Building the van was a long process and a lot of work, but I've had it in mind for quite a while to take it a step further than just building furniture. After all, a cozy apartment on wheels needs furnishings, too.

So, I treated myself to a new sewing machine and set about designing various soft furnishings and protective cases for sound and computer gear. The first step, though, was to create something simple. You know, to get used to the machine and all. I've got 36 stitch patterns to choose from. I'm feeling adventurous. I go with 'straight stitch'. I haven't figured out what the other settings do, yet, but they don't seem too important.

I had an old pair of jeans kicking about, so I decided to make a denim case for paint brushes and pens. How difficult could that be?

Quite a pain in the ass, is the answer.
I was feeling confident, after attaching the first side of the zipper, and was looking forward to attaching a fleecy lining and putting it all together. It was going to be a thing of beauty. It was going to dazzle and excite. It was going well, too. At least, until it wasn't.

No sooner had I grinned my triumphant grin, foreseeing the masterpiece in a prophetic vision, the damn thing started jiving me. The thread bunched up in a huge knot, jamming the machine, and requiring removal of various pieces. After I got it all straightened out, re-threaded the needle and lined up the material, I hit it for a second time.

Faithfully, the needle jabbed at the fabric, twice, maybe thrice, and then *clunk*. Knots galore. After the third time, I started to get a bit grumpy. After the fourth, I have to be honest. I gave up. For now, at least. And the trendy denim bag became an avant garde cloth installation with half-attached zip feature and aggressive threading that signified the struggle of modern man to come to terms with the state of the world.

Project 1. Disaster. See page two!