…”Homemaker”, that is. That’s right. I’m now, officially, “Suzie Homemaker”! I’m betting you’re not half as excited as I am.

No. My house isn’t perfectly clean. I do have young children whom I homeschool, you know. Even Ms. Homemaker wasn’t perfect.

No, I’ve not spent all day baking bread and cooking everything from scratch. (Cereal is our favorite dinner “meal”.)

So, why exactly am I “Suzie Homemaker” now?

I’ve started crocheting! What’s more, I TAUGHT MYSELF!!!

Not only that (yes, there really is more…try to contain your excitement)...Not only that, but I am also teaching my daughters to crochet. Okay. So I’m teaching my 6yr old son also. Hey. He asked. What was I supposed to say?

How did this miracle (which, mind you, is NO small feat happen)? The beauty of YouTube, my friends. Some kind woman made a series of videos titled, “Crochet 101”. Those videos and a book from Wal-Mart have taught me everything I need to know about crocheting.

Well. Almost.

I still don’t know what to do when I’ve finished the blanket I’m working on. Guess I’ll just keep going, and going, and going…until I run out of thread? Then what? And I've already checked. There are NO YouTube videos about what to do at the end of a project. So if some kind soul would like to help this new crocheting mama, I’d be very appreciative.

Pics of my new blanket-to-be coming soon.

-Me

Several of my friends call me crazy. I prefer the term "adventurous".

For a while now, I have been wanting to buy a sewing machine. I was given one years ago, but due to extreme lack of use (as in never), it was crying for a good, loving home. I felt it only best that I oblige.

In the past couple of years, I have begun to regret this decision. Maybe it's from watching too much Martha Stewart? Regardless, I have decided I want to become a FULL-FLEDGED "Ms. Suzy Homemaker". After all, what good homeschooler and homemaker is complete without a sewing machine? (Notice all of my desires were for just a sewing machine...NOT to actually sew?)

Somehow, just having the machine would make me better at my jobs. I could sit there and dream of what I could do. Then, in the past couple of months, insanity struck. I decided I didn't just want a sewing machine...I wanted to actually sew! What a concept! So where do I start? How do I begin? This desire was SO strong that I actually began to seek out hand-sewing patterns.

See why my friends thought I had gone crazy?

I was actually preparing to make home-made items by hand. Oh, I still wanted a sewing machine, but I wasn't going to spend the money on one until I had done loads of research. I'm also crazy that way. When I make a purchase, new or used, I want to make sure I am making the right purchase. Sometimes...okay often...that means paying a little more to get better quality. Sometimes it's simply a matter of finding a way to get that typically more expensive, better quality item for much cheaper than I would otherwise.

How about free?

One of these friends that had been calling me crazy (and rightfully so) called me yesterday. She had exciting news for me. Her "Super-sewing Queen" grandma was departing with one of her 3 high-quality sewing machines. That left her pondering what to do with her current high-quality sewing machine that had come from this same grandma.

Her thought?

Save my crazy friend!

I like thoughts like that. I'll be "crazy" any day if it gets me a free high-quality sewing machine. I offered to make her free cloth diapers with this new sewing machine as a show of appreciation. She said I wouldn't GET the machine if I brought cloth diapers anywhere near her children. She walked off shaking her head and muttering under her breath, "Crazy. That woman is crazy."

And so I am setting off on a new venture.

How do you work a sewing machine?...

-Me