Ok, Sewing Through September is Going to...

 Pause.

I'm taking time to research machines. I do want to start sewing again. I just don't have the energy to plan and start a hand sewn project. I also don't have extra time to learn to treadle right now. So, I'm giving myself permission to pause. No guilt. I'll figure this problem out then hit play again. Thank you for your patience with me.

Laura

Sewing Through September Days 8 and 9

 Hello.

My name is Laura.

I am a squirrel.

I have been saving my nuts (money gifts)

for years. 

I saved each Christmas gift from my dad until I knew what I wanted to use it for. 

Apparently, I have done this for a few years now. 

I thought I had a couple of hundred dollars. 

I counted tonight.

I have enough to buy a sewing machine!

God knew I'd need this money now.

I simply forgot it was stashed away.

I called my dad and told him as soon as I found it.

Thank you, Dad! Most of it was from you. 

Thank you past Laura for saving for current Laura so that future Laura can enjoy sewing for many more years!

No sewing yesterday or today. I've spent some time researching. 

I've also been thinking about the old 1913 singer sitting on the other side of the room. It's a treadle machine. It was my husband's grandmother's machine. She sewed feed sack dresses for his mom on it back in the 1940's. We had it reconditioned a few years ago. I tried treadling and found it very hard. I think it would help if I had someone to show me. 

Now I'm thinking about whether that's a skill that I want to try to build. 

I'm going to think on that a bit more. 

I'm not giving up on Sewing Through September. I just need to decide on my next step.

Thank you to all of you wonderful ladies who shared bits of advice with me. Sending every one of you a hug!

Laura

Who is thankful for being a squirrel

No photos tonight, because my old computer didn't cooperate.

I don't even want to think about that!

Sewing Through September Day 5, 6, and 7

 

First project completed!
Candy Corn Bag Project Bag

Today, September 7, is my momma's birthday. She's been in Heaven for 27 years now. I still miss her very much. She taught me to sew when I was quite young. I learned by helping her. She used to make clothes for me and for herself. She also sewed many things for the home. She didn't even need a pattern for lots of things. I didn't inherit that from her. I did inherit a deep enjoyment of sewing. So much so, that I used the money I received for high school graduation to buy a Kenmore sewing machine that I used for many years. I couldn't imagine moving out of my mom's house and not having a sewing machine!

That old machine finally gave out after many years. I've replaced it twice since then. My current machine, a Singer One, has served me since 2012. I actually thought it was newer than that. I looked back and found the blog post sharing the purchase. 

While sewing the candy corn bag this weekend, I spent most of the "sewing" time fighting with the machine. I took it to the repairman last winter due to issues with the tension. It wasn't much better when I got it back. I haven't sewn since I started working full-time at the clinic back in February. Now I remember why. It's just so frustrating!

What? The one activity that has always felt like I was born to do it—frustrating? How can that be? I'll tell you.

Sewing is frustrating when your machine skips stitches, has poor tension that cannot be fixed no matter what videos, the manual and even Chat GPT tell me. The computer part seems to be messed up, too. The last time I tried to use it, the zigzag wouldn't work. Now, I have to put the needle all the way to the right to be near the center. 

So, here I am at the beginning of Sewing Through September with a malfunctioning machine. I'm just not sure what I'm going to do.

I know that I need to replace it. I need something that is going to last. I need something that I'm not going to need to replace. What that is going to be or what it's going to cost, I don't know. I want something with metal parts that can stitch straight and do zigzag. I don't need anything fancy just functional.

I finished the first project, my candy corn bag today. I'm not sure what I'm going to do tomorrow since the machine is on the blink. 

Any suggestions for a good machine that's going to last me many years?

Any suggestions for a sewing project that doesn't need a machine?

Help wanted. 

~smile~

Be blessed, 

Laura 

Still determined to sew through September!

Related posts:

Sewing Challenge Month at Harvest Lane Cottage

Thrifty Things Lately at Harvest Lane Cottage #151

Shocking Information About the Bread we Buy!

