Pondering?????????????

This is one reason that I Hate to see my beautiful Summer leave me??? I have fallen madly in love with my Trumpet Plant! I have waited every since Spring to see her bloom and it is well worth the wait and just as she shows her true colors - it is almost time for Mr. Autumn to come along and steal her beauty and break my heart. Then another thing I have been pondering is that I had purchased a Brother PE700II embroidery machine a couple of months past on E-bay.I wanted a machine with a larger embroidery area -this does a 5 x 7 and I wanted the ability to download designs from the internet via the USB port! So, this machine was exactly what I wanted -with a limited budget.I haunted E-bay for a couple of months until I found one I could swing. But the minute I pulled it out of the box and set it up - I was wondering IF she made too much noise??? My little Bernina Deco was a quiet workhorse and this sounded more like a thrashing machine.  Still I went ahead and learned how to download designs and where all the bells and whisles were. I am not very techincal minded and it definitly is a challenge to learn new things.  I was very happy with the idea that this machine can do a number of things that are so nice. 
But the noise just got worse until yesterday when I wanted to make a friend a tee shirt because she has lost so much weight that he clothes just hang on her. I had found a great lighthouse design that said , Friends Light the Way? Perfect! I thought  - yea, right ! EIGHT HOURS later I finally finished the design. The thread had broken at least every 3 minutes . It was a nightmare and I was so tired .

I got online this morning and looked for Brother Dealers in my area - only to discover that the closest one was a 3 hour drive!  I did call and talk to the lady and she was SO VERY nice -so I got directions and hubby and I loaded up the machine and took off. Our drive took us through the mountains and it was a very curvy and I get carsick - so the drive wore me out.  We did find our way to the shop and get our machine tucked in . I paid 20.00 down and have to wait Two Weeks. That was the worst part for me . I don't known if I can stand being without an embroidery machine for that long????? I do have a few projects already embroidered - so maybe that will keep me busy putting them together.  I hate for things to go wrong now - it is getting so close to Christmas and I was hoping I would get my projects all finished in time - and was not planning on a break down.   Sometimes I just wish things would Work!

A Boxer Briefs Man !

You know how "guys" are always SO difficult to try and buy presents for???? Why is that???? Is it because we have never walked in "their shoes"  or what? I always say that "guy toys" just seem to cost so much and I don't have it in my budget to run out and buy them a new Harley motorcycle OR a $1000.00 tool box Or a new helicopter for them to play with. SO -  - I get stumped. It's not that I don't love them with all my heart and am so honored that I have such wonderful "guys' in my life! So, what's a gal to do?????

One of my son's is a "Boxer" man - must take after my Daddy. I decided to venture into the world of boxers. I went to Walley World and took a gander at all the boxers. All sizes and colors and different fabrics and then I took a visit to the fabric store in town. I decided that I could get the red lightening fabric and give him a note saying how I thought he was like quicksilver or something corny - that only a MOM could get away with??? While I was there I ran across the yellow fabric in the discount bin  -and I was amazed-it was nice and soft and slick and felt so good to run it across my hands - so I decided to "go for it". I brought it and came home for my fist challenge of sewing a "slick fabric" . I pumped myself up for this challenge with "affirmations" of I can do this! This fabric will work great for me" You know - you get the picture. But, it must have helped and I did take Every Step nice and slow and easy and it seemed to flow that day. I must say I was quiet pleased with myself that day and ended up with two very different pairs of briefs that a Son could not find another pair like them - even if he tried. I did let the daydream pass through my head of becoming the new " men's underwear diva" who could create boxers that any man would love ???? Yea , right - I hear you laughing  - so maybe at least I was able to get a "shocked smile " out of one son on Christmas Day. After all that is what Christmas is for - I get to work all year and then "torment " my kids that one day and get away with it-  after all - I worked hard to raise them and I deserve a little fun! They know I love them! lol

I found another interesting place to visit that has some lovely quilting patterns and she has some lovely Christmas ideas and one of the cutest "yo-yo Santas" that I have ever seen.Here it is and a Merry Ho HO HO to each and all - I'm so sorry - I am getting excited about Christmas now and it brings out the naughty in me!

