Job 2

Here's a folded shot of my 2nd job. It's a shower curtain. It is folded vertically and when unfolded measures 76"x76" square. It is constructed of 2 decorator fabrics. I had to make piping from the stripe fabric on the bias for the join between the two fabrics. It is fully lined. All the ends and edges are finished and hidden. I've never done anything like this before (I think I'll be writing this statement a lot as I continue to work).
This was very challenging for me to figure out. I guess because it was new. I learned a few things. Don't try to continue to work when I'm tired. It leads to mistakes and wasted time. I need a bigger ironing surface which I hope to obtain this weekend. I don't have a gromet tool so I made button holes for the hangers to attach to. 

Here's a look at the back and the finishing work to the edges of the top and bottom. 

Goldie

Here is my latest addition. She's a 99 model like Cranky but much much older. She's from 1928.
I had a mishap while cleaning her and used too harsh chemicals hence her name. Many of her beautiful decals silvered. I was very very sad but it's all a learning process. She is probably one of the last machines I will collect for a while. I need to devote my money coming in to buy business supplies. Her case is in good condition for her age, 78 years old! I was looking at her as a solution for Cranky's case, but after getting her from a silent auction I tinkered with her and there's nothing wrong with her, the bobbin case was just inserted improperly. She needs a knee bar controller to sew with her motor. It inserts into the little hole in the front of her base. She came with no accessories or manual, the bobbin cover is missing so I need to buy a replacement. She just had her cord, a bobbin and this case!
There's a lot to be said for improvements in design between Goldie and Cranky. There is no stitch lenght adjustment that I can discern and the tension assembly is much smaller and unmarked. I will enjoy once I complete her sewing a little something on her.
Though I damaged her decals, she is still a very beautiful machine! 

Here's Goldie before cleaning. Notice the dust and dirt and grime, but especially notice the GOLD decals! Never to be seen again :( boo hoo! 

Here's the case cleaned, polished and tightened. There is a box holder, but no box or accessories were included. Brackets for the knee bar and some other holder I cannot identify yet. the key was included and the handle is hinged. After my mishap with the cleansers on Goldie's finish I decided I liked the patina the white paint added to her base and didn't try to remove this. 

Here are the sisters, Cranky with no case and Goldie in her bentwood base. The dome top is for Goldie. 

Blessing table

My new mentor and boss, Jo blessed me with this sewing table when I picked up the materials for my current job. I am loving it because it gives me the flexibility to sew in other areas of my home. It fits Sojourner perfectly and makes an extension or can be folded flat. I sewed my latest project today in my living room during the boy's naptime and when they woke up I have been able to do a little sewing with them near by as well.
Thanks Jo, you are so sweet to think of me and bless me with this table! 

Here is the table flat. Great for my sewing, or my laptop, or playing a game. . . just a good little table. 

Felted Pincushion

At the quilt show we saw the ewesful pincushions and I really liked them. i had seen them advertised before but hadn't seen them in person. They were huge, about 5" diameter.
Here's my first attempt. It's much smaller, about 2" across. It's wool scrap yarn wound into a ball and then felted with hot and cold water and abrasion. It was larger with 3 more layers but the outer layers separated and I couldn't reattach them.
Making this makes me want to get a needle felting tool! 

another shot of my pincushion. 

Sewing Machine Key Chain

Here's the keychain that we got at the quilting show. The large blob is a happy heiney diaper keychain that's also attached to my keys. The sewing machine is tiny in comparrison. I'm still debating removeing it and putting it onto my charm bracelet. 

paper piecing

My buddies Karina and Jennifer visited this weekend and I learned something new. . .how to paper piece!
I think we probably waited too late in the evening to start. I had some patterns picked out that I want to make soon, if I ever get time, lol. They were too complicated according to the experts so I had a custom block hand drawn for my first project. After some confusion over the order of sewing I was instructed on how to position the fabrics and sew them together. You can see from the rule on the cutting mat this square is now about 3.75". It was slightly bigger but needed to be trimmed. These pieces are small, but not as tiny as some I've seen. I'm happy with the block though. The colors are not showing up as vibrant as they are in real life. . . maybe the mat? maybe the lighting and lack of flash??? 

Here are the fat quarters I picked up today at the Cabarrus County Quilt Show. Jennifer and Karina came to visit and tour this show with me. We had fun seeing the beautiful quilts, techniques, fabrics and patterns. We got the cutest little matching charm sewing machine keychains and some fq's for our stash. The colors don't show up like real life in this photo. Maybe it's my cutting mat color??? 

