31 Days to Settle in After a Move: Be Selfish

 After each move my studio is the last room to be unpacked and squared away and sometimes it has been months before I am able to sew again.  And even though I am totally over-focusing on the task at hand - settling in to our new home- I am probably less productive because in the back of my head I wish I was doing something for me. Then I become grumpy & resentful. That makes me a fun person to be around. (We all know the saying "if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.")

Learn from my (repeated) mistake.

Don't put your creativity on hold because you have a huge to-do list.
Don't let guilt keep you from doing something just for you.
Don't neglect your hobbies or passions.

Death, Divorce, and Moving are the 3 most stressful experiences in life.
Would you ever deny someone a creative outlet or time to enjoy themselves after a death? or a divorce?
of course not.
So why do we do it to ourselves during a move?

Take some time for you, whether it's reading a good book, enjoying a pedicure or getting your craft on.
Do it, and do it often.
You totally deserve it, don't put yourself last.

Timing is Everything!

Why is it,

that when I finally have the

time

inspiration

motivation

and need

to sew

that my serger decides to crap out on me?

(again?)

Seriously.

A machine always seems to work perfectly when there's

no deadline

no desire

when the repair shop is open

when the repair man is not on vacation

when you are sewing something you don't really care about and no one will ever see it anyway

I've waged this battle before, but now my serger has a new trick up it's sleeve.

Timing.

as in, the timing is out.

It's causing skipped stitches and creating all kinds of havoc.

(well, I guess one of us gets to do some creating...)

I'm hoping I can get it in on Monday and get it back soon.

In the interim, I'm cutting (lots) and sewing what I can (not so much)

I'm not on a timeline

but, when I want to make something,

I want to make something!

Not make part of something and waste time waiting for my busted serger to cooperate.

Ugh,

timing is everything.

Princess Seam Progress a.k.a. Full Blown Tantrum

Last night some friends and I met up for our monthly Fitting Group in Salt Lake.

This is the 3rd month meeting  that I have worked on my princess seam bodice.

And I know everyone is waiting with bated breath, wondering

"Just how did that princess seamed fitting thing work out for you?"

welll.....

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

wait for it....

.

.

.

.

.

.

It Didn't

This is what it looks like after I have thrown a tantrum.

Not pretty.

I have spent hours measuring, slashing, spreading, taping...

And not alone, either. Tamara, my Fitting Goddess has helped me every step of the way.

No matter how we adjusted it or what we did we couldn't get it quite right.

At the end of the night, we agreed it was possibly salvageable...

...but...

 ...we both just really wanted to shred it and start over.

So, that's exactly what I'll be doing.

Now, saying this, I realize it wasn't fair to just share a picture of my resulting tantrum.

So, I smoothed it back out (sort of..) and took another picture so you could appreciate all our efforts and understand why I'd like to set the friggin' thing on fire.

Isn't that crazy? There is more Swedish tracing paper than pattern tissue!

And this pattern is my size - really! All this for just a bust alteration.

I seriously intend to hit this hard and get it right next month...

because, well once I master the princess seam, I've got a few more patterns I want to take on...

 

McCalls 5800 is the pattern I am currently dueling with. I'm using view A currently, but might just opt for B's neckline this next go 'round. For 0598 I like the raglan sleeve and full skirt. CUTE!

I find a fitted bodice and flared skirt is the best way to balance my girls with my (boyish) hips. KWIM?

I can't wait to make them - and have them really fit!

My Ugly Relationship with My Serger

Yesterday started off with so much promise...

A dress nearly done, new projects cut and ready to sew. A new design to plan out for a friend.

Why did it have to go bad like that? Why?

I take excellent care of my serger - I do. I clean it, oil it, change it's needles.

When others scoff at it's El Cheapo price tag & quality I always rush to it's defense. I stood by, when light bulbs repeatedly fell out for no reason. I handled it with grace when my stitch finger broke - over, and over, and over... I've replaced brand new needles repeatedly to fix unexplained skipped stitches, and even played with dials for hours to get the tension just right.

I ask, is this any way to repay my adoration?

I should have known from day one that this would be an unhealthy relationship.  There were signs from the very beginning. This model has a history of giving ladies trouble, breaking stitch fingers all over the country. Less than a year into it, mine broke as well... I refused to give up, and gave it another chance. Then another, and another... Then I started to notice other things as well. It refused to hold onto a light bulb, and I began serging in the dark. Tension built as we couldn't agree on  settings, first the loopers, then the needles - it didn't matter what I tried - it was always playing games with me.

Why did I put up with it all these years? 

I know this serger like the back of my hand, I could thread it with my eyes closed. And I guess I've just grown submissive,  this serger is my first - and only - could I ever be with another? What if I did leave, would I end up with another machine just like it?  

Enough is Enough.

My stitch finger has broken for the last time. Yesterday I super-glued it together - again - and the next time it pulls this crap on me I'm out the door and  finding a new machine. One who appreciates all I do for it, and respects me enough to serge in return. Oh sure, I'll keep this one around for a rolled or narrow hem every now and then, but as for all 4 threads - this is it's last chance.

And this time I mean it.