My Old Sewing Machines

After sewing at Jackie's house last night I got to thinking about my old sewing machines.

Featherweights were introduced by the Singer Company at the Chicago World's Fair in 1933. It has a reputation of being one of the most durable sewing macines ever made. It weighs only 11 pounds, while most other portables at that time weighed between 25-40 pounds. It's a great machine for transporting to classes and doing straight stitching.

This beautiful machine came all the way from England and I have it in my studio. Wendy bought it for me when she was on her mission there. Across the street from her flat was a little thrift store. She purchased it for what would have been $5.00 in U.S. currency. It was housed in a wonderful wood rounded case. We packed it as well as we thought was possible, but the case was damaged on the plane on the journey home. Thankfully the sewing machine was not. This machine looks like Jackie's.

This child's sewing machine (hand crank) came all the way from England also. I found it in a little antique store up north. I packed this in my suitcase. It's heavy for a child's sewing machine; it weighs just under 8 pounds.

Toy sewing machines: Isaac Singer believed that if you teach a child to sew, then the adult would know how to sew. These are Singer's Model 20 and were unique chain-stitch machines manufactured from 1900-1950. These sit on a shelf in my studio and are two of my most favorite things.

Hand Crank Sewing Machines

We had our monthly quilt meeting and though we were few in numbers, it was great fun. We met at Jackie's log cabin in West Weber. She set up three of her 22 hand crank sewing machines for us to use. Hand crank means just that - no electricity - the hand crank generates the power. I was sewing on a machine manufactured in about 1922. I found it very relaxing to take hold of that old knob and turn it 'round and 'round to generate the power to make the little stitches in my project.  It was so smooth and quiet. I did find myself now and then lifting up my foot, trying to find the pedal, as if I were home on my Bernina.

The beautiful painting on these old machines is just amazing.

We even used old thread, on the old wooden spools, to sew with.

Here's Janet. This machine is an early 1900's.

Finished pin cushion project.

Digital Photography Book

I noticed this photography book at Costco's on Saturday. Scott Kelby is the author, and is very well known in the photography genre as well as for his knowledge, classes and books about Adobe Photoshop. Tonight I learned that when you take a series of photos (overlapping the photos by 20 %, of course) to stitch together in Photoshop to create a panorama, you should be shooting the panos vertically. That way, when you crop the photo, you won't have to shear off the tip of a mountain, or part of a lake, because there will be a little "breathing room" left above the mountain range to crop in. What a great tip!

Old Friends

What a GREAT afternoon visiting with old friends today! I took a half day off work and met two friends at Applebees in Layton. We were there for FOUR hours!

Rita Stanford Baxter and I have been friends since kindergarten. She and her family recently moved back to Utah. I've known Susan Wall Davis since Jr High and we've run into each other a few times throughout the years. We all grew up in the same stake and have plenty of school, camp, and other memories. We caught up on each other's lives and reminisced with lots of "whatever happened to..." and making plans to do this again!

Here's Rita in the middle, Susan on the right - me on the left. I wanted to make them a fun little pendant, so I pulled out some junior high pics of Rita and I, and a high school one of Susan. We really haven't changed that much, RIGHT?

Rita, Susan, Jayna

Early Signs of Spring

As soon as I walked in the door from work I dropped my purse, grabbed my camera and headed outside. I was hoping to find some early signs of spring in the yard. I wasn't disappointed.

Daffodils were peeking through the dirt.

These hardy perennials were growing right through leftover autumn leaves.

These tulips grow under a large bush and I usually  discover too late that they've bloomed.

Geraniums All Winter Long

I love having geraniums bloom in the window seat all winter long. Soon it will be time to move them back outside to the front porch.

Lego Train Town

Dave stopped by with the kids, so we decided to run down to the Union Station in Ogden to see the miniature trains on display. It was packed, especially upstairs where a Lego town was on display. It was the highlight of my day. I'm a BIG Lego fan and still have 30 year-old Legos upstairs in the playroom - a LOT of Legos. The kids dive in every time they come over.

Ez and Jonah at the Lego display.

Ezra (4) likes to take pictures with my SLR. He took this great shot!

Part of the Lego display. It really was amazing.

Aliens and cows - didn't have these in my kid's day:)

Union Station. Whenever I step into this building I remember seeing my Aunt Nelda getting on the train when she left for her mission. I was just a little kid.