Advice, Please!

A new broom sweeps clean,

but the old broom knows the corners.

~ Irish Saying

So, I've got an 11 year old, mid-level mechanical Kenmore sewing machine.  Truthfully, it's done right by me over the years...  I think of it like a little work horse - nothing fancy and a little bit noisy, but it keeps going and going...  

It definitely needs a tune-up - it is starting to give me problems with the tension and the buttonhole does NOT work well at all anymore.  Each tune-up costs about $100, so 3 or 4 tune-ups and all of a sudden you're looking at the cost of another machine...  

So, I'm wondering what I should do.  Should I take it in for another tune-up or should I start shopping for a replacement machine - and maybe move up a notch or two in the sewing machine hierarchy?  

Actually, the thing I most want advice about is the mechanical versus computerized decision.  I have this sense that mechanical machines are more reliable and cheaper to repair and computerized machines are more finicky and expensive to repair.  (Of course, I still drive a manual transmission car, so that tells you something about me!)  

Am I right or am I out of touch?  Whenever I upgrade - now or several years from now - should I stick with a mechanical machine or should I "get with the times" and go computerized?  Any and all advice will be greatly welcome!  Thanks!  :)

Before and After

One of the advantages of being disorderly is that 

one is constantly making exciting discoveries.  

~ A. A. Milne

I've been here before, more times than I care to remember...  It starts so simply - I'm in a rush and I just lay one thing down on my cutting table.

You know, the cutting table - that very convenient, very large and very flat surface that just seems to be begging to hold things for me.  Oh, just until I have time to put those things in their proper places, of course.  

Before I know it, this is the sight that greets me in my sewing room:  

And soon the mess seems overwhelming...  It becomes a vicious circle - I can't get the most out of my sewing time because the room is so disorderly, but I don't want to give up my sewing time to clean...  

I know - what a baby, right?  ;)

Anyways, I took some time on Sunday afternoon and dove in, to see what exciting discoveries I might make.  

There were books, magazines, patterns, fabrics, and notions - it was almost like a shopping spree, where you don't have to spend any money!  

And the best discovery of all?  A beautiful, clean, wide-open work space!  

Now I can finish up my post card blouse and then decide what project I want to tackle next.  :)

With my track record, it would be foolish to promise that I'll never let it get that bad again - but I certainly hope I can drag this out for as long as possible...  Wish me luck!  :)

Gratuitous Kitten Picture

Women and cats will do as they please, 

and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.  

~ Robert Heinlein

Apparently the combination - a female cat - is especially lethal.  

Notice that far-away, contemplative look in her eyes as she chews on poor Popeye?  

Oh, Sophie...  

My First!

You never forget your first time.  

~ Anonymous

SCENE:  Saturday morning breakfast rush; waiting in line at a McDonald's Restaurant

RANDOM STRANGER:  I really like your top.  

ME:  (smiles) Oh, thank you!  

RANDOM STRANGER:  Yeah, I really like it...  (pause)  Where did you get it?  

ME:  (face-splitting smile)  I made it.  

----------------------------------------

Later, my husband reminded me that at least two people have asked where he got one of the Hawaiian shirts that I made for him, but this was the first time someone asked me about something I was wearing.  

Do you remember your first time?  Where did it happen?  What were you wearing?  Who asked?  I'd love to hear about it.  :)

Best Card Ever

How did the people at Hallmark know?  

They've never even met me!  ;)

It's Official - I am NOT a Logistician

There can't be a crisis next week, my schedule is already full.  

~ Henry Kissinger

Yikes!  How can adding 1 person to our household throw my schedule into such chaos?  

I guess that when you start with two full time jobs, two long commutes and a house that is 3 miles from any public transportation system in a town that doesn't have taxi service and then add a teen who doesn't drive, but still needs to have a life - things can quickly spiral out of control!   :(

It's going to get easier, right?  We're going to get a system down and every single day is not going to be a scramble, right?  

(Just say "yes" - PLEASE!!!!)  

A Lack of Patience

There are times to stay put, and what you want will come to you,

and there are times to go out into the world and find such a thing for yourself.  

~ Lemony Snicket

Well, I couldn't wait for my schedule to align with both the mood and the schedule of our foster teen - I went ahead and made the matching skirt for her daughter:

We found a cute pink ribbon with brown polka dots that is the perfect trim!  :)

I wanted to put the same trim on the top, but she didn't want me to - sigh...  ;)

Oh well, it was still really nice to get into the sewing room!  :)