Happy Sewing Machine Day!

Color me happy when I heard today is National Sewing Machine Day!!  I haven't celebrated on the actual machine today, but have thought about all the sewing I wished I could have gotten done today!  That must count right??

In honor of this fantastic holiday, I give you, my sewing machine in all his/her in-use glory!!

As you can see, I didn't tidy up for this photo simply because I wanted to show my work space in "on hold" action.  Sassy, is in her spot keeping the cutting mat warm.  Belly bands (one completed & one in progress) lay on top of the machine & the velcro closures are there too.  Not to mention my pincushions, notes & tape measure....yep, this is my sewing machine at rest...enjoying it's holiday!

Non-Dog Related Project

After more than a year of making dog panties, cool collars & belly bands I decided I really LOVED to sew & wanted to venture out & make some bags.  I figured I'd give bags a shot simply because they don't need to fit anyone like panties or human clothes would.  So off to the store I went in search of the perfect bag pattern book!

I found "Sew What!  Bags" at Barnes & Noble & just love it because it has no patterns to cut out.  It's all just straight-lines & measurements!  Perfect for me!  All the projects are marked Newbie, Pro, or Daredevil.  Makes you realize what you can make now as a beginner & what you could make later with more practice.

For my first project I was feeling pretty gutsy & opted for a Pro Reversible Tote Bag.

I honestly didn't think the reversible part would work so I picked a cute fabric that I know didn't match for the inside.

Well son-of-a-gun!  It actually works!  It's totally reversible...ugly as it is, it works!

I even reinforced the straps as recommended:

I love the look of contrasting threads & fabrics, so this photo really shows the details of the pockets.

I was pretty proud of myself with this!  I mean, I know it's just straight cuts & lines, but it's something that can be used!!!  (Even though it's currently just hanging on my "I made this!" wall!)

My helper, Sassy (my almost 17-year-old kitty) was pretty happy with it/me too!

My Sewing Story

Everyone has one right?  How you started in something your passionate about?  So how did I start you ask?  Well, let me tell you....

Like many, I did get exposure to sewing when I was little.  My mom made me clothes (one mint green dress in particular that I remember fondly)

& my grandma (my dad's mom) let me help her make PJs once.  My senior year of high school I took Sewing I & Sewing II...hey, it was my senior year, of course I'm going to take easy classes.  In class I made a pair of boxer shorts as my final project (which I still have);

but my main sewing projects were mostly hair scrunchies (totally 90s), sewing down the seams of my uniform skirt (so awesome) & garters to wear for proms (why again?).

After high school, my sewing projects were limited to only garters for my friends as they got married.  In fact, if any of my pants' hems came down, I'd be more apt to staple it back up than try to sew it.  However, the year I got married I had a bee in my bonnet to get a sewing machine & for my birthday that year my parents got me one!  I was so excited & I immediately went out to get fabric & a pattern to make PJ bottoms for Steve.  I made them, he didn't care for them...and that was the end of that...the bee left my bonnet & the sewing machine sat dormant for nearly 9 years!!!  Yikes.

So what influenced the resurrection of my 9-year-old sewing machine you ask?  Well, a little 4-legged girl name Vivian Olive (wink!) & a heat cycle.  Yep, that's right a heat cycle really started it all.  Walt Disney has a mouse that started it all, I have a heat cycle...ok, I'm going to change it to I have a bulldog who started it all...sounds much better!

Vivi was not spayed because I show her in conformation at dog shows.  There are lots of doggy diapers out there for heat cycles, the pattern for all available are pretty much the same but it's very hard to find a pair without a tail hole.  Bulldogs' tails are so close to their body that using the regular dog panties is pointless because the tail hole is just in the exact wrong spot.

After I found a pair without a tail hole I had a weird feeling that I could actually make them too.  Not sure why, but I was certain I could...and after getting some really cute fabric, cutting out my own pattern & dusting off the sewing machine, I was ready to start sewing panties...cute panties...cute panties for bulldogs! 

...and sew I did.  Since August 2009 I have made a few pairs of very cute panties for friends, their friends & bulldog club members, I have even ventured into some that had (GASP!) tail holes!  My favorite part of it all?  The fabrics!  I love making them in really cute fabrics people choose & I even make the inside cute!  :0)  In 2010, friends were impressed that I could sew & they asked if I could make a cool collar and belly bands...I was up for the challenge & son-of-a-gun, if they didn't turn out!!

Last year, I realized I found a talent!  Who knew?  Not me!  I had given up years ago!  I never thought I had any kind of talent...I can't draw, was never good at sports, quit every musical instrument I ever tried playing, hate to cook, dancing--well, we won't go there.  Basically, I thought my "talent" was being organized....and I was ok with that.

I'm excited to find this talent, and I'm proud of what I've been able to create & how my sewing has evolved (from dog panties to tote bags).  I'll show anyone what I've made regardless if they wanted to see it or not!  I love taking raw materials & making something tangible!  I find a lot of joy in trying to figure out how to make something work or am amazed I can figure out how to fix something that doesn't.  I love coming up with new projects to make, whether that means searching the web for hours, pouring over pattern books, or sketching an idea that came to me while the alarm was going off.

Basically...I love to sew...Thanks Vivian Olive for bringing this talent to my attention!  Can't wait to share here what I learn & make!!

~Olive 2 Sew~

Fun! A Sewing Blog!

It's so funny how once you get looking for a certain blog type how many there are!!  I had no idea there were so many blogs about sewing out there!  I think within the first week, I saved 10 into my blog reader, but the number just continues to grow...and now, here I am thinking my blog is needed out there.  (Silly girl.)

Well, not sure if it's needed for anyone other than me exactly.  But I do enjoy blogging & taking photos, as you can see from my other blog so I thought why not do a blog about something else I'm passionate about....and how fun to share photos of what I've made, posts about things I've learned & sharing my favorite tutorials I've found!!

What I have found is that the sewing blog world is a very supportive community.  I love that.  I hope to learn from others & maybe help contribute to that community someday.  Who knows where this will end up eventually, but right now I'm just really excited to get started! 

Thanks for stopping by!