Serger Dreaming and Rejuvenation

Try not to be startled that I am actually posting something......I mean I know it's got to be a shock to your system, but........I think..........I may be......finally........back! Yay!

This has been an amazingly difficult year for me due to some very intense family situations. Because of all these crazy things going on that were way beyond my control, I haven't been able to sew at all lately. I have felt like a blogging loser - always lurking around other peoples blogs and never working on my own. I have really appreciated being able to see other people's creations and enjoyed their ideas though. It helped keep my spirits up. I have been living vicariously. I really think that most of the rough waters have started to settle down and I can again find my happy place by spending some time in the sweet meditation known as sewing.

During some of the rougher moments, I have dreamed of fabric stores and color combinations......I have mentally sewn five new wardrobes as well as mentally refurbished my couch and made about ten imaginary quilts in my mind. Now I hope to do a little in the real world.

I decided that I am going to be a little self-centered and sew for myself first this time. I just ordered my Lady Grey and can't wait to join in on the sew-a-long that Gertie is hosting over at her blog.

So before I leave you to actually go dust off my sewing machine, I will tell you my sad serger story.

I decided that I would be really naughty and go splurge on myself. Something I NEVER do.......I always try to be thrifty and buy used or not at all.........but today was one of those days........and after online window shopping.....I decided that I wasn't going to think about anymore - I was just going to go get myself a serger. Just like that. (WOW! really? No guilt and weeks of working up to it?? NOPE!) I marched down to my local bigbox store (because even when I'm being bad, I guess I still felt I had to go somewhere known for low prices) and managed to get the last serger they had. I felt a little jittery and nervous walking up to the register. I fought that down and paid for my prize.

I rush home.... rip open the box.....and find....................that there are things missing. and it smells a little too strongly of oil. and then I open up the little door and there is fabric fuzz inside. IT WAS USED!!! I was so upset! I had to repackage it and drive it back down there to return it. I was a little upset with myself for my impulse and the guilt of it set in on the return trip.

I did get a full refund - but it will take 3 to 5 days...........which is good, I guess.......since I can't be trusted with serger spending money. :)

Oh well - no serger for me. To tell the truth, I'm a little relieved. I really needed to think that through better.

So tonight, as I wait for my Lady Grey to come in the mail........I will ponder what pattern in my stash is calling my name and start working on getting back to my sewing happy place.

Hugs to you all.

Me.

Kindness of Strangers

Hello All,

What a wonderful weekend I had! I spent most of it just relaxing with my boys and enjoying life......but the highlight of my weekend came in a wonderful package from a complete stranger. This lovely lady had heard that I was a fan of vintage patterns and picked up a few at an estate sale just for me!! I am so thrilled, it's unbelievable......now to decide which one to make first. 

The Blanket

Let's talk about my bad procrastination issue, shall we?

So, I started this baby blanket about four years ago.......and then life threw me a curve ball or two (in the form of a some Tainted love followed by a little Fish-boy who shall remain nameless and needless to say, it got put on the back burner along with a few other things - like school....but that's a procrastination-post for another day) 

Anywho.....I did manage to get the construction done this Christmas and was so close to finishing it off when I lost steam again!! What's wrong with me? No, don't answer that..... 

Well I decided if I post it, I will have to get motivated to finish it, right? So here it is.......I was given an odd number of color blocks for the middle and asked to make a blanket around them. (Yep, the blanket is for someone else, making my procrastination all the more shamefull!!) 

The only request is that it be bright and colorful. I chose the rest of the fabric to match the original blocks. It was difficult to get a pattern going with the odd numbers but in the end I'm happy with how it turned out. (The black area in the "plan" is from the fabric I was given.)

 Of course the baby is now four. Yikes! So, onto the knotting before this turns into her wedding present. 

Lucky Day!

      So I was driving home today through the "retirement" section of town (after having just scored a 3 dollar ironing board at Salvation Army) and happened to pass a garage sell being hosted by two somewhat cranky and kind of cute little old ladies. My little fish was up for the adventure, so we stopped. I am so happy I did......just look at this vintage fabric! A whole box full for just cheap enough to make me get it without regrets. Everything from tiny scraps to yardage...even a half started project.

      They had some beautiful vintage glass buttons too - but I just couldn't justify a dollar per button for all of them and I couldn't decide which ones to take and which ones to leave - so I decided to stick with only the fabric. Although they claimed to have a stash of vintage patterns somewhere - if they could only remember where....since their memories are failing (their words not mine)......but they did tell me which pieces of fabric came from dresses they had when they were little......it was sweet and a little sad to be taking it away. I promised to stop back tomorrow to see if they remembered where the patterns were.....I am keeping my fingers crossed that they do find them. Do you think it would be too pushy to ask to dig through their garage to find them?? Yah, I thought so too.....

I'm Lame

The title says it all........I am so lame at updating and I don't know why. I have a ton of new goodies to share and I haven't gotten around to writing about them yet. I have been thrift shopping and came up with some bargins that I want to write about too........So what is my malfunction, I ask? I just don't know.

But I am thinking that a big fat TO-DO list is in order to help me get organized and to get the ball rolling on finishing all the projects that I have floating around in my mind. So maybe the first order of business is to order the business. I think that may be my goal today. Stay tuned for my To-Do list, My thrift store bargins, My pattern scores, etc. So while this is a lame excuse for a blog entry.......it's a least I am pondering it, so don't give up on me yet.

So I guess that my question is......What holds you up from getting your projects done (or even started for that matter??)