Hi Cuties, I was so tired last night, it's a good thing my floors were mopped Monday, my backside was dragging. Gus was brought about 7;00-7:30 am. Ashley, Grayson and Nora had optometrist appointments.I thought it was dentist, my mistake.
About 9 am my grandson's father-in-law called. He wanted to know if I would cut and hem some long sleeve shirts, into short sleeve, for him. He had three.
I told him No, I usually don't do alterations. Then he asked if I knew someone local who would. I gave him the name of a lady. We went on talking. He said they were work shirts and he needed to get them done asap, as he would be going back to South America to work Thursday or Friday. (This was Tuesday morning!)
This is a sweet, sweet man. Big as Hos Cartwright/Bonanza (for those who remember that classic) and just as kind. Well, you guessed it, I said bring them over.
I told him this is out of my comfort zone. A long sleeve shirt, as most of you know, tapers down the arm to the cuff. When you try to go short sleeve, where you cut is narrower than when you turn back to stitch your hem, wanting to pucker. I have had to rip out the underarm seam before and restitch an even narrower seam, just for a bit more give.
To make a short story long (lol) I told him I couldn't do anything while I had Gus, but I would get to it asap after they picked him up and I would text him, when I was finished.
The family picked out their glasses, did a little shopping and came in about 2 pm. When I saw they were going to stay (as I had cooked the evening meal while I had Gus ) I told Ashley I needed to work on these shirts. I forgot to say Jude also wanted his name on on side. Well, I got one done. I wasn't sure if the sleeve was too long/too short etc, so Ashley offered to run it over for him to try, while I emb the other two. They live near, so that's good.
She came back said everything was perfect and could I also emb his small home based company on other side! This was a rush job to begin with!!!
Well, of course I did. I didn't cut the other two shirts until after the kids left, about 7:30 pm....Ashley helped me clean up the kitchen after we ate, but it was too dark to see to sew dark colors and too late, I was pooped. I got up this morning and finished them.
I texted him they were ready and he came picked them up. Other than my time, it just cost me my threads and not much of that. I used scrap WSS on top, scrap tear-a-way that I pieced, and scrap cut -a-way that I pinned to the tear-a-way, under where his names would go. So see mostly just my threads and time.
He asked what he owed me. I had already told my DH I wasn't taking anything. He is so good to my grandson, I feel like he is extended family. Anyway, he laid down some money on the table (which was close to what I had figured) but after much discussion, I told him a price just for him to feel better about paying me something, but he doubled what I told him. Of course it was a lot less, than what it was worth to me or him, but it was something to make both of us okay with it.
For a job I really didn't want to do, it went pretty good. I just don't like to do it, with all the people here too, but it doesn't seem to bother them. I knew I had to go somewhere today and then Friday through Saturday, I have the kids again. He needed it done anyway, before then.
I do feel good about one thing though. Jude respected me and my work. He was expecting/planning on paying me, when he asked, and also when he picked them up.
I don't like someone that sends me something, without asking first, and then expects you to do for nothing. My SIL's brother just sent me two heavy work hoodies, by my SIL. He can't stand the knit cuffs, too tight, he says. The most time consuming was ripping the knit cuffs off. I couldn't cut them off or his sleeves would have been too short. Then it was to just serge the edge and hem. Sent them back to him by my SIL. Son-in-law thanked me, but never got so much as a texted thank you, from his twin brother...of course, then when Jude was here to pick his shirts up, Grayson drops a pair of blue jeans off for repair for him-lol- I repair Grayson's all the time, but he said he hated to bring them, as he knew he had Graham's hoodies to bring for repair, but when I was doing Jude's he thought I may as well stay at it and repair his!-lol-lol
I would rather make something than repair. What about you?
In the old days when I did a lot of knitting some people would ask me if they would pay for the yarn would I knit an item for them. It almost sounded like charity to keep my little hands busy. Some people know how to appreciate and others do not even bother with a thank you
.....Then there are the ones like Jude. I told Betsey I would continue here.
Earlier I got a cell call from my grandson's wife, Jude's daughter. She asked if we were home and if so, could they come over. I said sure, come on. I thought it was her and my grandson. She said No, it was her and her dad, he had something for me. I said oh no, I didn't want him to get me anything.
Well, they came in and he brought me a computer monitor! I was speechless.
He said it wasn't new, (hey, don't matter to me) but it is a flat screen. He said his home pc went out in his shop, so he bought a laptop. He said his monitor was still good, so he kept it, in case someone needed one. He said when he came in my sewing room, he saw one of my pc's didn't have a monitor. I told him when we had a power outage and the electricity came back on, one of my monitors wouldn't work anymore. When they came in, he hooked it up for me.
Naturally, I tried to pay him, but nothing doing. I told you he was a nice guy.
I didn't say earlier, but this morning when he picked up his shirts, I sent Carrie his wife, one of those batik zip bags. When he saw the cords wraps he wanted 3. One for Carrie and two for him-lol- Of course I didn't charge him as I wanted to send Carrie the bag. Well, I guess he had to get the upper hand and bring me the monitor. Regardless, I wasn't expecting anything, because I was happy to give. Like I said he is good to my grandson, his daughter and little Rylan. So is God good. Now I can transfer some of my stuff over to the other pc, so this one will run better. It is full.
And yes, I'd much rather make something than repair it!! Love Chris
I hope that this machine that was given to me doesn't mean I will be just sewing repairs all the time.-lol- It seems like since I got it that IS all I've sewn.
I have been so rewarded this past week...a sewing machine and now a monitor. Who cares if its not brand new, as long as they serve their purpose. I am thankful.
You are very sweet, and I'm glad that I know you.
....Picasso?-lol
My son grunted. I asked why. He said mama I have a zipper broke (my heart sank) in the leg of my insulated coveralls..... I think I need to give Shelly her machine back. Seems like ever since I got it, I"ve done nothing but repairs!--argggg
It may be a day or two before Brian brings his coveralls. In the meantime I am still re-organizing best I can....
It's really odd that today my son asked about his repair, then my niece told about her husband wanting repair, then my DH's cousin came in this afternoon asking if I do alterations! I could stay busy just fixing, but I did tell the cousin, NO.
