Summer is over, I'm not too anxious for winter

Oh, tell me summer isn't over.  It went by so fast, but most of the season was so beautiful.   I can honestly say I enjoy all four seasons here in Minnesota.  Sometimes the winters are a bit too long and cold, but as they say "that too shall pass".  The first snow is so beautiful it helps bring in the winter, you forget how cold it will get.

I've been trying to get all my outside work done, but I don't think I'll get it'll all get done.. I still have to clean the gutters, rake the leaves, trim the flowers etc.  You would think I would plan ahead and get so much done each week, but when the weather is nice who wants to work?

Today I got another sewing machine sanded, doing it outside is much better than doing it inside and have to dust everything.  The water stains were so deep I couldn't get them all out.  The last owner must have loved coffee and let lots of cups of coffee sit too long on the lid.  The stains are so deep I can't sand them out.  I'm going to paint the lid top and inside a dark brown/black.  It should look really nice although I've never seen it done before.

I have really been lax on fixing, cleaning and selling sewing machines.  The summers take me outside most of the time.  I never even sat at the sewing machine this summer. I finally went through my stash to pick out baby fabric and ordered some extra to sew some quilts for my grandaughter who will be welcomed sometime in November.  I will have four grandchildren, 3 of which are boys.  It has been fun buying those tiny pink outfits.

I'll really be busy this winter. I have two quilts to quilt and eight to piece and quilt; one queen, four twin and three baby quilts.  Three of the patterns will be a challenge, the others will be done faster.  I love to shop and pick out fabric, but am much slower at piecing and quilting .

I just bought a Subaru Forester and love to drive it.  I'd much rather be in the SUV with the moonroof open, radio on and find places to take fall pics.  Willow still gets car sick and is not a brave dog when outside of the house.  I was hoping she would adjust and not be so timid, but that is who she is - she is so sweet and loves everyone.

Until next time be safe and love life!

Sewing Machines, Busy Week

This week has been a busy one. I thought my work load would slow down, but I’ve got to get busy cleaning and oiling more machines to sell. This week I sold three great machines; a Brother, White and an Elna; all were really nice machines with beautiful stitches. I was somewhat surprised that two of the three buyers were men, but many men are becoming interested in doing their own adjustments on their clothing and quilting - Way to go Guys!!

I’m having a good time buying different brands, sewing with them a few months then selling them. I was always somewhat partial to Singer, Baby Lock and Kenmore, mostly the older metal ones (those manufactured prior to 1962) now I'd have a hard time deciding which one I prefer. I found I really don't need all the bells and whistles for what I do, mostly quilting. But, it sure is fun trying out all the options on the many brands available.

When I sell a machine I make a list of things I feel are important to the new owner.
--Class of bobbin
--Type of needle
--Oiling spots, and how often to oil
--Thread is important, both top and bobbin
They will have to try out the different features, some they will like better than others.

Many buyers like the portable machines to take to the lake, classes, and move around the house. I also like that option, sometimes I like to sew in my sewing room, but there are times I go to the lake, classes or even to a friend's house to sew. I don't think I will ever only have one machine again. It is nice to have one machine for piecing, another to do the quilting and yet another if I want to do a few decorative stitches. I have never had a Bernina, but that is on the top of my list.

I found another neat quilting idea I want to try. In one of the future blogs I'll show what that is, if I remember.

Spring is Here, So is the Yard Work

Oh, spring is finally here. But, along with the nice weather comes all the yard work. This year I decided to have someone come out to aerate, fertilize, cut grass, and rake leaves for me. Guess what, I forgot to ask them to put down black dirt and mulch.

Friday I went to Home Depo to pick up 25 bags of black dirt and compost (a mere 1,000 pounds).  It took all day to get that spread in my front and side flower beds. When I woke up the next morning I was stiff, I mean really stiff.  To limber up I took Willow for a long walk, and then went back to HD for 44 bags of mulch, another 1,760 pounds to carry to the flower beds. I spread 21 bags in the front and side of the house, 23 more to go in the back yard hosta bed (that will have to wait until Monday, no work for me on Sunday). This year I decided to try Scotts Brown Mulch instead of the Red I’ve put down for years, I really like it.

To think I’ll be 72 this fall makes me wonder how life can go so fast. It seems I was just in my twenties with small kids. Now I’m wondering if I’ll have 15, 20 or maybe even 25 years on this beautiful earth.  Mom and Dad lived to be 89 and 86, I’m hoping I can stay healthy and get a bit older, say maybe 95-97??  As I get older I appreciate nature so much more, probably because I’m retired and can take the time to enjoy it.  There isn’t anything I enjoy more than to sit on the patio in the morning with a large strong cup of coffee and listen to the cardinals.  It seems their feathers are such a bright red this year.

After doing the yard work (6:00 pm, too early for bed) I decided to work on a Brother XL-5030 sewing machine that was in need of some oil and cleaning.  Once that was done I tried to sew a few stitches with it. Guess what, the tension was way off.  The top wasn’t too bad, but the bottom looked like a straw stack.  After working on it a couple of hours I finally had the tension right, the stitches look really good. Now all I have to do is post it to see if someone wants to buy a good used sewing machine at a good price, but that will have to wait until tomorrow, now I want to take a long hot bath. 

