Mooloo's little tapestry of life, 2016

dktreesea

One good thing about not having a car - it means your free taxi service is on hold.

Savvy_sewing

Well the shop has been relatively quiet due to the rain, so instead of accounts I sewed. I've managed to do £169 worth today. Although that's not the daily takings ofcourse. Infact there has only been 1 collection, and sold one packet of Velcro. £27.25! Oh well it will one in overthrow next few days. I'm just waiting for my 4pm fitting now. Only a few minutes donor worth starting a new job. Then we close at 4.30 and it's the longer walk to get DGD from after school club.

Savvy_sewing

Spoke to my Mum and my brother this evening on Skype. Think Mum looks older and smaller! I haven't seen her for about 10 days. She goes back to my sister for a week at the weekend. She now knows I don't currently have a car. All are in agreement that my family need to get out of the habit of relying on me, etc and that the longer I get into the Summer without a car, will get them out of the habit of calling on me, and at the same time I can save the insurance, tax, and petrol costs meanwhile.
However I am still having to adjust to the fact I have to walk everywhere, and I have time limits on me, so I'm route marching everywhere.
The rain has been rather off putting, but if I can persevere who knows.
Watching the Sewing Bee on TV. Lycra yuck. I had to replace a zip in a race suit a few weeks ago. Not easy at all.

Savvy_sewing

I watched the sewing bee with one eye, and surfed the Internet with the other. I have learnt something new. I'd never heard of a cover stitch machine, but I have seen the stitches often in the things that I have to alter. I looked at industrial machines, around £1,500-£2,500 bit out of my league, however a chat with a sewing centre on line, got me buying a machine for my business last night. Not the janome they were using last night but a nacchi 4050 @ £399 plus vat!
I probably alter around 10-15 items a week that would benefit from this kind of machine, and would cut out some of the problems I've been having trying to get the hems as similar as I can. Currently it involves me using an overlocker to neaten edges, then stretch stitch in two rows on the sewing machine. So the garment gets sewn 3 times currently. This machine will mean sewing only once, and leave a more professional finish.
I have to wait a couple of weeks for delivery as the man told me they had sold 76 machines while the sewing bee was on. So I'm not the only one wanting one.
Funnily my first email this morning was from the publishers of one of my sewing magazines and the competition was to win one of the janome machines. ( so I've entered anyway!- you never know!)

On the financial front, I decided to move my savings around, and concerntrate on two of my savings pots, the Emergency 3/6 month fund, and the car funds. The holiday, clothing and baby funds can be picked up again later. We have had a holiday already this year, and i can make the clothes we may want. Note want not need!
So the emergency fund is now at £860 I think it was, and the car fund has £1,480.
The other ones are just below £8 each at the moment. Just to keep them open.
The business account will reemburse the credit card I used to buy the machine ( I didn't have the debit card for the business on me its in the safe at work).
I still have about £660 in the ISA.

System

I love reading about your daily doings Mooloo, you are such an inspiration!
A right strong wummin ( as we say in Glasgow )
I wanted to ask if you do embroidery? I need to renew my work clothes and I've been putting it off for ages!
Linda x

dktreesea

Goodness, that's a good price for a Necchi 4050. I think of them for sewing home furnishings. If you still like to do your own thing creatively, you might like this blog. http://www.addicted2decorating.com/
The girl who runs it has a lot of projects and describes how she went about them in plenty of detail with pictures. I thought you might get a few ideas for your own site?


Your various funds are dong well. if you just keep adding to them, even if it is £10 here and there, they will grow , almost without you realising it.


With the car, it might be an idea to research the cap price (current auction price) for a particular example, so at least you don't overpay for it. I've used these guys, both to buy and sell, http://www.cap.co.uk/car-valuation
but I set up a separate email account first as I don't want my usual accounts bombarded with advertising cr*p.

Savvy_sewing

I dabble with the embroidery I have a brilliant Japanese machine called "Joy", but I am really missing the computer software to master it. To be able to offer it as a side line I need to be able to add people's designs etc
The software is literally thousands of pounds. So it's currently not possible.
I can do a few things, wording etc, in limited script, and sew programmed things that I already have, but won't go commercial until I have the computer software to accept jobs.

Today I was busy, I think the sun brought people out.
So many unscheduled fittings were slotted in. In on my last Prom dress, subject to fittings and I took in another wedding dress.
I have about £350 worth of work to do over the rest of this week but tomorrow I'm taking the day off, not to let in the builders, or similar, but to start to clear up the house, and make ready A room for twin1 and her family to visit this weekend.
Tonight I ended up feeder three 8 year olds, while two fraught Mums we're dealing with other duties.
I had cooked mine and DGDs meal, but ended up cooking fish fingers and chips, with tinned spaghetti for the children around 7.45 when they got to eat.
DGD brought home a vodka end blue, a bottle of brut sparkling and a flavoured water from the tombola at the school fete this afternoon. My Friday night " dinner date" Mum took her for me as I was busy at work, and that's how I ended up with her son and my neighbours daughter for tea

Savvy_sewing

A day off at last.
A little Catch up on TV.
The covers to the sofa in the washing machine. The elastic re-sewn on the ironing board cover, the bathroom and kitchen clean and tidied, the front room vacuumed. Bread in the bread maker, soup in the pressure cooker.
All going well. But now it appears the fridge freezer has gone on the blink!
Just what I need!
I know I've been looking to replace the cooker and fridge, but that was before the car became terminal!
So budget shuffle once again.

Savvy_sewing

Update.
It was only the fuse in the socket! But not sure why it went. The fridge freezer does actually leak water on the floor all the time, so it will need replacing soon, but at least unless the fuse blows again, I don't need it today! Phew!!!

Savvy_sewing

It was a good day yesterday. Being at home, without builders reeking havoc. I actually enjoyed reclaiming parts of my home. When a near neighbour came in for a quick cuppa, she said the place was looking bigger. That would be the clutter going.
Alas I never did the spare room, and doubt I will get much done today, with work and school runs, and teaching tonight.
Tomorrow twin1 and her family are coming for the weekend. They are supposed to be putting a tent up. If not I will have to rope them into helping!
Oh well.