Stampin’ Up and the Big Shot OH MY

Ciao Bella,

               First I want to say is I don't sew…However I do come from a old school family and every wife and mother must have a sewing machine to do the basic of heming pants, putting patches on knees, and fixing wholes in sheets. My first experience with sewing was with my grandmother and she taught me to use her machine when I was about 8 years old…. I remember vividly because we were taking her wedding dress and turning it into pillow cases…yes I did say her SILK wedding dress….(so much for my dream of wearing that dress)….and then in 8th grade I had to take the mandatory Home EC. class…..Now for those of you who know me also remember I failed straight lines and scissors in Kindergarten. So as one might guess sewing …not on my top 10….Now about 10 years ago my mother decided that I needed a sewing machine, so for my birthday she bought be a Pfaff 1040 hobby….and well I have tried over the years…..and then I was talking with my Very Dear Mother in Law ,Joanne who is a wonderful seamstress…she has me and my family some of the most wonderful items…anyway we were talking and that I didn't even have a basic sewing box with the basic supplies…So for Christmas she gave me a gorgeous sewing box filled with everything I could ever need including a pair of GINGHER scissors, the kind that come in it's own metal velvet line tin….oh Yeah…those babies are hidden from my teenage boys…..

I know this is a little long but you need to know the history to truly appreciate what's to come….

Stampin' Up has The Big Shot die cut machine and it seems everybody is making the Rag Quilted Bags from the Big Shot. These babies are so cute and I felt the need to try and make one….. why not , right?…. I have a Big Shot and I have a sewing machine and a sewing box filled with everything. I watched other Demonstrator's videos it's not so difficult….so I thought….WRONG….wrong, wrong…for those of you who don't sew you just might understand…. First challenge ….threading the machine, second challenge… winding the bobbin and the third challenge … finding the owner's manual to complete the first two…..OK ..those were overcome….but there are more that I will spare you ….so here it is my FIRST Rag Quilt Bag….

I think it turned out OK… I like it….and I'm rather proud of myself, If I do say so myself…. There were a few lessons learned….First … now matter how much of a pain it is …change the color of the thread to match the fabric…..that way it is much more difficult to see that you failed straight line and scissors in kindergarten…..and the second lesson ….which let me just say …JOANNE HELP!!!!…. I can't seem to figure out how to set the bobbin tension …..

Of course I did play around and used a flower as part of my closing…. but … my closing strap, I felt need a little weight….

Saturday Tamara posted pictures of her Rag Quilted Bag and she had the cutest little butterfly charm and then Yesterday Janet Wakeland was talking about our Simply Adorned Charms and while I was in Walmart getting a few things … BAMB… it hit me…. here is a close up of what these 2 ladies inspired

Now the closing strap has some weight to it and I can show off my Simple Adorned Creations and it gives my bag a little bling …gotta love the BLING!!!!!

Now … many of you are thinking…why am I complaining about not being able to sew…..

Take a look at my very dear husband's valentine…. He is going downrange for about a year or more and so I wanted to make him something that wasn't Feminine and that he could keep those special things in ….like cards or photos….

Here is where you see how truly challenged I am…..My husband and I named it the…

"The most romantic, crafty, tacky, I love it because you made it pillow" 

You can snicker now…..lol

So you see … I am truly sewing challenged…

I hope to have enjoyed my adventure ….and have maybe learned a trick or two from my sharing ….

I hope this starts your week off with a smile and don't forget to leave me a comment….for blog candy

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