The Lovely Lady

For the past couple of weeks there have been some drastic changes to the sewing scene at home. First I will inundate you with photos and quirky narration, and then I will tell the story.

First: This is my new sewing table. Yes, I have a new sewing table.

 

 Here it is all closed up.

Here is the accompanying supply cabinet.

There are, of course, drawers for things, as one might expect.

There is a handy cubby for Sergio when he's not on duty.

 

AND a fancy side table that swings out for Sergio when he is on duty.

  

Quite possibly my favorite feature is the extensions that make the cutting table.

 

And, naturally, since I had an official cutting table, I got an official cutting mat.

(More on that later)

Truly, this is a beautiful castle, fit for a queen.

... or at least a Lady.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to introduce the Lady Sandry.

 

 Isn't she BEAUTIFUL!?!?!?!?!

  

SHE HAS TOUCHSCREEN!!!

 AND A MILLION SCARY-LOOKING FEET!!!!

 

AND SCARY FANCY ACCESSORIES!!!!

 ...and auto-threading, and USB ports, and way more bells and whistles than I've ever dreamed of using. 

Yet.

Okay, story proper.

I have a friend, Gina, who has become a real life sewing mentor of sorts. She helped me learn how to thread Sergio this past January, and she helped me put some cuffs on a project this past month (which I haven't featured yet because of the A-Z challenge theme going on). 

Both the table and Sandry used to belong to Gina. She's been looking to sell both for a while, and wanted them to go to good homes. I have been contemplating getting a new machine for a while, mostly because after almost two and a half years of sewing, I've finally decided that it's a hobby that's going to stick. Gina made me a good offer for the pair of them, and since her offer for the sewing machine was right around the price range I was looking for, I quickly took her up on it.

Man, oh, man. I practically STOLE this machine.

I say this not as a gloat, but to sort of express my stunned astonishment. I sort of feel like I owe it to every struggling seamstress out there who dreams of bells and whistles to learn every last thing about it just to be WORTHY of the privilege of owning her.

The name Sandry comes from The Circle of Magic #1: Sandry's Book by Tamora Pierce. Sandry is a high class lady indeed, in the story, kind and compassionate, but one of the many reasons I especially loved her as a character was that instead of scoffing at her needlework like most headstrong leading ladies in fantasy these days, Sandry loved her needlework so much her governess sometimes had to urge her to work on something else. (I might have made that part up, actually, it's been a while since I read them-- Laura, Emma, Kate, please correct me if it's only in my imagination). In any case, Sandry ends up having a special magical talent with all manner of threadcraft. I hope, in that spirit, to work some "magic" of my own with my Sandry. :-)

But what about Darth Stitch? you may be asking. Well, technically, Darth Stitch is still my mother's, so his fate will be up to her. As much as I love and have come to respect him, as much as he's taught me, the student's ambitions are starting to surpass the master's capabilities, I fear. It's high time to move on. I'm going to suggest that we give him to my aunt and cousins, who are always coming over here to patch things. Not that I mind having them, quite the contrary. But still. The desire to give good machines to good homes is universal.

So here's my new sewing station, all assembled and ready to go. I can't wait to get started!!!