Camera Strap Covers

For all of those aspiring photographers out there, I thought you might want some inspiration!  I found a store on etsy that sells camera strap covers and I just fell in love with them.  So....of course I said......I can make those and off to Joann's I went!  I had no clue what I was doing so I googled for "Camera Strap Cover Tutorials" and sure enough there are plenty of them.  Although, none were as cool as the lady on etsy.  I stared at the pictures from etsy for probably 30 minutes before I figured out that my pattern wasn't like hers.  So.....I made one and of course it was too small for my camera strap. LOL!  I think if I put some elastic in it I could use it as a headband when I am taking off my make up.  I ended up making a total of three and I am still not pleased with my work, but they are good enough for now.  At least I can tell between my camera and my dad's when we are at family functions. 

The first and third covers that I made.  The second one I made is on my camera and I didn't want to mess with taking it off!

If you want to make one of these, I suggest getting 1/8th of a yard of fabric for each side.  It was the perfect amount and super cheap!  I also want to add a lens cover holder to this, because I am always setting it down and forgetting where I placed it.  It will be super easy to do, I just never got around to finishing it because I moved onto another project!  

If you want to buy one of these, I strongly suggest you go to: http://www.etsy.com/shop/sewtamz

Sewing Machine Cabinet

I finally finished the sewing machine cabinet!  I freaked out in the middle of the process and was concerned that I was inhaling too much wood dust, or paint fumes etc.  So....my grandmother, husband and mom helped me finish it!  It was a doozy of a project and I could have done it a lot quicker if I wasn't carrying the little one in my belly.  But.....he is worth it!  :)  My goal was to either do a shabby chic look or old world look, I couldn't decide between the two.  Without meaning to do so I ended up with the old world look and I absolutely love it.

  The finished pictures aren't the best, I haven't quite figured out all of the settings on the new camera.  But at least it gives you an idea of how much it changed!

Baby Crochet Hats

So...since the beginning of the summer I have decided to keep myself busy with arts and crafts.  I have become addicted to blogs, facebook photography pages, and pinterest in the mean time.  Joann's Craft Store must be loving me, because last week they had their Firefly Frenzy Sale....basically the entire store was on sale!  I really think I was in there 4 out of 7 days last week. 

I decided to learn how to crochet baby hats.....not the easiest task in the world!  My mom made my nephew a little bear hat and it turned out precious.  My sweet neighbor made our little one on the way a pumpkin beanie and then one of my students made him one as well!  I thought, O.K. how hard can this really be, surely I can do it!  Well... it isn't that easy!  I bought a book that supposedly teaches you how to crochet, and the pictures are more confusing than reading a new language.  Then I decided to digress to youtube.com.  I thought I could do the same one my mom did and I even tried it twice with two different types of yarn.  I ended up getting all tense in my shoulders and my fingers would hurt.  Honestly it was very stressful!!  I then gave up on that video and moved on! 

I have since found a puff stitch baby hat that I thought looked easy enough, and to my amazement I actually did it!  I haven't completely finished yet, because I want to add a brim, but it actually looks like a hat!  I am so proud.

Since the huge success, I have no found a baby cocoon tutorial and an elf hat tutorial.  Maybe I'll have them complete before the baby arrives! 

  

Summer Project List

After going 90 mph teaching everyday.....summer finally started!  I was so excited to do NOTHING and then I realized how I don't do "NOTHING" very well!  I started feeling guilty for sleeping in late while my husband was planting cotton until 9:00 every night.  I read a book and sat out in the sun a few times...but still, I felt guilty!  I just wish that every job had a summer break so we could all be on an even playing field.  I started researching a bunch of different blogs and then I got all crazy and made an insane to-do list for myself before this baby comes! So....here goes:

1. Refinish my Grandmother's sewing cabinet!
(My papa gave this to my Grandmother for Valentine's day in 1977 so that she could make my mom's wedding dress...very special!)

2. Learn how to use my new fancy camera so that I can take pictures of the newborn and save a bunch of money!

3. Learn how to use Photoshop so that I can edit those marvelous pictures!

4. Learn how to crochet those adorable beanies that you see in all the newborn pictures.

Image taken from: http://polkadotposh.storenvy.com/

5. Make a wreath for the hospital door when the baby arrives.

6. Make a burlap wreath for the front door.

Image taken from: http://hopefulhomemaker.com/wp/

7. Decorate my back porch with insanely cute pillows and lights that adorn my new church pew!

8. Read something besides pregnancy books.

9. Plan a babymoon!!!!  (Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, we are hoping to go somewhere that is rather close.  I was thinking Ruidoso, or Santa Fe....somewhere that is 5-7 hours away)

10. Finish the nursery (This one encompasses about a million little to-do lists all in itself)


I have started many of these projects, and still have many others brewing in my mind.  I think I have given myself enough to do to keep busy for a little while!