I used to sew, too. I still have a machine that should get a maintenance if I ever start again, but for now it works for repairs and small projects.

My birthstone is the emerald. Never having owned one, I can't really say I like it in the up-close-and-personal sense, but I'd like the opportunity to try someday.

I grew up sewing my own clothes.  By the time I was 13, I was making my entire wardrobe.  I did lots of sewing right up through the toddler years with my son.  (Tshirts, sweatshirts, sweat pants, jammies and costumes).  My back was so bad by then I could only sit at the machine for a few minutes at a time.  As a result, I don't sew near as much as I used to.  I still do special project stuff - costumes, repairs, bicycle seat covers, etc. 

I bought a machine for my DIL and advised my neighbor on buying a machine for her 2 teenage daughters.  I'm so happy to pass along my experiences to them.  (And now I won't have to do their sewing for them!!)

I think I suck at sewing, but I like to make costumes.  I've made a few for the Ren Faire and I really feel proud to wear something I've made.  I hope to make some more costumes and give "regular" clothes a try when my mom brings my her babylock machine next month.  The trial and (especially) error has me a bit worried, but if I make it in muslin first and screw it up, it won't be an expensive lesson

My birthstone is Garnet and I do like it.  It's like me, more than meets the eye

My birthstone is Opal (though some modern lists now say pink tourmaline for October)...

I LOVE to sew - I've got 5 sewing machines - 2 antique treadle machines (one works wonderfully, the other is HIGHLY tempermental), 2 that are more than 50 years old, and my "modern" one that my mom gave me in highschool (now almost 25 years old).  I made many of my own clothes in highschool - won some sewing contests, made the costumes for our school shows... After my son was born - I spent all my "free time" finding new fabrics and making him clothes.... But my favorite sewing is hand work.  I make quilts.  LOTS of them - well - up until a few years ago, that is.  Now I've become lazy with the premature arthritis in my hands becoming more of a hinderance than an annoyance. (affects my piano playing, too) I can only hand sew for about 25 minutes before my right hand stiffens up - and at that rate, it would take YEARS to finish a quilt.  So, I've decided that after taking 2+ years "off" from sewing regularly - I'll start machine piecing the tops and button-tufting them together.  I've decided that my next quilt will be and "old/worn flannel" quilt.  I saved every pair of flannel overalls, and every flannel shirt of my sons from age 2 till 10.  I also have one of my mom's from the 60's, several of my dad's from my growing up years, and 2 of my own. (I'm always saving odd fabrics)  I'm going to cut them all down into 3 inch squares - and see what I've got!  Then, I have a large jar of antique ivory buttons - different shapes and sizes.... (I pick them up any time I'm in an antique store) and I"ll use them to join the quilt.  Gee.... just talking about it makes me want to go start it today!

nightowl

Nightowl;
Your flannel quilt sounds wonderful!  I love flannel (it is such a comfort fabric) and using flannel from loved ones clothing will make it a special memory quilt for you.

The past two years I have made dozens of polar fleece tied blankets.  No sewing is involved, and I could use our ping pong table to lay out the fabric to do the cutting and tieing.  I have save all of the corners that were cut out and plan to piece them together to make a quilt for me.  It will remind me of the fun I had picking out the colors and patterns for everyone's blankets and the fun I had making and giving them away.  I was going to just use yarn to tack the quilt to the backing, but I like your idea of buttons.  I have quite a button collection that I'm sure I could find enough to put this quilt together.  Thanks for the idea!

I have been working on all kinds of needlework this year.  Practicing cross-stitching and embroidery, finishing a knitted sweater, and doing some crocheting.  I've always liked doing those things but don't make the time.  I'd like to do some more machine sewing, but don't have a place to set the machine up more or less permanently - setting up and taking down on the dining room table (no kitchen table, so it's used several times daily) is a real drag

Great handbag!  It takes a lot of patience to do that by hand.