I worked very hard and I deserve a toy!

So I got one.  More specifically, I bought a sewing machine.  Isn't she pretty?

A little known fact about me is that I used to be quite a decent seamstress.  Back in high school, I used to make a lot of my mom's clothing and some of my own.  I loved to sew and I got really good at it.  I haven't had a sewing machine in years.  I had one when I was married to my ex but when I left, that was one of the things he insisted belonged to him so I couldn't have it back.  Who knows what happened to it... O well.

Anyway, sewing machines have changed A LOT since I last bought one.  I was amazed!  They have so many automatic functions and cool stitches and you can quilt with them and do automatic button holes and there are so many specialized feet!!  I got a very good deal on this one - I bought from Costco mail order and it was only $149, which seems to be a very good price.  I did my research.  This one even threads the needle for you!  This is more important than you might think, given the state of my ability to put tiny things through tiny holes.

While I was up in Vermont last week, I found a very cool fabric store called Rags & Riches.  It sells primarily home decorating fabric, for upholstery and curtains, etc. but a lot of it can be used for clothing or craft projects.  I found a gorgeous sheer embroidered fabric that spoke to me.  It said "Make me into a jacket to wear over a beautiful princess-seamed dress with 3/4 sleeves and a V neckline (or possibly a square neckline)."  So I found a beautiful claret-colored duponi silk fabric that coordinates perfectly and a nice pattern online.  But I don't want to jump right into a complicated project like that right away - wouldn't be a good idea, after not sewing for so long.  So I wandered over to a Jo-Ann's Fabric Store just down the road and found a remnant piece on the clearance table - $7 for just over a yard of really pretty green (big surprise there) silk embroidered fabric that will be perfect for a couple of throw pillows for the living room.  I went back to the first store because Sarah was dying to check it out.  She found a nice remnant to make a tote bag and a knitting needle case and I ended up buying another remnant that called to me when I first walked into the store.  It is heavy and soft and green with leaves and will make a gorgeous bedspread.  Should be just enough material.  So between the pillows and the bedspread, I think I have enough basic projects to start with to get me back into sewing again and familiarize me with the new toy.  Then I can tackle the dress project, which will be beautiful.  I hope.

This weekend my goal is to clean up and clear out our spare back room which has my clothing exploded all over it.  I want to get rid of the futon that's up there (sorry Tal, but we have a proper guest room now!) and get a large table for laying out fabric and a table for my sewing machine and make a real sewing room.  That will make me ridiculously happy.

I worked very hard and I deserve a toy!

So I got one.  More specifically, I bought a sewing machine.  Isn't she pretty?

A little known fact about me is that I used to be quite a decent seamstress.  Back in high school, I used to make a lot of my mom's clothing and some of my own.  I loved to sew and I got really good at it.  I haven't had a sewing machine in years.  I had one when I was married to my ex but when I left, that was one of the things he insisted belonged to him so I couldn't have it back.  Who knows what happened to it... O well.

Anyway, sewing machines have changed A LOT since I last bought one.  I was amazed!  They have so many automatic functions and cool stitches and you can quilt with them and do automatic button holes and there are so many specialized feet!!  I got a very good deal on this one - I bought from Costco mail order and it was only $149, which seems to be a very good price.  I did my research.  This one even threads the needle for you!  This is more important than you might think, given the state of my ability to put tiny things through tiny holes.

While I was up in Vermont last week, I found a very cool fabric store called Rags & Riches.  It sells primarily home decorating fabric, for upholstery and curtains, etc. but a lot of it can be used for clothing or craft projects.  I found a gorgeous sheer embroidered fabric that spoke to me.  It said "Make me into a jacket to wear over a beautiful princess-seamed dress with 3/4 sleeves and a V neckline (or possibly a square neckline)."  So I found a beautiful claret-colored duponi silk fabric that coordinates perfectly and a nice pattern online.  But I don't want to jump right into a complicated project like that right away - wouldn't be a good idea, after not sewing for so long.  So I wandered over to a Jo-Ann's Fabric Store just down the road and found a remnant piece on the clearance table - $7 for just over a yard of really pretty green (big surprise there) silk embroidered fabric that will be perfect for a couple of throw pillows for the living room.  I went back to the first store because Sarah was dying to check it out.  She found a nice remnant to make a tote bag and a knitting needle case and I ended up buying another remnant that called to me when I first walked into the store.  It is heavy and soft and green with leaves and will make a gorgeous bedspread.  Should be just enough material.  So between the pillows and the bedspread, I think I have enough basic projects to start with to get me back into sewing again and familiarize me with the new toy.  Then I can tackle the dress project, which will be beautiful.  I hope.

This weekend my goal is to clean up and clear out our spare back room which has my clothing exploded all over it.  I want to get rid of the futon that's up there (sorry Tal, but we have a proper guest room now!) and get a large table for laying out fabric and a table for my sewing machine and make a real sewing room.  That will make me ridiculously happy.