Maybe it’s the man in me, but I want to buy gadgets. My brother buys tools to work on cars. He bought a pressure tester to use on radiators to find leaks. He has a reader he can hook up to a car to read codes whenever the check engine light turns on. He has compressors, welders, a press, and more tools to do woodwork. I have a few woodworking tools, but not as many.

Last Saturday, as I was at the table painting my nails, I made a flippant remark to my friend that I should buy a nail dryer. Now, I don’t need a nail dryer. I don’t paint my nails often enough to buy a nail dryer. I do not have the space for a purchase as frivolous as a nail dryer, but somewhere deep within my male side of my brain, I think buying one is a great idea.

Of course it’s a stupid idea and I won’t burn money on it. I don’t have that kind of money to spend, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have other gadgets in mind. My newest idea involves making my own dresses. It’s highly impractical, and I doubt I would save any money, though I might be able to sew them exactly to my measurements.

I would need to buy myself a sewing machine. If I were to feel extravagant, a surger as well. I kind of want to sew not only dresses, but costumes, Cosplay pieces, Steampunk inspired items. I’m looking to create a certain aesthetic, maybe something to wear to a con somewhere. I don’t know. It’s an idea.

The thing is, do I remember how to sew? I look Home Ec. back during my 7th grade year, the 1988-89 school year. I mostly did shirts, though I did make an ugly pair of pants, ones that I flat out refused to wear myself. A dress will be more complicated. Anything thing like the picture above, with lace and frills, would be exponentially more difficult than anything I’ve ever done before. It’s been almost thirty years since I’ve attempted anything!

But I’m game to learn. I’m willing to experiment. I want to stretch my creativity to new, exciting endeavors. I’d have to settle for buying pre-made patterns at first before attempting anything more daring, and creating one on my own. I wonder how to even begin to try to design my own dress. I should probably learn to draw. At 40, I’m not sure that’s possible. Screw it, only live once!