New machine, Toys for Tots, and Follow the Fifty!

Well loyal blog fans, if any still exist out there (hi Mom!).

As I said before, I haven't deserted you, I've just taken a leave of absence.

Let's get started, shall we?

First, say hello to my lil' friend (said with an Al Pacino/Scarface accent)

This is the Janome Sew Mini, which I purchased at Hancock Fabrics for $49.99. Don't let the small size fool you.  As the box states quite clearly, This Is Not a Toy.  This is a real sewing machine, made in the same factory as the bigger Janome machines. It uses the same bobbins and needles, but only weighs about five pounds (I can pick it up easily with one hand). Drop in bobbin case, six stitch settings (only straight and zig-zag) and a reverse switch.  Drawbacks? No light. It also only has one speed. When you depress the foot, it starts, and when you release, it stops. But the speed isn't annoyingly slow.  It can sew through several layers of cotton, but cannot handle heavier fabrics (and doesn't like the hook side of velcro too well).  But the best part is, I can keep the ruffler foot on my big machine, and do the simple sewing on this little jem, and get so much more done. The stitches are beautiful.  This is one of the best sewing purchases I've made in a long time. And the day after Thanksgiving, Hancock Fabrics is selling these for $39.99, one day only. Go grab one!

Next...Toys for Tots.

This is the second year that YouCanMakeThis.com has offered free doll clothes patterns that you can sew and submit to Toys for Tots, so little girls can dress their new dollies in more than one outfit.  What about the boys? you say.  Well, currently the site is also selling quite a few patterns where 100% of the proceeds go to Toys for Tots, so the boys are covered, too.

Here are a few examples of the outfits you can make...

You're not limited to the free patterns, either. Any doll clothes can be made and donated, as long as they're submitted with a form (found on the site) that tells what size doll the clothes will fit.  Here are some more examples of clothes I've made, using patterns from the creator of those free patterns, Carla C.

And finally, Follow the Fifty. Another neat creation by YouCanMakeThis.com. This time, a group of women (and men!) are setting out on the challenge to be thrifty this Christmas, and raid their stashes too!

Follow them here:

Comments

[Carla]

Thanks so much for the mention! You did a wonderful job on the doll clothes! And Thank you so much for participating in "Twirls for Girls"!!! I'm excited to make some sets with my stepdaughter this week!

That little sewing machine looks so cool! I'd love to have one to use as a travel machine. My regular Janome is a heavy thing!

[Heather]

I'm fading away from lack of madmommy posts! hehe Hope you're doing well. xo