I'll admit it freely - I can't sew. I actually come from a long line of women who are non-sewers. Well, "long-line" is more of a guess really. I'm actually just referring to my mother and grandmother. No idea whether my mother's grandmother could sew or not. But "long-line" sounded so much more literary and well-written than "I can't sew and my mother can't sew and her mother couldn't sew....but maybe her mother could sew, and possibly her mother could sew....and, well, eventually some woman back there in my ancestry could probably sew as I think at one point being able to sew was a law or something."
Anyhoo.....if you go back to that second sentence you'll notice that I said ......"of women who are non-sewers." I didn't say....."of people who are non-sewers." And why I'm a pointing out that distinction? Well, you've probably guessed it by now.....my dad can sew.
Which would probably shock you if you knew him. He's 70 this year, so not from a younger....shall we say, more enlightened....generation. And he's done a lot of manual labour jobs in his life, and is an unofficial handyman, mechanic etc. But he also bakes too, so he could probably teach a Home Ec class in an emergency. (Which, given his crotchety nature, is not something I would actually recommend.)
And now that I've talked him up and all, I should mention that it's not like he an extremely proficient sewer. He can't make clothes or anything. But if you need something mended or hemmed (and if you catch him in the right mood) he can do a pretty decent job of it.
So, when I asked for a sewing machine for Christmas the year before last, I got a bit of a mixed bag reaction from him. Surprise - Why would you want a sewing machine? Amusement - What would you possibly do with a sewing machine? And a little bit of hurt feelings - What's wrong with my sewing? Once I explained that the sewing I was going to do was on cards, it all made sense to him and I was gifted a very nice Janome machine that December 25th.
I'll admit, I did hum and haw about asking for a sewing machine. I knew, given my past attempts at sewing, that I probably wasn't going to be very good at it. And I knew that it would irk me if I got a sewing machine but didn't use it very much, or if I tried to use it and couldn't sew up to my standards (which would have to be really, really, really close to being straight). But I've always looooooooooooooved the stitching on other people's projects, and I thought that I was far enough removed from that ugly, poorly stitched pillow I made in grade 8 that I decided to go for it.
But, as it turns out, I'm still not very good at it. I don't have the patience for it, and can't seem to just take the time to try to do it right. And I can't stop making the rookie mistake of watching the needle the whole time, which doesn't help make straight lines. Add to that my sewing machine's gremlin-like ways - skipping stitches, somehow tangling up thread mid line and making me cut the thread and start again etc. and, as you'll notice, I tend to not sew more often than sew.
But I've discovered something that might change that, well at least a little bit anyways. Now, I'm not saying I invented it or anything, of course not, lots other crafters have done it before me. But, I am bringing it into my craft arsenal and plan on using it as my weapon of choice most times I want to sew on cards.
And, as my title has already told you, I'm calling it Sloppy Sewing: The Sewing That Not Only Is NOT Straight It's Actually Crooked On Purpose. (Just Sloppy Sewing, for short because SSTSTNOINSIACOP is a bit riduculous.)
And here it is......
See, it's not straight at all but it doesn't bother me in the slightest because I did it like that purposefully on purpose. And because I think it looks good. And I hope you think it looks good too.
Digi is from
Squigglefly.
Not your typical pastel Easter creation but I'm not much of a pastel fan so I'm lacking in paper in that department and I loved this bunny so much that I decided to use him rather than your more-typical Peter Cottontail.
And finally.......if you managed to stick through and actually read all that, I also wanted to mention that I've got candy. Not eating candy, blog candy. Wish I had some eating candy, most specifically peanut M & Ms, which some might argue are not actually candy, more like chocolate. Makes no difference to me what they're called really, 'cause around here they're called "MINE!! And Death To Those Who Dare Touch 'Em!" But you can get in on my blog candy without me yelling at you. Just click
here.
For:
Sweet Sketch Wednesday: sketch
As You Like It: favourite colouring medium - Prismacolor Pencils.....I never got the hang of Copics and I like how you can control how much colour you put down with pencils.
Aud Sentiments: anything goes + sentiment
Crafty Girls: anything goes
QKR Stampede: anything goes
Simply Create Too: animals
The Stamping Boutique: use bunnies
Digi Haven: 3 different shades of green
My Sheri: celebrate spring
Open Minded Crafting: use some buttons
Crafty Calendar: animal antics
Catered Crop: spring fever
Pile It On: for a guy
Sentimental Sundays: cute & cuddly
Corrosive Challenges: go green
Crafting From the Heart: anything goes
Kaboodle Doodles: use green
Just Inspirational: Easter
Penny's Paper-Crafty: buttons & bows
Crafty Creations: holiday
