Bringing Home Baby (Lock)

Well, I've done it. I took the plunge and bought a new and beautiful sewing machine. It had been in the back of my mind off and on for awhile that it might be nice to have a new one. The one I've been using is a hand-me-down from my mother-in-law, who had inherited it from her mother some time ago. I really cut my teeth on this sturdy and very serviceable Singer machine, which was purchased in 1992.

So, magically, and rather suddenly, the stars aligned today and I was able to purchase a truly magnificent machine. For those of you interested in such things, please check this out. It's a Baby Lock, and my crafty friend, Jana (and the person who had a hand in aligning those stars for me a little bit!) has this exact same model, and it is a dream. I find that once you really delve into something seriously, some hobby or passion that you really love, the tools become all important. The act of making something is as much if not more satisfying then the actual finished product. Over the years, I've discovered that knitting with bamboo needles and natural fibers are most aesthetically pleasing to me, so that's what I use. And I think creating with this new machine will be sort of like driving a Mercedes after having driven only a Subaru! The new machine is quiet, faster, smooth, and, well, just runs like a well-oiled machine. It has a computer! It will make buttonholes! Oh my. I think I might need a cold shower...

I've been lucky enough in the past couple weeks to have had custom order requests. Two, to be exact. I was given general guidelines but advised to use my own creative genius (my term, not theirs!) to come up with a final product. Can you believe anyone would place this much trust and faith in little old me? Such an honor! And so much fun!

Tree of Life design on front of bag.

Little red birdie pocket on back of bag. Isn't this cute?

A request through Etsy for a yellow and pale blue birdie banner, and...

a coordinating pillow cover!

Well, I'm off! I have a bit of tidying to do before my sweet Baby Lock gets here tomorrow. I don't want to bring her home to this mess of  fabric scraps, bits of rickrack, and stray bobbins rolling all over the place. I need to make my workspace worthy of such a lovely, lovely machine. Ah, what fun we're going to have!