Oh, baby, I can't sew.

(I wanted to title this post, "'Sew' easy my big, fat rear!")

There's a great little sewing studio near our apartment ("shore house north") called M. Avery Design. I've gone to a couple of workshops there and made cute little handbags. The challenge for me is that, aside from the workshops, I've never touched a sewing machine so it's not exactly coming naturally to me. When the needle becomes un-threaded, I need to call in reinforcements. Ditto when the bobbin runs out of thread. Or when anything happens, really.

So why I signed up for a baby quilt workshop -- where you would be expected to COMPLETE A QUILT in two hours -- is beyond me. Even a baby-sized quilt is a challenge. For someone who can't sew.

Last Wednesday night I showed up a little early because I knew I'd need every, single, second. Here's the outside of the studio:


Adorable, right? It used to be a pharmacy and the inside is fabulous. But that is the last photo I was able to take. Because the next two (plus) hours were total bedlam for me.

First, there are many fabrics to choose from. Note to self: Pick fabrics *before* even stepping foot inside for the workshop. We had thirty minutes to pick the fabric, cut out 30-something squares AND lay them out in an attractive arrangement. I'm a little O.C.D. so that all could have easily taken me two hours.

Then pinning, stitching, pinning, stitching, muttering curse words, pinning, stitching. I felt like I was on the Amazing Race and I had stumbled on to the Road Block. And my Road Block was the thick, vintage chenille bedspread fabric that kept breaking the thread and jamming the bobbin. (Note: After my "stellar performance" with the chenille the instructor made an executive decision to remove it from the quilt fabric selection.)

In fairness, I did have an easier time with the non-chenille squares but my handicap made me the first in, last out. I literally closed the place down. Just like the good old days, but in those days it was bars that I would close down...And I really did need a cocktail, come to think of it...But I digress...

Here she is:




I backed it with the floral print:

A bold choice, but I think babies like that sharp contrast. Or something.

When I (finally) got home, my man suggested it would make a great bed for Maggie. Our DOG.

"Are you kidding me?" (Except I think I snuck another word in before kidding.).

He insists that he was indeed kidding, and he did have a smile on his face, but ha-ha-whatever. And while I love the babies, I'm inclined to also think there isn't one precious enough for this labor of love. I may have to sleep with it. (Ed. note: In fact I did nod off with it on my lap the other night.) And, in spite of myself, I really do enjoy these workshops.

I'm signed up for a wrap skirt workshop on May 27. I may try and lose 30 pounds just to have less sewing to do.

M. Avery Designs * 266 Seventh Street * Hoboken, NJ * Telephone: (201) 876-1198