A Different Kind of Shopping

For the record, I don't like shopping.
Searching for ways to give my money to others
is not my idea of a good time.

There are however, a few things I am always shopping for.
I keep a short list of items I need or would like.
This isn't like the milk and eggs list, but it is similar.
There's just no store that carries the items I'd like to purchase.
Before I get to the items on my list, 
I have to take you down a different path for just a moment.
As far as the milk and eggs above, I've sourced them locally
along with most other items one would usually purchase from the grocer.
I'm not saying I never need a grocer, 
but my dependency is lessening all the time.
I still like coffee, olives, Worcestershire sauce and a few other items 
which are not local or if we want a produce item that is not in season.
If something happened to the supply chain,
we would live (okay, maybe not so happily without coffee, but...).

Honestly, of all the things, raw organic/non-gmo milk was one of the most difficult to source simply due to state laws rather than supply.

It's unfortunate that wholesome foods can be so difficult to find.

I know others who think I'm a bit silly for this, but so be it.
We are healthy, and I accredit it in a large part to this effort.

Now on to the fun list.

There are a few things which probably seem odd to some folks,

but one of the things that I've been on the hunt for for at least a few years now

is a cobbler machine (pictured above).

This machine can stitch leather and has a narrow foot base

so it can reach in shoes.

My regular sewing Singers are all "ladies," but this one is a fellow.

I named him Sidney Singer.

My sewing machines have names because I can't just say "the Singer."

I'm pretty specific in my wants, but I have my reasons.

I wanted an old machine and a Singer.

Old machines have all metal parts.

Even in the best newer machines, there are plastic parts.

Sidney was born in 1906.

The other thing particular to Singer is that there are parts schematics available.

They were made to work and be repairable.

The schematics identify each part down to the size of spring.

And, because Singer is still in business, some of the parts are still available.

All of his mechanical parts are in working order though there are a few issues.

As is, he has neither the knob to be hand-crank, a motor to be electric, 

or the original treadle to be foot powered.

There was a single bobbin that came with him.

His bobbin winder is missing.

He was absolutely filthy!

This was in addition to a bucket of soapy water!

The first thing I did was take the soap and water to him on the outside.

I also had a scraper to get some of the crud off.

Then I worked on "his joints."

Someone had gobbed a bunch of 5 in 1 grease in it.

On the positive side, I guess it helped prevent rust,

but there was so much dirt and grit in there, I didn't want to turn the wheel.

I got him all cleaned up.

I ordered a set of bobbins which have already arrived.

I found the proper bobbin winder and am waiting for that.

I have a knob to add to his wheel so he can have hand-crank.

And now that I have him cleaned up,

I will call the local sewing machine repair shop that has taken care

of my other machines and ask about a motor for him.

I don't mind that he doesn't have the treadle at the moment.

He is on a smaller stand that came with him.

It does have the cast iron legs that are part of a regular treadle.

I've been working on a slipper pattern and am excited to work on that.

Once I have him in a solid functional state, I will order leather.

I want to be sure of what leather I am getting

and get the correct weight for what I will be doing.

Leather's not the cheapest of materials so it has to be right.

I am pretty excited (an understatement)

but have been patient in my search 

so need to be patient in readying him for work as well.

As I said above, I looked for a few years before finding him.

There have been other things that have taken a while,

and those things are among my most cherished items.

(That sounds weird.  I don't worship them, but am content with them.)

I think part of it is that if you're willing to wait,

you don't end up settling for something lesser than what you want.

A few examples:

Our travel trailer is a 1968 Aristocrat Land Commander.

My cauldron.

Concrete double sink.

A butter churn.

I know these things aren't exactly on par with diamonds,

but they make me far happier than jewels.

So with this oddball list, what could possibly be left on my list?

Well, a few more oddities of course.

Yet to find:

A cider press (like this one)

An old (not new repro) cast iron single sink with double drain board.

And yep, there's a reason for the old part - the shape of the basin is different.

A stove-top, corning, avocado green, percolator coffee pot.

