Wish List Machine!

4 years ago I had no idea that there was any other "old" machine besides a Singer. I definitely had no idea there were such beautiful "old" machines. It just wasn't something I thought about.

But now is a different story! I fell head over heels in love with the "old" machines! They are absolutely amazing to me. The fact that many have survived years of abuse and neglect and still sew a perfect stitch is just amazing. Not to mention the fact that they were (and some still are) things of beauty. When I look at the decals on them it makes me wonder why they ever started making plain sewing machines!

My first old machine was a Singer 127 with the shuttle bobbin. Many thanks to some wonderful ladies at TOGA who helped me get her sewing. That machine was promptly named Sally.....don't ask me why but for some reason it reminded me of something my Grannie used to say about "long legged Sally". That is still my favorite machine. I absolutely love to sew on her.

This past week I got a new to me machine. It's one I've been wanting for a couple years but everytime I've seen one for sale it's been more than my "frugal" self was willing to pay. Okay, okay my "cheap" self!  Then I saw the ad on Craigslist......I emailed. No response. I figured it was already sold. Oh well that's normal for me.....a day short and a dollar late. Three days later though the ad showed up again. I emailed again and got a response immediately! So plans were made to make the trip to go get it. I loaded up acouple of the kids and off we went!

When I got there it looked worse than in the pictures. I figured the decals were shot....cabinet definitely was. The cabinet wasn't important though as it would be going in my homemade multi-treadle table.

I brought her home and started cleaning. Three days later and I see decals! Well on the front at least. She actually looks pretty darn good! There is nothing but bare metal beside the shuttle cover which shows she was well loved. I like that.....the lady I bought her from said she belonged to her grandmother. I wonder what she made on this machine to wear the finish off? Did she make clothes or quilts?

I've got about a month to finish getting her cleaned up and then she gets to make her first quilt for me.


If you look close you can see the gunk still on her.......hours and hours of elbow grease still needed!

Has it been that long?

I didn't realize I hadn't updated this in so long. I've been busy. The wedding quilt is now a sandwich and is being quilted. I got a lot done this past Memorial weekend.
We went to the camper for "vacation" and the quilt went with me. The weather cooperated wonderfully and I was able to spend two glorious days sitting outside quilting....the end of May and it wasn't too hot.
Can you believe that?
I think I've gotten almost 6 rows done of the twelve. It was a wonderful weekend!
Sadly the river was up and too strong for the kids to play in....not to mention it was chilly with the wind blowing! But they still had fun. DD #4 didn't want to leave. She misses her Daddy so much during the week.

I did learn something this weekend. I really only like Gutermann thread for handquilting. It just feels better to me than others.

Finished top!

Brit and Stephen's wedding present. Still need to piece the back and then start the quilting.

Rain, Rain go away.....

It's been raining for days now...It's gray and dreary and depressing. The grass is growing like crazy but it's too wet to get out there and cut it.
We did see some sunshine yesterday and a little this morning.
Rain is in the forecast for today though and again this weekend........I'm sitting here now and the temperature is 44.....in May....in the south. So much for global warming! It seems spring cannot get a good foothold and stay with us. 

I've been busy on Brit and Stephen's wedding quilt. The top is halfway done. I've also realized the fabric I picked for the border does NOT work. So now I need to make another trip to the fabric store. That's not really a problem though!

We're also busy trying to get Nicole and Shane's wedding rolling. She is going in a million different directions though and I'm wondering if we'll get it all done in time.

I did sit down and draw out a wall hanging I want to make once I'm done with wedding quilts. It's been in my head for months now and finally it's on paper.

I'm also looking forward to TOGA. It's only about a month away! I so need some me time!

And just so I don't forget that it really is spring...........I took this the other week. I love the color here.

Registering for wedding gifts.......what an experience!

