Sew What?

I promised myself months ago that we would have a mostly handmade Christmas.  Since we are well into the 2nd month of Jason's unemployment, we're counting on a handmade Christmas (with the exception of a trampoline).  I get so much inspiration surfing blogs and my "want to do" list has become to big for a realistic "to do" list.  I want to make the girls a Waldorf Doll each.  It isn't necessarily for Christmas, but I'd like to also make each of my children a quilt.  I have a quilts from my mother and grandmother.  I sleep with one that my great grandmother gave me when I was a child.  The more I surfed and bookmarked, the more it became obvious that I was going to need a sewing machine.  Mine broke last time my Mama used it. I've never once wanted to use it, but now that I want to use it- I can't. Figures.

Enter Craigslist. I found a listing for a machine for $25.  One owner, claims to be in good condition- but it was made in 1962.  Get what you pay for, right?  WRONG.  This machine is AWESOME.  I've surfed around and in good working condition it sells for 200+.  Of course it isn't my intention to turn around and sell it.  My intention is to use this blessing from God to embrace my artistic ability and to provide a joyful Christmas for my family.  Or start projects, get impossibly stuck, and mail them to my Mama to finish.

This is a machine that has personality.  She needs a name, and she'll get one.  But first, I need string.  Or is it called thread?  Is there a difference?  For right now I'm just content to look at her.  She works.  She's complicated with antique technology, but she works- quietly. The manual (which is apparently hard to come by) designates it the "greatest sewing machine every built".  I believe it.  It does a million things I'll never use it for- monogramming, buttonholing. It's got 4 different foots, blah blah blah blah blah blah.  It sews in a straight line?  Check.  My first project is going to be this quilt. Be forewarned.  If you have just one crafty bone in your body, do not visit that link.  You will be inclined to get your crafting groove on- to become- dare I say it? Obsessed.

Ain't she a beaut?

On to other things.  I've been working on a felt board project.  I decided to go with Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Ada has been "reading" this book for as long as I can remember.  It's the perfect book to build confidence in your child.  It has a wonderful rhythm to it that just makes you want to chant in.  Children memorize it easily and it has great cues as to what is coming next.   I did some google searching for felt board pieces, and I found a cute set and decided to use it.  Jason is going to hack our Ikea Easel to make the chalkboard a felt board.  (I remember this being one of the items for which Ikea lowered the price. I don't think $25 is accurate if you're thinking of buying).  Yes, the blue horse is missing(as Ada reminds me) from our set, but I haven't quite settled on how to make his mane beautiful.  I'm not sure that the girls are going to be able to wait for me to be done.

I did Purple Cat tonight.  The girls will be delighted to play with her in the morning.  Her whiskers are being starched, so excuse her lack of them. She's my favorite so far.  Instead of using the face from the pattern, I personalized her to the book.

If you have any ideas or links for felt boarding, please let me know.  I'm definitely going to whip up the girls a set of felt food for Christmas.  I can't decide if I should get a a pattern from Etsy, or take the time to search out freebies on-line, or -heaven forbid-  figure it out on my own.