Life without a sewing machine

Right now I am in a pickle. I have many sewing projects, as well as 2 children who want to learn how to sew, and yet, all I have is my serger and my old White sewing machine that has a mind of it's own. My Singer XL 400 embroidery arm decided to stop right in the middle of a project, so I of course had to send the entire machine (even though the machine could still sew perfectly well) off for repairs. That was almost 4 weeks ago!

After 1 week, I went and dug my old machine out, not remembering what was really wrong with the thing in the first place. I plugged it in, did a few little projects and started Tabitha and Grady on a sewing machine curriculum that I found. Then it happened. The whole reason I about threw the thing out the window years ago. It starts doing zig zags when on the straight stitch, the bobbin threads get all messed up... We have learned to just take a deep breath, turn the machine off, and walk away. It's amazing, when we come back and turn it back on the next day, it works just as it is supposed to, until it decides we have sewn enough for the day.

Anyway, I have had to be very creative with my serger to be able to get most of my children's spring/summer wardrobe at least most of the way done. I used a rolled hem on Tabitha's swimsuit for the year. I have also used the blind hem to get a pillow cover completed.

I am really hoping my machine comes back in since I still have shorts for the boys, 1-2 dresses for Tabitha, and a special nursing dress I came up with for me.

Of course, I had just been ready to start teaching myself zippers. I even found an invisible zipper foot for $0.01 plus $4.95 shipping for my machine on Amazon.

I also found 2 other cool feet I had never heard of before, that I want to try sometime this year. The Daisy foot and the pleater foot look so cool and I've watched many videos on YouTube on how they work. I have many ideas. Ideas and I are dangerous.

Time to plant 3

This post will be short.

It is time to get your pea sprouts out to harden off and get them in the ground this week. In the next week or 2, there will be plenty more to do, so enjoy the last little lull in planting, or get the egg carton bottoms filled with soil in anticipation of the planting to come, if you are like me and cannot stand procrastination.

Soap time again

It is so hard to believe that it has been since the spring of 2011, that I made cold press soap. I made so much, right before becoming pregnant with Emmett, that it has lasted us this long, and some.  I did give away and sell some of my stash also, so that helped.

First up is a huge batch of castile. Since I am making our laundry detergent now, I will be making huge batches, so I don't run out, like I did today.

Next, in the next week or so, I plan on making the complexion soap again. My 1st and only batch ( from 2009) has lasted me this long, even with gifting pieces here and there.

Last, I will make a couple batches of raw milk 3 oil soap, probably without fragrance, since last time the fragrances got to me (and others), unless I can find something that is not synthetic that is very mild.

If anyone of my readers would like something special made for them, now is the time to speak up. I only get a chance to do this when Eric is home, and even then, it is after all other chores and household lists are completed. I have to get this completed soon before the outdoor projects take over all my time.

alisaburke: Petticoat Tutorial...link

I am currently messing around on the internet looking for free patterns, since my baby boy decided to take a 2 1/2 hour nap after dinner...



I am really liking Craftsy, which also has this awesome iPad app for free. I have learned how to make a few different bags and have a video tutorial to learn how to do zippers. I have many other free projects downloaded also, but if I ever get to them, I will be pleasantly surprised.



Here is a cute idea I just came across, but I would definitely lengthen the petticoat.



Enjoy.



alisaburke: Petticoat Tutorial: For the last year, I have been looking for a petticoat- I know this might sound a little strange but I wanted something frilly and white to...

Time to Plant...2

I forgot to update 2 weeks ago, when I started my tomatoes and peppers. Oops! Please forgive me if you are planting along with me.

Yesterday I started most of the flower garden seeds. There were so many to do that I ran out of time. I hope to finish the starts sometime early next week. I also started the borage to put around the tomato plants, as I do every year and the peas.

In the next few weeks, as soon as the peas sprout and prove they are viable, they will go out to be planted. Yes, peas LOVE the cold. I am not that happy to be out freezing and planting, but it brings a wonderful start to the early spring garden. I will also be starting the herbs and what ever else is on my  list.