Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved fixing and creating things. They don't always turn out the way I envisioned them, but I'm certainly not afraid of putting my hands to use.

Last year, I discovered that I enjoy minor yard work, such as trimming my hedges, weed eating, and cleaning my gutters.  I also learned that I like to paint.

My paint job in my daughter's bedroom.
My paint job in my daughter's bedroom.
loading...

For at least 10 years, I've owned a sewing machine that I'd never learned to use.  That changed this weekend.

My sister, my daughter, and I had a late Saturday breakfast with our mom, grandmother, and aunt. While eating, I asked my aunt (who alters all of our clothes when needed) if she could sew some curtains for my daughter's room if I bought the fabric.  She said she could. So, immediately after we left The Cracker Barrel (my daughter's favorite place for pancakes), I went to the 2-4-6-8 store in Five Points. Found the fabric I wanted, stopped by my house to put my sewing machine in my car and headed to my mom's, where we were having something of a girls' day.

I took my machine and fabric out the car and took them to my aunt.  I THOUGHT she was going to do the work for me, as usual.  Much to my surprise and elation, she just set up a work station and guided me through all of the work, including the threading of my bobbin as well as the needle.

My grandmother and aunt setting up my work station.
My grandmother and aunt setting up my work station.
loading...

 

She had me to do the sides first.  I decided to complete one curtain before starting on the second. So after doing the sides, I moved to the top.  After I'd folded over and under the top few inches with an opening large enough for my rods, my grandmother told me that I should do another smaller seam along the top for a more polished look. She and my aunt guided me through that.  Then, I did my bottom hem.

I had gotten dark outside, but I was still working!
I had gotten dark outside, but I was still working!
loading...

I enjoyed my little project, and I'm sure I'll be painting her room and making more curtains in a few years, but NOTHING compares to the quality time I got to spend with my family or the fact that I learned the beginnings of a new skill from them.  I can hardly wait to make something else!

Finished product
Finished product
loading...

More From 92.9 WTUG