   "http://www.sewthankful.com/

Hoodies and Family

My daughter-in-law asked me to teach her how to sew "hoodies" because that was what she wanted to make for her kids for Christmas. I almost fainted from fear -talk about the pot calling the kettle black?????? I make every mistake in the book and here I am attempting to guide someone thru the process?????? I was really terrified and I did some heavy praying that I would not mislead her and waste her fabrics.My daughter-in-law is a very special young lady and when you are spending time with someone that you love -magical things can happen.Throw in a smart as a whip granddaughter and you get some icing on the cake. We did learn that not all fleece material is the same. We ended up with one piece that would fly in the air while she was attempting to cut it -that was a very wild fabric to attempt to tame down. The young one wanted a hoodie that related to her "racing hobby" and her Mom pulled it off really well. I think she has a natural talent and she ended up making 9 hoodies for her kids and nephews and nieces.
Ashley was kind enough to "model" the doggie print one made for her cousin. I did learn that gathering together to create something (whether it be quilts or clothing) anything you do with fabric is a wonderful day .And time does fly when you are having fun.

Last of my aprons

This one is for my 2nd daughter-in-law. She has dogs and she can cook the most perfect fish - If She Wants TO!    LOL    So I am hoping that a new apron might inspire her to try her creativity out a little more. She is an angel in my book - I am so lucky to have her. She will tell you right up that the reason she does not cook anymore than she does IS because she does not like to clean up the mess!   ROFL!!! I know a lot of us feel that way! But that is one thing that I love about her - her honesty!

I happened to run across an interesting site and thought you might enjoy a free pattern or just a quick look-around. I always think it is fun to visit.

http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/

It's So EASY 7977

This was a pattern that I ran across at a local thrift store and it stirred my imagination. My neighbor had given me a shirt that stirred my curiosity because it had just a little "give" to it and it made it doubly comfortable because it moved with me. I had found a piece of fabric in a discount bin of Jo Ann's Fabric store and it had a little bit of "give " to it too.So, I came up with the wild idea to test it out with this pattern. I got lucky and all the pieces were in the envelope and it had even been customized by somebody else which made the product fit Just perfect for a friend of mine.  I really did enjoy working with the fabric - it would have been nice to know what kind it was , but as usual it always says - a mixture of and that drives me crazy -but since that is only a short walk - I soon get over myself and move on to learn a new lesson.

I did embroidery a Celtic design on it just for a little sparkle and to make it special for her.HO_HO_HO! The reason I enjoyed this pattern was that the front you just cut the front and a piece of interfacing and a lining  piece. Then you sandwich them all, sewed  together and turn inside out and you are finished . It was soooooo much easier for me to understand than the Vogue pattern. I still want to make the previous pattern , but it is on the shelf for a later date. ~smile~

Vogue 7063

This was my first pattern that I fell in love with that does not have to do with knits! Lynne had made a shirt with it and I absolutely loved the way it looked on her. So nice and clean and well cut. I caught this one on sale with a coupon that JoAnn's had on special and I gathered up all my essentials. I decided I would work on one with Lynne guiding me and I would work on one at home -hopefully to reinforce my learning! I was SO diligent and SO careful and I was SO in love with this pattern and the new fabric was a suiting fabric and it was So much fun to work with. FINALLY - it came to a finish and I rushed to try it one and IT DID NOT FIT.......... It turned out that Lynne had customized her pattern and made it fit her - but MY pattern was too small to fit me. ONE of those boo-hoo moments. But not a loss by any means - I had learned so much!And I still loved the pattern. So back to the store and bought a bigger size - but not having a coupon this time I almost fainted at the price!

There is one thing about this pattern that gives me a fit . It is that front band that covers your buttons and it is Harder to do for me than "being beaten by an ugly stick"!!!!!!!! I had planned to make one for me and one for my animal control friend, but neither of these would fit either of us -it says size 16, but it is small.

So back to the drawing board and with my new larger size pattern I will hunt new suiting fabric. LOL

How About Some More Towels?

I am still plugging along on my Chist mas list and I think Most people can always use towels in their kitchens. I don't know any people "of money" who decorate  in a style and wouldn't want an extra towel and I try to keep each towel with something that the receiver will appreciate. I still think it is funny to be able to use your iron to make that topper. 

 I am fighting with my first cold of the season and I am nice and miserable. I HATE being sick! My personal belief is that I only have so many minutes on our Beautiful Earth and they just slip away far too fast to suit me. Being sick is just like a "waste of time" to me when I could be creating something .~smile~

O, I found a neat link today that you might enjoy relating to sewing:http://www.missbeesdesigns.com/yoyotutorial.pdf