project.

Christmas Stockings

Over the weekend, my creative juices started flowing again.  I mentioned last week that I've been feeling crafty lately and not in a book-writing-way.  In a working-with-my-hands way.  My newest project was Christmas stockings.

I don't have a sewing machine yet so I had to sew them by hand which kind of took forever, but that's okay.  I got to practice with choosing fabric and following patterns and improvising so it was a success.  It was definitely a learning experience, and I'd say by the third stocking I had it down pretty much perfect.

Michael's Stocking

My stocking

Evie's stocking

I'm ridiculously proud of myself for the finished outcome simply because I've never been in any way, shape or form considered artsy.  My siblings got that gene, not me.  But I think I picked great fabric and did a good job of making sure the best part of the fabric design was displayed.  I love sewing!

Here's how pretty they all look together.

Now I just need a sewing machine so I can start making more complicated things!

Cookie Time

I'm ready for fall to be here.  I want to wear jeans and long sleeve shirts and eat chili and drink hot chocolate.  And I am thoroughly sick of waiting.  Even though it's still hot outside, I decided I am tired of not using my oven.  So yesterday, Evie and I made cookies.

Just call me Martha.

Michael worked a weird shift so I needed to fill the afternoon when he's usually home with something fun.  Last week I bought an awesome KitchenAid Stand Mixer at the Thrift Shop on base for a crazy deal of $50.  It was the perfect time to try it out.

I have this great chocolate chip recipe that I absolutely love.  It makes crunchy, crumbly cookies rather than soft and gooey cookies.  It's pure heaven. 

So Evie and I geared up for the task ahead.  She loves to help in the kitchen even though it's not always very helpful.  She even has her own apron!

Evie gets really involved in the whole process.  She doesn't just sit around looking cute.  She puts all the ingredients together, and stirs them. I'm surprised she lets me do the measuring.

The end product is usually a little messy though.

Evie didn't help form the cookies because I wasn't sure how sanitary she'd be.  And with good reason.  She kept stealing the chocolate chips out of the cookies! 

This recipe makes a lot of cookies.  These aren't even all of them.  But they sure look great, don't they?

Evie was of course the official cookie taste tester.  Her expression may not show it, but she approved.

Every day I'm reminded why I am so very blessed.  Not only do I have an amazing daughter who is so much like me it's kinda scary (no, really.  I remember what I was like as a child.  Uh-oh!), but I get to spend every day with her doing all the fun things that kids enjoy.  Baking cookies is so much more rewarding when you're looking through the eyes of a two year old.

And I just have to end by showing my awesomely cool apron I just bought from Lakeside Collections.  If you've never heard of them, check the website out.  I love their stuff!

My Inner Martha Stewart

I'm a rock star.

What a way to begin a post, right?  But I have to say it.  It's the truth.  Because last night, my inner Martha Stewart made an appearance.

When it comes to all things crafty, you can usually count me out.  I may be able to imagine up something unique and pretty in my head, but it never turns out how I pictured it.  My creative juices flow in words, not with a sewing machine.

But I'm trying to change all that.  At least a little bit.  Because I want my house to look like a home without spending a million bucks.  Plus, I'm living vicariously through Evie, and want her to be surrounded by all things pretty and sparkly so I can bask in them too.  Again, without spending a million bucks.

Last night I jumped on the bandwagon that seems to be making the rounds. I made Evie a tutu. She's going to be an Autumn fairy for Halloween, and I haven't been able to find a tutu that I liked.  So I decided I would take a shot at making one.

It seems like everyone is making tutus right now.  Everyone.  And now I know why.  Because they are so easy to make!

From start to finish, it took me just over an hour.  That's with cutting all the tulle and everything, which is one of the most time-consuming parts of the project.  And the best part? It only cost me $7!

This tutu was a practice run.  I couldn't find any orange tulle at the fabric stores in town for her costume, so I picked up some pink and black instead.  I'll have to order orange tulle online somewhere and I'd rather mess up with colors that I don't have to custom order.

I got four yards of tulle, two yards in black and two in pink.  The best way to cut the tulle is to roll the tulle up like a tube and cut it in three inch sections.

For a small child, the lengths of tulle will be too long so you will need to cut each piece in half.  See what I mean about cutting the tulle being the most time consuming part?  I had big messy piles by the time I finished cutting everything up.

For the body of the tutu, I used an adult stretch headband.  You know, those really cheap ones you can buy in a pack to use for when you're exercising?

The next step is easy.  Just tie the piece of tulle onto the headband in a knot.  That sounds confusing when I write it like that, but that's all there is to it.  Just slip the piece of tulle through the loop of the headband and tie a knot (like when you're tying a shoe, before you do the loops) in the middle, so that the tails of the tulle are even.

Just keep it up until you fill the headband.  I alternated the two colors every other knot (pink, black, pink, black, etc).  One word of advice I would give is to not put the tulle too close together.  I ran out of tulle when I was about 3/4 of the way around the headband.  I had to go around and spread out the knots at the end which was annoying. I could have bought more tulle to complete it, but the skirt was full enough as it was.

I added some thin ribbon randomly in the skirt as well at the end to give the tutu a little something extra.  I tied the ribbon the same way as the tulle.  

And here's the finished product.  I think it looks pretty fabulous, if I do say so myself.

I have a feeling Evie is going to flip over it.  And if I can't find orange tulle for a reasonable price, she can always go as a punk rock fairy for Halloween!

And since I know my directions were probably a little confusing, for better step-by-step instructions, watch this video.