Vintage Sewing Machine 158.1410

A few weeks ago I purchased an old Kenmore 158.1410 sewing machine, known as a great machine to make buttonholes.  I of course, had to buy the slide plate and buttonholer attachment that are needed to make "perfect" buttonholes". 

At first I couldn't even get a good straight stitch.  By trial and error I finally got a good bottom stitch, but the I couldn't get the top stitch to look good.  When I got the 1410 machine everything was wacky, everything looked like a war zone.  Someone must have turned everything they could turn and messed it all up.  When nothing else would correct the problem of terrible stitches on top and bottom, my last resort was to turn the little screw on the bobbin casing - Bingo! the stitches came out great. 

One thing I haven't figured out yet is the bobbin winder.  I don't have a manual so everything I do is by trying one step at a time. Since I've never owned a Kenmore to sew on other than a few stitches I had no idea how good these vintage machines were made, but my sis always claimed they were the most reliable machine out there. 

 





The pics above are of the machine and buttonholer attachment, I forgot to take a pic of the slider plate needed.  This machine is so much to sew on, it's so smooth and quiet, I might have to keep it awhile.

Getting Sewing Machines Ready

I was taking photos and touching up old sewing machines getting them ready to list tomorrow. I always double check to make sure they all work; checking the stitches, bobbin windings etc.  For sewing machines that are older than 60 years old they run so smooth, I love the old heavy all metal vintage machines.  

Oh, why am I sitting in the house? I got Willow's harness out; she was jumping a foot high with excitement. We went for a walk to the park, what a beautiful day. There were three little kids flying kites. I never could get the hang of doing that, those kids got the kites up right away, maybe they had some practice.  It was such a nice afternoon I couldn't go back in the house so I grabbed a book and sat out on the patio to read.  I saw my first robin for this spring, what a great day. Willow just sat by my feet, if that would have been Abby, my last dog, she would have been running across the yard trying to catch the bird.

Below is a Singer 66-16, a beautiful lady that's been around for a long time. When I got her she was really dirty, had a lot of fuzz and thread to clean out of the bobbin area, and needed all new wiring. After that was done I greased and oiled her. She’s now bright and shiny, ready to go. Anyone who gets her will love her; she works hard and can go through 5-6 layers of fabric with no problem.

How Many Quilts Do I Need?

As many know I run in streaks with everything I do, I'm not too good at staying with one thing.  The last few years I was busy learning how to quilt, making a different pattern each time I made a quilt.  Last winter I did get one made for my daughter Tonia, another for my grandson Eddie, a couple more for two girls I support in Guatemala.  I have tons fabric for many more, but this year I haven't even produced one quilt.  My focus now is to learn how to clean up and get vintage machines back in working order.  Many of these old machines are over 60-70 years old.  It's amazing on the poor condition the machines are in, it seems like their owners never cleaned or oiled them.
 

 

Happy Trails - Eddie's quilt (grandson)

 

 

Picket Fence - Tonia's Quilt (daughter)

 

In 2011 I had lots of fun making a wall hanging for my sewing room.

 

 

Inside the Box

 

I've always liked the "hunt" more than doing the task.  I've spent many hours looking and finding fabrics, patterns, and thread, then kitting the fabric for that special quilt I have in mind.  I 've got many quilt kits ready to go, but for some reason this winter I didn't quite take the initiative to sit at the machine and get a quilt made. A few of the quilt kits on the shelves are going to my son Jeff, his sons Hunter and Levi. 

 

I normally don't sew in the summer, who can sit inside with the sun shining and the fresh air all around.  I'd much rather take my dog Willow to the park.  She enjoys the company of other dogs while I stop and talk to the neighbors who are also enjoying the nice day. Today is a day of mixed weather.  We've had rain, snow, and now the sun is shining bright. 

 



 

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retired, How did I get Here so Soon?

Retirement!!  I wanted to work forever. I liked my job, liked those I worked with, but management decided to relocate, downsize and I no longer had a job.  My first step was to continue with my Bachelor's Degree.  This kept me busy, but getting a job was also important.  I got a part time job and started to look for permanent work. 

It didn't take long and I was a full time employee again, got my degree, and was ready to take on the world.  Oh, I was over 50, I would get interviews, but most didn't expect an older person.  They were interested, impressed with my resume, but not my age.  I found a full time job in the same field as I  previously worked, but after 2 years I was no longer happy there and left.  I tried 2-3 other jobs, different fields, then decided to retire at 60.  Enough, you don't  want to hear more, I'm sure.

Since retirement I have tried different things.  How can time go by so fast just because you're retired?  Many think if you're retired you have so much time, can do whatever you want. Little do they know you have less time, less money and everything takes abit longer to do.  All your life you had schedules, kids, work, and now you still had those things, but you can choose what you want to do when you want to do it for the most part.