I've cracked open the sewing machine!

Ok Ok so my birthday isn't until March 14th so my sewing machine shouldn't "officially" be open. But to tell you the truth, my hubby was slack at hiding it (we were using it as a barrier to stop the monkey climbing the stairs!) so I decided to open it and attempt my first sewing project. How exciting!

I have however, realised I'm crap at sewing and seriously need some lessons. It took me half an hour to wind a bobbin, thread the machine and find where everything goes. Then break the feed-cover-thingy-ma-bob. Nothing like a bit of superglue to start things off huh!

Check out how I've set up my work space:

I know you have workspace envy.

Oh yes. This is how a TRUE professional needs to work. The brand new shiny sewing machine is on top of a wooden chopping board, balancing on an unpacked cardboard box from the move, with the power cable draped over the sofa, plugged into the only socket the spare room has. Utter comfort. True sewing conditions I know you'll all want to replicate. 

I did manage to sew up this wee beauty I hand stitched months ago:

Thankfully the stitching on the outside looks OK and I'm fairly pleased with the end result. As long as you don't look too closely it's not a bad start. I just need my sister to have a baby girl so I can give it to her. Babies can't see too well in the first few weeks so my stitches will look fab to the bairn!

Kia Kaha New Zealand

My heart breaks when I watch the news lately... reports on the Christchurch Earthquake have me in tears. The loss of life and destruction of one of our most gorgeous cities is devastating. The stories of rescue squads getting people out alive is encouraging, but the thought that others haven't been so lucky seriously breaks my heart.

These things never happen to your own country surely? It's always another country that has a disaster of some sort. Not New Zealand. Mother Nature's evil twin has some answering to do.

Kia Kaha New Zealand. Stay Strong.

So close, and yet...

I went and picked up my spanking new sewing machine today. So. Excited.
However, my hubby kidnapped it and is keeping it hostage until my birthday next month. Grr...



I'm dying to clear the kitchen table and set it all up and learn about what each button and knob does. It was the last machine in John Lewis hence the rush to get it today. Stupid husband making me wait.

Our household is ill again. The wee man has been struck with a tummy bug and hardly keeping anything down (and he's skinny enough as it is!). So sad seeing him miserable. But not as miserable as The Hubby who seems to have got it too. No way I'm changing HIS nappies though!

Whilst they're both asleep upstairs I have started on 'project stitch' - for the wee man's birthday. I want to make one of those cool hangings which has tiny bunting stitched on and his name and date on the bottom. This is my start:



Good thing we didn't name him Francois Gerald the Third.

Busy wee bee

I'm finding this 'Working Mum' business to be a hard slog. It's certainly taking a long time for me to get my head around being back in the office (albeit for three days a week), organising the wee man, attempting to organise the house (fail!) and finding free time for me (major fail!). Hence I've not done one little bit of crafty-goodness for ages now and I'm dying to attack that fabric pile of mine.

Good news however is I've managed to persuade my charming family to donate to the 'sewing machine birthday fund' so I'll be getting my shiny new plaything next month. Bring it on! I just need to figure out which packing box it can live on until we get all the decorating done. Oh to have a wonderful work space like I see on a lot of other clever blogs. One day huh.

Today's dream is to be able to make something this cute:

Cuteness!

Although if I can learn how to make a baby version I can definitely learn how to make a grown up version. Why should the wee man be the only one with funky jammies to sleep in!