McCall apron pattern 1105

and a few other smaller things.

We live in an age of instant gratification.

That avocado green coffee pot has been on my list for almost a decade.

You can bet whenever I do find one, I will relish every cup of coffee

I drink from that pot.

It's the same with Sidney.

Hubby has laughed at me (kindly) when my bobbins arrived, and

when I got him cleaned up & tension adjusted, 

then stitched a little scrap of leather.

I'm sure he will get to laugh again when my bobbin winder arrives.

He laughs but is coming up with projects for me to make for him - Ha!

I told him my slippers are first.

I'd be curious if anyone else keeps a list like this.

I guess it's my form of shopping.

I don't mind waiting - none of these items are life threatening.

They are just items that make life either easier or more enjoyable.

As long as I don't find them, I just figure I'm saving money by not buying them.

It's okay if you think I'm a bit silly~ so be it.

 

Mrs. Kirksey's Quilttop

 Mrs. Kirksey and I have had a wonderful time stitching together.

She's made a very nice top

that now just needs some attention from yours-truly

in order to get it quilted.

It will have dark binding - 

the same fabric as the narrow inner boarder.

It has it's imperfections,

but overall, I quite like it.

The pattern was called "Rob Peter to Pay Paul" in a 1970s

McCall's quilting magazine,

but this is not what we know as that pattern.

With the help from a couple others, 

it appears to be more of a "Kansas Dugout" variation.

I don't think names of quilts were as important in the past

or it could have been a typo or over-site at the time.

The pattern was just for the center design,

but I can't leave well enough alone and added borders:-)

It will be a full/double size.

Soon Mrs. Kirksey will be wiped down and 

returned to her cupboard for a bit of a rest.

No rest for me though.

Instead of quilting on the quilt I showed here,

I decided to put a UFO in a hoop

and work on it.

I know - I'm the only one who has UFOs calling. :-)

It will be nice to get Gracie back in her spot

and to get the rest of the space back into 

some resemblance of order.

(Feel free to do that teen-ager eye roll thing at that comment.)

Also, I am working on a post in response

to my last post - 

specifically in regards to soaps and shampoo.

But. . . I wanted to share this with you

in the mean time.

Have a beautiful day all.

Update - Poor, Poor Gracie

Of course, as is usually the case,

almost immediately after posting the last post,

Gracie started acting up with me.

She usually has a jubilant enthusiasm for the project

and pep in her needle.
Several of you commented on her,
so am sharing.

(Poor, poor Gracie)

She had been feeling a little punky for a while.

I did try to nurse her, but I'm not a real nurse.

You see at 102 years old, 

one is apt to feel the years at times.

She will be going to the doctor soon.

There is only one doctor in the area

that is qualified to treat geriatric machines like her.

I expect she will be healed completely 

and ready to stitch for another 102 years

by the time she returns home.

*I'll say this quietly as I wouldn't want to upset her.*

She has all her original wiring!

It's a connection issue she's having.

She won't go then rev and stitch 100 mph!

Makes it difficult to stitch an accurate seam.

(Mrs. Kirksey)

But never fear. . . 

those other machines I mentioned in the last post~

Well, Mrs. Kirksey volunteered to help out while Gracie is unwell.

(Yep, all my machines have names.)

Mrs. Kirksey is a 1922 portable Singer.

She is a smaller model and runs like a dream.

She's 4 years younger than Gracie,

but has more miles.

I purchased her from the "real" Mrs. Kirksey's daughter

when she was cleaning out her mom's things.

I thought it only suiting that she be named after

the woman who put so many miles on her

and spent so much time in her company.

(Bad pix, bit I've left the price sticker on her.)

Her decals are well worn,

but she still has such a beautiful face.

I have every faith in her ability to do the job,

and I will enjoy our time together.

She's a tough ol' gal with a certain charm about her.

She's like the great-aunt you can talk to, because

she's always at ease.

She can listen and still continue working

never missing a stitch.

