Who Sews There?

Yesterday morning I woke up at 3:30 a.m. and went to work at the sewing machine.

Too many times lately, a sewing order that I've HAD to get done has interfered with my hooking social life!  I was determined to get this pair of pants done so I could go to the Cumberland Valley hookers meeting.

Deiter thought I was crazy.  Any self-respecting person should still be sleeping.

By 6:30 I had put in the last buttonhole.  Finished!  I even had time for an hour nap before getting ready to go.

When the sun came up I could see what a glorious day it was going to be.  It was warm and beautiful.  Just the kind of day that I would create if called upon to make the 'perfect day'.  Trees are in blossom everywhere.

We didn't have a large crowd at the meeting, but there was lots of chatting going on.  I'll just post pictures and not make a lot of comments.

I have to comment here!  Karin looks like she just heard some shocking gossip!  Did I miss something juicy???

I took my rug and my wool, and my cutter and frame.  Dragged all that heavy stuff in and never pulled a loop!  I hadn't talked to some of these ladies for several months so there was lots to catch up on.

For those of you who did not attend yesterday, we are trying to get the word out that the meeting will be a week early next month due to Memorial Day.  So please mark your calendars that we will meet on the 4th Monday instead of the last Monday.

I was tired when I got home so sent Zip off to his evening music lessons by himself and I took some quiet time.  Well, kinda quiet.  The kitties were enjoying themselves sitting in the open windows checking the great outdoors.  They fought over windowsill space and clawed the screens.

Reggie finally won the battle of window space.  See how clawed the wood is on the windowsill from years of cats jumping up.

I settled in for some knitting, but instead became a leg rest for the Big White One.

This morning I got up and tried to pull a few loops before seriously getting into the day.
Check the large white paw creeping into the picture!

Well, it was a THOUGHT!

 My Constant Companion!  I love that cat!!!
He's sitting with me now as I type my post.

Happy Day, everyone.  I hope the sun is shining and the air is warm!

Get out of Jail! Free!!!

Before I get started on my post I want to mention that I've noticed a few new followers have joined my blog recently.  I want to thank all of you who have just joined and those faithful friends who continue to read my posts.  Please know that I do go to your blogs and read your posts though I don't always have time to comment. 

Welcome New Readers!  Dear Old Friends, I'm so happy when you stop in to read and comment!

Aaaaaah, the sweet taste of freedom!

I feel as though I have been handcuffed to the sewing machine for the past week-and-a-half.
Brad and Kami were getting ready for a major WW2 re-enactment and had lots of orders to fill and kept getting more at the last minute.  And of course, many were passed along to me.  Don't get me wrong!  They did their best, working from early morning to late night on this stuff.

In the past two weeks I made three pairs of piped shoulder boards, three bedsacks with pillows, repaired a dirndl top, made two pairs of men's pants and a  child's heavy wool overcoat.  I had to make up the patterns for the pants and overcoat.  Drawing patterns causes severe anxiety! 

I did have the comfort of loving kitties while I was working.  Izzy loves to lounge in fabric.

Deiter joins the confusion and decides that this is the ideal place to give Izzy a bath.
Come on, guys!  The table is getting a little crowded!

Zip usually leaves his guitar case on my loom next to the sewing table.  Penny loves to snuggle down inside and take a nap.

Penny and Reggie are a tangle of kitty body parts on a messy shelf where I keep supplies.

'By the way, Mom!  Your sewing is interfering with my nap!'

Everything is finished and was delivered yesterday afternoon.  The kids are leaving for Fort Indiantown Gap tomorrow.  Then all Zip and I have to do is feed their kitties.

So today I am out of sewing incarceration!  Absolutely FREE to do whatever I wish.
It was a nice change to get up in the morning and do dishes (can't believe I said that!!!).  Yes, they piled up nicely while I was otherwise occupied!

On Thursday, my friend Willa is coming here to make tamales.  I've been researching tamale dough recipes on cooking websites.  I like the milder flavor and fluffier texture of ones that made with a canned hominy base.  After reading quite a few recipes, I formulated my own ideas and wanted to try them out ahead of time.