Sewphisticates

I've been looking for these ladies for some time. I saw them on some fabric postcards on etsy and they looked so whimsical I wanted to get the fabric and just play. Well I found this 1/2 yard today and I think these ladies are just too cute. Too bad none of them really look anything like me or I'd have to make her my signature lady!
Each one has some sewing related accessories from bolts of fabric, to a pincusion skirt to sewing machines in tow. If you need to make this larger to see the detail of this fabric just click the photo! 

Talking to Strangers

Tuesday I found myself running errands which means getting groceries and paying bills. I ran into some people that for some reason I felt compelled to talk to. The first of which is a homeschooling mom I met at BigLots. I saw her teaching her 6 & 9 yo. with infant in tow math while shopping. I waited and then approached her. It was a grand conversation and since we exchanged information I believe there will be many more. :D
Then we went to Walmart. I saw a man with his 2 daughters and wife going in and he was singing to them. . . later on he showed up in the fabric department while I was there and I overheard him as he was picking out a pattern to sew so of course I had to ask him if he sewed. He said no, but he was going to give it a try. We talked for 2 seconds about easy patterns and while we were talking another stranger approached.
She asked me if I was interested in sewing for hire or knew anyone who was because she had a business sewing home decorations from pillows to swag valances and drapery panels and needed some help.
I took her information and later that night called her to discuss what she was proposing. . .
She's my new boss. I have a new job. I can work from home doing something I love and I get free training and mentoring. And best of all the job came to me!
Here's my first finished home dec. pieces for hire. A 98x14 table runner with tassles and a 32x14 placemat. They both are interlined. They are constructed with a beatuiful blue embroidered fabric and a simple stately tan pin dot.
I have some samples to play with to learn techniques and make some smaller items for my home and as I learn skills I'll become skilled enough to make custom decorations for casa del Ray! 

Here's a closeup of the ends of the table runner and the reverse fabric. 

Here's the placemat. It's 33"x14". Same fabrics and interlining.

 

Meet Peaches!

After the discouragement I've had lately on eBay with sewing machines you would think I would quit. . . well I found a machine that is on my wishlist. . .and it was local pickup (no shipping issues). . . so I had to at least check it out. . . and at least contact the seller with my questions. . .and at least bid. . . and at least try to win.
Well obviously I won.
Here's my Peaches I named because she's as smooth as peaches and cream.
She's a Singer 301A. A slant shank model with no belts, she is entirely gear driven. I would have thought she would have had some additional noise, but she's incredibly smooth. As I was working the deal the seller mentioned he had a table for her that he would sell me separately. He didn't want to list it and deal with shipping. I'm so glad because I wanted both and had no clue when I started to inquire if he had a table or not.
Peaches sits here in this picture uncleaned, with her dirty case and table that needs to be refinished. I will have started to sand the table for refinishing so that shouldn't take too long. I've already cleaned her, and I messed up big time!
I took apart the tension assembly and am too tired to get it back together right. I've gotten it back together and at least now she sews a pretty stitch again, whew!!! Something about the tension assembly is still not just quite right though so I will be spending some time tomorrow or another day this week fiddling with it after I've had some rest.
Peaches has straight stitch, drop feed dogs, reverse and a neato built in handle. She was made to be able to be used in a cabinet or this style table, yet removed with no tools for transport. She can also be used on a table top.
She's not super compact, although he flip down bed extension helps. She is lightweight for an all metal machine. She will be great to take to sewing night/craft nights for piecing and quilting.
Unfortunately she did not come with any fiddlybits or a manual so I will be scouting those items for her as I go along.

Here's a closer shot of the front, the short bed flip down extension which also gives access to the bobbin and of course lots of grime. 

Here's the back, you can see the grime here because I haven't cleaned yet. 

Here's the table with insert before cleaning/refinishing. This makes a cute little table for either sewing with this machine, or doing any other activities you'd do on a table. I'm glad this was available with the machine! :D 

The bottom view of the table before cleaning. 

 
Here's the table after the initial sanding of the wood top. Looking much better, but lots and lots of dust! 

Robin my Garage Sale Find

Here's my __# machine. We found him at a garage sale this weekend. I asked the people if they had any sewing machines and they said no, then I started looking around and here Robin was up under a table. It's a Sovereign Brother or a Brother badged Sovereign. It had a coordinating foot pedal and accessories box. The accessories included were mostly bobbins and a few bobbin cases. There was also a zipper foot. This is a straight stitch machine and I couldn't find much other information. I'm still searching. I was thinking of resale, but I'm becoming more and more fond of Robin's cool color. I may just keep him. The case is not in great condition, but now at least it is clean. The previous owners also tried to maintain the case, it has lots of tape holding it together, lol. 

Front of Robin with color coordinated foot controller and Accessories case. Very dirty!!!!