 I am shocked!

Maybe I live under a rock, but I had no idea that the breads sold in the grocery store nearly all have unsafe levels of glyphosate. Any is unsafe, actually. This includes those that are labeled organic.  Glyphosate is in Round Up weed killer by Monsanto. 

Please watch this video. My bread habit is going to change. I'm going to research flours and grains next. Then, I'm going to make my own bread when we want it. I'm shocked.

According to this video, Bayer, owner of Monsanto, has paid out nearly 100,000 lawsuits to people who developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Gasp!

My son received that diagnosis earlier this year. He has had radiation treatment and is currently in remission. 

Please watch this video or look into for yourselves.

Concerned,

Laura

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

 

Tiger and Penny
Yes, Tiger outweighs Penny!

Enjoy these last few days of summer.

I'll be inside in the air conditioning!

But, I've not always had it. Here's how we coped. 

We've been hovering at or above 100 degrees for too long!

I'll be back with a Sewing Through September update on Monday. Most of my sewing time today was spent fighting with the tension on my sewing machine. 

Happy Labor Day

weekend!

Laura

Sewing Through September Day 4

The chaos I call sewing.

Here I am. Day four. Once again, it was hard to come and get started. I knew that I needed this challenge. I also needed the accountability that you ladies so sweetly give me. Tonight, I started tired and with a headache. But. I. Shall.

I read the pattern again and noticed that I needed two more pieces of fusible woven interfacing. I cut those first. Then, I began fusing the interfacing. Well, I would have if I had not just plugged in the iron but turned it on! Did I mention that I don't think well with a headache?

The pretty cutting picture

Keeping it real in the cottage. This is thrifty. Someday, maybe God will provide a new one. For now, this still works. Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!

I've been making little tiny bits of progress this week. I'm using my minutes. I get a three day weekend for Labor Day. Thank you, Jesus!  I plan to finish this bag by Monday evening. I cannot wait to show you (and me) the finished bag! I may need to check my yarn stash for something fallish!

Tonight, I finished cutting the fusible interfacings and applied them. I used fusible fleece for the outer fabric and woven fusible interfacing for the lining. 

I'm a barefoot sewist. I like to feel the pedal to have better control of my stitching. 

I now have the casing for the cord basted on the top. It's way past my bedtime. I'm done for now. I'll be back with my Saturday progress.

I'm getting excited.

Enjoy your weekend!

God bless us one and all in Jesus' name!

Laura

Sewing Through September

Sewing Through September Day 3

 

I had helpers tonight. Here's Paco. He likes to sit in his basket on my desk. He's my son's dog, but he comes to visit often. He is like velcro with his grammy. 

Tonight Penny kept watch from the floor. Maybe she thought I had food? She often sits in my old office chair that I keep just for her. 

Oh my, if not for y'all, I would not have made progress with my project bag tonight. I woke up really early—about 4:15 this morning. I had to get up by 5:00, so I went ahead and climbed out of bed. It's 8:41 now. I'm having trouble keeping my eyes open. 

Tonight, I knew I didn't have much energy. I cut the fusible fleece and the contrast piece for the outside of the bag. Then, I went through my supplies for a drawstring. I didn't have to search far.

This is what I'm using for the drawstring. I was going to cut it tonight, but I couldn't decide if I wanted to use black or white. I'll wait until the rest of the bag is finished. It's a set of replacement drawstrings for hoodies or pants. It was $6.99 on Amazon, and I've already used it for some projects. It works great. It has a bit of stretch. It came with a marvelous threader. I'll show it in one of my future posts. Best of all, I had it on hand. Everything has been from my stash of sewing supplies. 

I didn't do much tonight, but I did something. I'm going to count that as a win.

A couple of final thoughts...

And as you can see, I didn't give up chocolate today!

Day three down. I'm getting ready for bed!