(Love the scrolled face-plate)

Anyways,

I thought you might be interested

in the sewing room happenings :-)

Editing post to add~
If you have an old Singer sewing machine and would like
to know what year it was made,
here is a link where you can look it up by serial number.
Singer

Off & Running

In my last post,

I mentioned that one of my goals is to use my fabric stash.

Now, what I'm about to show you 
might not be for the weak of heart.

I'm actually showing you 
my stash.

Gasp! Cough! Choke!

Yes, I know.

And this is after 3 full car-loads of donations.

You see,

using the vast majority of my stash is only a "small" part of the "big" goal.

It's okay, I'll wait here and give you time

to pick yourself up off the floor after falling over with laughter.

They say laughter is good for the soul.

 I'm just helpin' ya out. :-)

(Flannel backed cozy throw.)

The real goal is to down-size even more.

I mentioned when we moved here that we down-sized by almost 40%.

I had lived up the mountain for 18 years.

My kids were 3 and 1 when we moved there.

There was a lot of "stuff" that's been sorted and relocated.

And as I mentioned in the last post,

that transition, though difficult at times, has been a very good one.

We have absolutely no desire to become minimalist~

just to make that clear.

I see extreme minimalism as reliant and unprepared

which is not something I aim to be.

 

Backed with
chamois flannel
for extra
cozieness.












But. . . 

Enoughism, I do aim for.

The computer is telling me that's not a word.

Well, it's a word in my book.

We want to keep a good supply of useful items

and things that would be useful in an emergency situation,

but the fabric stash is more than enough.

I don't want to have none,

but I have a small book shelf that 

I'm hoping will eventually house all my fabric.

That's a pretty lofty goal, 

especially considering I don't care for "quick and easy."

I like items that are made well

which often means the old fashioned way - the slower way.

There were actually a couple more totes,

but I've made a little progress already.

I started with some of the simpler and bulkier projects.

That helped to get me started.

Now I'm trying to use up fabrics that 

I don't have an emotional attachment to.

If you need to roll around on the floor in laughter again

after that statement, 
I get it. :-)

(Cowboy quilt, original design, hand quilted, pieced back.)

There are fabrics that are so beautiful in my eyes

that I want the perfect project for them and don't want to just chop 

them up for any ol' quilt pattern.

So, I'm starting with the fabrics that are easier to part with.

I have a feeling it will be a bit like decluttering.

At first just part with the stuff that doesn't matter,

then it's okay to part with the things that we don't use,

then choose favorites among the duplicates, and so on.

A little about how I typically roll with my quilting.

Though I occasionally hand piece,

I usually machine piece the quilts on my 

1918 Singer I call Gracie.

I had over a dozen sewing machines at one time.

I've decluttered and down-sized that collection as well.

I'm down to half-dozen.

That might still sound like overkill to some folks,

but they are each different and they each get used.

Once the top is pieced, I layer it and put it in the hoop

or on the frame depending upon the size.

I prefer hand-quilted quilts to machine quilted.

Machines essentially knot each stitch, and

hand-quilting is a running stitch that from the side

would look like a wave going up and down through the layers.

This allows the materials some "slack."

It's why machine quilted quilts are stiffer and

hand-quilted quilts drape around you - give you a hug.

So, I try to hand-quilt my quilts.

I'm not a professional hand-quilter,

but each one I do gets a smidgeon better.

(Note - there is some beautiful machine-quilting out there.)

 (In real life, the greens really do match.)

 (Current project being pieced: Rob Peter to Pay Paul.  An old pattern that requires scissors to cut out as opposed to a rotary cutter - slower.)

I will need to keep at it and get a lot done 

if I am to attend a bazaar or two next fall.

I also hope to get some smaller quilted items done

so that there will be a variety.

The perk of all this will be as these totes empty,

I won't be refilling them.

They will leave and we will have that much more room.

It sure won't happen over night, but

I'm looking forward to that.

(Next on the frame.)

For now, I'll just keep stitching ~

Weeeell, we'll see what happens come canning season.
Hopefully, I can at least make a good dent in it.