Meet My New Sewing Machine ~ Old Reliable

Meet my new Singer Slant-o-Matic 500

By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

Meet my new (old) sewing machine.

My old (old) machine, one I've had since the early days of our marriage, has finally bit the dust. Kicked the bucket. Is kicking up daisies.

At a loss, and with pressing sewing needs, I borrowed my daughter-in-laws' machine. It worked great except for one thing. It wasn't mine and I had to return it.

Back to no-sewing-machine.

And then I remembered the old Singer in the cabinet that we had stored in the garage. At the time of my mother-in-law's move to a nursing facility, I couldn't bear to part with it. So there it sat.

Hmmm. Could it be? Would it work or even turn on?

Yes, yes, and yes!

May I introduce you to my Singer Slant-o-Matic 500? Heavy as an elephant and sturdy as rock, this baby can stitch with the best of them.

After a quick online search, the terms antique and vintage were both used. According to the copyright date in one booklet, the latest year of print was 1941. Which would make this machine vintage.

And, oh what a pretty sight, the vision of that vintage Singer Slant-o-Matic 500 whipping through my stitching to beat the band.

Thank you, mom and Singer. Quality lasts.

What make of sewing machine do you have? Have you ever used a Singer?

Wrapped in Love ~ Merry Christmas at My Door!

I came home from walking in the lovely fall rain to find a package tucked neatly behind the pumpkin display.

And what to my wondering eyes (and fingers) should appear at the ripping apart of the paper but a contribution for our Wrapped in Love Christmas project.

Ten beautiful, cozy, colorful scarves burst out, tempting me to try on and touch. These 10 cozies began at our girls' weekend at the beginning of the month. I also have several other gorgeous scarves that were completed during our eating/talking/movie watching marathon. Thanks, girls! You rock!

I am feeling a little bit better about my stash of scarves, shoulder shawls, and lap robes. 94+ is a lot of cozies!

For, you see, Christmas is coming and our Wrapped in Love project for the nursing home will soon take place. You can read more about Wrapped in Love by clicking the link.

On Christmas Day, a group of us will load our packages, boxes, and bags, and go over the river and through the woods (or at least over the roads and through the neighborhoods) to Landmark. While there we hope to dispense Christmas cheer, a good bit of fellowship, a Christmas treat, and a choice of one of the warm Wrapped in Love creations to all of the residents.


Anyone not busy on Christmas Day? You are welcome to join us. If you can't make it, feel free to dig out that knitting, crocheting, or sewing and whip up a few items to add to our pile. Thank you!

And a very, merry, early Christmas!

Ducks + Fleece = Happy Boy

The boy loves his 'eeee.'

That would be his blankie. This much loved, nearly fleece-less blanket is blue and covered in yellow ducks and bubbles. Most prominent are the duckies.

Enter a certain developmental stage, and this boy hauls that poor ducky blankie everywhere. Pool? Yep. Outside? Definitely. Dirt, asphalt, bark, truck, car, mealtime, or bedtime - duckies are present and accounted for. Especially bedtime.

How does mommy manage to wash the poor ducky blankie?

Sneakery. Thievery. Mass distraction.

Today Nana bought the boy 2 whole yards of NEW ducky fleece. It actually still has fleece attached. We are talking one happy boy who 'eeee'd' his way through the store, holding the pile of fleece, hugging it, rubbing his face on it, and talking to it.

Nana also pulled the sneakery trick. "Oh, Donavyn, go watch the garage door close!"

Quickly, new blankie fleece was in the washer. Mean Nana.

Now to cut it into two pieces and blanket stitch the edges. Mommy and Nana will have insurance against original-duckie-blankie disaster.

Guess who else loved fleece blankets? Daddy.

Like father, like son.

Quack, quack.

Happy Birthday, America!

Hayden and Khloe with patriotic shorts and skirt

Donavyn wishing his 'eeee' could go swimming with him

Donavyn wearing red, white, and blue shorts

Snoozing Baby Gage sporting his way-too-big bib. He will enjoy it later.

Nana began the 4th of July celebration early by sewing red, white, and blue clothing items for her grands (and a grand-niece). It never hurts to dress for the occasion, right?

And no one can have too much red, white, and blue on July 4th.

Happy Independence Day, America!

Speaking of Yarn - Homemade Mini Purse

Green is my bliss.

