Gorgeous!

When I say "Gorgeous!", I'm talking about the vintage Singer treadle sewing machine. However, the seamstress is pretty gorgeous herself, and I'll bet dimes to doughnuts that the average seamstress of that era didn't dress up this well to do her sewing.

I've often wondered about the long dresses of this era (early 1900s). How did they ever manage to keep the hems clean as they tromped across muddy walkways or down rain-drenched sidewalks?

I'm guessing the sewing machine is a Singer Model 66. Mine is, too, but is in a much fancier oak parlor cabinet. The cabinet encloses and hides the machine entirely.

The interesting thing about the machine in the photo is that if it were periodically cleaned and oiled, it would still be sewing today. Those old machines were entirely mechanical (no computerized components) and all-metal. A bit of oil. Keep the lint cleaned out. Replace the belt as necessary. Put in a new needle now and then. This baby will sew forever. Sew as fast or as slow as you wish. Way Cool! And Gorgeous!

I'm Still in Love!!!

This is an amazing photo! You don't think so??? You WOULD if you had seen these fabrics two days ago. I was in the middle of finishing the blocks for the Log Cabin Shirt Quilt (LCSQ)and fabric was piled high on my cutting mat. Now they look so TIDY! And I'm still in love with them, even after wrestling for weeks over these blocks.

The red/white toile was so lovely I couldn't bring myself to cut more than a couple small strips for the quilt. Instead I plan to make an apron where the fabric will be fully displayed. Photo later!!!

Log Cabin Shirt Quilt

Click on the photo for a larger view! I've just finished putting on one border on the log cabin quilt. The red strip is fussy cut from a bright plaid. All the fabrics in this quilt top are from shirts (men's and boy's). The fabrics are 100 percent cotton and of a high thread count. That means there are no flimsy fabrics included.
By the way, I am a stickler for accuracy when stitching. The photo of the main portion of the quilt was taken before the border was added. The photo makes it appear as if it is askew but that's a trick of the camera. I laid the quilt top on the living room rug and I couldn't get squarely overhead to take the photo. Hence the camera distortion.

I've made seven or eight "shirt quilts" and have a substantial stash of fabrics cut from said shirts. It's almost an addiction. Whereas I used to hit quilt shops and never came out without new fabric to add to my stash, I now watch the local thrift shops, the Goodwill, and yard sales, always with my eye towards finding another shirt for my stash.
I say it's an addiction because I really, really don't have time to spend quilting. I have enough quilts in two closets to keep several beds warm all winter long. I don't need any more quilts. Not even a nap size quilt like this one. Still...its rather fun to rotate them for naptime.
What can I say? I like my quilts. I like making them. I like sleeping under them. I like wrapping them around me and getting cozy for an afternoon's nap.
Sigh!

It's Coming! It's Almost Here!

My sewing time seems to be 'hit and miss'. So my latest quilt project is coming along slowly. I've just finished stitching 40 log cabin blocks for a nap size quilt. Just as soon as I put on the border, I'll post a photo! Keep Watching!

Is It That Time Again?

Tax Time. Even with using a computerized tax program this is a time-consuming process. I don't use Quicken but I do keep a well-organized filing system. Still, it's a long process to fill in all the blanks, cross every "T" and dot every "I". We have some rather odd things that are included on our returns and sometimes I have to sit and ponder, wondering whether the computerized "experts" really do know what they are doing.

And what is it with this tax credit thing? Surely it would be better to keep the money in the treasury?? Won't these payments to everybody under the sun simply add to the deficit? Am I missing something here? Politicians buying votes? If they really want to put a few bucks back into the pockets of the people they could go out and dig a few oil wells here in America. Now THAT would be a sensible investment of these bucks.

It's wayyy past my bedtime. Well past midnight.

I'm gone. G'nite.

GET RID OF THE PLASTIC!!! BUY GLASS!!! Or Why I Love Pyrex Stacking Storage Bowls

I've recently become averse to using plastic for food storage. Instead I've begun collecting these Pyrex stacking bowls. They come in several sizes and styles. Sometimes I find them at yard sales or thrift shops. They're a popular item on eBay, too, but I don't like to pay today's shipping costs. Better to be patient and find local bargains.

One of the things I like about these bowls is their stackability. If the lid is placed on the bowl upside down it provides a nifty and safe platform for a second bowl. I can stack three bowls on the top shelf in my fridge in a single space. I like that the glass lids allow me to see the contents. I like the fact that I can heat leftovers in my microwave without worrying about plastic. And I like the various colors and designs. The bowls are ovenproof as well and work nicely for small casserole dishes.

Pyrex! Toss the plastic! Buy glass! Yayyyy!

Awakening in the Morning Doesn't Have to Be Torture

Read an article in the WSJ today about night owls and sleep patterns. It reminded me of how I got rid of the alarm clock and trained myself to awaken on time every time.

Alarm clocks don't work for me. Oh, yes, they DO wake me up. But it makes no difference whether they wake me with music, buzz, bells, or bugles. When they sound off at the preset time I am instantly awake and angry that the alarm has the audacity of breaking me early morning dream time and that I have to crawl out of bed when all I want is more sleep.

I tried different alarms but all brought about the same anger upon being awakened. To avoid having to hear that dratted contraption every morning, I taught myself to awaken myself. On time. Every time.

Upon going to bed and just before lying down to go to sleep I would visualize the face of a clock. First I would visualize the current time. Then I would visualize my waking time and tell myself "I will wake up at 6:00 o'clock." It took no more than a few tries and I became quite good at it and almost always awoke within a minute or two of my prescribed time. I could do the same at noon if I wanted a short 20-minute nap before going back to work. There was one caveat. If I thought I could snooze and catch a few more ZZZs, I would inevitably go into a deep sleep and not awaken for another hour.

As for the naps, short naps were refreshing. Even a mere ten minutes. If I napped longer than 30 minutes, I awoke extremely tired.

The only time I now use an alarm is if I have to arise at an extremely early hour (to catch a plane for instance). Then, and only then, do I use an alarm.

Happy dreams.