Sewing Machine Woes

Like computers, sewing machines are wonderful…

when everything is working as it should.

For someone like me, 

who sews pretty much everyday,

my sewing machine is a big part of my life.

My Janome machine is the newer 

of the two machines I have

and the one I use the most.

It is about 12 years old.

Because I sew so much,

I take my machines in regularly 

to have them serviced.

About nine months ago, 

this machine went in for

its regular maintenance servicing.

When I got it home,

this is how it was sewing.

For those of you really interested in sewing and machines,

 this is the underside of the sewn fabric.

It would sew perfectly for stretches,

then start the above.

Back to the sewing machine shop.

Several days later, I am informed the machine is ready to go.

It seemed fine sewing at the shop,

back home, the above again.

Another trip to the shop which

I might add is a half hour drive from my house.

Let me say, this is the shop from whom I purchased the machine

and I am a fairly regular customer since they service 

both my machines and my over lock machine.

They had just been taken over by a new owner or manager,

I'm not really sure which.

He would not even look at the machine

this time, insisting I was using the wrong thread.

I will admit I use Coats and Clark Dual Duty thread

and I realize that is not considered a premium thread 

by many people.

So back home again, I try using some

Mettler, which is considered a better thread.

The thread made no difference.

At any rate this saga has continued 

for the past nine months, 

three different sewing machine repairmen,

 countless trips back and forth,

and the appearance of my face in all my local shops

bringing nothing but dread 

to the people working there.

("her again…")

I guess it might be time 

to buy a new machine.

Thank goodness, I had my backup machine 

on which I've been sewing everything

during this time.

I paid $40.00 for this machine about 40+ years ago.

It was a used machine when I bought it.

It does nothing but straight stitch,

is all metal (no plastic on this gal), 

 but still sews like a dream.

(I made my wedding dress on this

machine a hundred years ago,

for goodness sake!)

The tattered manual is copyrighted 1953,

making me and this machine very, very

close in age.

(I'll let you consider which is older.)

Notice the above paragraph from the 

old Singer's manual re "REPAIR SERVICE."

Imagine a sewing machine service rep 

coming to your home…

Since the sewing I do is not fancy sewing,

this machine is perfectly adequate for me.

My big concern is having a back-up machine

for those times this one is being serviced.

I did  research to help me make a 

decision on what I should buy.

Everything I considered seemed to

really be more machine than I needed,

is electronic and/or computerized,

and has lots of plastic parts.

And do I really need a machine

that gives me 300+ different stitches?

Then I remembered my sister Nancy, who is not a sewer,

had a machine she had acquired years ago from 

her former mother-in-law.

It has been sitting in our basement for years.

What a strange coincidence we should both

have the very same old machine.

Hers is actually in a bit better shape than mine 

since it hasn't had the workout mine has.

I have cleaned it and oiled it and

it sews perfect stitches too!

I have found my back-up machine!

My plan is to alternate these two machines

on a weekly basis and I am probably 

good to go/sew for years!

AND I don't have to buy a new machine!

Meanwhile, the Janome, with all it's fancy stitches

is packed up and waiting for this 

summer's yard sale.

Coming Late to the Table...

One of my new year's resolutions was to 

finally take the time to figure out

how to use Pinterest.

Armed with a brand new computer,

with what seems like a huge screen,

compared to my old laptop,

the time had come.

I do not know WHY I waited SO long!!!

I cannot tell you the fun I am having with Pinterest!

Above you see a screen shot of some of "my boards."

Establishing a board is an excellent 

way to organize pictures and ideas

of things you like.

The above screen shot is of my board titled,

"Cottage Chic."

Once you have established a board,

you then "pin" images you like

related to that board.

You can have as many boards as you want,

including "secret boards" of you'd rather not share.

Boards can be practical (perhaps a board of recipes 

you'd like to try) or as whimsical as my

board of French Store Fronts, above.

When you open your Pinterest page,

you will see a "feed" of things which have been pinned

by you and people you follow.

Please don't wait as long as I did to get started!

If Pinterest is still new to you,

come join me and taste a bit of the feast!

You can find my boards here.

Goodbye…Hello!

Goodbye…

This is the computer I have been using for the past 5 or 6 years.

It was a "hand me down" from my daughter Kate

when she graduated college.

She was updating to an Apple laptop at the time.

Since her "cast off" was newer than the computer I 

was using at the time,

I was delighted to get it.

It has served me well for the past few years.

However, I read several months ago that

this spring, its operating system, Windows XP

would no longer be supported,

(plus it was starting to get a bit crotchety).

So…time for an update.

Hello!!!

This is my after Christmas gift to myself!

I have had it about a week

and it is amazing how much of my time

it has consumed.

Apple's operating system is 

quite different from a PCs

and I am step…by…slow...step

learning the ins and outs.

One thing I have learned during this process is that

you CAN teach an old dog new tricks…

it just takes a LOT longer.

Woof, woof...

Our 2013 Holiday Show

We finally have things back in order after our

2013 Holiday  Show and Sale.

This was our fifth year,

and I think one of our most special shows.

We call ourselves the 

"Friends of Buttermilk Cottage"

and each year, 

for the weekend before Thanksgiving,

the ten of us 

turn my house into a boutique,

present our work from the year,

and host a show and sale.

Fiber is our specialty.

Our work ranges from practical,

to whimsical.

Several of us love to up cycle.

There are some amazing things you can

create with used sweaters!

But newly knitted sweaters can also be found here!

My hand knitted sheep ornaments 

and some Sweater Pillow covers.

My sister Nancy was into succulents this year.

Felted dryer balls by Karen were new this year and will

probably be in many Christmas stockings!

Nancy's newest passion is

felted wreaths from up cycled sweaters.

Some of Reneau's turned wood mushrooms.

Ann, who started keeping bees a few years ago,

has developed a wonderful line of soaps, lotions and balms.

Marianne has been developing her

jewelry line and produces some wonderful things.

Ann's honey is the best I have ever tasted and was

totally sold out by the end of the show.

We could even supply your gift decorations with 

Elisabeth's sweet tags.

Over view of the living room, umm... boutique.

Carolyn's newest design this year is the "Leisa Wrap."

Some of my Sweater Pillows.

Each year I make spiced nuts,

and brownie kits.

Hand made ornaments are always a specialty at our show.

These are hand knitted, beaded ones made by Anne,

and some of my up cycled sheep ornaments.

We always have a wonderful selection of bags.

This is one of Katherine's felted ones and

one of Carolyn's felted ones.

Manning the show

once our customers arrived.

Hope you've enjoyed these glimpses of this year's show.

It was a wonderful event!

Linking this week to:
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House