Just ask anyone. Though I have recently been dabbling in and been intrigued by all shades of turquoise.

After discovering this luscious shade of green in a wool yarn, I just had to take it home. And make something. Anything. As long as that yarn went with me.

Meet my new purse.

A combination of knitting (mostly) and crocheting (barely). Plus a little sewing to hold the button in place and form the purse.

The over-the-shoulder and across-the-body design allows enough strap length for comfort. The small size and stretch of the knitting will give space for only a few items - phone, petite wallet, keys, lip gloss.

And that's about it.

1. Since I know only one kitting stitch, and I don't even know what the name of it is, I will tell you that I made a long, narrow rectangle with a simple knit stitch.

2. I then folded the rectangle into unequal thirds, with the bigger section forming the purse pocket and the smaller section making a fold over flap.

3. Using the lovely green yarn, I stitched the sides together.

4. Since I did not want to knit a long narrow strap, I dug out the crochet hook and made a double row of half-double crochet stitches, measuring it against myself as I went. This strap was then sewn to the purse.

5. The final piece was adding a beautiful button and short crocheted button latch loop.

Complete!

I love my little purse.

Wrapped in Love - A Ministry of Warmth

Wrapped in Love was born following a Christmas Day visit with my mother-in-heart and the annual Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at our church, Amplify.

After our Merry Christmas visit, my mind wandered as we continued on our road of visiting. Surely most of the residents of her long-term care facility would receive the visits of family and friends on one of the most seasonally perfect days of the year for loved ones? Wouldn't they?

Or maybe not?

My socialite mom-in-heart adores guests. She would rather stand (though she is unable) and offer her wheelchair, bed, and side chair to her friends and family than to not have loved ones crowded in her room. This woman, lover of all - even those that are hard to handle and love - has the biggest heart I have seen.

In honor of her, Carole, I embark on this new project. A ministry really. Oh, don't worry! Carole is fine, just sitting there sassy and ready for a gab session complete with coffee and snack. Or a game of Bingo where she is sure to win prizes of treats and treasures.

Wouldn't it be awesome if everyone in the nursing facility had a visitor on Christmas Day? Would I be willing to give up time on Christmas Day? Could I do it? Could I make treat bags and crochet scarves so that each person, resident and staff, would receive a smile, a gift of love, and some Christmas cheer?

Probably not by myself. A year from now is a long time. And a nursing home has many residents and staff. Many.

But what if I had friends? What if I asked them to join me in sewing, crocheting, knitting, and creating scarves, hats, mittens, gloves, and lap robes? Could I then gather enough to wrap everyone in love next December 25th? Could a team of us take a few hours and travel with treats and gifts of love to spend our smiles and hearts with these loved ones? Would others join me in giving a gift bag and letting senior men and women dig through baskets of handmade items to choose the perfect thing, just for them? Is this a wild dream or a reachable goal?

Yes. Wrapped in Love is both a wild dream and a goal that can be met.

You see, I have friends. I have family. I have loved ones. I'm sure one or two will help me wrap a small portion of Yakima in love.

Looking for all who are interested. Let's get knitting, crocheting, sewing, cutting, creating . . . Your choice of project. Just make it with love and joy.

We have less than a year.

I better get busy! Three scarves down. One in progress.

Who's with me?

Watch for information about a monthly gathering so we can create together and encourage each other as we work our little fingers to the bones. Let me know if you are interested in joining my love army.

Yarn? Needles? Scissors? Fabric?

Ready. Set. Go.

A Month of Thanks - November 28 - Rubber Stamps (& Hobbies)

Today, November 28, I am thankful for rubber stamps. And all things hobby.

I have several favorites when it comes to crafting and hobbies. Rubber stamping is at or near the top of the list. But I also enjoy

crocheting
water color painting
reading
decorating
baking
cooking
making pottery
photography
blogging
writing
sewing
eating (hey - that can count as a hobby, right?)
looking at Pinterest (yes, now I have to count this, since I spend so much time doing it)
thrifting
walking (I really need to move this one to the top of the list)

oh, I could go on and on,
but not enough hours in any given day
or year
for me to enjoy all of the
things I love to do

So, let's just say, hobbies are an excellent outlet for creativity.

And at Thanksgiving dinner, rubber stamps and a create station occupied three very energetic children after the eating-of-the-turkey was complete.