Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Mini Sophias with Tessa
Tessa: No, not at all.
Me: Even if it's in a pink can with a bendy straw?!
Tessa: Oh! I'll drink that!
Chris' birthday dinner
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
I see your true colors
I had the day off, so I made a quilt top! =)
You see, a couple/few weeks ago I decided that the first real project I needed for Henry Etta is a quilt. Choosing a quilt as her first project with me is a nod to both my mother and the previous owner of the sewing machine. My very first quilt! I didn't want to get in too far over my head, so a lap or couch sized quilt would be perfect.
I wanted something uber simple. No real pattern, no expensive fabrics to purchase. Something homey and scrappy, just like my mom used to make. With that, I decided on 4 inch squares, and, as many smart girls do, turned directly to Ebay.
The last of my squares arrived yesterday. This morning I spent some time laying things out, but had no intentions of actually sewing anything yet. I just wanted to see what the quilt top might look like, then I would roll it up in a sheet and put it away until sewing time. But then I figured I'd just sew up a single 3x3 square. Just to see how it went. Eh, it was all downhill from there.
Henry Etta, of course, was nothing short of a champ. She whizzed and purred all afternoon long. I oiled her up a bit and gave her a break while I had a bite to eat and a beer, and the two of us went right back to work. She's wonderful. I love her.
As far as this quilting thing goes, I'm not saying I'm addicted, but I'm not saying that I'm going to stop, either. ;)
You see, a couple/few weeks ago I decided that the first real project I needed for Henry Etta is a quilt. Choosing a quilt as her first project with me is a nod to both my mother and the previous owner of the sewing machine. My very first quilt! I didn't want to get in too far over my head, so a lap or couch sized quilt would be perfect.
I wanted something uber simple. No real pattern, no expensive fabrics to purchase. Something homey and scrappy, just like my mom used to make. With that, I decided on 4 inch squares, and, as many smart girls do, turned directly to Ebay.
The last of my squares arrived yesterday. This morning I spent some time laying things out, but had no intentions of actually sewing anything yet. I just wanted to see what the quilt top might look like, then I would roll it up in a sheet and put it away until sewing time. But then I figured I'd just sew up a single 3x3 square. Just to see how it went. Eh, it was all downhill from there.
Henry Etta, of course, was nothing short of a champ. She whizzed and purred all afternoon long. I oiled her up a bit and gave her a break while I had a bite to eat and a beer, and the two of us went right back to work. She's wonderful. I love her.
As far as this quilting thing goes, I'm not saying I'm addicted, but I'm not saying that I'm going to stop, either. ;)
Labels: And I Can Sew
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Life? Is good.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Ode to Joy
After a particularly long, exhausting day last week, my husband told me, 'You should do something really nice for yourself on your day off.' He was right. I was tired and grumpy and fed up with everything and nothing. I needed a break. Having Chris encourage me on such an endeavor made it all the better. But what should I do? What could I do for myself that would make me feel better?
First thought: Yay! iPhone! But we're on a bit of a budget right now. And I wouldn't feel right getting a cool new toy so close to Chris' birthday.
Second thought: I'll get a great new hair cut! But again with the budget thing. Besides, I don't like having to bathe or get dressed on my days off.
Third thought: "......" Hrm. What goes there? What brings joy to my life and costs little to nothing? I've a got a free day, all to myself, to do anything I please. What will I fill this day with?
The answer? Order. I shall fill it with order. There are many things that fill my life with joy, but on a day that I shall spend alone, puttering around the house, I love to tidy. Of course it isn't the tidying itself that brings the joy. It's the sense of accomplishment and the vast emptiness of a bare dining room table and a desk with work space on it. I've been chipping away at getting rid of crap in the craft room and finding places for everything in there. But I think today's focus needs to be on rooms that I see every day. The office, the kitchen, the dining room turned sewing area. Once things are orderly, then I can sit comfortably at my desk and pay the bills (Another thing that brings joy because it tidies up the accounts!), or do some sewing without having to work around all of the crap on the cutting table.
Oh, and it definitely helps that I'll be doing this tidying while drinking champagne and eating pizza and taking knitting breaks! So what brings you joy? What do you do on your days off?
First thought: Yay! iPhone! But we're on a bit of a budget right now. And I wouldn't feel right getting a cool new toy so close to Chris' birthday.
Second thought: I'll get a great new hair cut! But again with the budget thing. Besides, I don't like having to bathe or get dressed on my days off.
Third thought: "......" Hrm. What goes there? What brings joy to my life and costs little to nothing? I've a got a free day, all to myself, to do anything I please. What will I fill this day with?
The answer? Order. I shall fill it with order. There are many things that fill my life with joy, but on a day that I shall spend alone, puttering around the house, I love to tidy. Of course it isn't the tidying itself that brings the joy. It's the sense of accomplishment and the vast emptiness of a bare dining room table and a desk with work space on it. I've been chipping away at getting rid of crap in the craft room and finding places for everything in there. But I think today's focus needs to be on rooms that I see every day. The office, the kitchen, the dining room turned sewing area. Once things are orderly, then I can sit comfortably at my desk and pay the bills (Another thing that brings joy because it tidies up the accounts!), or do some sewing without having to work around all of the crap on the cutting table.
Oh, and it definitely helps that I'll be doing this tidying while drinking champagne and eating pizza and taking knitting breaks! So what brings you joy? What do you do on your days off?