My tamale dough recipe:

1 can of hominy (a can the size of a regular soup can)
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup shortening (or lard, the traditional way)
pinch of salt
Chicken broth as needed to make a smooth, soft dough  (less than a cup)

I put all the ingredients into the food processor and blended until the hominy was finely chopped and incorporated into the cornmeal, adding chicken broth a little at a time.  I wanted the dough to be soft enough to easily spread on the cornhusks.

My filling was ground turkey breast, some cumin, taco seasoning and cilantro, with some finely diced white cheddar cheese and some cream cheese.

I will be taking pictures of the whole process when Willa and I make them again on Thursday.

I put the tamales in my bamboo steamer and cooked them for about a half an hour.

The dough turned out perfectly light and fluffy.  I wish I had added some more spicy kick to the filling, maybe adobo sauce, but that's for another day. 

Darn!  I wish I had some guacamole!!!

A Quiet Hero

Last week, I was finishing up a uniform for Brad and Kami that had to be shipped the next day.  Only four buttonholes to go and it would be finished.  That's when my dear old Necchi Supernova sewing machine started to go into a seizure.  Oh gosh, I've had this machine for over 40 years.  I bought it when I made my wedding gown and attendant's dresses.  We've been together longer than Zip and I have been married!

There have been many others since.  Uuuuuh, sewing machines, not MEN!  LOL!!!

But it's still my favorite.

Since this machine has no zig-zag function, I still use the 'clacker' to maker buttonholes.  The buttonholes are always the same size and perfect every time.  I just love this machine!  That is, if it's sewing properly.

When my machine is not working properly, I can go into a mental meltdown!  Why does it always happen at the most inopportune time???

Zip knows not to say ANYTHING!!!  Otherwise he is in danger of being snarled at and bitten!  A mad dog is kinder than I am when my machine is taking a fit!

So I unplug it and drag it to the car and off we go to the one place that I can find peace and comfort.  And expert help.

My local Bernina dealership and Mr. Earl Martin.  THE BEST sewing machine repairman in the area.

Just entering the door makes me feel calmer. 

The shop is bright, clean and very organized.  Look at that wonderful selection of machines set up and ready for a demo run. 

The machine in the foreground is an embroidery machine that can do beautiful large pieces.  I love the official Bernina chair!

These lovely sewing cabinets are handcrafted by Mr. Martin's brother-in-law and can be custom ordered in several choices of wood.  The machine in the background is a mini-verson of a long armed quilter that is used for demo.

Mr. Martin may be a Bernina dealer, but he has parts and accessories for many other brands of machines.  His service and repair work includes all brands of sewing machines and sergers.  He had just recently reconditioned a heavy-duty industrial machine for Brad and Kami.

Here is the thread selection, both regular sewing thread and a huge selection of machine embroidery thread. 

There are needles available for practically any machine you can think of, scissors, pins, measuring devices,  embroidery stabalizer and patterns. 

But look at the repair area!  Clean, neat, perfectly organized!!! 

I took my machine in and right away he looked it over, and fixed the problem.  That of course, doesn't always happen,  Sometimes I have to leave it there for a few days.  But service is usually pretty speedy and his prices are reasonable.

Now I can relax!  My machine is in good hands!  That's why Mr. Martin is my quiet hero!

His shop is located at 11 Fairview Road, Newville, PA which is between Newville and Newburg and just a short drive from Shippensburg.  He's open 8 to 5 on Mon. and Wed., 8 to 7 on Tues. and Fri., 8 to 3 on Sat. and closed Thursday and Sunday.  Phone 717 423-5533.

Lately the kitties have been thinking that not enough attention has been paid to them.  Here they are!

So what's with the not enough attention???  Tipper is sitting right in front of the computer screen.  Maybe I was typing and not petting?  Such neglect!

I had been working on my rug, but very quickly it has been taken over as the best place to give kitty baths. 

Mommy won't be knitting either!  We'll make sure of that!!!  In our house it is impolite to disturb kitties while they're sleeping.

Penny is trying for the innocent look.  With a face like that how could she possibly be naughty? 

 Mom is not convinced, but Dad will believe her!

 

It's taken me an age to finish this post because this new picture loading device is a pain in the behind!  Are any of the rest of you having difficulties with it???  Or is it just me?

Oh well, what else do I have to do with my day?

Until next time, enjoy the fine fall weather!