Okay so I got halfway through the month with daily postings, but then two things happened: a holiday (which was awesome) and a @#$@%$# crib bumper (not so awesome).
Independence day was wonderful. We spent it with a big group of friends at my Mom's (thanks Mom and Bill!) while they were at the blues festival in Portland. Hello pool, thank goodness too because it was hot! We lounged, ate, swam, nursed, napped, and ate some more. Tuesday loved the fireworks like so completely, she was in awe. We didn't get around to doing any of the little ones, but sat out on the golf course for their big show and she drooled over them. I can't believe the noise didn't scare her. I can't believe she woke up for them, she was totally off her schedule (and is sleeping now, so she must still be catching up), and we didn't get her to bed until after 11. It's crazy to think that is when she was going to bed every night just a month ago, I guess things have gotten better!
So this bumper thing, okay here's a picture:
Okay so now here's a picture where you can see some of the problems. And I'm saying that like prob-LEMS.
Ugh, the wave. I'm sure it's because my measurements are not exact and also because of the tie placement.
Now I know I got these ties marked in the right spot (Sciarrino helped me do it, back me up Sciarrin), so what is the problem? My sewing machine. I'd like to say right off the bat that my mother got me this awesome gift for my 21st birthday. But that was eight years ago and lots and lots and LOTS of sewing projects ago. It's a Janome My Excel, I can't link to it because it's no longer made. But it's just a really good basic machine. Unfortunately for me really good basic machines do not like being pushed to their limits. I can't even drop the feed dogs on it and as a result have shoved some things under the needle that really should not have gone there. Now it gives me lots of uneven stitches. And it does this thing when I first start sewing that just about gives me fits! It either sucks the thread up (resulting in constant rethreading) or down (resulting in bobbin entanglement) unless you pull HARD on the thread when you are beginning to sew. Well I borrowed my mom's machine for a portion of this, but for the ties I only had mine, and I can't very well pull the thread, wad a big bunch of this under the needle and sew and expect everything to stay in place. So they slipped around a bit. My mom did mention to me today that I could have basted them in place by hand, but by this point I was SO OVER THIS PROJECT PEOPLE. It's my own fault really for calling myself a crafty genius when I did the bumper one. I didn't follow any directions for this (um, obviously) so I've got no one to blame but myself. Ugh the shame!
The thing is:
Tuesday loves it. And I don't want to go buy one because most of them are full of polyester batting, and I purposely made this thin so it would not be a suffocation danger. I think I'm looking at some serious seam ripper action, taking off the wonky ties and repositioning them. You know where I'm going with this right (Bj sure does). I want a new machine!!! Sciarrino and I checked them out Friday and I have my heart set on this little baby. Well actually Babylock, the new Decorator's Choice (apparently there is not that big a difference between the Decorator and Quilter, except price). Does anyone have one of these? Also why the heck are machine prices so secret? I can't for the life of me find them online, and I want to know if I'm being offered a good deal. Do you sign some kind of secrecy thing when you buy a machine from a dealer? You can email me privately if you like. I'd love any Babylock review. This one has automatic cutting, and a presser foot knee lift. I think it's the least expensive machine to have those two features that I really want.
Oh and look what Tuesday can do even with this huge diaper:
Whoa, the arm is still under, wait for it...
Did you just roll over? Did you?
I think you did! Phew that was hard work:
Okay off to update the dailies.