Blessings,

Laura

Sewing Through September

*Amazon affiliate links included

Sewing Through September Day 2

 

I've made a start! First of all, I've chosen the pattern that I'm going to use. It's called The Fundamental Drawstring Bag from Cocotte & Co  Creations. It is a pattern that I purchased on Etsy. I made it once before in a smaller size. This time, I'm going to make the large size. 

I won't be sharing the details of the measurements and such since it is a pattern for purchase. It's well worth the money, because it also has a complete video showing how to make it. 

The candy corn will be the outer fabric. I love candy corn! The pumpkin color will be the lining. The white on white will be the contrast color that holds the drawstring. 

I'm rather proud of myself. I chose to start work shortly after supper, and I followed through. The thrill of creation was increased, because I utilized two Christmas gifts that weren't out of their packaging yet. First, I used Christmas money from my dad to purchase an Oliso wool pressing pad. Thanks Dad! Second, I used my new Oliso mini project iron that my son gave me. Thanks son! Swoon! I love them both. The quality is amazing and made pressing a cinch with a little spray of Mary Ellen's Best Press. 

I'm looking forward to my next mini sewing session tomorrow evening!

Would you like to sew through September with me?

Leave me a comment! If I have enough interest, perhaps I will figure out how to link the projects.

Be blessed, 

Laura

Sewing Through September

Amazon affiliate links included

Sewing Through September

It started out with a great plan. Sew every day in September. After all , September is National Sewing Month in the United States. Last night, I went through my fabric and found some pretty fabric that has candy corn on it. I'm planning to make a project bag with it. It's laying on my table already to iron and cut.

Then, today happened. I came home from work exhausted.  ,

Truthfully,  that's not unusual for me. When I got home, my husband told me that he needed a button sewn on tonight before his  business meeting. So, I'm taking the easy way tonight. I'm counting on sewing on his button as my sewing for the first of September.

Kind of pathetic, I know.

Do you ever come up with plans? Then you find yourself just too tired to do them, that's me tonight.Tell me about how you handle things like this. Do you push through?Do you give yourself a break? I'm just wondering

I'll do my best post again tomorrow. 

Do you sew?

Do you want to join me?

BRING ON THE 'BER MONTHS!

BRING ON THE 'BER MONTHS! 

I love how in August and early September we get a few cool mornings to give us hope for tomorrow— but then, we get slammed with ninety plus degree days again! This week we'll be over a hundred every day. I don't even know what the heat index will be. 

We've been in birthday season. It lasts about a month. Three of my children, my grandson, my brother, and  my brother-in-love all have birthdays this month! Two more to go.

A week after the last birthday, fall will arrive along with all the cozy joy it brings! I'm going to do my best to sew a bit every day in September— well, at least most days. I've really missed it. I need a few new project bags for my knitting. I may make a few extra. 

I've already received a few new fall decorations. I chose a rug with pumpkins on it and a centerpiece with fall leaves ready to hold three candles. I do love maple leaves. Carthage is called the Maple Leaf City, and we host the Maple Leaf Festival every October with thousands in attendance. We have so many wonderful maple trees in Carthage, it's the most beautiful time of the year.  

I look forward to autumn crafting, too. Inspiration is everywhere, and I'm definitely more inspired during the fall months. For now, though, I'm knitting on my works in progress. It would be so fabulous if I just had to start something new, because everything else was finished. Alas, I always start something new before I finish. I always have things on the needles. ~smile~

All for now, have a lovely Sunday. I'll have family in, and I'm looking forward to it. 

Enjoy today!

Laura

~~~~~

♥

~~~~~

Find me online here:

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Laura Lane on Goodreads 

2026 20 Finished Books Goal 60

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Address available by email

A Little Life Update ~ July 23, 2026

     Not much going on here right now. My husband had surgery a few days ago to replace his shoulder. He's recovering as expected, but the medication is making him feel weird. 

