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Happy Saturday Peeps!
Last night the Thursday night Sew 'n' Sews finally had our 2021 Christmas party. Believe it or not, this is the first time in 7 months that we could all be together at the same time. After all of our planning we were still missing one of our regular ladies because at the very last minute her husband caught Covid. Just goes to show that you can plan as much as you like but there is always some bug that will interrupt the festivities! We did have a great night (even without Lily) and at one stage there was so much laughter that poor Louise had tears running down her face. I don't think anyone got out of here without sore cheeks from laughing so much. Great night girls; thankyou. xx
On my sewing table today I have 4 projects lined up to do. 3 that I have told you about already... New York Beauty, Dear Jane and On Point. All of them have reached the point where I am about to tackle putting them together. Everything is trimmed, squared up and ready for me to just start sewing sashings, borders and then quilting. But, you know what? I am just not in the mood. I should be in raptures that the end is nigh and soon they will be finished beautifully hung up on the walls of my shop. But no. Instead, I am procrastinating. Looking for absolutely anything (even mopping the floor...gah!) that will take me away from my prepared piles of carefully cut and stitched fabric. And this dear reader, is where my story begins....
Every Tuesday for the past 12 months I have a lovely gentleman coming to me for sewing lessons. We will call him John (because that is his name...). He did not want to do a beginners class; he just wanted me to show him how to make a few things. That's ok. I can handle that. He has made some really nice things - quilts for his wife and kids, place mats, and free motion quilting on a few panels. He is very brave with what he wants to make. So I thought to myself, "Self, it is time to give John a bit of challenge". The rest of that internal dialogue was a bit colourful and sometimes feisty as I debated what would be good for him and not too challenging for me to teach. I settled on a 3D twisted chain table runner. It comes from a book by Ruth Ann Berry.
To say that John was a little doubtful about how he would enjoy this process is probably an understatement. But, being a trusting soul and a man who has faced way bigger challenges in life, John agreed. He had a few Jelly Rolls of solid colours that he wanted to use up. No problem. He ordered the book. I printed off a copy of the pattern for him. I showed him how to use his ruler to cut the pieces. He brought a specialised ruler for the task. He went home and cut out all of his pieces. I showed him how to join them. He came in to tell me it wasn't working several times that week. I saw him next lesson and he was convinced that this process would never work! "Right..." I said. "I will make one up before your next lesson to prove that it can be done!" He laughed at me. My back went up. The internal dialogue got a bit animated. The main projects that I should be working on were unceremoniously pilled on top of each other around my sewing machine. The newer small pieces were cut and placed in little piles in no particular order beside my machine. The iron is turned on. The bobbin has been filled. The floor can wait. I started my new project yesterday afternoon. It will be completed, and I do mean COMPLETED, before John comes to class next Tuesday!
Now, I know that I am not the only one who talks to themselves and then comes up with a ridiculous plan to prove a silly point. John wasn't having a go at me. He is always charming, seriously polite and funny. He hasn't balked at this challenge. That was me!!! I am the one who has to prove the point. I think that I might have to give up talking to myself so harshly... On the up side, I will be running classes on this fabulous and rewarding 3D work over the next few weeks. Give me a call if you would like to join in this very entertaining class.
My sewing machine mechanic is moving. I am off to have a look at his garage sale as soon as I post this blog. I just know that he will have some things that I cannot leave behind!
Have a creative week Peeps.
Suzanne
XX
Suzanne Conroy
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