I TOOK THE PLUNGE

Yes, as the title of this post implies, I took the plunge. It was something I had thought of doing for quite some time now but I wasn’t sure I’d do it. I thought about it and then I researched it and then I thought about it some more and then I just threw caution to the wind and went for it.

Perhaps I should start at the beginning.

Over the past few months I’ve been spending quite a bit of time online looking at sewing machines. The one I have been using I’ve had for nearly 40 years and it has been having some serious issues. I didn’t want to part with it as it’s been a good machine and we’ve spent many hours together. It has features that I’ve never seen on any other machine and I like those features. Because I wasn’t finding anything out there with all of the features I wanted I decided that I’d get the old machine repaired. I found a sewing center in my area that does repairs and when I visited them to see if they could fix what is wrong with my machine the woman helping me made a few calls and discovered they could order the parts my machine needed.  Yippee!!

Of course while I was waiting for her to see if they could order the parts I looked around and I found several of the machines I’d been researching online. Even though you’re pretty sure you know all about a machine because you know all of its features and have seen photos of it, seeing the machine sitting there in front of you is so much better. So, now what did I want to do? I’d order the parts and fix my trusty old machine. That’s the only sensible thing to do, right? So, that’s what I did and then I went home and the next couple of days while I waited for the parts to come in I thought about this one machine that I’d seen in the store and online and I knew I had to have it.

Now this is where the PLUNGE comes in. Not only did I get the parts for the old machine I went ahead and bought the Janome that I knew I had to have.

Here’s my new baby…….

I just finished sewing this.....

First time I did any machine quilting. Nothing fancy, just in the ditch but hey, it was my first time.

I made the quilt for this....

It still needs a mattress and a pillow or two. I picked up this darling little cradle at a thrift store last month which of course led to the need for the small quilt.

The week leading up to Easter a dear blogging friend sent me some baby clothes that she thought I might be able to use for the bears. Even though they were for new borns they were a bit large for my little ones but with some alterations I was able to take two of the dresses and turn them into four bear sized dresses.

Here are Bellamine and Wendy modeling their new dresses with the matching hair bows. I was able to keep the smocking and the style is much the same as the original dress.

And here are Clarissa and Beebe wearing their new dresses. Beebe told me that it was about time she appeared on a post.

Now that I have the new machine maybe I can get some clothes made for Olive and Lavanda who have nothing of their own to wear, just the borrowed jammies.

We’ve been having some strange weather so I think spring must have finally arrived. It’s still cold, windy and rainy but the sun has been peeking out from time to time. The cherry trees had blossoms that have been either blown away by the wind or washed away by the rain and the trees now have leaves so yes, I think spring has arrived.

Until next time, enjoy your day and as always thanks for stopping by.

BLOG ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY WINNER

One year ago I was visiting with my sisters and one morning Marlene sat down with me and helped me set up my blog. I needed a picture for my avatar so we used one from an e-mail I'd sent to show them my paper mache Santa figures. I wasn't even sure I wanted to blog because at the time I knew nothing about blogging. The only blogs I'd visited were by sisters' and then only when they called me and said they had just posted and I should go see what they'd just made. I told Marlene that I was sure no one would be interested in what I was making and I was certain the only followers would be her and Maggie. I was so wrong about everything back then and I'm here to tell you that it's been a fantastic first year. I've made so many wonderful new friends. Thank you all for being so supportive and caring. You make this old lady feel like a million bucks. Do people even say things like that? So in honor of this momentous occasion I'm going to share a few things about myself with you.

Little known facts or Maddy trivia: 

March is a month full of anniversaries for me. March 3rd was the anniversary of the day I was discharged from the US Air Force. Yes, I'm a veteran; bet you didn't know that.  I studied to be a missile systems analist at Chanute AFB but ended up being assigned to security police and law inforcement because no other female made it through the program and they couldn't have me sharing sleeping quarters with a male partner when we were sent out in the field. That's how it goes some times. You study to do one thing and end up doing something you've not been trained for. Can you imagine me being a cop?  

I would be celebrating a wedding anniversary on March 5th or March 19th if I'd stayed married. No, I wasn't married twice to the same man. On March 20th, 10 years and one day later I was divorced from hubby number one.