    I've been dealing with a foot issue for a few months. I've been getting injections in my foot. Unfortunately, there was a lot of walking while I was at the hospital. My body tried to compensate for the foot pain. Now it hurts to walk, and I'm a bit unsteady on my feet. 

    My daughter Emily, the now grown up writer of Teen for the Lord in days past, came and helped us yesterday. She helped with cleaning and with taking care of her dad. It was a great blessing to us. 

    Today, we're taking it easy. Tomorrow, Lowell will have his first post-op physical therapy. I must work, but I'll take off long enough to take him to his appointment. Fortunately, therapy is here in town. 

    I know that I am helping by working to pay off our car, but I miss the days of being available when my husband or my kids need me. After so many years as an at home wife and mother, this is very different. I hope the sacrifice of not being here with him will be worth it in the long run. It doesn't feel like it right now. 

    I hope that sacrificing now to pay off debt will allow him to retire sooner. We shall see. 

    Well, that's all for now. I'm going to start getting ready for the week ahead. I work in a pediatrics clinic. The parents who didn't get their kids in for physicals this summer are going to want an appointment this week. We'll do what we can. 

    We've also entered the start of what my boss calls respiratory season. It's also called sick season. We've seen several cases of hand, foot and mouth, and we've also seen our first flu and covid cases. I'm glad I sit behind the glass and away from the kids.

    All for now. Please pray for Lowell and I to both heal. I want to take good care of him. 

Warmly,

Laura

Seven Minutes #10

Seven minutes of writing stream of conciousness begins now!

Thoughtless. Well. Blank. Well. I cannot think of a thing to write. Is this writer's block? Well, not exactly. I just have a headache, and can't think what to write. So, I'm typing along, wasting your time, ~wink~, and hoping that I think of something interesting. 

The truth is, I think I'd rather be knitting right now. I'm making a Reading Shawl. I've been knitting it since June. I saw the idea on Crazy Sock Lady's YouTube channel, and I decided to buy the pattern but make it my own. 

I wanted to use up the little balls of yarn that I bought last year from an etsy seller. I'll put the links to all of this below after the 7 minutes. I've actually made a lot of progress on this shawl this summer. I've had to learn how to make a good magic knot that won't pull apart. It was the best way I could think to avoid weaving in 10,000 ends when I was done. 

This project works great for my distracted personality. I love getting to change colors after every little ball. They range from 5 to 10 grams each. I'm also using my own leftovers. It's all sock yarn. The oatmeal color is carried throughout. I'll link to that after the 7 minutes, too. I cannot think of the names this quickly. ~smile~

I think I'm a patchwork, crazy quilt, use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without kind of girl. I've always liked making something out of "nothing" and finding ways to use what I have on hand. I've bought four skeins of yarn at $11 for this project so far. That's a lot of money for me to spend on one project, but this is going to be big enough to wrap up in and really be warm this fall and winter. Think ultimate cozy!

Well, time's up, but I'm going to go back now and link some things for you.

I hope I didn't bore you too much this week. ~smile~ We all have our days. When I finish linking, I think I'll eat a tuna sandwich and then go knit a couple of rows. 

Stay cool!

Blessings,

Laura

I've been very happy with my purchases from Wool & Co. They offer free shipping without a minimum purchase, too. Win win!

Seven Minutes #9

 Do Unto Others

Matthew 7:12

Seven minutes of stream of conciousness starts now!

    I'm home alone this afternoon. I've been catching up on laundry all day including blankets and throws for the furniture. What does this have to do with doing unto others? Well, I'm home alone, because my husband is doing unto others as I write. 

    We moved to Carthage in 1993. Every year, there is a huge, massive, unbelievably large gathering of Vietnamese Catholics from all across the country and around the world that comes to Carthage on what I would imagine might be called a pilgramage. The gathering is held at the Vietnamese monastery in town. Many thousands of people come each year to worship together. Most camp on the grounds or in nearby yards (with permission, of course). The locals love to go and sample all of the delicious foods. I've been a few times, but the heat really bothers me. It's 98 today. Too hot for this old gal. 

