Big Change

Remember that big change that might be coming that I wrote about last week?

It happened! 

Yesterday I went over to Kokomo to pick up my embroidery machine and I came home with a new sewing machine!

I decided to go with a different machine than the one I'd looked at last week, and I am happy with that decision. I've tried it out at home already and I am excited with what this one can do!

While very, very different from my previous machine, so many of the controls are already familiar. 

They are similar to those on my Janome embroidery machine and so I was able to sit down and begin sewing right after I got home as a result.  And, my embroidery machine is all lubed and ready for me to begin my holiday embroidery as soon as I finish with the Feast.

It may sound silly, but it was hard to pack up my old sewing machine and put it into the closet. I felt like I was closing the door on a long and very happy chapter in my life.

And while that may be true, a new door has opened. 

I'm excited to see what this stage of my sewing life looks like.

Creating for the Feast

This year I'm paring down the variety of things that I take to sell at the Feast. I've realized that there are four things I really love to bring: 18th century clothing, sleeve buttons, blackened beeswax ornaments, and maple cakes. 

In the past I've also carried Williamsburg pottery, toques, fans, body powder, pin pillows, dish towels, hussiefs (housewives), hats, fabric, scarves, shawls, and more.

This is my fifth year in business; it's time to focus on making and doing what I like most. And while I have some inventory of just about everything on that discontinued list, I won't be replacing anything. When it's gone, it's gone.

There is just one month left to prepare and I am in pretty good shape. 

I just finished this bed gown and I am hoping I can get more of that gorgeous fabric.

This chemise is for Leslie. I am sworn to secrecy, but now that she's no longer the director of the Feast she can go hang out and have fun at the event. That, of course, calls for new clothes and I am making her entire outfit. Stay 'tooned on that - I think she and I are going to have fun with this.

The sleeves on her new chemise are pleated

and she has a new pair of sleeve buttons

to wear in her sleeves. (She chose my favorite pair.)

That's two of the three things I need to make her that are finished. She's bringing the petticoat fabric to me later today.

Yesterday I spent four hours making blackened beeswax ornaments.

I had two "volunteers" who wanted to help or at least just hang out with me while I worked.

Molly could not have been in a more inconvenient place for me. But I didn't mind working around her - carefully. LOL

I'd made 60 ornaments by the time I was finished.

Normally I make around 40 per session but this time I was using some of my smaller molds.

I hope to make one more batch before the Feast, but if I don't get to it, I'm in good shape and should have enough for selling.

Leslie has been stitching up items for her business, Chien Noir. For years her business has been importing and selling hand block printed fabrics, but now that she is no longer in charge of the Feast, she can spend more time in her booth as well as at home sewing things from the fabric she has imported!

She just sent me pics of fourteen petticoats that she has completed; here are a few of my favorites.

The bands at the bottom are all different - that's very unusual.

Look familiar? This is the same fabric that I used for the bed gown. The colors are so vibrant.

A more subtle pattern, but I love that pop of turquoise at the hem. (Can you guess Leslie's favorite color?) 

This picture is because - Eddie! 

Leslie and I are heading to Kokomo together later this morning. I'm going to pick up my embroidery machine that I'd had serviced, and I think she is going to drop off her sewing machine as she's having trouble with the buttonholer. (Hers is a Pfaff but the store tech will work on other machines besides Janome.)

I'm also going to take another look at that professional grade Janome while I am there. 

Stay 'tooned!

Hitting the Mall

At last! Nearly three weeks since I purchased them, my pink Freeman Leidy set is arriving today! Due to the fragility of these pieces and with the help from some friends, it is being hand delivered to me over in Kokomo later today. 

The set has made its way from central Ohio and through the hands of Christina Harrington (who kindly offered to pick it up for me when she learned I was only one day post-op and could not drive for a while), Ronda Mosley, Allison Pareis, and Stan Sollars. These pieces have had quite the journey. 

Hopefully tomorrow I will have some pics to share and will tell you more about their trek to me. In the meantime, I can't wait to hit the road for Kokomo!

I had a rare opportunity to do some antiquing Monday. My best friend Lisa moved to Indianapolis so I traveled down there and met her for lunch and a catch-up session. 

Lisa giving me my Abby necklace for my birthday last August. 

It was good to catch up and afterward I stopped at an antique mall that I hadn't visited in a while. (Fortunately I had my walker in the trunk of my car - I still get tired as I am recuperating and the walker allows me to sit down when I need a moment.)

I enjoy going on the hunt for HSOs in the wild and the mall had a fair share of them. (Horse Shaped Objects - hobby slang.)

There must have been thousands and thousands of these furry maned chinas made as I see them all the time. (I got the one on the right in St. Louis when I was in 4th grade and it's part of my carpet herd.)

I was interested in the Britains horse and rider but its tail was missing. (Er, the horse's, not the rider's...) I have the Hartland foal already.

The Western Ponies were not in good shape nor was the Appaloosa Performance Horse or the Western Prancer. The Five Gaiter was in good shape but overpriced. (Besides, I already have it.)

That St. Bernard, though, is sitting on the shelf behind me here at home!

Someone has glued this Japan mini family onto a mirror.

I probably should have bought this piece, but I'm pretty sure I already have it. It was in a locked glass case and I was far enough into the mall, I did not feel like walking back to the front desk and asking someone to open it for me.

Two more of the vintage Japan mini horse families. I was sorely tempted by the pamoninos with their big ol' spots!

A Breyer Buck and Fawn; the does are knock-offs. (Their plastic was styrene.)

I was tempted by this Goebel piece, but when I examined it, it had a poorly repaired break so I set it back on the shelf.

This cutie is in my carpet herd already but it made me smile and feel nostalgic to see it.

The ubiquitus Breyer Boxer. Already have five so it stayed at the mall. 

Often you see old horse collars turned into mirrors

but this one had pictures of harness horses, including circus horses! A pass for me, but I enjoyed looking at them.

Another pass (ya'll know why), but it was in excellent shape.

I thought about getting this polar bear for Hawkeye Sarah (she loves to photograph bears) but she prefers grizzlies to polar.

I considered getting this nice little collie

but this Springer Spaniel is the piece I regret most leaving behind. The photo doesn't do it justice. It was beautiful and is in excellent shape.

 Our very first family dog was a Springer named Duffy and he was the best introduction to dogs our kids could have had. After he passed away at the age of fifteen, it took me three years to even begin to consider getting another dog. Sometimes I still cry when I think about him.

After driving to and from Indy, an extended lunch with my friend, and then wandering through an antique mall, I came home and fell into bed, sleeping for two hours into the evening!

But it was fun and worth the tiredness. 

Stay 'tooned for some Freeman Leidy pics!