Labels: Lists and Goals
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Pleased To Meet You! Won't You Guess My Name?
A couple of weeks ago my friends moved away. They put all of their stuff into a big ole truck and went to Chicago to live. I will miss them dearly, but they were kind enough to leave me a little piece of themselves.
This is a Singer 301A sewing machine. A tool, yes, but a work of art as well.
TW's mom received this as a wedding gift in the mid-50's. My research shows that the machine was 'born' sometime between 1951 and 1955.
About five years ago TW got it from her mom to sew a quilt for Denise's birthday. Apparently it wasn't used much after that, so TW gave me the word that I was welcome to have it.
I was thrilled, to say the least. Though over 50 years old, this model of Singer is probably the best made machine to come off the production line. It is directly gear driven, which means no belts to deal with, and the power made by turning the wheel goes directly to the needle. I was able to sew through 16 layers of fabric, and this little girl didn't even need a breather afterwards.
I ordered new power cords right away and received them the other night. This next photo shows how your friends try to burn down your trailer as they are on their way out of town:
I powered her up, and she ran like a winner right out of the gate. Perfect tension, beautiful stitches. As the rpms increased, though, she got a little whiney. The next day I brought home some sewing machine oil. Using the manual that I downloaded, I placed oil in the 358 specific spots that need oil. After that, she hummed and purred like she was brand new.
Sewing machine restoration sites suggested that one also use sewing machine oil to clean up the exterior of old machines. The paint and decals were made to stand up to the light oil, so a standard wax on, wax off policy applies. This machine was very clean and well taken care of when I received it, but I gave her a little detailng with a small, soft brush and some machine oil. She looks half her age. She's beautiful.
I haven't used her on any projects yet, but will use her to make a dust cover for her cabinet (A #56 cabinet, which I'll refinish some day. Just not right now.) soon. Then I'll get out all of the attachments that came with her, and show them to you! Such a groovy sewing machine. I'm in love.
Oh! And her name? Like both of my dogs, I'm keeping the name that she came with. Henry Etta. =) Just like my brother and my yarn store, my sewing machine's name is Hank. Kizmet, no?
This is a Singer 301A sewing machine. A tool, yes, but a work of art as well.
TW's mom received this as a wedding gift in the mid-50's. My research shows that the machine was 'born' sometime between 1951 and 1955.
About five years ago TW got it from her mom to sew a quilt for Denise's birthday. Apparently it wasn't used much after that, so TW gave me the word that I was welcome to have it.
I was thrilled, to say the least. Though over 50 years old, this model of Singer is probably the best made machine to come off the production line. It is directly gear driven, which means no belts to deal with, and the power made by turning the wheel goes directly to the needle. I was able to sew through 16 layers of fabric, and this little girl didn't even need a breather afterwards.
I ordered new power cords right away and received them the other night. This next photo shows how your friends try to burn down your trailer as they are on their way out of town:
I powered her up, and she ran like a winner right out of the gate. Perfect tension, beautiful stitches. As the rpms increased, though, she got a little whiney. The next day I brought home some sewing machine oil. Using the manual that I downloaded, I placed oil in the 358 specific spots that need oil. After that, she hummed and purred like she was brand new.
Sewing machine restoration sites suggested that one also use sewing machine oil to clean up the exterior of old machines. The paint and decals were made to stand up to the light oil, so a standard wax on, wax off policy applies. This machine was very clean and well taken care of when I received it, but I gave her a little detailng with a small, soft brush and some machine oil. She looks half her age. She's beautiful.
I haven't used her on any projects yet, but will use her to make a dust cover for her cabinet (A #56 cabinet, which I'll refinish some day. Just not right now.) soon. Then I'll get out all of the attachments that came with her, and show them to you! Such a groovy sewing machine. I'm in love.
Oh! And her name? Like both of my dogs, I'm keeping the name that she came with. Henry Etta. =) Just like my brother and my yarn store, my sewing machine's name is Hank. Kizmet, no?
Labels: And I Can Sew
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Begin New Thread
All of my life, I've kept my thread in a couple of zip top baggies. It all gets tangled up, and I can't ever see what colors I have. Then every couple of years I have to clean this huge thread hairball out of the bag, and get all of the spools settled down again. So it was with good cheer and much squeeing this evening that I cleaned up the sewing box that TW gave me.
Pretty happy, eh?
Labels: And I Can Sew
Friday, July 04, 2008
I <3 Fireworks
Tonight we went to the in-laws for food and fireworks. We did some sparkler writing.
When we got home Schroeder found this little guy attempting to escape into the woods.
Labels: Flora and Fauna
Thursday, July 03, 2008
How a sewing machine works
In many thanks of the reception of a most gracious gift* of a very, very nice vintage Singer Sewing Machine model 301a (Circa 1951-1955. Yes, Jane, I *will* be talking to you about this, and I *do* want some links to some coolio vintage sewing forums and such!), whose name may or may not be Suzy (The gifter is checking on this tonight.), and because Emma said that Arne would enjoy this, I would like to pass on a little animated .gif that I believe I picked up from BC a while back.
(Clicky to made it go!)
*And in honor of run on sentences and the overabundance of prepositional phrases
(Clicky to made it go!)
*And in honor of run on sentences and the overabundance of prepositional phrases
Labels: And I Can Sew
