lots of pictures

i was going to name it tim, as in tim gunn ("make it work"), but jonjon says he doesn't like "tim" and i'm not going to say "tim gunn" all the time, so i need a new name.  let me know if you have any cool ideas.  the instructions were all pictures, comic strip style, only with each small picture placed around a larger picture of the whole machine, near the part involved, so they weren't in order.  you had to hunt for picture number one, then try to figure out what it was showing you how to do, then start hunting for picture number two which is nowhere near number one....  you get the idea.  but amazingly enough i did figure out how to wind a bobbin, thread the machine, load the bobbin and get going!  here's a close-up of the stitch selector:

i have no idea what i would do with most of these stitches.  in fact, except for the very frist random lines i stitched through a rag, i've only used one stitch on everything i've made.  i'll have to experiment a little.

ok, so what i've done so far (until today) has all been from this book:
it's fabulous!  lots of fun and easy projects, once i get some really cool fabric from somewhere like purlsoho i'm totally going to be making all sorts of stuff for our house.  i started with the coasters which are basicly hemmed squares, and would really need to be lined with something to actually be useful.

you'll notice everything is made from the same fabric.  we bought like 5 yards of it because it was really cheap and it seemed like it would be good to practice with.  i also like pink and flowers and especially pink flowers.  next i made placemats that were just like the coasters, but bigger.
these have been folded up in a drawer for a little while.  i don't remember what came next, it was probably the double sided placemats...
ooh, fancy!  there are four of these but the last one is not quite done, because i ran out of pink thread.
then the cafe-style apron:
this has actually seen some use, because i'm very messy in the kitchen, and i like aprons!  there's a pattern for a full reversable apron that i'm going to do as soon as i get cool fabric for it.  i think i may also add a pocket to this one so that i don't have to hunt all over the kitchen for a towel every time i get my hands wet.  next i made this really cool placemat that's a little bigger than your average placemat and has a pocket to put flatware in and a ribbon on it so you can roll it up and take it with you to use when you eat outside.  here it is rolled up:
and here it is unrolled:
i really really like this!  i would probably use it if it wasn't a million degrees outside at lunchtime already.  maybe in the fall when it cools down a little i'll make a couple more and noah and jonjon and i will have some picnic lunches.  and now, my crowning achievment (so far):
this is the first thing i've made that's 3 dimensional and without a pattern.  it's my first attempt at making a bag that jonathan had the idea for.  it's even fully lined:
i need to work out how much smaller to make the lining pieces so they're not all bunchy and of course i would like to make the inside out of different fabric, but this is all i had right now.  i also want to experiment with making the handles cut out instead of sewn on.

so there you have it, the complete recap of my early sewing exploits.  someday i'm sure i'll look back at this stuff and laugh, but for now i'm pretty happy with it.  encouragement and tips welcome!= )