My family and I just got back from almost a week in the mountains where we had a wonderful time! The cool, crisp air was so invigorating to the senses. And the views....WOW!!! The day after we arrived, I took my camera along as we scouted for good fishing spots and snapped a few interesting, yet unassuming pictures. The Ponderosa Pine tree fronds on the forest floor and the lone aspen leaf amongst the pebbles were just neat images. Later on, back at the cabin, I set up my sewing space. (Yes, you read that right. I took a sewing machine to the mountains.) It was my husband's idea actually. :-) He knows what the clear mountain air and the smell of pine does for my creativity ! :-) Before we left for the cabin, my sweet husband used his Tetris skills and figured out how we could squeeze in my Featherweight machine and my QuiltCut2. (I love the QuiltCut's carrying case because it has interior pockets that I can stuff with fabric and other supplies!) I actually left the QuiltCut in the case, so I could save space and have everything in easy reach while I worked. Here's another view from my chair. Like my ironing station? :-) I had to improvise a bit! I used two thick wash clothes since I forgot my ironing surface! And if that wasn't good enough, look at the view I had while I cut, sewed and pressed! Since I didn't have a plan in mind when I packed my fabric, I just brought along some of my favorite pieces that I have hand-dyed. So what are you to do when you don't have a plan much less a pattern, but want to sew? Improvisational piecing! I began by cutting a fat quarter of olive green into rough 4ths. You'll notice that I'm using the small rotary cutter. Sometimes I think it's easier to use and less bulky for traveling. And yes, I know. I should press my fabric before cutting. Normally I do. In this case, it wasn't necessary since I wasn't trying to be precise. :-) I had some scraps of gray from another project, so I sewed a gray strip to the green. In this picture, I'm about to trim the excess green off, leaving my seam allowance. I pressed the fabric open and then sewed a piece of green fabric on top of the gray. I trimmed the excess fabric and pressed it open. I continued the process, alternating between the green and gray fabrics, making sure that each seam created a sliver of green on the front. (I'm sorry I didn't take more pictures, I kind of got caught up in the process and the sound of the blue jays in the trees and forgot! :-) Any ideas what I'm up to? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Comment below or email me!
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Recently, I have been thinning out my sewing machine herd! That may sound silly to you, but for me sewing machines are like chips...can't have just one! :-) I have sold three machines in recent weeks and have enjoyed reacquainting myself with some of my vintage models, including my Singer featherweight. The family and I are heading to the mountains in a couple of months for some much needed R & R (not to mention some fresh-smelling, pine filled air) and I plan on taking my featherweight. With that in mind, I started searching for a new case to take the machine in. I still have the original black case she came in, but after numerous failed attempts, it is still stinky and I just don't like it. There are several new cases on the market that are specifically designed for the featherweight, but being the frugal person that I am, I haven't been that impressed. Instead I went down to my local ---mart store and scrounged the aisles looking for an alternative and whoa-la! I found it: Can you guess what it is? It's a cooler designed to hold 24 cans of soda! I found it in the hunting and sporting goods section if you're wanting one for yourself. It also doesn't hurt that it has lime green accents because that happens to be one of my favorite colors in the world! :-) It is padded but it also has a hard plastic liner so the featherweight sits in there snug, but well protected. There are also several exterior pockets; some that zip, others that are mesh with elastic, but all very useful! Here's a picture with her snug inside. (She really isn't as scratched as the photo would make you think either.....must be lint.) Well what fun would a cute little lime and gray case be without some new notions and a box to hold them in? My husband and I were wandering the aisles and look what he found! It is originally designed to hold a salad to take for lunch and has a hard removable tray which my new lime notions fit just great in. The collapsible bottom can store a lot or a little depending on what I need. I plan on using the "salad dressing" bottle to store used needles. And here is one last picture showing how the salad carries/notions box rests in the top pocket of the cooler/featherweight case! Pretty cool, huh? Lesson learned? Be on the lookout for alternatives to your sewing and crafting storage needs! Happy hunting! |
About MeFiber artist, wife to a wonderful husband and mom to 2 awesome, grown kids Archives
July 2023
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