A crafty tot-free afternoon

Inspired by a post from snipsnaphappy on craft projects as therapy, I enthusiastically greeted my first proper sewing class this afternoon with mother-in-law, who is a complete guru with the old needle and thread. She bought me a little Janome machine last year and aside from being torturously put through a couple of easy projects (for anyone who isn't me), it hasn't been touched. Indeed I have frustrated MIL so much with my resistance to progress that I have become a sort of Eliza Doolittle to her Professor Higgins. Completely hopeless, to her I have become a crusade. If I can be forced into competency, so can anyone!

I will say that I am lucky that I have a cool Mum-in-law who is far from the demon stereotype. She's generous and kind, the good kind of eccentric, wears lots of bright colours, always has manicured nails, and has the patience of a saint (which she will need). So I have agreed to become her guinea pig. I am the unskilled incompetent who will one day emerge from my crysallis to win awards for my quilting prowess (or at least be able to knock up the odd cushion cover ).

Today started the transformation. Still in caterpillar mode I'm not yet allowed anywhere near the gorgeous satin and lace material I've bought for this skirt that I'm going to make.

Lovely isn't it? Mine's going to be black and netty. Eager was I to get started, but no - I have to first of all do a mock-up on a rough beige material they exotically call 'calico'. Yes, I am going to make a beige peasant skirt. MIL assures me that this is wise in case I am bigger in pattern-terms than in shop sizes. After guiltily hiding the choc chip cookie I had been about to enjoy and eyeing her suspiciously wondering if she didn't believe me when I say I'm back in my size 8s, I conceded that she probably had a point. It would be baaaad to finish it then find it too small and there's no way I'll be denying myself anymore cookies to slim into it!!! No, the skirt will be awesome if it ever actually gets made - and I'm determined that it will. I do love the time I spend with Babyzoid, but it was nice to have an afternoon away from being mummy and do something for myself. In fact I'm already looking forward to next week. It's certainly a good diversion from feeling a bit rubbish - so that's got to be good. And I'll have a new item of clothing which I won't have to justify to the other half. Hurrah!