sew in love!

i bought myself a sewing machine for christmas.  it was a cheap model from boscov's but i hoped it'd be enough to do some simple sewing.

i had stash before i had the machine.  this is the material i got from spoonflower:

i got this material from Hoovers Bernina in mifflinburg.  it's a nice store but it's out in the middle of nowhere.



i got a bunch of fat quarters at joann's:



plus yardage to make project bags:



i was lucky to win a free pattern in a contest french press knits sponsored and i picked this one :



my handiwork:



ugh, such horrible crooked lines.  i need to get a plastic quilter's blocking ruler so i can actually cut and sew straight lines.  i also need to get some disappearing ink pens.  my tailor's pen left purple marks.

i also made some crude lavender sachets:



and a really bad project bag.  actually i practiced sewing seams on this and made a pouch.  the ribbons were too short and broke.  i wound up using it for my sewing supplies (bobbin holder, scissors, scraps):



finally broke out the new tabletop ironing board i got months ago.  i love my iron - it's nice and heavy.



i had trouble getting the machine set up.  i couldn't figure out how to get the bobbin to thread through to the working thread.  the machine came with a dvd, so i watched it and it helped me figure out what i was doing wrong (bobbin thread wasn't long enough for the needle thread to catch).

i'd like to make a few more coloring wraps to leave in the car/church, make some project bags, including some square project bags.  i also want to make reusable gift bags for the kids.  it would be nice to forgo paper wrap next year!

what's your favorite sewing project?