Teddy Roosevelt once said, “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never tasted victory or defeat.”

I know what he means.

I got my pretty sewing machine and I sat down with it, and opened it all up and plugged it in and decided to try to sew something! First came the nauseatingly long process of learning how to thread and install the bottom bobbin, and thread the top needle. Getting those connected and in the proper place TOOK FOREVER.

But finally! I had it! I was ready to go! Ambitiously, I decided I was going to create a fabric sewing machine cover in a pretty, cheap fabric I bought in the clearance section for a dollar a yard. I measured, figured out what panels I needed, cut, pinned the first part, and I was ready to go.

You see where this is going, don’t you?

An hour later, I had managed to sew two inches of tiny, neat, beautiful stitches. I learned the following:

• A seam ripper is key.
• You need strong thread. The little spools of thread that came in your cheap mending kit? Not going to cut it.
• Reading directions sixteen times is helpful. Stopping at fifteen? Fruitless. You should have read it at least one more time.
• Sticking your fingers with pins hurts.

So, I have a sewing lesson scheduled for Saturday. Sweet, sweet knowledge. I’m waiting for you. In the meantime? I’m still excited. And thrilled. And awe struck. I own my very own beautiful sewing machine. I will conquer you, Brother! I WILL!

In other news, I’m going to name my beloved machine. Right now, I’m leaning towards Bessie. Thoughts?