The Making of Things

Last night Gideon slept in three, 3.5h shifts. I preface this with that, because restedness is a key predictor of my level of motivation... I am still mourning the disappearance of the four hour shifts, but hope they will return soon. In the meantime, I am glad to have had a night without ANY two hour wake-up calls.

Since I woke up fairly well rested this morning, I have decided that this is the week to tackle my first major sewing project ever. Curtains. I am making grommeted single-panel curtains with a liner, for those who care for such details. I like this option because it calls for a single width of fabric rather than two or three widths...much more affordable (especially when one utilizes 50% off sales at local fabric stores - ALWAYS exciting). And, it requires header work, but not so much as to make me cry before I even start. I had thought I wanted something formal like a French pleat, but then I realized that there is no such thing as french pleat header tape. There is only the tape/buckram that one must pin and then sew into pleats. Since french pleated curtains also require 2-3 widths of fabric to look remotely full, the savings resulting from doing the work myself is...zero dollars. I would actually spend MORE to make them than to buy a really nice formal pair of curtains. It would take me forever, and I would cry before finishing them, and possibly even before starting them. That's just silly. Clearly, grommeted is the better option.

So, to prepare for the launching of my sewing endeavor, I have had my recently acquired (via Craig's list) sewing machine tuned up, and, I bought a sewing basket. My thread, needles, scissors, buttons, and pins are finally graduating from my jr. high pencil box - from which they were overflowing - into their very own organized home.
Actually, I spent a ridiculous amount of time organizing said sewing basket this afternoon, and now have it conspicuously placed in the middle of my kitchen table - open - so I can admire it. I know, it's just a sewing basket. But, there's nothing like enjoying the simple pleasures in life, right? We'll see if I'm as enthusiastic about the curtain-making process as I have been about the getting-ready-to-make-curtains process...more on this later.