Dabble Day

I know life is good when dozens of creative projects were calling me today. It was hard to choose what to do....so I dabbled in a lot of things as I settled back into my daily routine.

We had 6-8 inches of fresh snow so I started the day with a little walk in the neighborhood....looking closely at interesting places where the snow settled.

I've been trying to keep up with the #fabricrecipies challenge on Instagram....and today's prompt was "vintage."  I love my collection of vintage thread spools. I found this box...which actually has a see through cover, at a yard sale years ago.  It came with some threads already in it...but I've filled it up with some of own. 

I signed up for a free class by Izzy Morre  called Confidence Kickstart.  I've taken a couple classes from Izzy...she's a great teacher. What drew me in was the opportunity to get to know my sewing machine better. I'm embarrassed to admit that I've never actually read the manual, and there is a lot I didn't know.  This class was the nudge I needed.

Izzy encouraged us to choose a protege to teach....as we learn.  I've always learned as I teach...so this idea was both silly and brilliant.  I've propped up a little finger puppet I'm calling Oscar....and he's learning along with me.

I can't believe I actually found my manual!

Actually reading the manual is really helpful!  

I've already learned that I have a thread lock button on my machine (game changer)....and with the push of a button I can do mirror images of the decorative stitches. I played with the tension dial for the first time ever and learned how easy it is to interchange the presser feet and what all those weird ones are for.  I use the regular zig zag and free motion foot...but have never experimented with the others.  

I wonder what other manuals I should read!

And I couldn't help myself....I sewed one polka dotted panel on my little lampshade.  I'll write a little more about this project in the next few days....it's a bit out of my wheelhouse...and I'm actually feeling like I might be able to pull it off.