Wanna vote for me?

I almost forgot about this contest! I had worked on this design before the alphabet fabrics contest was announced, so I figured I'd enter it into the contest.

If you like my design, would you cast a vote for it over at Spoonflower?

It's really cute in repeat.

Thanks, y'all!

Vintage Sewing Goodies

On Saturday, I woke up with the urge to take a walk. It's probably because I felt something shaking near my waistline on Friday while I was laughing. It made me think of Santa and his round little belly that shook like a bowl of jelly. I'm a frustrated, out-of-commission runner, with an unidentified and thus untreated hip/leg/ankle injury that has kept me from running since I ran the NYC Marathon in 2009. I haven't been able to run or walk briskly without pain, but Saturday I felt very compelled to try going for a walk.

On the very next block of my street, there it was... an estate sale sign. I hardly ever go in to estate sales or garage sales, but I've been wanting to build my stash of old buttons for a project I'm working on and I decided to go in just to see if by chance they had any buttons. Long story short, here's what I came home with.

A 1939 Singer 66-16. I was able to date her using her serial number on the Singer website. The gentleman holding the estate sale was the son of the home's owner who has moved into an assisted living facility. She's 97 now and bought this machine new. I'm only it's second owner!

She's in pretty good shape with the exception of the power cord (which is a little frayed in places) and the scratches on the front where the previous owner stored pins on a piece of velvet wrapped around the upper shaft. I spent all day Saturday taking the machine apart to clean and oil her parts. She sews so beautifully! I still need to fiddle with the bobbin tension a little, but as soon as I replace the power cord (so I don't burn down my house), I'll be more comfortable keeping her plugged in for a while so I can make more adjustments.

This little pink lady also came home with me.

I've read online that Atlas was a "badge" placed on machines built for Brother in Japan in the 1950's. I couldn't resist; I mean, she's pink! The previous owner bought this machine when she decided to upgrade from the Singer. From the scratches, grease, and grime on this machine, I can tell it was used a lot. The Atlas is a straight-stitch machine too, but she has a reverse and you can drop the feed dogs. I spent some time working on her too and she sews a very lovely straight-stitch, but not quite as nice as the Singer.


Not on my shopping list either, but I picked up cigar boxes and tins of old thread and wooden spools,


a (50's?) tablecloth in a very modern gray and yellow color scheme, two sets of cafe curtains (with valances) and some aprons,


and a tin of sewing supplies with a few buttons inside. That tape measure advertises Hanes Union Suits on the backside.

Both of the sewing machines are in cabinets, but unfortunately, I didn't get the manuals or any attachments. I have no idea where I'm going to store them and maybe I don't even need to keep both, but I know I'm keeping the Singer. I told the homeowner's son to be sure and let her know that her machines had gone to someone who will appreciate them and that they didn't even leave the street they had called home since the early 1940's. 

And no, I never did finish taking that walk.

Signs of spring

So, there hasn't been much sewing going on around here lately, but I've got a good reason.  I've been waiting for today like a kid longing for Christmas. Today is the last-frost date in my area!

I realize how unimpressive this looks, but I've been like a kid in a candy store the last couple of weeks. I just stand outside with a smile on my face staring at my new 4x4' raised beds on the south side of my house.  I only have one set-up with grids so far because I want to raise the soil level in the other two before I grid them.  I'm using Mel Bartholomew's Square Foot Gardening method in my first ever attempt to grow vegetables.

All New Square Foot Gardening: Grow More in Less Space!

I've been starting vegetable, herb, and flower seeds in my cheap-o patio greenhouse from Harbor Freight. It doesn't maintain the temperature very well at night, but I still think it's worth the 30 bucks I spent on it.

In full disclosure, I have NO idea what I'm doing, so I'm open to suggestions if you have any for a first-time urban gardener. Looking at the photo above, I must really like romaine and want to eat a bunch of it all at the same time.

In addition to the personal satisfaction I get from digging in the dirt, my daughter is so excited about helping out. We've been sowing seeds together and she's taken on watering and checking on the seedlings. The other day, I even heard the comment, "This is more fun that watching TV!" Hopefully as things really get growing, she'll maintain her enthusiasm and it will continue to be a fun activity we can share together throughout the year.

I've been trying to plan my garden (i.e. plant lettuces two every two weeks, beets every three weeks, carrots every three weeks, etc.) but I'm a bit scatter-brained and I just keep planting stuff. Honestly, I'm having so much fun with the process itself, that if I get something to eat in the end, it will just be a bonus. I'm considering an entire 4x4' bed of strawberries, but I'll need to construct a cage/netting to keep the birds out before I transplant strawberries. Shea and I could eat our weight in strawberries.

Are you planting a spring garden? I'd love to hear about your garden!

Jump-Start your Quilting Blog Tour

I love looking to books for inspiration and new ideas, so I was really excited when I was asked by Clotilde to review one of their newest quilting publications, Jump-Start your Quilting. The book contains over forty original sewing projects using precut fabrics. In addition to some really fun quilt patterns, there are patterns for adorable gifts, like a Quilt-As-You-Go Doggie Coat, some beautiful holiday stockings and mantle decorations, and lots of charming household projects like aprons and totes.

I was asked to review the High-Rise Quarters quilt. I love the clean modern lines of this pattern which is made using 12 fat quarters plus a little for the border. The instructions for every pattern in the book are very well-written, and the High-Rise Quarters pattern is no exception. The book's layout is clean and colorful and every pattern includes a large photograph and plenty of color illustrations to walk you through the construction process. I can't wait to make this High-Rise Quarters pattern, but it's going to have to get in line with the Off Kilter quilt, the Spring Nesting quilt, and the Christmas Fun mantle quilt (all also found in Jump-Start your Quilting) just to name a few!

I just have to give you a little preview of the great

illustrations and clear instructions in this book.

I'm going to love having this book in my quilting library.

Be sure to visit Clotilde for more details and to

purchase your copy of Jump-Start your Quilting!  

Would you like to see more of this new book?

Check out these other stops on the Jump-Start your Quilting blog tour!

Day 1 (March 10) Victoria at http://www.bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/
Day 2 (March 11) Linda at http://quiltcookies.blogspot.com/  
Day 3 (March 12) Jessi at http://laurenandjessiblog.com/
Day 4 (March 13) Pat Sloan at http://patsloan.typepad.com/
Day 5 (March 14) Melanie  at http://www.texasfreckles.com/
Day 6 (March 15) Aunt Pitty Pat at http://auntpittypats.blogspot.com/
Day 7 (March 16) Glenna at http://www.hollyhockquilts.com/