madmommy

Do I really look that old?

Please, somebody, tell me I look young for my age. Because apparently the AARP feels the same way.

No, really.

For the past year, I have received numerous mail and email solicitations from the 50 and over club. My favorite was a notepad with my name on it. I seem to be missing out on all sorts of great discounts by putting off joining. Else why would they keep pestering me?

Ok, here's the problem. I'm only 34 (if you don't count the last six months where I mistakenly told everyone I was 35, because I can't seem to do basic math in my advanced old age). And I was getting carded up until I turned 27.

So what happened?

Was it having a baby, who grew into a toddler that gives me an average of four new gray hairs a week?

In any case, I have contacted the AARP by phone, explaining (very nicely) that I appreciated their offer, but also revealing my true age. The very kind, very apologetic woman on the other end of the phone took me off their mailing list, but said it might take three months for all solicitations to cease. That was six months ago. And now they're at it again.

I wonder what would happen if I tried to sign up...

...I also think my brother is behind all of this.

Late Saturday Night...Or is it Early Sunday Morning?

So I finally picked up the last notions I needed to make the She Loves Me...She Loves Me Knot handbag from You Can Make This. Ok, so maybe I'm addicted to their super easy to understand patterns that look utterly professional when completed. Maybe I'm just trying to let the big pattern companies know that, I do not like to sew from printed instructions (i.e. words only and precious few diagrams). At least with the YCMT patterns, they come with a pdf file full of actual photos of what your project should look like at any given moment. And no little triangle things to cut out on the flimsy pattern paper. Who thought of those, anyway?

So here she is, my new spring handbag...

This actually took me much longer to create than I anticipated. Not because of the pattern. But because, in my search for the perfect fabric, I had to go through my stash. And then you have to loving look at each small scrap, every fat quarter, every inherited piece of cloth and explain why it's been so long since you've last talked (ok, maybe this is just me). So, when I had about three different choices for fabrics, I realize at the last moment that I'm shy a few bits. More digging, more matching. I think the searching, the pressing, the cutting, and adhering the fusible fleece and fusible lining took the most time. Actual creation was very easy.

I think I'd actually sew more often if it wasn't for washing new fabrics, pressing them, organizing them, and then cutting out patterns and fabric. I'm just in it for the sewing. In my perfect world, I would hire someone whose sole job would be to iron, press, and cut. Then I could just sit at my machine and whip up all sorts of wonderful things!

Yeah, right after I hire that professional maid!

What did you do this weekend?

Flower Power

What do you do when you're dying to sew cute little girls' pants?

Find yourself a little girl! (Munchkin, obviously, is a little boy)

These pants will soon be on their way to Texas, to the granddaughter of one of our teachers at school.

Any excuse to sew something pink...

Janome Love

Let me present, the Janome Travel Mate.

Now, some of you may be thinking, "Wait a minute...didn't she just take her Singer in for repairs this weekend?"

Yes, dear friends. I took the Old Bessie into our local sewing machine shop (Midwest Sewing and Vacuum) and found that I'd probably broken a few gears in the old Singer. Admittedly, I'd never taken her in once during the 15 years I owned her for a service or a cleaning. Big mistake. Of course, I know better now. Anyhow, the cost to clean and repair wasn't worth considering. In the meantime, I was being led, not unwillingly, to the new machines on display. My budget was fairly small ($200-300). Lucky for me, this little baby was on sale for $199 (marked down from $399), plus 3 free hours of instruction and a free service within the first year.

But none of those aspects caught my attention more than the demonstration. I have only one thing to say...eight layers of denim. Like butter. And tulle like a dream. What was I supposed to do? I called my hubby, handed over the credit card, loaded Bessie into the car, and walked out with my new sewing friend.

Now, in case you think I was now travelling on easy street...
...I started my first project (remember those pants I had all cut out and ready to go?). And the machine balked. And the thread kept catching in the bobbin. And looping up in the back. Not all the time. Just every once in awhile. Hmm.

