Small successes

[JFR]

On Monday I made a 5 hour round trip to pick up a beautiful vintage sewing machine that I had bought on Craig's list, my first ever Craig's list purchase. I even got caught in stop and go traffic for about 30 minutes because of an automobile accident on the highway. Long car trips just like airplane travel make me very anxious although I haven't had urgent D for quite some time. Accomplishing this has increased my confidence. Now I have to make another 5 hour round trip, north instead of south this time, to bring it to a qualified sewing machine mechanic to replace the frayed cord. Since I will have to leave it there that will be 2 5 hour round trips needed. My hope is that each time I talk myself into doing these things that once felt impossible (but earlier in my life were no problem at all) my confidence will grow. Progress is good, whether it be with with diet, with symptoms or with confidence.

Jean

[tex]

Progress is good, whether it be with with diet, with symptoms or with confidence.

So true.

Tex

[UkuleleLady]

Hey Jean,

Yay! Congrats on your successful trip and confidence boost! What model of sewing machine? I'm a vintage singer fanatic. I have a Singer 403A and a Singer 66 Lotus treadle that I restored. I had a 185K and wish I'd kept it.

I usually sew on a Bernina though, for the knee lift and computerized functions. I'm spoiled. :)

Happy sewing.
Nancy

[JFR]

Hi Nancy,

I've only recently gotten into sewing. I used to sew but never very often and never very well but now I am really getting into it. I fear I may become a sewing machine fanatic. I feel the beginning of an addiction that I cannot afford. The machine I bought is Necchi BU Nova. It is a thing of beauty made in Italy in 1952. It comes with a really nice cabinet. I think I'm in love. My go to machine is a Janome DC2013 which is also a very nice machine and enough for my needs but still I yearn for more. I don't think there is a Bernina in my future unless you want to send me yours. What kind of sewing do you do?

I learned to sew on my mother's Singer treadle machine. My mother got rid of it at some point which makes me sad. I liked sewing with the treadle. When I switched over to electric it felt like I had less control at first. but I've adjusted.

Jean

[DebE13]

Whoo hoo for anything that makes us feel like a success!! Great news Jean!

[humbird753]

Congratulations, Jean, on your successful road trip. I can fully understand the anxiety associated with it. But... at the same time, I too am developing more confidence when doing things I was unable to do when in a full flare. My 'addiction' is golfing this year. Initially I rented a cart for insurance in the event I needed to get to a bathroom quickly. Now I forget about renting the cart, and have no anxiety or mishaps when out golfing. It's great when we reach the point of being able to look beyond our MC, and begin to add 'fun' things into our lives. Have fun sewing!



Paula

[CathyMe.]

Congrats Jean on your successful travel and your Craigs list purchase! I'm a Craigslistaholic. I've bought numerous items and we shut down our barn recently and I have sold literally everything, down to water buckets, gates, fences, pitchforks, and horse leg wraps on Craigslist! LOVE it! Enjoy your sewing machine.

[UkuleleLady]

It comes with a really nice cabinet. I think I'm in love. My go to machine is a Janome DC2013 which is also a very nice machine and enough for my needs but still I yearn for more. I don't think there is a Bernina in my future unless you want to send me yours. What kind of sewing do you do?

Those Necchi BU Novas are beautiful machines. There is a lot of love for them among sewers. I've never sewed on one but a friend has a newer Necchi and wouldn't part with it for the world. Bonus that it came with a nice sewing cabinet. That's always lovely as nice cabinets are getting harder to find.

Funny you say you might develop an addiction...there is such a thing as SMAD (Sewing Machine Acquisition Disorder) that people joke about on Sewing Pattern Review. It's a great site for connecting with others who sew or simply admire machines :) I'm sure there will be reviews of the BU Nova there if you are interested.

I started sewing to alter clothes, but quickly moved into making a lot of my clothes. Most days I am wearing at least one piece of clothing I've made. It's a lot of fun and a great way to express oneself. It's not necessarily cheaper than buying clothes, however.

Nancy

[JFR]

I've been participating in Pattern Review and know about SMAD.. Interesting how our worlds can overlap. I started sewing again because I wanted roman shades for my new apartment and the only way I could afford them was to make them myself. I didn't know that getting into sewing would become such a money pit but I am enjoying it and plan to get into garment sewing when the shades are done. Meanwhile I have acquired 2 sewing machine and a host of other "necessary" sewing supplies. It might not turn out to be the money saver I envisioned but I'm enjoying it.

Jean

[UkuleleLady]

Jean,

It occurred to me after I posted that you had likely already been on PR checking the reviews :) I cured my SMAD, but it did take a total of 6 machines. I sold a few and I'm happy with my collection, might even divest of two more.

The shades sound nice :) hope they come out well.

Nancy

[brandy]

Hi Jean,

Glad your road trip went well! Brandy

[C.U.B. girl]

If there was ever anything worth a five hour round trip, it's the acquisition of a new (or used!) sewing machine! Congrats on making it full circle!

I've only got four sewing machines at the moment, but "need" to add another serger. I have a shop on etsy.com and make boutique dresses for little girls; Christmas and Easter are my busiest seasons, and I'm already getting Christmas orders. It would be nice to have another serger so I can keep one threaded with white thread and the other with red thread. Anybody who has ever had to change the thread on a serger will know why I'd rather spend the $$ on another machine than have to re-thread the thing all the time…..

Certainly hope your next two trips go as well as this one, Jean! Confidence reduces stress, and less stress reduces symptoms….

[JFR]

Cindy,

A serger is on my wish list but truly I am afraid of the threading. I've heard how hard it can be.

My next trip is planned for Friday to the sewing repair shop. Some of the wiring is frayed and needs replacing and that is not something I feel qualified to tackle myself. Otherwise it appears to work well but I'll have them check it over while its there. When you live in a small town in Vermont many things are a long drive away. Mostly I just do short drives but I want to bring the machine to someone who regularly works on vintage machines, so I will take another long drive and I am hoping this one goes as well as the last one.

What is the name of your Etsy shop?



Jean

[JFR]

Thanks for the well wishes everyone. Most people do these kinds of things without even thinking but I knew that you all would understand how this can be a big deal for the intestinally challenged.

Jean

[C.U.B. girl]

Absolutely understand how a small trip can loom as a huge obstacle, Jean! I used to walk in the AM, just around my neighborhood, for about a half hour, but during the latest flare, had to give it up completely be cause I never knew if I was going to have to knock on a stranger's door and ask to use their bathroom! Things seem to be under control at the moment, though, so this AM I'm going to walk with a friend at Gibbs Gardens, a beautiful, 300 acre piece of heaven on earth about 20 minutes from here. It will be a major coup to walk the whole way without having to RUN back to the entrance where the bathrooms are!

Since you asked, my Etsy shop is 8thDayStudio. ( http://www.8thDayStudio.etsy.com )I live at least 35 miles from the nearest fabric store, so driving long distances for stuff is the norm here, too……

Let us know you made it there and back again on Friday!