Enough

I've gone garage saling three times so far this spring.  When I came home last Saturday, my husband cautioned me to really think about what we need vs. what we want.  Every once in a while, I purchase something that doesn't work out.  It's part of the risks that come with garage saling.  Over all, it doesn't end up being that much, but it does happen.  I try to inspect things closely, but it's surprising how often people wittingly and unwittingly will sell you something that doesn't work at their own garage sale. 

A few weeks ago, I pointed out to a man that there was crack in the bottom of a container he was trying to sell.  It was a BIG crack.  I did end up buying a boombox at that sale and thought I'd looked closely at it.  Turns out it was missing the volume knob!  I missed it!  I felt bad.  My mom set the volume to what she normally listens to and it's still useable, but I felt foolish.  The same Saturday morning, I bought a bread maker for a friend.  I looked at it and bargained with the lady for the price to be $3 instead of $5.  I'm glad I did.  It only made 1 loaf of bread for my friend before quitting.  At the same sale, I looked at a teapot that seemed to have some rust inside.  I questioned the folks at the sale and the lady commented to me after a few minutes to stop giving her a hard time.  I didn't think I was, but I was concerned and couldn't make up my own mind.  I didn't get it.  Two big clues that I shouldn't have bought things at those two yard sales.  

But, I've had pretty good luck on the whole this year (two nice dresses for me, a rug for my girls' room, several cds for my husband, a pack 'n play for a friend, a roasting pan with a lid, a pasta maker for another friend...).  Still, my husband's advice is wise for me to heed.  I can call him if I have questions and need a second opinion.  I need to remember I have a smart phone!  

The idea of having enough is an important one, I've realized and it has a lot of applications in my life.  Someone asked me this week if we could add on to our house.  We could refinish part of our basement eventually, but that would involve a lot of work and expense.  Since deciding in February that we weren't going to move, I've felt convicted to strive to be content with our home and our yard.  Our yard is on the small size, but our kids make the most of it.  More importantly, it is enough for me to take care of.  There is enough room for flowers and a garden and for them to play.  I went through my basement last week and did a big purge.  Now, I feel comfortable down there again when I go to look for things.  

I've come to believe that making things stretch is as much about finding ways to save money as it is about not spending in the first place and seeking contentment.  I haven't posted many things lately about ways I've found to save money.  My mind hasn't been on it.  I've been dealing with a lot of life stuff.  But, I've also been thinking about not spending when I go to a store.  I've really wanted to buy a few new plants at Home Depot, but I've put it off.  I have some seeds for perennial flowers and I'm going to plant them instead.  We had a late frost after I'd put 6 plants in my garden and yard--and I didn't protect my plants. (I have to admit that I was tired that day and a bit lazy! ;) )  I wondered if they would die.  2 had no damage because they were in sheltered spots.  The other 4 did experience some damage, but they're coming back from it.  I'm thankful.  I didn't want to spend more money on plants.  

But, for me, it all comes back to the word: "enough".  God knows what we need.  He is so generous and I need to always remember that and remind myself of that truth.  Having "enough" and not "too much" should be what I consider important.

There is a twisting that can come with "enough" though.  The thinking can follow the lines of "just 1 more will be--enough".  Enough starts with what one already has, I think, and carefully considering whether 1 more is actually a need or a want.  I find I have to be very careful--especially when it comes to garage saling.  Many items are very inexpensive, so it's easy to get "just 1 more".  But, I just went through my craft supplies last week to organize them and I became very aware that I don't need any "just 1 more"s.  It's good to know what you have and make sure you're using it before purchasing 1 more.  

My kids wanted to sew and it frazzled me because over the past 2 years my crafts supplies had ended up in multiple spots.  They weren't labeled or organized.  So, we pulled everything out and organized it.  I labeled every bin.  I want to make sure we use what he have and I don't end up with two 18 year old girls and tons of craft supplies never used!  The point of having something isn't to hold onto it and let it sit, but rather to use it and enjoy it.  As soon as it was all labeled, the kids and I sat down to to do a sewing project (it's from the book Sewing School).  Here's Sami's stuffie:

My goal this spring is do more instead of buying more.  It felt good to do this project.  It felt good to use what I had and teach my children how to sew.  

So, those are my thoughts this morning.  Rambling, jumbled, meandering... as usual!

How do I teach them to sew???

Every Christmas, I pull out the Christmas tree ornament that my first grade teacher helped me and 29 other first graders to needlepoint on plastic canvas thirty years ago.  As my girls have grown, I have grown to have more and more respect for that teacher.  How did she do it?  How did she guide and have the patience to guide 30 first graders in such a project?  There were even boys in the class!  I am awestruck when I pick up the little ornament and contemplate its origins.

My girls are now 7 and 5 and I know the time has come this summer to begin introducing them to sewing and other home economics skills.  I have put it off with the thought that they were too young.  But, I'm realizing that now it's time.  And it's also time for them to learn a few other things, too...

Two weeks ago, I made a list of all the skills I want my children to learn when it comes to home economics and life skills.  I divided them up and designated some of them for elementary school, some for middle, and some for high school.  My goal was to find a book for each of the topics that would be a good basic resource that covers that topic well.  I only have so much space on my bookshelf and I wanted to find good books that would be great all-in-one resources.

The first topic I wanted to find a good resource for was sewing.  Although I know how to sew, I am a learned teacher, not a natural teacher.  I need books that will give me good directions that both me and my kids can read.  I need things to be simple.  I don't have a lot of time for prep in my life right now.  I like good, clear, and simple illustrations.

Surprisingly, I found all of those things in one book on sewing titled Sewing School by Amie Plumley and Andria Lisle.  This is a new book that just came out last fall.  It is published by Storey Publishing--which is probably my favorite publishers of good hobby books.

There is an introductory section for parents about how to teach sewing and how to approach the endeavor.  (I was very excited to know there's such thing as a needle threader!)  Then, there are the basics of knots and hand sewing stitches.  The pictures are simple and the directions below the pictures are concise and clear.  From there, the book includes directions on how to make 21 sewing projects.

I wondered what these projects would be like.  I was wonderfully surprised at what I found.  Patterns and stuffing are introduced.  Projects range from simple to more complex.  There is even one for making a skirt using a sewing machine--on the most basic level!  Honestly, that was just what I wanted.  I was looking for a book that primarily focused on hand sewing with a little machine sewing towards the end so that I can introduce the kids to my sewing machine when it's time.  The projects in this book are wonderful ideas for gifts that my girls will be able to make for others come next Christmas.  I think the best age range for this book is 5-12 year olds.  5 years old may be a little young for this book, but if you take it slow, have patience and a needle threader, I think you'll be in good shape.  12 may seem a little old for this book, but if someone was starting off sewing that has never sewn before, I would start them with just these projects.  The directions are clear and simple--and that's helpful no matter how old you are!

The authors obviously know what they're talking about.  They run a summer camp for elementary age children in Tennessee every year to teach them how to sew.  So, these projects have been tested and made over and over.  These authors are writing with experience!  Every so often I find authors who pretend to be people they're not or write about things that they have only a little experience in.  That's not the case with these two!  I am impressed.  This book has made me really look forward to sewing with my girls and now I just can't wait to introduce my girls to sewing!

We just so happened to get them new shoes this weekend and the boxes are just the perfect size to become their new sewing boxes.   So, I'm off to cover them with paper...

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Storey Publishing.