Welcome back!
I think about making a blog post every day, and somehow never make my way to the computer to actually do it. I’ve spent hours reviewing the pages of this website trying to get it perfect…which is silly because I believe posting will make the biggest difference. With practice comes confidence.
Christmas 2024
I made Christmas stockings for my family this year. My first ones were rough, but after 6 practice runs I started to get the hang of it and went a little further and attached some sherpa to the tops, so they looked like actual stockings. The last ones I made turned out the best, but I’m going to practice throughout the year so that perhaps next Christmas’s stockings will be keepers.
I made a lot of gifts this year, mostly with my used Cricut that I bought off marketplace. I wasn’t prepared for that to be such a learning curve. Some things turned out very well, while others did not. I have to practice with permanent vinyl, as I have had only one success with it. Most of my attempts have been with HTV- which I also have made several mistakes with.
I’m working on developing a growth mindset and not getting discouraged.
Anyway, my most popular items were canvas tote bags that I decorated with the Heat Transfer Vinyl. I made my daughters each their own bag, and when my sister-in-law saw them she asked for one too! I was delighted- and terrified. I spent hours scouring SVGs to find something that reminded me of her, and then immediately ruined the vinyl I wanted to use on her bag. First attempt was a miserable failure, but I found a different kind of material and cut again- this time I went more slowly and pulled out my Easy Press, rather than using the mini-press.
Sidenote: I understand what the mats are for now! I warped my quilting mat using the Easy Press.
Commissions
While I am very new at crafting, I believe my work is still worthy of payment. I am, however, offering discounts until I have perfected my technique- likely this entire year. This year I plan to create a lot of inventory and next year sell at flea markets. If I can create enough items, I will participate as a vendor in my son’s music boosters’ flea market.
The joy of creating
I love my sewing machine. And my Cricut. And I especially love Crochet. I love creating something bold or silly out of…very basic material and having it turn out the way I’d imagined. For now I am following other people’s patterns, but soon I hope to create my own. It’s just opened up my ability to create things that matter, which is much more satisfying. See the family tree blanket I made for my Grandma!
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