Sewing Still

Lucky me I found a new lead for my sewing projects. A cousin of my mum's has two kids who are in show skating. She is going to hook me up so that I can go to skating events and sell practice outfits (skirts mostly, but some dresses) and through that possibly get some orders for actual competition costumes! The practice outfits alone usually run close to $50 - and show/competition costumes can be $100 and up, depending on their complexity. This is a very good opportunity for me! If I can get into the skating scene, that plus what I pick up in general clothing orders will really help me to make a good argument for taking a pay cut of $40 per week to switch to a job that will let me be healthier & happier.

So far, because I'm trying to get the word out about what I do, I am doing a lot of freebies. I make something and give it to someone, hoping that that person will then order more from me and send people my way. Not much luck yet, but I have made a very cute baseball outfit for my niece to wear to Sunday's game. We're going to watch the Detroit Tigers (hopefully) stomp the Boston Red Sox. I will have plenty of business cards on me, so whenever someone compliments her outfit I can say, "I made that for her. Here's my card." Since it is a Sunday, kids will be able to run the bases after the game, so there will be a lot of kids and parents there. Hopefully I'll get a few leads!

Six Pounds!

In my first week on Weight Watchers, I lost six pounds!! I am so excited!!
I'm sure that a large portion of it has to do with the fact that I am drinking a LOT less soda now. That doesn't make it any less exciting!

It also means that I may already have to do an alteration on a skirt I'm making for myself! I was just waiting to have time to install the zipper, and since I have lost over an inch off my waist in the past week, I now have to try it on before I finish with it to see if it will be too big. Luckily there is a side seam that is not connected to a zipper, so if I do have to take it in an inch or two, I'll just do it on that side. The skirt will then be not quite symmetrical, but I don't really care about that. I'll be much more excited that I had to take it in!

Good Day, Sucky Night.

Today was a good day. I got up, made breakfast (eggs & bagels - yum!) and watched television while the dishwasher was running. I also found and took my photo for my 365 blog. When DH got up, he got dressed and I took him into town so he could go to a meeting, then came back home and posted an ad online for my sewing business. Within hours, I had an order!! One of my good friends wants me to make a comforter for her daughter. After picking DH up from his meeting and getting some lunch, we went to Wal-Mart so I could check out patterns and fabric. I got a pattern I liked, but none of the fabrics really jumped out at me. We came home so DH could watch the baseball game, and I went back to town in search of a zipper foot for my sewing machine and to hit another fabric store. I found the foot that I needed, and much cheaper than I expected! Also, I found a fabric for the comforter that I just LOVED. Pale yellow with cute butterflies, bees, and ladybugs. I didn't buy it yet (one of the hazards of a brand-new tiny business - sometimes I need payment before being able to even start the project) but when I came home I discovered that this same friend also wants me to make her a second blanket - this one a throw for her made out of her daughter's old baby clothes. It's a very sweet idea and I am thrilled to do it.

Tonight was a sucky night. We had decided to go to a movie tonight. DH really wants to see "Grindhouse" and I sorta want to see it, so we were going to see that since it probably won't be in the local theatre much longer. DH went outside and got into the car while I finished posting, and then I went out, shutting the door behind me. Little did I know, DH had NOT grabbed the keys when he went outside! We were completely locked out - neither of us had a set of keys on us. We walked the 3 miles to the landlord's house to ask her to let us in, only to discover that she wasn't home. So we walked another quarter-mile to McDonald's where we called my sister (an hour and a half away) and begged her to come rescue us. To her credit, she did. I have a habit of locking myself out (don't ask, I'm not even sure myself) and since she used to live in the same town, we gave her a key to our house back then so I could call her if I ever needed it; she has always had one since. She took a very long lunch at work and drove over here in the dark and rain to let us back in to our house. We thanked her profusely and gave her $20 for gas. From the walking (in terrible shoes, I might add, but in my defense I wasn't planning to walk more than a few yards, let alone three miles!) I now have a sizable blister on each foot, which makes it hurt considerably to walk even a few steps. I'm glad I have tonight off, but I have to work tomorrow!! I hope the blisters shrink down by then so that they're less painful.