We did it Wednesday!

I just finished a dress for my daughter. It was a bit challenging being it was the first time I have ever done a Yoke.  Plus the pleats. But it was a learning experience! I also had to alter the pattern a little to make sure it fit her-also a first for me. The fit came out great-glad I made the changes! Its a Project Runway pattern.

My Beautiful New (to me) Elna Supermatic

I have been getting into my sewing so much lately, I feel like I am just "catching up"  after such a long time. I had forgotten how much I loved it! Between sewing and getting my house back in order after homeschooling my daughter for a year, I have not been blogging. I have just needed to get back on track! Anyway! I have some really nice Electronic sewing machines that I LOVE and have worked well (once I worked out the kinks).  But I also have been looking at older machines as well, and I recently got this for a steal off Ebay.  It sounded like a motorboat when I got it, so I decided to take it in to have it serviced. In addition to being cleaned and oiled she just needed her friction pulley replaced (a common ailment  for this model from sitting so long).   The repairman was a little excited-he has worked on these but hadn't seen one in a loooong time.  So a week and a half later (they were busy) she is back and running amazing!  This thing plows through layers and layers. She runs like a dream.  I love her.  She was built in 1954.  She is my early Christmas Present :) I just loooooove that its made of all metal-she's heavy duty!

(the first picture above is the Supermatic with the Original metal case that converts to a worktable. This machine does not have a FOOT pedal it has a KNEE pedal. A learning curve there! )

Sewing for babies

Since I have my new sewing machine I have wanted to make some blankets and such for baby shower gifts. It seems like I am ALWAYS having one to go to, so it would be great to have some blankets and other things made ahead of time. I made 2 blankets today and I plan to make some other things too. I found this tutorial online for the blankets-I love the edge on the blankets :)

Looking Up

So things just seem to be totally looking up. I am feeling so positive and happy the past week. What a HUGE relief.  It just shows that the decision I made to put Gillian back in school was the right one. We all seem to be happy around here :)

Happy Monday!

Yay! A whole new week and I am excited!  Did some more playing in my art journal today-played with an acrylic ink eyedropper and just drew a random image of a wolf. Lots of random thoughts going on today-just enjoyed the process :)

Free To Be Me

So my daughter is back in school...........and I am in the process of doing my art again. The past couple of days have been amazing, and I am so thrilled to have my much needed "ME" time. I have so much time on my hands now I don't know what to do! But I do know one thing-I need time to nurture myself right now.  I am thrilled to again be my own person-and my daughter can be hers. There is so much I want to do that I don't even know where to begin! Here is my art journal page today, and the pic of myself was printed on inkjet transfer paper and ironed onto muslin. I finished the edges with a zigzag stitch and also stitched some straight stitches on the fabric as well.

art journal page out of frustration

Its been a really hard week. This homeschooling has finally got to me.............I just don't think I can do it anymore.  We have an Autism class here locally so I am going to seriously look into it.  In all this, I am losing myself. I just don't get the opportunity to do all I want anymore.  Things that help define me as a person, not just as a mother of a special needs child. I find myself thinking of how happy I used to be-I used to spend hours doing art when she was at school (before they started calling me for EVERY LITTLE THING). At the end of the day, I felt fulfilled, being I had done something I loved every day.  I LONG for that.  Now my day consists of caring for her every day, all day.  Everytime I sit and try to do something, she needs something , and takes me out of my zone.  I know that first and foremost, I am her mom.  I am well aware of that. But aside from that , with homeschooling I am losing myself. 

This page was created today out of that frustration.  I am going through so many emotions right now. I want her to be successful in her life. She is very high functioning thank goodness, and I count my lucky stars for that.  But is it selfish of me to want to take care of myself?  That is how I feel :(  Its really tough, and making this decision (because I feel guilty) is soooooooooooo much harder than it was when I decided to homeschool. sigh.

We Did It! Wednesday

I have been working on this skirt for about a week now, off and on.   I had not put a zipper in something for yearsssssssssssssss so it felt like the first time, but it went pretty well :)  This skirt is made of linen. Not a super complicated skirt to make but hey-I did it and it fits :) This was finished off with serged edges and a catch stitch (even though the pattern itself said to do the hem another way).

 I like it............now to find (or make) a shirt to wear with it :)

T-shirt Bag

I don't know why but all of a sudden I am obsessed with making bags.  I just checked out the book "The Feisty Stitcher" by Susan Wasinger at the library. I got thumbing through it and went straight to the thrift store and got a couple of old shirts to make this bag.  It only took 1-2 hours. What fun!  My husband said it looks "beachy" and I guess he is right :) I added an up-close photo of the stitched circles cut out to reveal the layer underneath-pretty cool :)

First sewing project (in like 10 years)

Just a simple shoulder bag :)