Sewing Podcast and More!

                                  My new favorite thing are Podcasts.

Really, it's my husbands fault!  We love going on little road trips.  Sometimes you just can’t get away for large chunks of time but you get that deep down nagging feeling like you really need to get away - that’s when we hit the road.  We’ve found little weekend getaways can be a big relief.  It seems to simmer that boiling tea pot until we are able to take a real vacation.  

So it was on one of these weekend trips where he introduced me to America's Test Kitchen (Chris Kimball, an ATK founder, has since created the new show 'Milk Street', which is now our favorite cooking podcast, but that's a whole other story!)  I'm not sure where I've been!  I had no idea this platform even existed.  We so enjoyed our drive learning about different cooking techniques, gadgets, chefs and more!   I was hooked.  We spend so much time cooped up in the car stuck in traffic, why not spend that time learning!!  

My husband took it one step further and says… "well you know they probably have sewing and quilting podcasts" 

I said, "......wwwwhhhhhhaaaaaattttttt?!?!?!"  

My brain started to spin, I could barely speak, I just handed him my phone!  Would you believe he was correct?? 

It was like Heaven’s gate opened as I tapped play on my iPhone and listened to Modern Sewciety.   I would hands down recommend this podcast to everyone interested in creating. And I say creating because while I might not have a passion for cooking, I love to eat, so I love hearing about the different techniques!  It might be the same thing for you!  

Stephanie, the hostess with the mostest at Modern Sewciety, is one of a kind!   This might sound weird, but I enjoy the sound of her voice.  She just sounds nice, and she has an addictive laugh.  You can just sit back and enjoy the time you share together!  I've learned so much from listening to her and diving into her podcast notes to find out more info.  I love hearing about the latest quilt pattern book, or about new websites.  For example, a site called Massdrop that sells one Quilting goodie a day.  I wake up early every morning to see what's dropping today!  Maybe not so good on my checkbook, but really interesting!  

There is a podcast out there for everyone, no matter what you're passion is. Even if you don’t have a passion and you just like good story telling.  Podcasts have enriched my life!  Really!  Let's face it, traffic in L.A. isn't going anywhere.  So as long as I'm forced to sit in my car I'm going to utilize my precious time to educate myself.  I even listen while I sew - it's like a double bonus!  I also listen while I do the dirty dishes but it's so rare, why even bring that up!?  (don’t tell my Husband, I don’t think he’s caught on yet)

 

If I don’t have you hooked yet, here are some of my other favorites and you let me know yours!

• The Simple Show - This is all about traveling families, books to read, lives shortcuts. 
• While She Naps with Abby Glassenberg -  More creative and business development 
• How I Built This - About normal people who've created empires!
• Heavyweight - Light heartedd storytelling by a fun quirky host.
• In the Dark - This is a very intense drama, not to be listened to with children.  

Vintage Sewers

I don't know about you, but I love finding vintage sewing machines.ccI wonder how old they are, what they've made, where they've been.  I wonder what's happened to their owner?  Did they love their machine?  Did they sew all the time, or was it never pulled out of the closet?  Was it a wedding gift, or something they saved up to purchase?  Did they sew because they loved it, or was the sewing machine a way for them to earn a living?  What to you think about when you find an old beauty like this?

The following machines are in no particular order other than the order in which I found them. :)

You can barely read Singer across the front of this one.  It's been really well used. 

In 1851, Isaac Merritt Singer started the Singer & Company in Boston.  He created and patented the pressure foot to hold fabric and mounted the needle vertical.  Seems like that really set the standard for machines still today.  He also tried to patent the foot petal or treadle (I always thought it was called trendle, isn't it nice we can learn together!) but that had already been used for too long for him to include it in his patent.  But still, he kind of killed it with the longevity of his design don't you think?  It wasn't until 1857 until a true domestic machine, the Family Machine was introduced. 

Now I understand the love for classic cars.  I could sit here for hours looking at the curves of the machine, the colors, the knobs. I wonder if they still run and what it would take to fix them.

This Spartan is a Singer Manufactured sewing machine.  I do wonder why most of the sewing machine these days are white and most of the vintage machines are black.  I think I'd like a black sleek shiny machine!  What color would you like?

I'm not even sure who made this one, it was in a glass case and couldn't get into it, but you can surely tell it's an old one!

I found this one at my local Salvation Army.  It was $50 including the cabinet!   I'd love to take in old sewing machines and make them purr again, but let's face it, it's hard enough trying to find time to sew as it is without adding another to-do list! As it is, my husband hasn't had a warm meal yet this year!  Just kidding, he's a great chef.  Thank God or we'd never eat....and I might be thin. :0)

 And then theres that...what are these babies worth...?

Look at this beauty! This one wanted to come home with me!  It had a lot of the original parts, the hand wheel spun freely but I just have to wonder what the repair bill would be after spending $200 on it.

Look at this Little Betty! (ignore the creepy doll...if...you...can...)  These were made in England by EMG.  The company started making toy sewing machines in 1935. Straco was an American toy importer, and in 1940, they started importing these. At some point, Straco partnered up with Walt Disney of all people and Snow White was pusing sewing machines for a while!  Betcha didn't know that!

Umm, this is just true, I couldn't help myself!

The White Sewing Machine Company was founded in 1858 in Massachusetts by Thomas H. White. At one point in 1900 they also started making automobiles.  No wonder these ran so well!  :)  SVP Worldwide now owns both  Singer and White, and a few other names that I'm sure you'd recognize, Pfaff, Bernina, Juki.

This Singer is very close to the one I learned on, and sewed on for twenty years...then the light burned out!  Oh how I loved this machine!  

Isn't the artwork on each amazing.  All the designs or decals are different. 

This little (literally) Sew-O-Matic Senior is also made by Straco (the makers of the Little Betty).

This White even had it's original feet box with it.  Pretty amazing!

I found these next two at an Estate Sale just this weekend!  In doing some investigating, seems like there is not an Antique Sewing Machine Museum in the US.  There was one in Arlington, VA but it closed.  I'd love to go to a Sewing Machine Museum!  Add some fabric, and I'm there!

FYI, this is not my arm...if it was I would have waxed it first.  My husband wanted to show the size of this little Sew Handy Electric sewing machine.  At first I thought it said Sew Randy and thought that was a weird way to promote sewing! 

I hope you had fun strolling down memory lane with me.  I hope if you have a sewing machine, it's not tucked away in a closet.  If it is, take it out!  Take it for a spin!  Contact your local Quilt Store ask them when their next beginning class is.  Patronize a Quilt Store and they will help you learn how to use your machine!