A Place in the Sun

Question:  How many sewing machines do you have?

Recently, conversing with an acquaintance, the subject of sewing machines came up.  Specifically, the number of sewing machines a person NEEDS vs actually HAS.  She has over a hundred!!!  
She's a collector of old sewing machines.  

 

(This is a screen shot of a Wall of Sewing Machines;
a display in a store in New York City.)

 

I actually understand WHY she would have so many .... when I see an older sewing machine, I just WANT it...
but obviously, unlike my acquaintance, I have self control....
(and no $$  and not much space).  So I have only five (5).

 

 

 

The machine that gets the most use is my favorite Janome.

 

 

 

This is Millie.  (As in "Thoroughly Modern*...")

Millie has been in the family since 2012.

 

 

 

This conversation  did get me to thinking....
Each machine has the right to SHINE! 
To Strut Their Stuff!
Their OWN Place in the Sun!

 

IDEA: I'm going to use a different machine for each new project..... 
I'm between projects now....
(stay tuned for a FINISHED project reveal.)

 

Next Up.... Fran!

Fran is a Singer Slant-O-Matic, also known as a "Rocketeer."

She originally resided at the home of Fran,  my sister's neighbor. 
Fran (the person) does not sew.  She has had this machine since she, Fran (the person),  was in High School, somewhere in the neighborhood of 1961. 

Fran (the person) gifted me Fran (the Rocketeer) a couple of years ago. While she, the Rocketeer, has been to the spa for rest and rejuvenation, I have not actually sewn with her.

 

So, Fran, let's see what you can do!

 * Thoroughly Modern Millie ... A 1967 musical HERE

Field Trip!!

While Millie is at the spa, Miss Ellie and I are spending time together in the studio working on this month's UFO Challenge.

But, while browsing on FB Market Place, looking for a table, I came across .....

I shall name her "Baby Doll"

I decided it would be a nice little machine for my grand-niece, Savannah.  Savannah has decided she wants to learn to sew....not necessarily quilt...(there is plenty of time to get her addicted to quilting.)

Back story:  While the family was here in P-town for dad's Home Going last October, I gave Savannah the "toy" machine I had purchased a couple years ago so I'd have something to do while staying with my dad...refresh your memory HERE. 
It is an OK machine...it will get the job done. 
But, really it is a toy.

 

Savanah took it home and her g-ma (my eldest sister) helped her get started.

Truth be told, I always felt a little bad that I gave a budding sewist such a  toy.

So, today, my baby sister and I drove out to Elkton, KY and picked up the above machine, that I'm hoping is a bit better.

I looked up the model number on line and I think I got an OK deal.  It is quite dirty and unkept so first-things-first...
a good cleaning.

Your score card:

Back to the story.... Elkton KY is more than an hour from where we live so Joy and I decided to explore the area.

We found a quilt shop in Hopkinsville.  It is in an historic building and run by a mennonite woman, Irene.  She had a nice selection of fabrics and the prices were excellent, $5 per yard of the yardage I inspected.  But the best part was all the quilts they had made and hand quilted...all for sale!  They were beautiful.

 

 

Clearly this is not a shop you would stumble upon...it's not even on the main street of Hopkinsville.  But while we were there a local woman came in to buy several yards of fabric, greeting each other by first name.  Certainly the locals know about this gem.  It would be worth the drive back, shopping list in hand.

 

Our final stop before heading home for a nap was BBQ at The Wood Shed in Hopkinsville.  One of those local restaurants where everyone seems to know your name...and the food is yummy.