I'm Just Sayin': sewing

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Eye of the beholder

The other day I dragged out the old sewing machine. I was on a mission to finish up a couple of things I had started by hand. Got everything together and noticed no thread in the sewing machine ..,.only the white bobbin thread. I needed blue thread so I did what I had to do to put blue thread on a new bobbin and then placed it back in it's bobbin place. I then proceeded to thread the machine...across, down, looped around, back up, through a hole thingy and back down through the eye of the needle...except I couldn't see the hole. Yes, I do wear reading glasses but sometimes I'm in denial or I'm just too focused on what I gotta do, so needless to say, I had to go get some...(I have 5 pairs in the house) and sat back down to thread the needle. I still couldn't see it. I turned on the dining room light and the light on the machine but still..my aim was not good. I came in on the right, the left, straight on, I cut the thread, I wet the thread, cut, wet, cut, wet...but NOOO, it wasn't happening. I wanted to cry out of frustration but I didn't want the machine to see me cry...yes, by this time I'm practically hallucinating and I believe my machine has it out for me. I am determined. I haven't stitched a thing yet and I have been sitting here for more than 30 minutes. Then I remembered Eric has a big magnify glass thing in the garage in one of the big red tool cabinets and I am seeing light at the end of this tunnel. I go get it and with grand confidence I aim it at the needle...Perfect!, I could actually see the needle....without a hole....WHAT? Where did it go? Then it hit me...last time I sparred with this thing, I broke a needle and being so pissed, I ended our relationship. This whole time I was trying to thread a needle without a hole. The moral of this story...well I guess there are several..
Machinery will always win, get your eyes checked on a regular basis and stock up on Ginkgo biloba ...I'm just sayin'

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Vintage Aprons

I just love to wear aprons when I'm in the kitchen. I think they look stylish and for me, they are a must, as I am very messy and I usually have half of what I'm making all over me. I collect old vintage ones with rick a rack and see thru sheer fabric. I been given them over the years and I keep them safe in my kitchen china cabinet. I even have one from my husbands grandmother who brought it over from Austria. So in attempt to be creative, I ventured to JoAnn's Fabrics and looked at Apron patterns. WOW! I haven't bought a pattern in roughly 15 years as I kinda make up my own.
These suckers are expensive...anywhere between $10 and $15 for one. Fortunately for me, I spied one on a clearance rack for $2.99. Although it's only the half Apron, I figured I can improvise and add the top part on my own. I'm in the middle of another project right now and will get to this when I find some fabric that I like. I can't seem to find something that vaguely looks vintage.

Here's some of my favs...

I'll call this the Gypsy Apron...