My first sewing project... COMPLETE!!

Hello everyone! My last blog entry was about picking out a sewing machine. Since that post, I have graduated college, gotten lots of amazing graduation gifts, and bought a sewing machine (which is mainly a gift from my parents)!! I was so so so excited when it came Tuesday night. I didn't get to play with it much that night, but I figured out the basics of threading the bobbin, inserting the bobbin, and threading the machine. I had more time Wednesday to start working on my first project... "Super Easy T-Shirt Scarf" (Go check out Ruffles & Stuff blog if you are interested in any kind of sewing projects... she's wonderful!!)

So I began by picking a T-shirt that I never wear... not to hard to find one considering I have 3 drawers full of T-shirts. I picked this navy blue one so I can wear it to Auburn games in the fall.

I then started cutting the t-shirt up into 4 inch squared. This part was a little tricky for my because I don't have any fancy measuring mat or cutting device. So it took awhile to cut up 24 squares.

After I cut up 24 squares, I pieced them together with the corner of one coming to the middle of the next square. I pinned them together and went to town with my machine!!

I should have begun by saying that I have never... NEVER... never sewn anything before in my life. I was a little nervous, but it really wasn't difficult!

I used a zig-zag stitch to give it some pizazz! haha! You can't really even see the stitching, so it really doesn't matter which stitch you use.

Ta Da!!!! Here is the finished product!! Let me know what you think... =)

Introducing... The Singer CE-250 Futura

 Ta Da!! Here is my new love! For graduation, my parents gave me money to buy a sewing machine (along with the CUTEST sewing basket ever!! It was also filled with some supplies!). So, I looked around at a few stores here in town and just couldn't find that perfect machine for me. I then went to the internet to do some research. The Singer CE-250 Futura had all the features I wanted... sewing, embroidery, and an affordable price!!

I searched online and found a GREAT deal on it! It also came with some amazing software that basically will let me turn anything (clip art, fonts, pictures) into embroidery... Woo hoo!! If you can't already tell, I am pretty pumped about this machine! 

One thing I must admit... I have never sewn anything before. I take that back. I have sewn a few buttons (which I had to call my Mom to get her to talk me through it step by step). =/ I know, I know- I have a TON to learn!! But I am sooo excited about learning how to use all the bells and whistles my machine has to offer.

So pretty soon, I believe this blog will be turned into a craft show with all the projects I want to do. I can't wait!! =) I really want to be able to use my machine to make gifts and just be crafty. My sister-in-law Leslie has an amazing sewing/embroidery machine and she has made some incredible gifts and things for her home. I will definitely need to take some lessons from her and my mom! Well hopefully my machine will be in the mail soon and get here some time next week. I will definitely let you know when it arrives... it will be a HUGE day around the Thaxton house! Before it gets here, I think I'll do a little web searching for some simple first-time projects.

4 years of college= DONE!

College is over!! Wow! I will graduate from Auburn University this Friday with a bachelor of science in nursing. I can't tell you how good it feels to say that. The past two years of nursing school have gone fast and slow at the same time. I have made many life-long friends through nursing school and am so thankful for all the wonderful girls I was able to meet. We had our senior banquet last Thursday... it was sooo fun!! We talked and laughed at all the wonderful and ridiculous things we did throughout nursing school. So many crazy clinical experiences, funny teachers, group projects, and so much more. I could tell stories all day long, but I will spare you. haha!

Also in the graduation spirit, I have been trying to think about what I wanted from my parents for graduation. I think I have finally settled on a sewing machine!! Beyond just a sewing machine... I don't know what I want. I don't know what brand, what features, all that stuff. So, if you sew-- give me some advise! I have never sewed anything besides a button (which was a bit of a struggle). I know I have so much to learn and can't wait to have a machine to play with!! I want to be able to make clothes for my kids one day. I just want to start learning now so I will be really good by the time I have kids. My biggest dilemma in choosing a machine is if I want it to just sew or if I want it to sew and embroider. It basically doubles (at least) the cost of the machine if it does both. So I'm trying to decide if it is worth it or not... give me your experience or advise!

In other news, we know where we are living in August when Summer and Elizabeth kick us out of the trailer (no hard feelings... it's time to move on. haha!). It is a beautiful newly renovated apartment that is very reasonable and in a great location!! We are so so excited about moving... July 30 can't come soon enough! A few of the things I am most looking forward to about our new home-- a DEEP sink with a faucet that pulls out so you can squirt water around the sink, all new appliances, granite countertops, a pantry, an ice-maker, 2 bathrooms, BIG kitchen cabinets, a laundry room, 2 big walk-in closets, and so much more! If you can't tell... I'm pretty pumped! I am also really excited about moving there because it will be our true first place together since Blake lived in the trailer throughout college. It marks a new stage in our lives of both of us working full time... oh how different my life will be! I am really excited about starting my job June 1! I have a meeting with the nurse recruiter tomorrow to iron out all the paperwork and such. Then I will be set to become a full time Baptist Health employee!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week! I know my week will be great... Graduation party Thursday, Pinning Ceremony and Graduation Friday, and Will and Claire's Wedding Saturday!!

I HAVE A JOB!!

I have a job... not just any job-- THE JOB that I really wanted! All praise and glory to the Lord! He is so good and so faithful. I will soon be a labor and delivery night nurse at Baptist East in Montgomery, working 7pm-7am, 3 days a week. It is only about a 45 minute drive from Auburn, so it won't be too far. The Baptist East facility is magnificent!! I can't even tell you how amazing it is! It is a 16 bed L&D floor with 3 OR's for c-sections. I cannot wait to start working now... and I will officially start June 1st. Woo hoo!! =) 

I am amazed more and more each day by how perfect the Lord's timing is! Tuesday night, I had a "mini melt-down" with Blake about getting a job. I understand in my heart that the Lord will provide and that I just need to be patient and have faith... but sometimes my mind doesn't "get it." So after praying together Tuesday night that I would be patient and trust the Lord with my job, I was woken up (literally...) Wednesday morning to Baptist East offering me a job. (Give me some slack, she called at 8:15 and I had my alarm set at 8:30... I wasn't snoozing too late. haha!) I can only imagine what the Lord thought Tuesday night as I cried about wanting to have a job.... "Just wait until the morning. It's all coming in My perfect timing." And it did!!

I had also interviewed for an OB position in Columbus about a month ago. So I called HR and told them that I had been offered another position and would like to know if they were going to offer me a position or not. They called me on Thursday with an offer to be OB night nurse. WOW! The Lord just didn't provide me with one job, but He gave me options! haha! I was amazed to say the least. I was a bit torn because I really did love both hospitals while they were very different. I weighed my options, talked it through, and prayed about it until I came to the decision that I was going to work at Baptist East. Let me tell you that the length of the L&D floor is the size of a football field. True story. The rooms are also soooo big and soooo nice! It is also the 4th busiest L&D in the state. They deliver about 300 babies a month!! I am soooo pumped about being a part of this hospital! I can't wait to tell you all about it after I start.

So now, I have a little less than 2 weeks until I graduate. And exactly 1 month until I start working full time. I can already tell that May is going to fly by so quickly! I can't believe I am graduating college. I felt like that day would never get here. So for now, I am enjoying time to relax before I have to start my "big girl" job.

For those of you who don't know, Blake and I are moving at the end of the summer so that Blake's sisters can live in the trailer. Because I got a job this week, we made our final decision about where we will be living... so I will save that topic for next time. =) Hope you all have had a fantastic weekend!