Sew Darn Tired

I brought another orphan home. I found this Janome machine on the street like the last one. How could I leave it there? It works but has the same problem as the other one which is the stitch selection is not accurate. It sews very nicely though and has a motor that purrs.  It seems to be the 80's version of my current machine as it has electronic selection and my favourite feature which is the button to raise and drop the needle. It is such a small thing but makes me happy. All the feet are there and it looks ok but I'll have to save to fix it (maybe I'll get a discount for three machines) and may give it to my niece if she wants it. What do you think? Now I must be less judgemental about others (ahem..also me?) who (seemingly) collect machines like they collect patterns and fabric! I have a couple of other things on the go too. A 70's dress and a(nother)new addition to the sewing room coming soon. This coming addition led me to give my sewing table to my friend

  Along with the dress I made this weekend (previous post), I also made this cushion for a friend's 1 year old daughter. I used to babysit this Mum many years ago and her Mum died a few years ago (a wonderful woman who showed me many things - her children are a credit to her).   This is during the make - I just googled large printable letters and cut them out then cut  some vintage tiny gingham on  the bias   (bought last week at the 2nd hand shop)and sewed it on with triple stitch zig zag. The "I" is a bit wonky.      This is how I wrapped it and below the finished product before wrapping. I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  Lilia has a sister who is 3yo and I knew I would need to make her one too, so I will hopefully this week.   Her Mum made her this yummy chocolate butterfly cake.

I have coveted the Vogue cowl neck dress that everyone but me (it seems) has made but I just cannot afford Vogue patterns unless on sale and I just can't buy one pattern so I don't go to the sales. (Didn't stop me buying 10 the other week when Simplicity were .99c with  exorbitant )so when  I picked up many patterns 2nd hand recently (don't need any of those either) I wanted to make a cowl neck dress that I got there for $1. I went to Spotlight yesterday with my friend as she had been looking for some large white spot on navy fabric and I found some great looking sateen and also some nice drill when I went a few days ago looking for white wood blinds (for the newly painted bedroom). Even though I am in a self imposed fabric buying hiatus (just as I was when I went to The Fabric Store a couple of weeks ago and still managed to buy something)but I broke that and bought a stretch fabric for $3 per metre to make New Look 6154. It is an 'Easy' pattern and I think