sewing machine fix and looking for ribbons

I took the sewing machine apart again after I got home, pulled out the manual - and put it back together correctly. Before I cleaned it the machine was collecting 'structural' lint and dirt in the carriage under the bobbin. That is a hard piece to get back in right after it is out. I think the machine wasn't working after that because I had the bobbin carriage not quite lined up with the spring that makes it work - and the needle plate was not screwed down entirely, which both led to too much free motion in the bobbin, which made the threads not lock together with the right timing. After fixing all that, it still didn't quite work right - so I took out a new needle from an unopened package and oddly, that fixed the rest of the problem.

I completed another pair of shorts for Esme - a nice cream colored cotton that had once been a fancy bedskirt trimmed with lace, but had ended up in pieces in someone's scrap pile at the yard sale finds. As I tried it on Esme she said 'oooh!' as if it felt really cool. I used a simple colored thread around the bottom of the legs in a decorative stitch - and it looks pretty on the plain cotton.

Doing simple decoration on the pretty cloth makes me want to find some interesting grosgrain ribbons and decorative embroidered ribbons. So often I resort to a pretty print or combination of two fabrics, and I'd like to try a few more 'elegant' things.

I bought some eyelet a few weeks ago I've yet to use. I'll have to look at the ribbon in the next few days to get some ideas. Mountain of the Dragon on Etsy has quite a few pretty embroidered ribbons and this ribbon is close to what I have in mind. This shop has some beautiful ribbons, including this green daisy ribbon.

sewing machine

My sewing machine was acting up last night - so I took it apart and cleaned it. It still isn't working quite right, but I'll have to wait until after work to mess with it more. Now the 'jumping' it was doing from stuff clogged in there isn't happening, but the stitches won't interlock either..... maybe I put the bobbin carriage in wrong? Maybe the needle is bent from using it with stuff clogged in there? Not sure... this is a case for Columbo.

so far so good

Feeling better today -- went to work and took it somewhat easy all day. Haven't felt nauseous again today except once when someone offered me a piece of pizza. Renee at work said I shouldn't drink milk if I've been feeling nauseous - only makes it worse. That doesn't work for me - everything else available when I thought of it made me feel sick - so I drank the milk anyway and felt fine. When I forgo coffee for milk though, you know I'm not feeling good!

Funny little things - Esme recognizes the 'Shaun the Sheep' song when Mark whistles it and she says 'sheep!' - she also tried to hum the tune herself. She seems to be feeling fine and is happily watching 'Shrek the Third' right now. She loves the kitty.

Jackson headache

I had to go to Jackson today for a training session. All day I've had a headache that just keeps getting worse. It was so bad it actually made me throw up tonight after smelling some soap in the bath. I hope this isn't the flu. We'll be watching Esme closely as well.

Green shirt and goggles

Green birdie shirt and pink goggles

Daddy wear them!

Mad Scientist Goggles!


Food please 'cook cook cook!'

Pitcher Hat

Caught these shots as she was running around the room today... silly kid! Mark thinks I should make her a tall pointy hat out of fabric and/or paper.

Notes: Too cute stuff:
green ribbon
green paisley fabric
green plaid fabric

I bought some scrap fabrics from one of the yard sales and found some interesting cream cotton with lace edging. Trying to make up Esme a shirt with it on the bottom.