    My husband is doing unto others by giving free rides to people who are going back and forth to Walmart a few miles away. We've done it for many years. It is a blessing to the riders to get out of the heat for a bit. It's a blessing to us to serve and care for others with what the LORD has provided. 

    This year, our car is a small suv. So, unlike years past, when we had a van, I stay home to allow an extra rider. It's ok. I like knowing that the other half of my ONE, is blessing others while I bless him with clean laundry. ~smile~

    That's my seven minutes. What's a way that you're doing unto others as you'd want them to do unto you lately?

    So, many of you have been around a long time. What are your thoughts on this format for the time being? 

Blessings!

Laura

Seven Minutes #8

 Little Joys

Seven minutes of writing stream of conciousness begins now!

What are your little joys? If you think a bit about it. I'm sure there are many. Here are some of mine:

• Little Paco, my grand puppy. I call him a puppy even though he is full grown at four pounds. He was a rescue from a very bad situation. My son, the policeman, and a colleague each took one of two little dogs that had been treated badly. Paco takes a long time to warm up to one. He shakes badly when he meets someone new; but, once he relaxes, you know you've made a friend. He loves to come visit grammy. Sometimes, he comes and stays for a few days while my son is working or out of town. He's very attached to me. He's definitely a velcro dog—at least to me. How dare I close the bathroom door? Sleep without him, that's grounds for crying. It's such a pitiful cry, too. Paco is one of my little joys. 

• The ice and cold water machine at work. It makes that little pellet ice. Oh, I love having as much ice water as I desire available all the time. It's truly a luxury and a blessing.

• Fresh tomatoes are finally coming from our garden. It's been the best year for tomatoes and flowers that we've had in a long time. 

• Friends that I can call or text just because.

• Dove chocolates are rich and creamy.

• Listening to birds sing

• Cool breezes 

Time's up!

What are some of your little joys?

Enjoy your weekend!

Laura

Seven Minutes #7

 Trust

Seven minutes of writing stream of conciousness begins now!

    

    Trust. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is in the LORD." Jeremiah 17:7  I think, if I were to look up the Hebrew, that there might be a bit of a difference in those two parts of the sentence. But what matters to me is... 

Do I truly trust the Lord?

I mean really, do I?

If I truly trust the Lord, would I worry about so many things?

I've made great progress in this over the last few years. I've come to realize, through years of living with a faithful LORD and Savior, that He always takes care of me. Always. I don't really worry for me. Though retirement does seem a bit scary when faced without savings. But God. 

He took care of us through all of these years with low, slow, or no income. How can I think that he will not continue to care for me and for my husband? That's not even fair to Him. He has shown himself faithful to all generations, and He has shown himself faithful to care for my every need. 

When I am afraid, I will trust in Him.

He is worthy of praise, trust, hope, and calm faith.

Time's up!

I will trust in the Lord at all times.

Laura

Happy Birthday Mother in Heaven

Mother Judy
1940 - 2013

  I am going to be a great mother-in-law. How do I know? I learned from my own mother-in-love. She was always encouraging and never interfered. She asked me to call her mother years before her son proposed to me! She just loved and spoke me right into the family! I love her, and I miss her.

Judith Ann Benson Lane,
may her name be blessed forever!

Simple little reminders of Mother...
~ Sonic's Happy Hour diet cherry limeade
~ Poinsettias
~ Geraniums
~ Homemade potato salad
~ drawing kittens
~ coloring books and crayons
~ cats and kittens
~ cards and letters
~ McDonald's chicken nuggets
~ introducing her family to everyone
~ pewter cat statues
~ dangle earrings
~ venison
~ talking to strangers
~ praying for everyone
~ "Calm it, Lowell!"
~ "Well..." Long and drawn out
~ Christmas time
~ journaling
~ Beautiful Christian young lady
~ Special Christian young man
~ chili
~ chicken and dumplings
~ "I almost had a conniption!"
~ Baby's Boogie Box Band (Listen on Spotify!)
~ "super deluxe"
~ "diabetic snack"
~ "Lowell! Take a chill pill!"
~ "Oh yeah!"
~ the phone ringing during Michael's math lesson

Her last words to me...

