One more thing..................

While I absolutely LOVE antique and vintage sewing machines, I cannot possibly sew as much as I like AND mess around with those lovely machines.  So, after a great deal of thought, I will be selling off ALL my antique and vintage machines (except for one Featherweight).   I'm hesitant to list them on ebay because the shipping charges will be astronomical.  Any ideas?

Yeah, ok, it's been ages. . . . .

But I have a great excu. . .er, reason for not posting for so long.   See the post about breaking my shoulder for details.  I just had rotator cuff surgery on August 7 and let me tell you, that SUCKS!  Do you have any idea how hard it is NOT to move your shoulder?   However, I'm facing double knee replacement surgery in the not-too-distant future, and those will make the shoulder seem like a springtime walk in the park!

I've been doing some sewing--not as much as I'd like to, but some at least.  I'm also getting into quilting much more than I ever expected to.  I'm not going to post photos of my quilts today (it's off to physical therapy in a few minutes), I do have some beautiful ones I want to share.  

Happy stitching!

April1930: a great Featherweight site

My hearts belongs to two very different machines: my beautiful Bernina 730 and, of course, my Featherweights.   (In fact, I plan to sell all of my other antique and vintage sewing machines so I'll have more time to sew.)  But sell the Featherweights????  I'd sooner have my heart ripped from my chest! 

From time to time, as I come across them, I like giving a nod of the head and a big Thank You to other Featherweight-related sites I come across.  Way up on that list is April1930 (http://www.april1930s.com/).  Give her site a visit--she sells some Featherweights from time to time but mostly I've purchased attachments and specialty feet from her (and the customer service is TOP NOTCH!).  So hop on over there and check it out--hope you enjoy the site as much as I do!

Aprons for Christmas, and yes, it's been a looonnngg time!

WOW, a lot sure has happened since my last post, what, five, six months ago?  To briefly summarize, I had more surgery, had a booth at a local craft fair (and did pretty good), fell down in the cafeteria at work (have been on Workman's Comp since 11/7/11), and got laid off.  I broke part of my left scapula and tore the rotor cuff in the fall--and did something to my knees but haven't figured that out yet. So you see, it's been a rather busy fall (pun intended) for me!

I've been doing some sewing, but not nearly as much as before the latest round of surgery and the fall.  I'd planned to sew lots of pretty Christmas presents on my wonderful Bernina, but life intervened. . . .you know how that goes!    And now it's down to the wire. . . . .

So the universe provided (She does, if you'll just let Her) a wonderful, easy, fast apron pattern that's I know is going to be a big hit.  I found it at April 1930's web site (http://www.april1930s.com/) and she found it on an old package of bias trim! 

As you can see, there are ruffles around the waist and at the top of each pocket. . . .and since, we modern ladies don't exactly need any extra attention in those areas, I eliminated those ruffles.  I also simplified the ties and instead of packaged bias tape, I'm using bias tape cut from many of my lovely Christmas fabrics. Here are a couple of photos from an apron in work:

This is the apron skirt, before adding the pockets and before gathering.  The skirt is bound with the same bias tape as seen here.

This is one of the pockets that I plan to use.

As I work on it, I'll post more photos so you can see how I simplified the ties.  This is really a quick, easy apron and MANY THANKS to April 1930 for providing the pattern.

Quilt Star Potholder Tutorial

At last night's meeting of the You Sew Girl! Neighborhood Group of the Houston Chapter of the American Sewing Guild (tired, yet?) we learned how to make neat quilt star potholders!   No cutting little triangles or little squares, either.  Here's a picture:

Yep, no cutting triangles or squares! 

How can that be, you say?  There are obviously triangles and squares in this quilt block. . . .

but wait, here's the link to a pdf file I put together on how it's done!

Satisfied Customer

One Satisfied Customer

Isn't she the sweetest? 

I just have to share--that's one of my sock dolls she's playing with (Happy Thing) and her mom says it's one of her favorites. 

Smiles all around

Sew From The Heart

I arrived in Phoenix Tuesday and Wednesday I was on the prowl for a fabric shop.  I found that--and so much more!--at Sew From the Heart in Scottsdale, Arizona.  They are Bernina dealers (imagine that!) and some of the nicest, most helpful people you'd ever want to meet and do business with.  I walked in, introduced myself, and instantly felt totally at home.

It's amazing the bonds that the shared love of sewing creates.  Across generations, across genders, across geographic locations, this community of sewers finds itself.

What is it about the simple process of joining pieces of fabric with thread that creates such a bond?  I'm not sure, but I certainly do thank my guardian spirits that I found it!

Bernina Baby

Ok. I yield. Nothing sews like a Bernina. And now, nothing sews like MY Bernina!  I'm the proud owner of a Bernina 730E and have to admit I love it!  The machine really is a computer with a needle (it uses Windows OS!) but that's ok.  The sewing machine part is easy and fun (and I LOVE all the decorative stitches) and the embroidery module is just super.  I LOVE being able to use different size hoops and the on-screen editing is just super.  SUPER!!!  

I am glad I started into embroidery with the simpler Janome--the learning curve with the Bernina is steep enough that I appreciate having the basics under my belt.

I found my Bernina Baby at the Louise Cutting seminar in April.....a group of us were talking about machines and I mentioned that I was thinking of upgrading my machines.  My friend Janelle then announced she had a Bernina 730E that she wanted to sell.....the rest, as they say, is history.

Photos of Bernina Baby will follow.  Promise!

Would You Jump Into the River To Save Your Sewing Machine?

I've seen this photo, but now comes the wonderful background story..............

Why you need to make a muslin FIRST

I don't have the photos to post yet, but yesterday I learned (well, re-learned) WHY WE MAKE MUSLINS FIRST!!!   As you know, I plan to make Vogue 8504 to wear at my son's wedding in 25 days and have a beautiful burnout silk that will be perfect....so I bought the pattern day before last and carefully (oh, so carefully!) traced out the pattern for the top.  I have a really pretty yellow print gauze that would work as a muslin and was really excited to put it together last night and wear it today. 

HA

I pinned, I cut, I staystitched, I French-seamed the front.   I pinned, I cut, I staystitched, I French-seamed the back.  I went to put the right sides together to do the shoulder seams....................

The back is reversed.  Or the front is reversed.  One of the two is reversed because the ONLY WAY the two pieces go together is the wrong side of the back to the right side of the front.   Or the wrong side of the front to the right side of the back.  But right sides together, NOPE.  And with this design it matters because the hem is asymetrical. (As is the neckline)

I have no idea what happened.  Could I have traced the back pieces (or the front pieces) backwards?  That's the only thing I can think of that could cause this (but I'm sure there are other possibilities) but last night I was just too disgusted to investigate.  Instead I sewed it up, right side to wrong side--at least I'd get an idea of the fit, right?  (It fit great, BTW) And now I have a new nightshirt and a great story. 

I also have 25 days to the wedding.   Yikes!