I've been wanting to move my blog away from Blogspot for a while but could never be bothered to actually do it. This week was the tipping point though, and I've now fully migrated over to https://patsypoomakes.wordpress.com/ . The blogspot address will remain here but all new posts will only appear at https://patsypoomakes.wordpress.com/ . There are lots of reasons for the move but my biggest one is how hard Blogger has made it for people to subscribe to receive new posts via email. It's such a basic requirement but apparently, they think it's too much to offer. I'm basing this purely on how I myself prefer to consume this stuff. I can't be arsed with feed readers anymore and emails are easy and convenient. When I receive one, if I fancy reading it, I will click through to it and, if not, I'll just delete it. Another reason is the spat between Google (owners of Blogger) and Instagram/Facebook/Meta. I don't even know if this is still the case anymore ...
I have finally smitten the Bag of Doom! Finalmente derrotei a Sacola dos Horrores!
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| The back of the Bag of Doom |
Many weeks ago, Liam and I decided we'd make a patchwork bag with embroidery detail to give to his teacher as an end of year present. Boy, oh boy, have I lived to regret that move! It was my first ever attempt at patchwork and, although I learned a lot while working on it, our ship never sailed smooth waters. Well, actually, the embroidery panel went well. Liam wrote the message himself then I enlarged it and transferred it onto the fabric. It is surprisingly difficult to stitch over a child's handwriting.
Já faz um tempinho que nós decidimos fazer uma sacola de presente de fim de ano para a professora do Liam. Mas como eu me arrependi dessa decisão! Minha primeira vez trabalhando com retalhos e, apesar de ter aprendido MUITO com esse projeto, nada deu certo de primeira. Quer dizer, o bordado no centro foi tranquilo. Mas só. Ele escreveu a mensagem, eu aumentei e transferi. É muito mais difÃcil de se bordar sobre a escrita de uma criança do que eu imaginava.
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| The front of the bag of doom |
Oh, Bag of Doom, how I hated you at times. Though you taught me a whole lot. The hard way. The hardest way, in fact. You taught me that 'pressing' the seams is JUST. THAT. Pressing. No other fabric handling of any kind. Certainly not pulling. You'd think a 34-year old woman of slightly above average intelligence would have worked that one out on her own, wouldn't you? You also taught me how to stitch the lining to the main bag the RIGHT WAY ROUND. You taught me to measure 7 times and cut once and NEVER to cut anything if it's past my regular bedtime. You also taught me that I will not be defeated by a silly patchwork bag.
Oh, Sacola dos Horrores, te detestei em certos momentos. Mas você me ensinou muito. Da pior maneira, vale notar. Me ensinou a não esticar o pano quando o mesmo ainda estiver quente após passar com o ferro para acertar a costura. Me ensinou a costurar o forro ao lado externo da sacola do jeito certo. Também me ensinou a medir 7 vezes antes de cortar e NUNCA cortar nada quando já se passa do meu horário de cama. Você também me ensinou que não é qualquer sacola de retalhos meia boca que vai me derrotar.
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| The lining |
Yes, bag of doom, you were a real test to my nerves. You were very hard on me. You whooped my arse, big time. You made me cry. More than once. However, I am grateful for all that because I will not repeat those mistakes again. And if I ever have to work on you again, I swear, with every fibre of my being, I will light a bonfire and chuck you in it!!!!!
Pois é, sacola dos horrores, você realmente me deu nos nervos. Você foi muito rigorosa comigo. Você me deu uma surra, das boas. Até me fez chorar. Mais de uma vez. No entanto, te agradeço por isso tudo pois não repetirei esses erros novamente. E se eu precisar corrigir mais alguma coisa em você, juro com toda a força do meu ser, acendo uma fogueira e te jogo nela!!!!
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| The embroidered message |
I hope his teacher likes it. I'm sure she will. Despite all the many things that are wrong with it, if someone gave me something like this I'd probably be very happy to have it.
Espero que a professora dele goste. Mesmo com todos os defeitos, se alguém me desse algo parecido eu gostaria muito.