Okay, I have a serious confession to make:
My name is Jen and I am addicted to crafts.
Hmmm...doesn't quite make me feel as good as I thought that admission would. Let's try this one:
My name is Jen and I love to craft things and I think I can make anything when really I can't and I have 234 projects started and my basement looks like it belongs on an episode of Hoarders.
Ohhhh....that feels better!
I think they should call me The Crazy Craft Lady. When my multitude of children have grown and gone, I won't be the lady surrounded by tons of cats - it will be tons of crafts. I already have a half-ton of unfinished projects in my basement and many more supplies to start another half-ton. My poor husband isn't even interested when I walk in the door from yet another excursion to the craft store - my "just one thing" always turns into "Oh, I need that for this project," and "I can totally make that" when I see another project - and he just shakes his head and cringes ever so slightly when I come bouncing eagerly through the door from Michael's or Joann's or Hobby Lobby. He knows me so well. He knows the latest project will start out with the best of intentions and end shoved in a drawer or cupboard down in my "craft room" that used to be known as the basement. This is yet another reason why he is so wonderful...he always supports me and never, ever, EVER makes one snarky comment about how I can't finish these things.
So this weekend it was a sewing machine. I have had a few and my latest one needs a couple repairs that will probably cost as much as the machine to fix so I broke down and got a new one this weekend. My sister gave me the last one and neither one of us was able to make it work properly, and with another issue cropping up last time I attempted to use it I figured it was time to give up and start anew. I always have sewing ideas in my head, if only I had a working machine to use. In thinking about getting this new machine, I had tons more ideas swirling about my brain - potholders, oven mitts, pillowcases, t-shirt dresses, etc., etc. Until I got home and got the machine unpacked and on the counter. Then, nothing. Blank. Nada. All creative inspiration left my head and I was staring at this wonderful machine wondering what the hell to do with it.
Sunday morning I had a little creative juice moving around in my brain and settled on an easy project to make with my new machine. A quick trip to the fabric store and we would be in business. Off I went, and picked up a couple more things that I couldn't live without - namely a rotary cutter and mat that cost more than gold but I MUST have if I am going to do any sewing, right? And sewing ties directly into quilting which requires a lot of cutting in little pieces and, of course, I am going to quilt in the future so I can totally justify this purchase, right? I remarked to my daughter on the way out of the store that I might kill her if she told anyone that I just spent damn near $100 to make a couple of oven mitts......
I finally sat down to find a pattern for these amazing oven mitts in late afternoon, only to discover that I need more specialized batting (with insulation so I don't melt my hands when I reach into the oven). Batting which the store doesn't carry, but they have online and of course I have to order. Okay, ordered. So I figure I will get the machine setup to at least see how it works and I made yet another discovery - if I want to make the amazing and totally spectacular oven mitts I have to use the special presser foot for the sewing machine. You know what is coming, right? Yes, another website and another special order for the presser foot.
Now, taking stock of my good intentions (because at the root of my crafting obsession is the desire to make things myself because it will be CHEAPER TO MAKE MY OWN THINGS) this weekend we have purchased a sewing machine, all the fabric, tools and mats, two special kinds of stuffing, and one massive presser foot that I am hoping also scrubs my toilets for the exorbitant price I paid. So much for saving money.
I think a better alternative may be to turn the basement into a from a craft-hoarding hell into a master bedroom. At least I would get some sleep and not fret over all the money and space wasted by my crafting obsession.
And maybe I could sew curtains for the new basement retreat...
