It makes me smile

Came across Poppy, Bean and Bloss, what a delightful blog, anyway she has posted what is making her smile so I thought I would join in. :)

This little guy. He's three tomorrow! My last baby is rapidly leaving toddlerhood, this kind of makes me sad, but relieved as well. He's a handful, and he lives up to his name Cadel, which means warrior spirit. He is full of spirit and already showing signs of a wicked sense of humour (and I mean wicked, he has a fondness for playing pranks already!)

Speaking of Cadel, watching Cadel Evans makes me smile. I don't follow any sport in any way, shape or form, but if an Aussie is looking like they have a chance, then I do my patriotic duty and cheer him on.

And yes, I was heavily pregnant, hormone affected, watching Tour De France, three years ago.....hence my sons name. This always makes me smile!

Oh and I found out the other day the job I went for....I got it! It's part time, with the potential of taking full time, part of which I can work from home. This definitely makes me smile.

I start a TAFE course next week, this makes me smile. And the kids go back to school, I love school holidays, but going back to a regular routine....this makes me smile.

What makes you smile?

8 Random Things About Me

I'm linking up to Stacey's 'linky uppy thingy boppy' and sharing 8 random things about me.

1. Tea. Love it. Some days I go on a bender and all I seem to be drinking is tea. But you can always count on me having a cuppa first thing in the morning and just before I go to bed.

2. I was 28 when I was baptized, along with my 4 children. 5 Baptisms all at once, I'm sure we made a great contribution to the church stats for that year ;) hehe

3. I've lived out of home since I was 16.

4. I have one incomplete degree, one incomplete TAFE certificate. I've just applied for another TAFE certificate.......(actually I'm waiting on news on my acceptance, should know by 24th June).

5. With the exception of working in the South of WA for 8 months when I was 18, I have lived in my town by the sea for 31 years now. My feet are beginning to itch though.....

6. When people tailgate and try and pressure me to speed over the speed limit, I slow down to about 5 under the posted speed limit. I consider this my community service, stopping tailgaters from getting speeding fines or getting into accidents. I'm probably not doing anything for their heart health...

7. I'm hearing impaired. Most people wouldn't know unless told. I can lip read well enough to get by. But I get really self-conscious about what I can't hear and I don't cope well in large social situations, I get all shy. I'm too poor to replace my hearing aids (they cost a lot).

8. I have quite a funny sense of humor, a bit on the sarcasm side, but funny none the less. The angrier I get the more silly my humor can be.

You can read more or play along too by going to Stacey's blog post and linking up. :)

Sew Mama Sew Meme

Sew Mama Sew have made June "Sewing Machine Month" and this is my meme (better late than never hey!)






What brand and model do you have?
Janome My Excel 18W

How long have you had it?
5 years

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?
$299

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?
Mostly children's clothing, some bags, toys and sometimes I use my sewing machine for scrapbooking

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?
I lost my ‘sew-jo’ for a while, but now I’ll use my machine at least every few days.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?
I love my machine. It is basic but perfect for the level my sewing is at. It doesn't have a name.
What features does your machine have that work well for you? I love how the lid flips up with important information printed on it. Like what foot to use with what stitch type and recommended stitch length/width as well as tens
ion.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?
Button hole. I can’t seem to get the hang of doing button holes nice and neat.

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it!
Not with this machine, but I would like to share the story of my first machine.
I got my first machine, a Pinnock (brand), when I was 15 years old. My teens were are challenging time and were also years spent finding myself and (sometimes) being angry with life experiences I could not change. One of those experiences was watching my cousin deal with grief and depression associated with the murder of her two children. Her children, Rachel and Shane, were my play buddies, and were killed by their father in tragic circumstances. Needing a way to deal with all this I wrote a letter to Rachel and Shane, mostly just letting know how much I missed them and what sort of things we would be doing together if they were still alive.

Then I sent the letter to a magazine which paid a fee for true stories. I was paid $250 for my letter which I used to buy a sewing machine. I don’t use the Pinnock anymore, but I often think of Rachel and Shane when I sew and this makes me happy.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?
Definitely. I would recommend this machine to all beginner sewers as it is a great first machine. It also comes with several feet, which as you grow in knowledge and confidence, can really improve your sewing.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?
Does it come with a hard case? This is important for protecting your machine from bumps, dust and small children. How much and how readily available are the machine feet? Have a look at the user manual, does it have pictures/diagrams and easy to read language? Does the shop you buy it from offer classes in how to use your machine?

Do you have a dream machine?
My dream machine is a super dooper Janome Memorycraft 11000. It also happens to be $8499......My realistic dream machine is probably a Janome Memorycraft 9700.