Ode to the sewing machine that never works…….

My dear Sally (which is my viking machine), I can't seem to coax her to work. I pay her nothing, ask her to do unreasonable things, flip her switches and push all her buttons, and now my abuse has come back to bite me. Her needle is in the down position and that is that. I can't get it to move one iota. So things came to a screaming halt for a while there in January, but please note that I did get much done. Tons of knitting, a Waldorf doll, Jedi robe, a skirt for R, and started 3 rugs. So at least I wasn't a bump on a log. I'm on my second borrowed machine now, this one is named Janice, from Amanda (Thanks Amanda!). Imagine her (Janice that is, not Amanda) as having blue eyeshadow a gold jumpsuit and glitter in her hair, but the good thing is that the ol girl works. THANK GOODNESS!

So as for this month I have made 1 sling purse for my Supplier. $0

And finished one for myself $0

4 little star Waldorf dolls

and

I would love to make this dress for R but I might be going overboard on that one…we'll see.

As for poor Sally, I can't say I know when she will be going back to the shop, but I am very thankful for Miss Janice ;)

-Joy

Crisis averted!

My machine, whom I call Sally (I think of her as a cheerleader) decided to work again with no help from me whatsoever. After she broke down, I think her boyfriend broke up with her behind the bleachers (see the high school thing again) she sucked it up, put on her big girl pants and decided to work, once again. Miracles do happen! So, I was able to get an enormous amount of sewing done this month. Thank goodness! I was 2 seconds away from pawning my husband for the money I needed to get her fixed.

I was able to finish all 4 stockings.

From L to R stockings belong to, husband, me, daughter, son.

All of the fabric was from last year’s stockings that I hated once done, so all of that was free, and so were the buttons thread and batting.

I also made 4 clutches on commission (now I can go buy presents for us this year WOO HOO).

One of my kiddo’s Christmas presents this year is a Waldorf doll with all the clothes; a dress, bloomers and a pair of shoes. I had bought everything I needed to make the doll for last Christmas and never got around to it so it worked out great. I still have her PJ's to finish up but I'm well on my way.

Also, another doll (Molly the Dolly) that I did finish last year, needed a new face which turned into a whole new body as well. She had been loved to the point that her face split in two and stuffing was coming from her nose. After many, many tears from R, Molly has been all fixed up again as of this morning. That was a close one!

And last but not least, I made a small cuddle doll for the prettiest red head in town, turning 1 year old today.

I had a very full month!

-Joy

Can't breath can't breath....

MY SEWING MACHINE JUST BROKE!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Joy

Better Late Than Never...Or Is It??

So there was this sewing project that I started in August...
Here's a reminder:

I seem to remember ranting and raving about the absurdity of the pattern I was using... After re-visiting this project (after trying not to look at it for 2 months, 'cuz it kept making me mad) I came to the conclusion that I did not, in any way whatsoever, over-react.  But, what makes me more irritated than a next-to-useless pattern, is a half finished sewing project taking up valuable real estate on my sewing table. 

So......  I got all jacked up on extra strong black tea and went to it.
Here's the finished project!!  In hindsight I could have picked fabric that was a bit more wrinkle-resistant, but my cup is half-full folks. ;)

Ta Da!

-Amanda

Christmas Here I Come!

So another month has passed and onward I trudge. Slow and steady wins the race, but I am quickly finding out that standing still will get you nowhere.

On that note, the purple dress took so long I was spent for the rest of the month. Although, I will say, it was worth it. Once the sewing machine part of the dress was finished, the detailed hand sewing began. And so, in turn, October breezed by in a whirlwind of pink thread and really sore fingers.

So this month is all about Christmas.

Stockings 4 times over!

This is the pattern I used for the stockings although I don't think I will be using the same quilting pattern on the front. http://blog.maggiemakes.com/files/stocking-tutorial.pdf

A few commissioned presents for a friend.

Then, I think I will be able to call November done. On the down side I am a huge over commiter kinda gal so let's just see how much I really get done. ;)

- J

She lives!

Hello world,
Couple of things...

1) No, I have not fled the country.
2) My life is overflowing with Water Polo (My High Schooler), Reading Groups (My 2nd grader) and Lunch/Recess Duty (My 3rd Grader).  Yup, all fun and games.  Literally.
3) Yes, Helga (my sewing machine) has been giving me the 'Silent Treatment'.  (Passive-Aggressive German...)  It's mutual.
4) BUT - I have been doing some 'crafty' things... here's a sampling!

Halloween Fun...
I got this idea from a super neato blog called The Pretty Poppy
Here's the tuturial (of course, mine had to be black...)
http://theprettypoppy1.blogspot.com/2010/07/pretty-little-rosie-wreath.html

Another fun project had me using something I don't think I've used since elementary school!  Remember Modge-Podge?! The bottle even looks the same! 

Anyway, again, the tutorial depicts a very classy finished project - mine is black with skulls... Just keepin' it real...

Yet another great blog: The Other White House

And, the tutorial:

http://fivewhites.blogspot.com/2010/08/modge-podge-pumpkins.html







Before...





And After...!



Well, that's the news for now... hopefully more to come!!

Amanda

Way way way too late.

So I finished the dress with 1/2 a day to spare, but I had to pick, post about it or finish up the marathon training. Guess what lost. So here I am now with one cutie pie dress!

The purple fabric was at the bottom of a forgotten box and buttons from Amanda's stash = $0.

On another note , we decided we can't get 2 patterns done in a month so we will cut it down to just 1.

-Joy