"Laura Diane Lane, you will always and forever be my daughter-in-love." .

Seven Minutes #6

Evenings 

Seven minutes of writing stream of conciousness begins now!

 

   Evenings. When did they get so busy? When did they stop being a time to relax at the end of the day? Hmmm.... When did they? For me?

    I think it was probably high school. It began with my desire to go to college. I took classes that were hard for me to make my transcript look better. That was back when applying to college didn't mean you'd get in. My evenings were filled with homework. I distinctly remember one evening, standing out in the driveway, not doing my homework, and feeling guilty. I was just enjoying the a moment of rest, of peace. Hmmm... It wasn't always that way.

    When I was a kid, evenings meant playing outside until called for supper. After supper, I was back outside playing with the neighborhood kids until our moms called us in. Sometimes, we got to stay out after dark. Of course, we had to stay closer to home then. We'd play tag or hide and seek. 

    I remember watching the sun go down for the first time. I was at the end of the block looking over a huge field of sunflowers. (I was in Kansas, the sunflower state.) I was amazed at just how quickly the sun set in just minutes. I'd never seen the sun move before. Oh, yes, then there was the effort that we spent to see the first star. Star light star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may I wish I might have the wish I wish tonight. Then the fireflies! Can't forget those. 

Stop!

Okay, I'm going to break my rule now. I took the photo above this past Friday evening. We stayed at a farm in Kansas. We went away from the hustle and bustle and hid ourselves away to rest, spend time together and seek God. We stayed outside until the sun set and beyond. We did so the following evening. It was so peaceful. The evenings lasted so long. Why? Because we were present. We were paying attention to everything around us. We were still. 

    

    Well, that's enough rule breaking! I think I'll write about the weekend again later. 

Have a present, focused, week,

Laura

Seven Minutes #5

CHRISTMAS CLUB

 

Seven minute of writing stream of conciousness begins now!

For all of my adult life, I have lived on a small budget—sometimes really small. During the early years, my husband and I made the mistake of using credit cards to our own detriment. We learned the very hard way about that. During and after the years of digging ourselves out of that pit, we paid cash for Christmas and other things as well.

When you live on a short shoestring budget like we have, you cannot wait until December to begin Christmas preparations. 

Gift making and collecting has started early for me for years. Sometimes even in January, I'll find something to add to my gift box. I thrift for gifts and for supplies to make gifts. Fortunately, my children have always been thankful for whatever gifts I could make or source for them. I always saved for at least one gift that I knew that they'd been wanting. Oh, I miss the days of little ones!

All this to say, it is immensely important for those with a slim budget to begin making, creating, planning, collecting, and saving early.

A couple of years ago, I began a Christmas club with a few friends. Once a month, they come to my house for an evening, and we each work on something that will bring us closer to our Christmas goals. Since I began working full-time in February, I've had to give that up. I've been exhausted when I get home. But. I am going to invite them to begin getting toether again this month for Christmas in July. They'll be getting a text from me soon!

And that's my seven minutes. Maybe you'd like to invite a few friends to join you in your making and prepping. I have 3 friends in my group with me. We've become even closer over the last couple of years. 

Be blessed ladies!

Laura

   

Happy Independence Day!

 Happy 4th of July 2026! Just a little reading from days gone by!

 Most of us have happy memories of July 4th; but, the significance of the birth of our country is often forgotten. Take a few moments this weekend to thank God for our country and all of its privileges and freedoms. 

Thank you God for unlimited blessings!

Laura

Independence Day, The Fourth of July, July 4th, Freedom! God Bless America!

Celebrating the 4th of July

Happy Independence Day and 4th of July!