Monday, June 13, 2011

If you like easy soup recipes....

May I direct your attention to this link? 50 easy soups, a copy of which has been printed out and is now in my hot little hand. Haven't tried any of them yet, but I'm all about the easy (and I love the fact that there are variations on the bean theme in some of them, like #37 and #38... :)

Readers may recall that I am not into sewing, but I have decided that it is time to fix that if possible and have been eyeing my sewing machine tentatively recently. (With me, sewing is really about the baby steps, since sewing and I just really don't get along. And in this relationship, it's not the sewing, it's meeee...) But, in a positive step forward, when I went garage-saleing on Saturday, I came across a garage sale that was mostly fabric, at really good prices. So, I picked up a couple of pieces. I then went back a little later with one of my children and bought a few more. I figure if I'm going to practice on fabric, I should buy it at the best price possible, considering that most likely it's going to take me a few tries to get things right. (I write this not as a pessimist, but based on logical conclusions reached based on past experience.)

Before I went back to the garage sale, I gave my best source (Mom) a call, to see if the pieces of fabric were big enough for what I wanted to make, and found out that sewing can be an even more expensive skill to develop than I had originally imagined. I thought the fabric was expensive based on passing the posted prices occasionally in a store, but imagine my surprise when she told me that patterns can cost more than $10.00! (I don't remember the exact numbers she quoted, it must be the shock... :) But she also said that there is a sale this week at JoAnn's on patterns where they are closer to $3.00, so I plan to check that out. (As usual, if this interests you, please check with your local store to see if the offer is there--don't want to waste a trip there just to find out that what you want isn't available in your location. My mom lives in Utah, so it may not be here in Idaho, but I will probably go in any case to get at least one pattern while I am working up my desire to sew.... )

Yeah, I went looking for clothes, and came back with fabric...I'll let you know how that goes.... I will be looking for patterns along the lines of "super-duper easy for the reluctant sewer" brand.

Hope everyone is doing well! Weather varies around here from cold to rainy to warmer--just hope the garden thrives this year....

4 comments:

kdonat said...

Sewing can be addictive! Acquiring fabric and patterns when on sale is a good start. Joann's runs sales frequently so sign up for their mailers. Sticking with basic patterns if your just getting back into sewing is a good start. Basic pants/jeans, tops, skirts, jackets that have multiple styles will give you variety for future projects. If you have several children the multiple size patterns can be transfered to freezer or butcher paper. Good Luck.

Marie said...

kdonat--Thanks for your words of encouragement! I hope to become adequately proficient, but getting so skilled that sewing is addictive would have to be a plus. :) Thanks for the tips on the multiple size patterns, that is good to know. Thanks so much for your comment!

Judy said...

Also a good place to find patterns is thrift stores, just check to make sure all the pieces are there. Also go through your mother's pattern collection, I'm sure she has one:>) Thrift stores are a good place to pick up buttons and zippers. Hobby Lobby sometimes has a button bin at clearance prices.

Marie said...

judysquiltsandthings--I had never thought of thrift stores, so that is a great idea, and you're right, I should check out my mother's collection, the next time I get the chance. Great ideas, we don't have a Hobby Lobby around here that I know of, but stocking up on buttons at clearance prices will be great if I get the opportunity. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, and giving me more ideas.