Yesterday my daughter, her mother in law and myself went to register her for gifts.
It was an all afternoon event! Three stores in all. The first two were pleasant experiences. We were going thru the stores joking and enjoying ourselves. The experience changed when we entered the last store.........
Bed Bath and Beyond is a popular place for registries. Everyone seems to like it.
I personally will never even set foot in one of their stores again, much less buy anything. The consultant was pushy. She said she didn't work on commission........well in all my years of being a consumer I've not met a commissioned salesman that was more pushy!
She was downright rude! When I "disagreed" with her on her selection of pots and pans that dd should choose it was tense. I finally asked her how much she cooked. It was an honest question.....I cook 3x a day for up to 8 people. I help cook at church for weekly meals. I cooked turkey at Thanksgiving for 160 people. I cook... a lot. So yes I have an opinion on cookware. She was apparently offended that anyone would disagree with her.
She proceeded to pull my daughter aside and tell her "she understood how stressful it was to do this with your mother and mil and she would be glad to reschedule her to come alone"......oh really! She was the one who made it stressful!
She finally left us alone and the stress level went down. I did file a complaint with the company. I will never shop there again, and I will tell everyone I know about our experience.
Oh and my daughter thanked me and her mil for going with her when it was all over. 

Not much going on this week...

It is quiet here this week. The only big thing happening is dd got her license. That's big! She has made her first solo trip out alone too. Talk about a nervous mama the whole time she was gone!

On other fronts I am working on redoing our back deck. It has tons of junk the kids have pulled out all winter and left there, leaves, and bones the dogs have "buried" in the leaves. It truly is a sad neglected place all winter.

Spring is here though and I have dreams of dragging a treadle out there and sewing while the bees buzz all around my head.....(ok I am doubting my sanity some due to those bees).

I'm finally going to sand and repaint that fabulous outdoor set that belonged to my Grandparents. Remember these? I have two chairs that go with it also.

http://vintageindie.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/06/02/vintageglider_teal.jpg

I'm trying to decide what color to paint them......something bright I think......maybe red?

Then I will need some thin cushions for them. A good project to work on with the treadle while sitting out there I think.
Oh and my indoor plants need to go out there too. Dappled light coming through the big oak tree leaves, comfy chairs to sit in, plants all around.....and a treadle to sit and sew at.......sounds inviting right? Of course the treadle will be taken in nightly.
Maybe a radio on with soft music......sounds ideal doesn't it? Best part is I don't see traffic or other people from my back deck! I will post some pics when I get it all done.

It's the simple things in life.....

that make me happy. I've learned that over the years. I don't need fancy cars or a big house. I don't need lots of jewelry or extravagant furnishings.
Instead just give me simple......a treadle sewing machine fulfills all my needs and is soothing. A nice summer day with a breeze blowing and windows open, a quilt to snuggle up under at night, the sound of the kids laughing and playing, birds singing.

I think I am just an old soul really. I've tried "keeping up with the Jones's" and honestly it about killed me.
Give me simple, give me "old fashioned", and just let me be. I don't want new.....I don't want modern. I don't want a schedule slam full of events. I don't want every new gadget out there. I actually like staying home.....

Yes I do like some modern conveniences, like the computer, I like cell phones when the kids drive and head out on their own. But most of modern technology just escapes me...not because I can't understand it.....I am fluent at dual booting operating systems on computers and cleaning them of viruses, but because I simply don't want to!

I often wonder if I am the only person in the world like this. Then I find another kindred soul....usually online, and know I am not alone!

My goal this summer is to reclaim my back deck. To reconnect with the great outdoors. I start with cleaning it and moving hubby's tools out of sight. Then a gate to keep dogs and chickens off it when I want.
Then, plants......it needs flowers. I will plant hydrangeas around the railing.  I will bring houseplants out there. I will set up a table we can eat on more often, the grill will turn into a "summer kitchen" and last but most definitely not least, I will bring a treadle out there! I will set me up an area where I can sit and treadle away all summer! The kids can play in the pool and I can enjoy listening to them being happy. Ooh and my grandparents glider will get a new coat of paint and cushions.

Now doesn't that sound inviting? A nice little area to sit and relax with a glass of sweet, iced tea, and maybe sew a little?

You can't get much more simple than that! Oh no radio and no phone allowed!

Pictures will follow ........