Hi Wendy,
 WB> I guess!  Tom didn't like the idea of buying me a serger, even
 WB> though the sewing machine center in Tulsa had a sale on, you
 WB> buy one and we'll give you the other...I think if you bought
 WB> the serger you got a sewing machine free.  They had 4 lessons,
 WB> one for the sewing machine and three for the serger, free with
 WB> the purchase.  But when Tom saw that cutter on the serger he
 WB> said "NO WAY am I buying you anything with a cutter that close
 WB> to your hands!"  I was so inept with the FMS at that time, he
 WB> felt I'd be in the E/R having fingers stitched back on, all the
 WB> time!  (Probably...hehehe!)
Steve, once he saw that I was really getting back into the sewing after
my wrist surgeries, was all for my getting a serger.  Had some creative
financing to do because we were (constantly) upgrading the computer
system.  Finally, we were delgates to a convention & were both paid
travel expenses--he said to use mine for the down payment.  I did &
the store was willing to "creatively" finance around our once a month
paycheck, got it in November, 95.  I was supposed to get it in October
but there was a pay mixup so the store let me extend another month.  I
never got in for any lessons; you can learn a lot by just using the
machine.  Same with my sewing machines; learned a lot by using them.
Most sergers have a way to disengage the cutter set up so you don't need
to worry about cutting yourself.  It's a good way to learn the feel of
the machine.  Also, practice a lot on scrap fabric.  If you are really
serious about sewing, it's a good investment.  I got a Baby Lock 402,
not the top of the line but with enough bells & whistles to do what I
need.
 WB> What a great idea that is, they will have the blessing of giving
 WB> to make the wedding nicer and they'll understand what you need
 WB> without so many lengthy descriptions, because they know you.
It has been a blessing working with these people.  One lady in our
church recently had major surgery and is limited as to what she can do
but told me that she's good at sewing on buttons.  She will probably do
that for Rachel's dress; much as I would like to do the whole thing, I
know this lady would be so happy to do just that part.  Even if she can
only do a few, I want her to be able to have the thrill of working on
the dress.
 WB> My first wedding my dad said, "A tux?  You mean with a bow tie
 WB> and tucked shirt and cummerbund and everything?  Darn!"  But
 WB> when he heard Mom say how handsome he looked in it, he sure did
 WB> change his tune!
My dad didn't wear a tux for his own wedding so he was not sure about
wearing one for mine.  But, since mine was the first wedding of my
siblings, he gave in (and, I think, enjoyed it in spite of himself).
Five years later, my one sister talked him into wearing one for her
wedding.  I don't think he's worn one since.
 WB> When I married Tom we went to a wedding chapel in Arkansas and
 WB> my family was all in Michigan.  Only guests we had were the
 WB> couple who stood up with us, and their 4-month old daughter, who
 WB> got invited because Mom was nursing her.
We had to "put on a show" since it was the first wedding in my family
and Steve's family (his mom) wanted to have a more of a part than the
usual family of the groom does.  It was well worth it; we will celebrate
our 22nd anniversary this year.  The "fuss" was fun too.
 WB> I've heard that before, every time I've said "Maybe tomorrow..."
 WB> No, the quilt isn't finished but I work on it from time to time.
 WB> Mostly when I have the whole morning to work on it.  If I take it
 WB> all out and spread things out and then have to put it away in an
 WB> hour, it gets too tedious.  I like working on it, not picking up
 WB> everything and putting it away all the time!  But if I leave it
 WB> out Tom comes in and...well, you know the story, I'm sure!
I understand.  I didn't count on an upturn in my sewing business right
about the time Steve left last year.  After the big job was over in
October, I started some clothes for Deborah and then was sick for about
6 weeks.  By the time I got to feeling decent, Rachel had decided that I
would make the dresses and we went fabric shopping.  I guess after she
leaves, I'll make her room into a sewing room and leave my stuff out all
the time.
 WB> Good thing.  If I had to be my own sufficiency, I'd be a total
 WB> flop!  I keep telling my friend Bernadette, "Of course it's not
 WB> perfect.  If it was, no one would ever believe *I* did it!" 
Just keep Phillipians 4:13 in mind.  I read somewhere (I think it's
the Pennsylvania Dutch) that some groups believe that things made by
human hands have to show their imperfection since we are not perfect.
Catch you later,
Ruth
Geoworks Ensemble & Professional Point - High performance on a budget!
hafflys@primenet.com    FIDO 1:309/63.2
... The Lord gives wisdom; out of his mouth comes knowledge. . . Prov 2:6
--- PPoint 2.00
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