The art of procrastination! Start taking photographs of sewing machines when I should be finishing my tidying of the lounge/living room.
Having moved my sewing table round last night, I promptly moved it back to its orignal positition this morning but have been 'faffing around' with the rest of the stuff as I work out how best to put things back to make them work better for me.
So to bore you rigid I thought I'd have a little chat about my sewing machines and now they came to me.
First up is my trusty Bernette, the first machine I ever bought for myself. I put this machine in layby if I remember rightly and paid off a bit each week unti I could bring it home. If ever a machine has been put to the test this machine has. I bought it at least 20 years ago and have sewed all many of items on it from clothing for me, sweat shirts, baby clothes, leather baby shoes, soft toys, dolls clothes, hair accessories...you name it, this solid machine has done it all!
Next up is my overlocker, an Elna as recommended by a lady on a course I went on. I would imagine this machine is pretty close to 20 years old as well as definitely had it when DS1 was born in 1991. This machine has been a rather reliable machine as well, only having to be repaired once not long after I arrived in the UK nearly 15 years ago.
My little Brother is the newest my husband buying it for me in April when I started sewing again. I didn't really 'need' this machine, but it was a tremendously good price and could do all sorts of fancy embroidery stitches, which incidentally I still haven't tried out yet! I have rather a love/hate relationship with this machine as when it first arrived it didn't function especially well and I had rather a few problems with it. I then used it rather a lot and most of my crafts have been made on this machine until recently when it started playing up again and got put away in disgust and frustration. Well today I got it out again and it is behaving itself so will do some more sewing on it later this evening after teaching if I get a chance. I'd quite like to make the some sewing machine covers, possibly with the fabric below.
Lovely William Morris fabric that I picked up from a CS I believe. Hoping there is enough to make a cover for my overlocker and a sewing machine.
Now for my Singer Collection, which didn't start of as an intentional collection but just happened.
1901 Model 28K Allocated Jan - Jun 1901. I bought this in a CS last year.
1924 99K Date allocated June 21 1924
This Singer was bought for my DS1 at a carboot sale many years ago when I was home educating him. I learnt on a machine like this which sadly I no longer have so it seemed natural to teach him to sew on a similar machine.
Singer 185K Produced from around 1955 - 1964
This is a lovely machine and I must admit I am quite taken with it - not sure why - I just am. This was bought in a CS not long before Christmas (have blogged about it before) I had seen it in the shop for a few weeks, and eventually the allure of it was too much and I had to bring it home with me!
Next up is the little Singer my MIL gave me early last year. This is one of the machines I may give to my flute student. I still haven't quite made my mind up yet. The needle doesn't quite sit in the centre of the presser foot for straight stitch and as such 'bugs' me a wee bit. I've checked with my MIL whether she would mind and she said no. But as I said I'm still undecided.
Singer Featherweight plus 324 (1996?) A very heavy little machine.
Would like to eventually add a couple more Singers to my collection one day, a 222K and treadle machine but shhh, don't tell hubby!
Lastly I have the Toyota that I also bought at a carboot for my DS1 many years ago. Once he had mastered the Singer, I thought he could graduate onto electric and we used to 'sew together'. Those were the days, now I'm lucky to see him! This is the other machine that I may give to my student.
There is another one at my FIL's place. A Vickers crank handle, and I'm sure that will make its way to our house soon. It is fascinating reading up on the various machines and I have found some really interesting websites as a result of my trawling.
Goodness - get a life Serenata! I really must stop procrastinating and finish this room before I start teaching in an hour and a half! Cheerio!
A light smattering of snow, and a glorious sunny day!
The sunlight reflecting off the leaves highlights the intense green of the camelia bush which is starting to bud.
Beautiful!
I worked on a little lampshade makeover today. I had a lampshade that was well rather unexciting and decidedly dirty. Why wash it when you can make something else prettier instead?
Cut it out and then sew up the sides...realise you cut them out wrong and curse yourself because you've now got to cut into more of this most precious material! Start again with an extra piece cut out the right way, much hand sewing and pricking fingers with the needle (several blood spots later) and...
Then experimented a bit more. I could get to enjoy doing this...as long as nice machine behaves itself. 
And this fascinating book I picked up for £1 at a CS.
Making a cheesy loaf just wouldn't be right without the wearing of an apron now would it? Even if it is made in the bread maker! 
The menagerie on my desk is growing....
