Sewing is expensive

So since my triumph a week ago, I haven't done much but prepare for new projects. I checked out an awesome fabric sale at Rimmon fabrics in West LA and came home with fabrics for several new projects. Decided to start with a lovely brown tunic dress out of the sewing tutorial. I was going to do a cute small handbag which I'd already bought fabric for, but alas the book didn't come with the pattern so I'd have to buy pattern paper and make my own. Apparently this is sold NO WHERE in LA so I'd have to buy it online. Seems like a rip-off so I moved on to the tunic dress for now.

As you may recollect, I also have an unfinished baby quilt

in my sewing basket. I had to buy a walking foot for my machine to quilt the quilt. Felt like this was a good investment since I love quilts and plan to make (and finish) at least three baby quilts by year end. Ordered it online and waited. Then realized I'd need batting, again, felt like Joann's was unreasonably priced for such iffy synthetic material. Ordered that online and I continue to wait.

I cut out my pattern pieces and fabric for the tunic dress over the weekend but I can't start sewing because I need a new needle for fine fabrics. Mine broke and I'm left with one that worked wonderfully on the canvasy tote, but that would not be so good on the delicate dress fabric. Bah. Also will need safety pins to baste the quilt, so a trip to Joann's tomorrow will be a necessity.

My husband is beginning to wonder if I'm throwing our money down a hole, and I have to admit this is a more expensive hobby than I would have thought. Handmade gifts seem so thoughtful and worthwhile but I also thought it was a money saver. Nope. Bought some fabric for a baby quilt and even with great sales and using only 3 fabrics, I still spent $25 on fabric, thread, and batting. I'm not exactly sure what baby quilts run in the stores, but I'm guessing something of the quality I'm capable of would be about $19.99. Oh and I forgot to find a fabric for the border. Bah again.

Here's some photos of the fabric for the new quilt, a new iron & ironing board (the sound of my 9 year old iron crapping out sounded suspiciously like "cah ching!"), and the nearly recognizable form of a dress cut out which reminds me rather a lot of the clothes I had for paper dolls as a kid.