When I made the doll for this giveaway it triggered a time of experimentation with patterns and stitching. I worked on shamrocks and made a leprechaun and none of those experiments were worth writing home about. So much for my St. Paddy's Day decorations. Maybe in a weak moment I might show you the results of some of those experiments but not today. Instead I'm going to show you some of my favorite things.

This is my White Rotary sewing machine. It runs on foot power. No electric equals no light, so I have to have a lamp nearby. The user manual is in the top left drawer and the top right drawer has bobbin storage that I should have photographed. I have another treadle machine, it's a Singer and is quite lovely but it's sitting in a spot where, at the moment I can't get at it to open it up. I've had several treadle machines over the years but am down to just the two.

These are some of the things that I've been working on. I've had the Bunny Hop on the brain all week. I've finished about 20 bunnies in various poses and fabrics. The ones you see here are made from OOAK fabric that I painted 16 years ago. I made the fabric for some pillows and padded picture frames and never could figure what to do with the leftovers until now.

Here are some that I've made for a special friend.

I couldn't resist showing you what I use for a pin cushion. With all of the marvelous pin keeps out there you'd think I'd want to trade up. Well, I'm attached to this plain old thing. I made it when I was 18 years old and had just started a new job working in a tailor shop. It's stuffed with layers of wool worsted cut from mens' suiting fabrics used in the shop. Sitting on top is one of my thimbles. I use a tailor's thimble which has an open end. Unlike the thimbles that most of you use, this is meant to protect just the side of the finger not the end of it.

And now that you are all going, "Enough is enough already... when are you getting to the reason we're here?"  I'll stop running my mouth off, or in this instance typing and tell you who the winner of my lovely Miss Kanin is.

There were 32 entries in the giveaway so chances of winning were pretty darn good. Imagine if there had been hundreds or even thousands...yes, your chances of winning were very good. I know that in the past I've employed some very creative or at least amusing ways of picking the winner in my giveaways. You have to remember the blind folded knife throwing, right? Maybe some of you remember Ginger, my little red headed witch who stirred her caldron and conjured up the winner of another giveaway. Well, this time I'm doing something completely different. I numbered pieces of paper to correspond to the list below and put them in a bag and had my son reach in and pull one out. Simple but effective.

And the winner is.........(insert drum roll here).....

Number 5, Prudence from the Bear's Blog.

1.   Ria Vogel

2.   Katy Cameron

3.   Jan Conwell

4.   Izdiher

5.   Prudence - the Bear's Blog

6.   Lisa - LLA Creations

7.   Pam - Yoborobo

8.   Ascension

9.   Julie

10.  Laura - Cobblestone Creations

11.  Linda in New Mexico

12.  Erin Tame Designs

13.  ArtSings 1946

14.  Mina

15.  Ann

16.  Lois - Huckleberry Lady

17.  Crafty Stitchers

18.  Kay - Kay's Kids

19.  Lisa

20.  Jan – Laughing Dog Arts

21.  Colleen - Colleen's Craft Shed

22.  Mona - Wsprsweetly Cottages

23.  Iris - Boo-Bah AKA Iris

24.  Lisa Stubbs

25.  Miyako - Orchid's Daily Voice

26.  Mary - Colony Mountain

27.  Raggedy Creations

28.  Pea

29.  Bird

30.  Christel Hutson

31.  Lavender Dreams

32.  Maggie - Off My Rocker

Congratulations Prudence. You asked if a bear could enter the giveaway, and not only can she enter, she can even win it. You should see how excited Bellamine was when she found out your entry was chosen.

Okay, now this is such a coincedence! If you look you'll see that this is also my 100th post and that must be celebrated too. 

I'm having my son reach in the bag and select another number for another winner.

The second winner is.....(you know the drill, insert drum roll)......

20.  Jan – Laughing Dog Arts

I wish all of you could have won. I know everybody says that but I really do mean it.

Thanks again for making my first year of blogging such a wonderful time for me. Thank you for your encouragement and friendship and for being such a lovely bunch of people.

Prudence and Jan, please e-mail me your mailing addresses. I will be sending your prizes out within the next few days.

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Hugs,

Maddy