It's all about sewing machines baby!

I LOVE sewing machines! I can't pass up a good vintage or antique machine to save my life. I love the simplicity, the complexities, the history, the strength and the restorative aspects of these old machines. I can't think of one machine today that is made with the same quality and durability of these old machines. Several of the machines in my collection are 70+ years old and still going strong! Some are over 100 years old! Ever since the introduction of plastics manufacturing has changed: cheaper prices = lower quality. The days of making an heirloom machine that will last several lifetimes is over. A machine today requires professional maintainance and service. I maintain my vintage and antique machines myself, armed with basically a screwdriver, toothbrush and a bottle of oil.

Someone has to save these machines from landfills and scrap metal yards. I believe that someone is me. Its not obsession, its history preservation :)

My Italian 1950s Necchi BU in a Singer

treadle cabinet. Strong smooth and silent.

So many useful attributes: bearings in the oil

points to keep out dirt; 3 position presser foot

so you can raise the foot and maintain the

tension, or not; calibrated adjustment for

the pressure foot bar and the thread tension...

A true workhorse! My favorite machine.

My 1940s (?) Singer 201-2 machine. A solid

machine with drop in bobbin, metal gears,

potted motor and beltless operation. Strong,

but can sew silk to light leather.

Ah, the Pfaff 130. This semi-industrial machine

is Pfaff's first consumer model. It's chain-belted

inside for added strength to sew through anything

in its way! I'm still cleaning up this new addition

to the family but I'm so happy to have

snatched it up for cheap this week. I've been

coveting this model for a long time.

My beautiful New Home/Janome Japanese

machine. 10 built in stitches in a solid all metal

machine. Made in Japan in 1960, its a Centennial

machine which celebrates the 100 years of

New Home. I got this machine down the Jersey

Shore for next to nothing, made some minor repairs

and now she sews like a dream.

Switching to metal gears and roses

I know, I know... its been all about spinning and fiber lately. Who can blame me? Its been cold up until recently. Now that the weather's warming up a bit I've been focusing my attention back on my vintage sewing machines - and so should you.

I've taken my focus away from vintage Singer sewing machines for a moment, to take a look at Sears Kenmore machines. Yes, I said Sears. Their vintage "Kennies" deserve a second look. Don't believe me? Well just lookie here at my 1970s Kenmore 158.1040 "1040" machine. Its simply adorable! Straight stitch AND zigzag and a built in stretch stitch too! Comes with a flip up end table as well as a flip out front table/accessories box filled with goodies. C'mon, you know you love it.

**Be sure to click on the picture so you can see the cute carry case in the large photo. Its embossed with roses!**

Finding the time to blog

Whose got time to blog when there's so much to be done? Sorry, that's just how I've been feeling lately. My sweetheart has been in the hospital for almost a month now with a head injury and I spend all my time traveling - work->hospital->home->work->hospital->home... well, you get the picture. When I am home, you'd think I'd catch up on some sleep, right? WRONG! I can't sleep. I stay up till 3 or 4 in the morning. I guess my nerves are so shot I feel too jittery to sleep. So, I sew. I sit at my machine and make random items. My random items of the week are quilted post cards and wristlets (thanks Chanecia!)

On another topic, I listed a few of my machines for sale on craigslist recently. Just trying to make room for my ever growing Featherweight and 301 machine stash. Well, no one contacted me about buying the machines, but I did get an email from a wonderful woman named Karen who had a cabinet for a 15-91 machine that she was giving away. That's right, I said "giving!" Well, I'm not big on cabinets because most are a dime a dozen and the rest are sitting on the curb come garbage day in any given neighborhood, but something about how she described this machine caught my attention. She stated that the cabinet was "interesting" and that it had drawers and plenty of storage, yet she listed the size as being the average sized "throw in your trunk" cabinet. Interesting... I had to see this cabinet. I made arrangements to drive out to her place and when I drove to the end of her driveway I saw one of the most amazing little cabinets I've ever seen. After some research I've found its a Singer No. 48 cabinet made exclusively for the 201 machines (although a 15 machine fits just fine, as will other models).

Enough about me and my sweet deal of a cabinet. I found out that Karen, this wonderful giving woman, makes clothing for American Girl dolls. She took me inside her fabulous home (warm and richly filled with all things vintagy) and showed me her collection of clothing that she's made on her vintage Singer 15 machine. The collection is amazing!!! I've never seen so many doll garmets, ensembles, everything from the dresses with matching jewelry, to raincoats with tiny umbrellas, faux fur outfits, hippie garbs with beads and peace signs, costumes with masks, gowns, frilly girly clothing and so very much more! Karen does about 30 doll shows a year but get this, she doesn't do anything online! No website, no forums, nothing. What a shame I can't point you guys to her website so you can see her handywork. You will be amazed! I for one am hoping to inspire and help her get her wares online. The world needs to see all she has to offer. This is one very talented woman y'all. Makes me want to start collecting American Girl dolls just so I can dress them up in her clothing.

If anyone is interested in beautiful original designs of very well made American Girl doll clothing, shoot me note and I'll put you in touch with Karen.