WHEW!

11.16.2011

hair dryer curls
hair dryer curls
my feet for no reason.
ginger snaps

Well, it's been one completely CRAZY few weeks here! I've been working like mad on my new winter/holiday collection! But guess what happened last week just as I was finishing a sleeve? My serger broke!!!!!!!!! Well, the needle on the needle plate broke. So I was frantic to find a replacement online. I found a place (I THOUGHT I found a place, that is) so I went ahead and ordered the part and paid the extra twenty some dollars to have it by the next day. I knew it was the weekend when ordering, so I didn't think I'd get it til Monday. Well, I had this sick feeling that it might not get here in time, so I looked online to see if I could track the package. I hadn't heard anything as far as a confirmation shipping number, so couldn't track it. I did some investigation on the company and guess what I found? It was a fraudulent none-existent company by some crazy guy in TN who apparently keeps opening fake sewing part shops online. So when I found this out I decided to go find another company that sold the needle plate. I found one, or so I thought! It had good reviews and even noticed Design*Sponge had them as their friend on Twitter, so I thought what the hey? And guess what? When I got my PayPal invoice back, guess who's name was on the bill? THE SAME GUY!!!! Arghh! So not only was I ripped off once, but twice and both times I paid for express shipping! Gahh! Anyway, to make a long story a bit shorter/longer we got in touch with PayPal (via phone) and got my money back by the next day! So I've learned a few things through this whole ordeal. One, don't order sewing parts online and be very leery about ordering anything sewing machine related. At least be certain who you are ordering from. The only times I've been ripped off had to do with a sewing machine on eBay and now this. Second, PayPal rocks! They were awesome. If you ever have a problem like this, don't wait around doing the online form, just give them a call. And third, if you ever need a part for your sewing machine, call your local sewing shop!

So after all that, I decided to take a trip down to my local Vogue Fabrics and I brought in the broken needle plate with me to show them. They told me I could fix it by ripping out the broken needle (it was hard, that thing was really stuck in there!) and then super glue another needle back in there (sewing needle that fits in the slot and cut to size). And guess what? It WORKED!!! I am so thrilled! I was able to finish my collection and all the seams are beautifully serged! They are also ordering me a new needle plate, since my little makeshift plate probably won't last forever. But it's nice to know I can fix it if it ever happens again. Btw, I took pictures while working on it, so I hope to do a bit of a tutorial on how to fix a needle plate if it ever happens to you. It was pretty hard to find any information about it online, so hopefully this will help someone out there!

In other news, I'm heading back home tomorrow for vacation which will include a highschool performance of Pride and Prejudice, a photo shoot with my brother, lots of coffee with good friends, hopefully a bit of shopping in my favorite little Mt Vernon town, annnnd lots of Thanks Giving! I think we have two Thanks Giving dinners to go to next week. It sure will be full! And that's a good thing too, because we've been living off of one week of groceries for the past two weeks and we are ready for some down home cookin'! :) See you all when I get back! Have a super duper holiday! I have A LOT to be thankful for, that's for sure! xo

p.s. lately i've been doing this to my hair after a shower. works so well and so easy too!

9 comments :

  1. You inspire me to pull out my sewing machine more often. You hair looks stunning and those cookies look amazing!

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  2. I'm so sorry to hear about all your sewing machine troubles! Good to know that about the sewing machine parts, though!

    Hope you have a happy thanksgiving!

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  3. That's awful about your swindling sewing machine guy - I had something similar happen to me with a pair of shoes I ordered online, and since I didn't use paypal, I'm still dealing with it 3 months later!! I'd like to say I learned my lesson, but I'll probably never stop shopping online. Also, strange coincidence - I decided to check out this blog post right after watching 9 hours of the BBC Pride and Prejudice - it's a small world!

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  4. eek regarding to the serger whoas! I've broken the knife on mine before and it was agaony waiting for a replacement (fortunately, there is a reliable local shop that orders the parts!)

    your hair looks great - I may try that tip!

    mostly, however, I am jealous that you have a Vogue Fabrics "local". totally jealous.

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  5. Oh, what a mission! Glad it was all sorted out in the end.

    Have a great break and a Happy Thanksgiving!

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  6. whoa, that is a CRAZY story! glad you got it all sorted out though. that sounds really stressful! can't wait to see what you have in your collection, i'm sure it's beautiful. and we are having two thanksgivings as well! one with friends on thursday, and one with jared's brothers and their families on friday. it's gonna be a great week. have fun on your trip!

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  7. Argh, so frustrating! there is nothing worse than building momentum on a project and having to stop for irritating obstacles. I hope they catch that evil man! but glad there was a quick fix, superglue? how interesting.

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  8. Wow, what an internet adventure/nightmare! Very glad to hear PayPal is so helpful. Thanks for the hair styling link, too - your hairs look lovely and wavy and a tiny bit wild - perfect!

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  9. I LOVE your flats! Where did you get them?

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