Seamstress Quest

If you've been a follower of my blog for sometime, then you know about my quest to become a seamstress. Keep in mind, this quest is far from being over.  It's been roughly a year (yes, a year) since my sewing skills have been sharpened. In the past week, I've made two pillows for my living room. We're bursting with pillows over here and I LOVE it. 

Thankfully, there are very talented people on the internet who post wonderful directions for sewing. I've posted the links below. :)

To create an envelope pillow seen below (left) follow this tutorial here. 

Next, I created another envelope pillow but added a fun felt flower on the front. Thanks to V & Co. for posting a fun tutorial here. 

Today is my niece's first birthday! Tomorrow I will be posting pictures of the gift I spruced up for her. 

Happy Hump Day!

Is it Football Season Yet?

It's safe to say that I'm kind of obsessed with the University of Missouri. I have posted several times about my unwavering love for the city of Columbia and my beloved Missouri Tigers. I realized yesterday that it has been TWO MONTHS since I've been back. I'm ready for football season, so I can spend every weekend there tailgating and watching the Tigers take on the SEC. 

Before I tell you about my little craft I made.. let's take a trip down memory lane. I'm getting a little nostalgic over here. I think I might cry. I'm emotional - I can't help it. 

Fellows Graduation 2011

I loved MU so much that I graduated twice from there. 

I consider emails from Brady Deaton and Gary Pinkel very personal. After all, they are addressed specifically to me.

We may never play kU again, but that doesn't mean I'll ever like them. It's in my blood to hate kansas. Sorry folks. 

Last summer, I decorated my guest room with a little black and gold bunting to showcase my love. 

As a wee little freshman, I met the great Truman the Tiger! I never met him again. He's a sneaky Tiger...hard to catch.

How awesome is this? I missed the MU/Nebraska game where the goal post was taken down and marched to Harpos, but I was there LIVE to see Missouri beat Oklahoma. It was absolutely incredible. I'm literally getting goosebumps typing this right now. 

MU fans rallied and showed up BIG on Gameday at the columns. I wouldn't have missed it for the world!

Picture Perfect

Speaking of the columns, they are my FAVORITE part about the campus. Running through the columns as a freshman and as a senior was a tradition I'm forever grateful I participated in.

I met so many of my best friends at MU. Now, we're still close and drive across the state to meet each other for weekends of fun, weddings, and just to catch up.

I bought this cute little pillow on Etsy. Just in case I forgot what my state looks like. Now, Missouri isn't the coolest state.. I know.. I know.. but I've got to embrace it!

My sweet friends bought me this awesome cookie cutter. Who wants cookies!?

My MU Alumni calendar helps me keep the date straight in the summer time. It actually comes in handy, because I have no idea what day it is. 

Whew! Thanks for that. I highly enjoyed that little trip. 

Now, tonight I decided to quit napping and being lazy and do a little crafting. Last year, I bought fun black and yellow fabric for my MU bunting. I used the remainder of it on a pillow! I followed this tutorial on Momtastic. I'm a dork and cut way too many pillow faces and was SUPER CONFUSED when I couldn't get things flipped out. Then, I watched a video. It's obvious I'm a visual and audio learner. :)

MIZZOU-RAH!

Perhaps one of these days, I'll tackle something a little more difficult.... but not anytime soon. I am finally figuring out how that stinkin' bobbin works. 

Yes! Yes! Yes!

There comes a day in every crafters life when they have to learn how to sew. Perhaps I'm being a tad overdramatic, but I feel as if that day FINALLY arrived for me. I was finding all of these fun projects I wanted to create, but alas - I didn't know how to sew nor operate my brand new swanky sewing machine.

Then, after missing a few sewing sessions at JoAnn Fabrics .. I begged my neighbor to teach me how to sew by offering her a meal in return. I blogged on Monday about our apron making adventure and today I've got some BIG NEWS.

Yes I, Jordon J. Furnell, made my very own pillow. Disregard the fact that it took me 4 hours and I received many injuries from straight pins.

She's a Beauty

Sewing Swag

My sewing bucket list includes many pillow projects. The first one being an adorable Bow Pillow found here. Bless this sweet blogger for posting a step by step guide for newbies like me. Here's a peak into my journey creating a brand-spankin' new 4th of July pillow for my crib.

Whew! We've Got a Bow.

Let the choirs sing! It's a real pillow that one can actually use. I've been hugging it for the past 24 hours to reassure myself that it is real and that I actually made it. My life is complete.

What shall I sew next? Anyone need a new wedding dress? Maybe a pair of overalls? Only kidding. I'll stick to pillows for a few months.

Oh! The Life of a Renter

It's official! I'm a resident of Lake Ozark, Missouri. After 5 fantastic years in Columbia, I've taken a leap and moved away. I figure if two of my friends can move to Texas and California... I can manage the lake!

Since I'm renting my new house, painting isn't really an option. Nor was I ready to take on such a task. Even though I can't paint, I still want to bring color into my living room! My pillows can only do so much.

Speaking of pillows... Here are a few of my favorites that I have found lately:

DIY Ruffled Rosette Flower

Missouri Pillow, Etsy

DIY Pillows from Sweaters, Pinterest

Etsy

Recycled Felt, Etsy

White Linen, Etsy

Oops! Got a little distracted. I do love pillows. If you've ever been to mi casa you will find pillows everywhere: on the couch, chair, bed, and floor. Pillows are the perfect addition to any room!

Back to my post.  I wanted to add color to my living room without painting. I found an excellent idea on Make It-Love It's blog to hang fabric. What an excellent idea! 

I picked up a few pieces of fabric at JoAnn's that matched my living room. The tutorial suggests using plywood, staple gun, and other supplies I didn't have.

Since I didn't have (nor want to buy) the necessary supplies, I was stumped as to how to complete this project. Then! A lightbulb lit above my head.

While walking around Michael's craft store, I found myself in the paint section. I found two large white  paint canvases. I will admit, they were more expensive than the plywood approach...but they were much easier for me to handle!

I measured the fabric to fit the canvas like a snug blanket. Then, I started cutting and gluing away!

Lastly, I hung the newly wrapped canvases on the wall using 3M heavy duty frame strips. I stepped back and took a few photos.

An hour later, I was sitting on my couch and they fell on the ground. I jumped so high I thought I was going to land in my bedroom. Luckily, no one was trying to break in... I had only overestimated the capabilities of 3M products.

I put my thinking cap on and used nails.

Then, I ate a cookie. Really.. I did! My landlord made me cookies.

P.S. I joined a Linky Party! Check it out here: Tater Tots and Jello