It never rains...

Sewing machine is very ill.  As am I, as a result.  The man at the local machine shop was very sweet because he could see I was on the point of getting upset - literally, sewing has been keeping me sane.  It turns out that the industry's definition of a domestic machine is that it's used for 30 hours A YEAR.  He doesn't quite know what it is yet, there are a couple of things that it could be which might not be too serious in terms of getting it fixed, but whatever the diagnosis, it will take some time to fix it .  That leaves me fairly ****** with lots of things cut out which need to be sewn up for next week - and more seriously, two quilts on order.  I've done the strip piecing for one* but it has to be cut and the top assembled, for Monday week and I'm not sure about the date for the second one.  He is going to open it up on Monday and give me a free estimate and then he's given me some recommendations for solutions - like a domestic but heavy duty overlocker along with an industrial flatbed machine.  I have to think about whether it's worth sinking more money into the business etc etc and whether I can justify spending £400.  Well, I can't but where do you stop?  Business seemed to be just picking up.

Last night I finally finished this dress:

- when I'd first made it, the zip didn't sit correctly when basted so I decided the bodice needed to be ripped and resewn.  That was back in July.  But now it's ready to wear tonight.

This is a bag that was supposed to be for stock. It's yet more Ethel fabric, which had the metallic spots and I quilted it to interfacing using metallic gold thread.  It's now a wristlet.  I've got ridiculous gold glitter shoes to top it all off.  Or bottom it all off. There was supposed to be sequinned shrug to go with it, but lack of sewing machine scuppers that one.

The sartorial efforts are because we're going here tonight. I am very excited about it, but the dress isn't quite ready and it turns out that I'm crap at hemming, XH missed his flight and will be back late and therefore stroppy, and I've found out that various friends are having huge arguments about how they are reacting to our separation.  One person feels that all his friends should be on his side, essentially, from what I can make out and has had a huge go at someone who's actually been a superb support to me.  Of course I am not supposed to know about any of this.  The accuser is the only person who XH confided in during the counselling and the others are anywhere from nonplussed as he hasn't spoken to them to really pissed off with him and how he's not handling it.  I want to run away and hide in a hole. 

Sorry, this is a huge whinge.  But that's just the way today/this week/2006 has been. 

* plus now I'm losing confidence in it and thinking that the striped fabric is a mistake and I should have played it safe with another flowery one instead - but the client liked the tomboy fairy one which is 'pink but not too pink'...
 

Comments

[caroline]

Oh no - that is such terrible news - I hope to goodness it is nothing too serious and that your guy can fix it quickly. Maybe it just needs a service, a bit of TLC and a little oiling. Thank goodness you got your dress finished before the catastrophe struck - it looks great.

I also like the fabric you have chosen for the quilt - I like the way the striped one acts like a bridge from the pinky fabrics to the bluey ones. Don't let your confidence waiver - you are doing so well.

[Sarah]

Oooh, I hope your machine is resurrected on Monday. Fingers crossed. And I'm super jealous of your dinner outfit, and location - I'd love to go there, just the slight problem of finding a babysitter. Let us know how it was.

[Anna]

I'm sorry your machine is unwell, I used to hate it when mine went when I had my sewing business, it was very stressfull. Luckily for me I always managed to get it fixed under the guarantee, just never admitted that I was using it for business items! 30 hours a week indeed, mine does that in a couple of weeks in a good month just for personal stuff!

Hope you get it fixed soon and that the splitty stressy things end soon.

Take care and have a great night!

[another outspoken female]

I like the ironing board cover, though in reality it is only in extreme circumstances that I actually take the iron out for a whirl.

Re the sewing machine, in my world only a few people actually use their machine very often. Can you mail out all friends in local proximity with a request to borrow one for a few weeks/ Hey, it's christmas after all :)

[Claire (from Foyles)]

Nightmare.

Listen, you're in Hackney, I'm in Hackney, I have a sewing machine that rarely sees the light of day.

If you want to borrow it, just drop me an email with your number, and we'll sort out dropping it to you.

[Denise]

ah sweetheart ((((hug))))
2007 will be
YOUR BEST YEAR EVER
xxx
xx
x

[JeanieB]

Love that dress! bet you'll look fab and have great time ;-)
I had a look at the venue via your link - wow! pity I missed the Tiger lillies and Pupinni Sisters...

[ruth singer]

the quilt top looks lovely!
handsewing is very meditative. and it gets quicker with practice. but i do sympathise very much!
hang in there!

[kirsty]

Ah, honey. It'll get better. It's so damn hard not to feel responsible for your friends reactions. They'll live. So will you. The dress is gorgeous :D