Saturday, May 24, 2008

Beanbag Bunch


Beanbag Bunch
Originally uploaded by gemgirlart
So! Remember that sewing machine I got for my birthday - LAST YEAR!? Well I finally, finally got around to getting it out and learning how to operate it (in the most basic of basic ways!) In the past year there's seriously just been NO time, and even LESS space for me to go about learning to sew on this thing - especially as I am one of those spreader-outter, leave-it-in-place-while-working-on-it-until-it-takes-over-the-kitchen-table/diningroom-kidsplayroom,etcetc type of artist-crafter. But I just finally decided that the only way I was going to learn to use it was to assign myself a project that needed doing, and that had a specific purpose and more importantly, a DEADLINE.

That project turned out to be my volunteering to sew a batch of beanbags to be used during one of the games at our 5th Grade end-of-year class party. (see previous post regarding THAT li'l shindig ...) I bought the supercute fabric from Jeanelle at Charmpacks and a big bagga beans (pintos, if you really need that info), looked up a basic "how to sew a beanbag" tutorial online - and awaayyyyy I went! I did sew a test bag first outta some scrap fabric I had here (the yella one, there on the bottom), which came out well enough that I was comfortable moving on to the good fabric - Oh, precut squares, how I adore thee! So no, they aren't the neatest most perfect beanbags ever (hehem, do NOT look too closely at those top seam edges, thennkyewww.), but I made them my very own self, and completed (one of) my promised projects for the games committee, AND learned how to sew a little bit on my long-lusted after sewing machine. Whatta proud, proud day for me :D

'Cept now of course my kitchen table is filled with piles of fabrics and wads of thread and scissors and a rather nifty appliance that most certainly does NOT belong in the kitchen ... Welp! SEW WHUT! Nobody ever said eating AT a table was the law or nothin'! :D

Later, ya'll - I got about a million things to do still (wanna help me paint some 6' tall saguaro cactuses? Meet me in the garage!)

~ gem ~

3 comments:

core said...

Perhaps it's time to dig my sewing machine out of the closet + sew up some goodness too.
Love these!
Thanks for the inspiration. :)
core (aka blueness

Anonymous said...

oh yeah, I know what you mean about the sewing machine...I bought a new one a couple of years ago, fancy stitching and all....it freaked me out. I took the 5 classes and felt like a dufus, then let it sit for 2 years. The other day I brought it out to start making my cat dolls and I couldn't get it to work right and had to get the book out and rethread it. Then it took off just fine, but it still scares me!! You did a great job on those bags and the material looks so cute for boys!!! Awesome work you do.

maria said...

Good for you, you are using your sewing machine in a good way.

Looking forward to see your next project.

Marie