I've said it before - I rarely sew for myself.  But I'd like to, I really would.  I see the things Melissa and Julie make and adore them.  I have the patterns, I have plenty of fabric, but I also have fear.  I am not scared of the actual sewing part.  It's the fitting part that stops me cold.

So I am setting out to conquer the unknown.  I actually signed up for a sewing class and we are making a lined jacket.  Yes, you got it right, a lined jacket (I am doing version B with version A pockets).  My first class was on Monday night.  I showed up with my pattern and three yards of muslin.  After being properly measured, I started cutting the muslin using the pattern unaltered.  When it was all sewn up, it was obvious that I needed to add some length (about 3 inches!) and make a bust adjustment.  I get the length thing, but how in the hell you do make a bust adjustment?  I just sat back and watched as my instructor got out her ruler and marker and started drawing lines and then cutting.  Here is what we ended up with...

I completely understood what she did, or at least that is what I thought.  When I took the pattern out today to lengthen it at the waist and adjust the other pattern pieces accordingly, this one was all messed up.  I spent a good half hour trying to put it back together, but, like Humpty Dumpty, I am missing some pieces.

Anyone have any advice?  Books I should look at?  Helpful little websites I should peruse?  Maybe I should just wait until Monday and start over again....

Meg's daughter, Jane, and my Jane had themselves a little swap.  These super crafty girls had been working on their goodies for a few weeks and sent the packages off last Thursday.  Sadly, I don't have photos of the package that arrived.  (Call me a bad blogging mom, but the camera battery was dead and I didn't have the heart to make my sick kid wait to open it all.)  You can see it all here.

Jane was so excited and very happy with the goods!  She loves her hot dog buddy and "J" shirt.  Jane also sent my Jane a cd full of great music.  We've been rocking out in the car!

To see what we sent off, head on over to flickr.

Thanks Jane (and Meg)!  I'd say the whole thing was a hit!

The third floor of our house is one big room that is currently used as a playroom/guest room.  One of my favorite parts of this room is the large window seat.  I have always thought it would be the perfect place to lay down, read and take a little nap.  It just never happens, though.  It's just too big, actually too deep.  I have tried, but I just can't get cozy enough to drift off to dreamland.

While trashing out the sewing room, I found two 14"x36" pillows that I had bought, but had forgotten about.  The closet is small and they were taking up valuable real estate, but I couldn't see them due to the mess.  Then there was the bolt of extra fabric leftover from the window seat cushion...light bulb!  I got out the scissors and got to work.  An hour later...pillows!

I plopped them on the seat, arranged the throw pillows and took it for a test drive.  Better, but not just right - two won't cut it, it really needs three.  Back to the sewing machine I went.  Now the third cover is ready, just waiting for the insert to arrive.

Kate likes it, too.  Now if she'd just take a nap....

Long story short:  Jane had the stomach flu so we canceled the babysitter and ordered in.  I am still working in the sewing room....it's all trashed out and ready for organizing.  If all goes as planned, I will have photos to share later this week.  A wonderful package arrived at our house, too - more on that another day.

The biggest work in progress is still cleaning.  I started in the sewing room this morning and, what do you know, I found the missing presser feet!

Now that I have that mystery solved, it is time to get it all sparkling clean.  I started with my machine.  Do you ever clean your own machine?  Every time I take the plate off, I am amazed at the amount of fuzzy dust in there.  Now, don't misunderstand...I won't go near the mechanics of my precious machine.  I do get it serviced and oiled about once a year by a professional.  When I bought my machine, though, the first thing I was taught was how to keep the bobbin compartment clean.  I had never, ever thought about that before.  It turns out that keeping all that fabric dust out of there really helps reduce broken needles and other tension issues.  Who knew?  Not me!

Once I got the machine cleaned, I started in on the fabric.  I didn't make much headway so I think it is going to be my weekend project.  I have good incentive - these strips are just waiting to be turned into belts.

I am looking forward to the weekend....some cleaning, some sewing, some reading and a date with Fatty.  A movie and sushi, I think.  Sounds good to me!

Well, I'm back and very happy about it.  I did manage to find my black layering tank (along with three flashlights and tons of other random junk) in my closet.  I also emptied my dresser and cleaned out some other junk drawers and catch-all closets.  The car is loaded up with bags and boxes for Goodwill.  It feels good.

What I did not find was my zipper foot or the other missing one.  In fact, I didn't make it to the sewing room at all.  Kate had some weird fever virus and was generous enough to pass it on to her mom.  Thanks, hon.  The sickies brought my cleaning streak to a standstill and I am having a hard time getting back in the groove.  I will get to it soon, though.  I have to or the crafting will also come to a halt pretty darn fast.  And we can't have that now, can we?

I did manage to squeeze in some crafting between cleaning closets.  I have been dragging my embroidery everywhere - soccer practice, pool, carpool line.  Seeing Hillary's new stitchettes got me going on the ones I already have.

I have this vision of them all individually framed and hung as one big group on my guest room wall.  Three out of the eight I have are finished.  Of course, the winter set will be coming soon.  I imagine I will be stitching in the carpool line for awhile.

Back tomorrow with some WIP.

A little bit of everything today.

I am a little late to the party, but here I am anyways.  De-lurking, you might say.  I invite you all to do the same....come on out and play.  Let me know you are out there!

Erin and Jane also tagged me.  So I need to come up with 6 weird things about myself....

1.  I don't like gravy or goopy sauces.  No Hollandaise or Bearnaise for me.  Hold the mayo and sour cream, too.

2.  I am blind in my left eye.  When I am tired, it "hangs" or doesn't track as well.  Sometimes people don't think I am looking at them.

3.  I was a History major in college, but I do not enjoy non-fiction unless it reads like a novel.

4.  To go to sleep, I have to move around in bed until everything is just right.  Sometimes I am moving a lot.  My college roommate Karen aptly named this issue "dog problems."

5.   I love to read, but I do not choose most of my books.  Fatty does that for me and I like it this way.  Same thing goes for music.  He buys, he loads my ipod, I listen.

6.  I consider popcorn a completely suitable and somewhat nutritious dinner.

Phew....I had a difficult time coming up with six things.  In fact, I asked for help.  Funny thing is, Fatty and I thought of the same things with the exception of my love of brussels sprouts.  He thinks that is weird - I don't.

Um, I sometimes break the rules....I am not tagging anyone else.  Feel free to play along if you'd like!

And, it's time for a wee blog break.  When you can't find the zipper foot or button shank foot (I have never used it, but it IS missing) or your favorite black layering tank, it's time to clean the sewing room and other closets.  I am not sure how long it'll take.  I will be back sometime next week.  Hope the weekend is good to you!

The sun is shining! Woo hoo!  I had playground duty at Jane's school today and got my fair share of vitamin D while watching the kids play out in the cold.  Oh happy day!

Something else making me smile is this:

Vintage buttons!  I bought this button card on ebay for a mere $5.50 (plus shipping, I know).  It had writing on the back and the date - July 1948.  It says, "Sent to me from Florence Meek.  Many of the buttons belonged to her mother and my pal in Port Arthur Texas."  That makes me think that some of these are really old.  Can you believe my luck?  Oh, I just love it!