Loose Ends
I can fix that - just ask me
Susan Nienow

The curtains sat in the laundry room for a year before I gave in and asked a friend to help. When I washed them the stitching came out of the rod pocket. But to fix it, I had to get out the sewing machine and actually use it. The last time I tried to use it I got the thread all tangled up underneath and had to take it to be repaired. I got it back for $65, but I'm afraid to touch it now.

Maybe I am an optimist, but when I was shopping for a friend's birthday, I saw this seriously cute vase that looked like a bird only the beak had broken off. The price was a little high for a bird without a beak, but I was sure I could put a little paint on the broken part and from a distance it would look fine. Fortunately, my shopping pal looked at me and shook her head. Reason prevailed, and I left the bird.

But I did buy a jacket that is a little bit big. The price was great, and it has great embroidery. Someday I will alter it to fit, or make a pillow out of that embroidered fabric - as soon as I get up enough nerve to use my sewing machine again.

Then I can shorten the tablecloth I bought that is about two feet too long for my table. I loved the texture in it. It's perfect for the dining room table, and I can easily fix it. Maybe I should quit waiting for the right sewing machine moment and just cut the end off and use my glue gun to reattach the trim around the edge.

In my "have to fix it before I use it or wear it" collection is a pair of shoes with one defective buckle. When I bought them, I knew I could find something to replace those buckles and then I can wear the shoes. It hasn't been as easy as I thought. Those metal buckles left marks on the top of the shoe. I haven't been able to find anything to cover those.

My desk has a letter holder made of cardboard and covered in a paper with a pink and black polka dot pattern. I hate it. But the letter holder is just the size and shape I need. I was tired of hunting for the perfect thing so I bought this one. I can fix it. I need to find a paper I like and re-cover the outside or paint it.

The last vacation we took was very productive. I brought back a great piece of driftwood except a piece of it broke off before I could get it home. My other half thought it was over the top to lug this apparently fragile piece of tree all the way home. But, I prevailed with a promise to fix it and get it out into the garden immediately.

Have glue gun, will travel.