Of course, all these things past, but as much as I love crafts and creating things, it always comes with a price. It cost to do them and my house pays the cost of neglect. I've gotta get a better system.
I'm not poor, but I live on a budget. Being creative is not easy to live on a budget even with the DIY projects. It's why in most cases I avoid doing too many crafts or any project because the moment I walk into a Hobby Lobby/JoAnn's/Michaels, I leave wanting it all and thinking what can I sell on craigslist to get more money. It's never a good thing. I feel guilty for wanting.
On a happier note. . . I still craft regardless. I've decided if you hold a creative person back and don't let them use some of their creativity juices, they will explode and you mine as well had put them in a mental institute. :) Can't hold me back.
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With this past project, it was a little unexpected and probably the most challenging project I've done in the tote bag world.
My mother-in-law asked for one of my bags for here birthday. I wasn't sure if she was serious. I hesitated. Then I panicked. She is one of the best seamstresses I know and she is very particular. She may say she isn't but I've watched her sew! I'm not a good seamstress. I don't follow patterns. I just like to do color combos on something useful. As long as she could look pass all my stitching, we would be good.
The challenge began. I wanted this bag to represent Gloria and still have my touch to it. The colors she loves were easy. Finding that perfect color combo was not. She likes things with bling but she never wears anything with bling. She loves to quilt but never seems to buy colors that she is purely satisfied with. I needed to find something in the middle--not too bright, with bling, pattern but conservative and style. Once I found the perfect fabric it was smooth sailing from there. . .not so much.
I felt like I was on some kind of design TV show and my next design was going to keep me or cut me. I changed the layout at least four to five times. Gloria loves blues and purples and reds but more in the burgundy department with the reds, essentially all cool colors. I finally realized this purse needed something to balance it, something. . .warm. I could not resist I had to add some gold. It was in the fabric in little spouts throughout the design. Once I added it I finally felt satisfied and was ready to sew.
This navy fabric I found was so cute that I had to buy it! I was aching to use it somewhere on this bag but it never seemed to work.
The navy fabric finally got cut. It will show up eventually somewhere in one of my projects.
I changed it about three or four more times.
In the end, I was happy with the result and Gloria seemed to love the fabrics I chose which was what mattered most to me. The bag turned out larger than I planned (I've really got create my own pattern). A lady of only 4'11", a big bag is not ideal. I added a pocket and an extra piece at the top to give that binding look you might see on a quilt. The pocket I thought would be simple but trying to blend it in with the fabric was more difficult than I thought and I know have a great appreciation for people that work in upholstery. I was grateful for this challenge. It opened up the Pandora's box of my brain with new things and ways to go with my bag designs. Though it took me almost two months to make this bag, I am so glad I did.
As I heard the Battle Hymn of Republic strum through my mind when I finished this bag, and felt like I had won the war, there was no doubt this bag was getting named Glory, Hallelujah!
The other project was Pinterest/mother inspired. I went to help my mom make a door hanging for her visiting teacher and it turned out so cute I decided to do some.
It was one of my sister's that I visit's birthday this past month. As I've been getting to know her I knew this would be something she liked. I was so excited to give it to her!
She was so cute and surprised when I gave it to her. She said only one other person ever got her anything. I was so glad then that I had done something to let her know that I think of her and that she is loved.
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