And then I remembered some advice a friend of mine told me about thread quality. Never use inferior thread, she said. And I remembered that the spool of thread that came with the machine, and that I used to test it, was Mettler Metrosene, a very high quality 100% polyster thread that's great for all-purpose use. And that the thread I was now using was the old standy, Coats and Clark Dual Purpose. So I did some research on the internet, and low and behold, these newer machines HATE the old standby. C&C will gum up the works, mess with the tension, and fluff everywhere.

Sure enough, when I switched back to the Mettler thread *BAM*!!! Instant success.

So now I have to get rid of my five billion spools of C&C, and pick up some Mettler.

Nothing is good enough for my new baby (or for the munchkin, who is getting all the goodies I'm sewing).

Chalk it up to a lesson learned.

Sewing Machine Blues

Do you know what happens when you have a three-day weekend, a long enough toddler nap to iron fabric and cut out enough pieces to sew two pairs of pants, a pair of shorts, and a t-shirt?

Your sewing machine breaks.

At least it waited until I'd finished the first pair of pants. However, the waistband doesn't look much like the last pair. I lengthend the amount of elastic in the waist by a half-inch. Now I'm wondering if I wasn't using some sort of martian yard stick? We'll see tomorrow when the munchkin tries it on (if nothing else, he'll wear the infamous "Cars" pants!).

So what did the munchkin think of the new fabric I picked out for his next pair for pants?

And, of course, the mastermind behind this plan...

So, thankfully, the sewing shop in town is open tomorrow. I must admit that is this somewhat my fault. First, I have never taken in my machine for a "tune-up", and I bought it sometime in the mid-90s. Second, I'd been shopping around for a "replacement", and I'm sure Old Bessie overheard. Sigh. And just when I realized tonight that I have a cover with my machine that covers the feed dogs, for embroidery and free motion sewing. Heady thoughts!

Hope you Easter weekend is filled with Peeps (slightly stale and chewy) and solid-chocolate bunnies!

Pattern Love

I am in love...

...with a new place to find super-easy patterns!

Now, I might be a little out of the loop on this one, so stop me if you've heard of this before...
You Can Make This!

I'm not sure how I found out about this e-store (so if you told me, I'm sorry I've forgotten). But I must admit that this is now my favorite place to find great patterns for kids' clothes. And this is coming from a fan of the Kwik Sew variety.

The patterns run about $9.95, but they are .pdf files, so you can download them and print what you need (because most have separate pages for each size of the pattern). The instructions are not only in print, but in the best photos too, so you can always see exactly what they are trying to tell you to do! I am a very visual learner, and now I finally feel more confident in my ability to sew more than softies.

The site is pretty heavy on patterns for girls, but there are still a couple of great ones that work for boys as well. They also carry patterns for purses, bags, embroidery designs (for your machine), and scrapbooking, as well as some limited patterns for women's clothes, plus many, many applique patterns, crochet, and knitting. The patterns are by different designers, marketed through this site, and although each designer has their own "feel", the patterns are also somewhat similar in their approach and technique. Very good for beginners. They also come out with quite a few freebies, which you can get through their newsletter or on the site. The latest is an adorable purse called the "She Loves Me...She Loves Me Knot". Very classy, and works from fat quarters (great way to raid your stash!). Hurry, they only have it free until March 21st!

So what have I made?

How about these adorable "Easy Fit Pants"? They only took me 30 minutes to whip up.

I've also recently purchased a raglan t-shirt pattern, so I can make some coordinating outfits. You can't get any easier than this. And for an added bonus, these two patterns (both by the fabulous CarlaC Designs) also have instructions for making dolly-size versions. So for little girls, a cute outfit you can make with a matching one for her American Girl doll, etc.

Ok, enough of my raving for today. Go check them out!

Big Boy Bed

This is what happens when you send the munchkin to take a nap in his new "big boy bed" (the crib with bars taken down and toddler rails installed). I think he must have thought that Tigger and Pooh would be good decoys, while he played quietly in the corner...
So now he takes his nap on blankets on the floor of the family room, where I can keep an eye on him. He seems to prefer this situation anyhow. The best part about "upgrading" his sleeping arragements is the extra time I get in the mornings to sleep in (I'm on Spring Break this week). Now he can wake up and amuse himself with the toys in his room while I catch a few extra winks. Of course, he's also picked up the phrase, "Mommy, get up now!"