I have been neglecting this place, but I have been doing things. Thank you everyone for your wonderfully encouraging comments. Yes, I was feeling like I was getting attacked at Sew Mamas for wanting to sew everything in my home. I got it again at the Hancock's store near me, although the first criticism prepared me for more. Since you all have been encouraging me so much I feel compeled to continue writing about my endeavors.

     I currently have two different projects going. I started on a skirt (B4235) with some fabric that someone gave me. It's an A-line flair skirt that has a side closing zipper. I cut out the top piece wrong (the fabric kept shifting) and had to do it all over again (does anybody know of a better way of cutting out patterns??!!!??? I hate that tracing paper! I keep thinking there's got to be a better way). I sewed the side seams and now I'm waiting to do that zipper. The instructions are not very easy for me to follow, so I found three different directions in three different books. Now I'm trying to decide which one is best. I'm hoping they don't steer me wrong.

     My other project is sheets for my daughter's bed out of some other fabric someone gave me. I love the way the overlock stitch looks so I'm doing the hem in that. So far I've got the two sides done. Now I'm going to do the top and bottom. I'm thinking of making the top and bottom the same size so she can use the sheet either way on her bed. I was looking at my old sheets and didn't like the way it looked washed out near the top, but the bottom was still colorful. I found some sheeting at Hancock's that was too cute for our master bed, but couldn't get it because I didn't have enough money.

     Next on the list is making some slippers for the children this winter as well as the cloth diapers this new little one will be wearing. I've been stocking up on the fabric and patterns so that when I get my new machine I can just get started. I'm praying and hoping that my father will come through and pay the last payment on my Viking Platinum 770 so I can get to work on that. The Simplicity I have now just breaks my thread and needles on layers. What a waste! I will forever tell people to buy quality when learning how to sew and needing a machine.

     Oh yeah, hey everyone. I don't think I put this in here before, but there's a website I found that has reviews on so many patterns, sergers, sewing machines, sewing websites, sewing stores and sewing books! There's also a message board area where you can ask questions and stuff. The place is: www.patternreview.com. I do hope someone gets to visit it and take advantage of the info! I've learned so much from there.