I have an announcement to make.
This is big people.
You ready?
Sitting down?
Yesterday….
I made eight pillow covers.
EIGHT!!!!
Now for all your crafty types out there who are thinking “Dude, I made 47 pillow covers yesterday AND I ruffled each of them to the current rufflific bloggy trend right now. What’s the big deal about your lousy 8?”
The big deal is that I really dislike sewing.
A lot.
Maybe even hate.
I don’t have the patience for it…my thread always breaks at the most inopportune times…my bobbin runs out mid way through a really important stitch, and somehow I tend to miss entire sections of seam to end up with giant gaps and holes.
Four letter words come out of my mouth in a higher concentration and frequency than during any other activity.
I usually get flustered and annoyed halfway through a project, and in an attempt to not throw my machine through the window, I usually have to walk away from it.
Which means, I either a) have 800 half finished sewing projects laying around, or b) it takes me three years to actually finish anything.
The last time I sewed, Andy was downstairs watching TV and suddenly heard a loud crash.
“Um, you okay up there?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“What was that huge noise?”
“Oh nothing. I just punched my machine.”
“Seriously?!”
“Seriously.”
I realize that the natural question that comes from all of this is “Well, then Jeannett…why do you sew if you hate it so much?”
Because I like the end result. I like the fun fabrics. I like the custom pieces that you end up with in your house.
I just don’t like the journey. And while I love etsy and the handmade community, I can’t always afford to buy myself 8 pillow covers.
But my mother in law is in town visiting.
And she’s a sewing kinda girl.
And was there to rescue me from myself on more than one occassion.
So we decided to do some sewing.
In the kitchen.
I had never thought to do my sewing/cutting/pinning on the counter, but I now realize that it’s brilliant and it may very well change my opinion on sewing altogether.
It was so nice to have such a huge space instead of trying to cut fabric on my bedroom floor.
What was I thinking all this time???!!!
This girl hung out with us most of the time.
Rummaging through the big trash bag of fabric scraps and generally making a mess.
Nice bruise on your forehead Jilly.
No more daredevil theatrics from you, okay?
Now, if I was a professional blogger, I would have staged this a little better.
I would have straightened up my slipcovers. Pulled them nice and tight.
I’d have made sure toys were off the floor.
And I would have taken various pictures from different angles for your viewing pleasure.
But I’m not a professional, so this is what you get.
While I’m not a huge fan of the messy-ness of slipcovers, I LOVE their ability to be washed and bleached easily.
I am happy with them, but someday I’ll have an actual slipcovered couch. Someday.
In the meantime, my couch needed some color.
Pillows!!!
Doesn’t that look much better?!
I’m happy with them.
My pillow covers won’t win me any awards for sewing excellence, but I’m smitten with the fabrics.
I love how bold and bright they are.
And I’m just excited that I got all of them done in one day.
That’s really seriously unheard of around here folks.
This colorway lives on my loveseat.
Which again, if I was a professional, I would have photographed for you.
But I was more excited about the fabric patterns anyway, so there you have it.
I’m pretty sure Andy hates the blue/pink fabric.
He said something like “It’s just…loud.”
Meh. Too bad. I pull decorating rank.
Do you love sewing or hate it? What was the last project you did?
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Hmmm…last project? 8th grade. Which was a couple (eh…17) years ago. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to start sewing though! I’d probably hate it while in process; I am definitely not patient or crafty. But the idea of fun/custom pieces has me considering….
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i love love love the colors! (i also love that you pull decorating rank :)
Love the pillows! Aren’t mother inlaws the best, mine was here yesterday helping me arrange cabinets. After 23 years of marriage I love her more every year.
absolutely gorgeous work fellow sewing hater. love the look! love the fabrics you chose. what a fun activity to do with your MIL. um, btw, you ARE a professional blogger :)
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The pillows look great! good job! I love the fun fabrics too. I’m obsessed with buying cute fabrics and have bags of it ready for projects. Recently I’ve been sewing outfits for my niece. Little girl clothes are sooo cute! But the last thing I sewed ended up being a coupon pouch-it was too small for a clutch-so I have the fanciest coupon caddy in town :)
And as much as i love sewing and making things-I too cuss and swear and get very frustrated. I blame it on the machine. :)
I have a confession to make: I received a sewing machine 2 years ago and have yet to use it. I’m a little intimidated.
Also? I think your piillows look fantastic. I love the colors and the fabrics. :-)
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Look at you?! I love the fabric colors… next you’ll start knitting, or quilting! Don’t worry.. I’ll still love you!
I like to sew when I’m at home with my mom. Otherwise, I mess things up badly. And I’ve been known to sew a finger or two into a blanket. Not fun.
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I love them! I do make covers & sell them myself & think that yours are darling, and I actually had that green fabric in my cart at JoAnn’s last week, but was going slightly over budget, so it had to be put on hold. Great fabric choices girl!
I glue on buttons.
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i love your pillows! especially the blue/pink ones! and i AM someone who sews but can’t imagine busting out 8 pillow covers in a day! GO YOU !!! so, i love sewing. love it. its like creative therapy for me. my last project-
http://littlemissmk.blogspot.com/2011/06/life-lessons-from-ugly-quilt.html
one of my favorite sewing projects i have done:
http://littlemissmk.blogspot.com/2011/05/going-round-and-round-in-circles-or.html
love your blog :)
8?! oh wow.
I love sewing. but It can be sooo frustrating. And I’m so lazy. I have owl pillows I’ve been making (very slowly) and I neeeeed to get off my bum and finish them. I’m impressed!! They look great :D
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This post makes me a little nervous as I’m a newbie sewer. Newbie meaning I have NEVER sewn in my life but plan to start this summer. I’m starting with a few curtains for playhouse… that shouldn’t be too hard, right? Who knows, maybe I’ll be blogging about the bruise on my fist from punching my sewing machine. But hopefully I’ll be blogging about the cute curtains I created (praying it works out).
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I LOVE the hummingbird fabric and the leaf patterned ones! The blue & pink is cute and awesome. :) Way to go! I love to sew but it always takes me forever to do the simplest things.
Love the fabric with the birds! Where is it from?