Do you have a hard time buying gifts for friends? Well here's a few ideas that'll keep you in stitches, quite literally. All you need is some fabric, a sewing machine, and your imagination. Inspiration can strike at anytime, so it's important to have the proper tools at your disposal. Some of Mark Twain's greatest ideas, it is said, were lost to memory because of a misplaced writing utensil. Don't despair - this can be avoided easily by dusting off that old sewing machine and placing it somewhere out in the open, such as near a bedroom window or, if you have one, in your home's "creative space." Keeping a healthy stock of fabric nearby is good, too, as is having the necessary supplies handy (e.g., needles, thread, bobs, etc.). If you don't have a device, a simple trip to your local sewing machine store should fix you up! What Do You Want To Make? Searching the Internet for ideas can help inspire you. Here's a link to a wonderful craft blog to help get you started: http://needlesgroove.blogspot.com Production Takes Time Constructing a project from scratch takes time. We all know this but tend to set ourselves up for failure by ignoring exactly how long each part of a project may take. For example, it might take you twenty minutes to set up, another twenty to get your fabric and appliques in place, then another twenty to complete the first pass: that's an entire hour, and you haven't begun to scratch the surface! The idea is to be inspired, not frustrated; it's important to be in to your project, otherwise you might just give up after that first hour. Be Meticulous With Your Stitching Thank goodness we have sewing machines. In the old days, stitching a long, straight tight line could take a seamstress up to three hours to complete! Machines cut that time by about ten-fold, maybe more. It's okay to take your time so that your lines stay seamless (pun intended) throughout the entire piece. Good tight lines give garments that professional I-really-care-about-my-work look. Take some pride in your craft and be meticulous! If you need help with any particular techniques, someone can usually help you at your local craft or sewing machine store. Have Fun! It's called arts and crafts for a reason: it's supposed to be fun. If you find yourself continually frustrated, take a break and have a glass of wine. Better yet, call some friends over or start a sewing group. Show Off Your Work Social media gives everyone the opportunity to get their "15-minutes." Though your project might not become the next viral sensation, social media outlets offer artists a way to showcase their worth with minimal effort. That means more time is left for you to create. Most artists achieve levels of success because of marketing alone. You're creative enough to make fun gifts from scratch; you should be creative enough to market your ideas (for free) on social media! Perhaps no gift can compare love to friendship like the one made from the hands. It's all about the journey. From deciding to make something and visiting the sewing machine store to wrapping the final gift, crafts are more than just silly things we put together. There's a deep story lying within each artifact, and the receiver never forgets that kind of gesture. Crafty New Jersey residents looking for the perfect tools for their next project visit Stony Brook Sew & Vac, a great sewing machine store. Learn more at http://www.stonybrooksewandvac.com/about-us.htm.
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