What Has Happened to My Home!

     It has been such a hustle and bustle trying to figure out my "new life". I no longer am JUST  a homemaker.  I do however, continue on as a teacher for my autistic son.. a mother to my other grown children, and a wife- which includes but not limited too; a chef, a doctor, a travel agent, landscaper, small appliance repairman, secretary, photographer, maid, manager, quality control executive and now add manufacturer of quality "kitchen stuff" and "mender".. hm.  So what shall I call myself?  "Maker of finer things?.. Quality designer?  Seamstress? Linen Artist? hm.  Not sure.. Maybe you can help me decide...  feel free to leave a comment below..

     This weeks Apron was a product designed during a busy week of- school starting and the myriad of meetings with educators and the organizing of the home special ed aids/educators.  I chose to go with something "light and airy"  hoping to reflect, the "lightness of the load, I wished to carry all week."  I decided on this simple "Prairie Apron Style" that evoked images of grandmothers globally circa 1800's and before up to circa 1920's maybe even 30's, coming in and out of their small and modest homes tending to gardens, farm animals, carrying water and cooking... 

To view more information about this apron or to see others I have made, please visit:   https://www.etsy.com/listing/108082543/prarie-style-grandmothers-apron-fits-xl

      I have not only been making aprons, but branching out with more mending, and finding so much joy in remaking torn and older clothing.  Just like this pair of cotton and polyester shorts.. that were so thin, I couldn't make the necessary repair without causing more damage.. so now is a good time to share.. all this sewing knowledge did not come so "naturally" I've had a lot of help.. I paid someone (with a rather extensive background in sewing, tailoring and Linen creations) to teach me!  I am proud to say.. I was a very blessed learner.. and this has created so many more directions for me than what I could've done back in the beginning.  I would never have understood, "interfacing" had I had to go it alone.. and it is now something I have come to fall in love with.. oh just ironing it on... and then sewing up my pieces has been like MAGIC!.. i've been able to create brand new beautiful items from slight adjustments here and there.. like these shorts.. which now are now fully redesigned from their formerly boring orange design.. (Jacob tore them top to bottom)..  

Now I am kicking myself for not taking a before picture.. The rip was terrible.. 

I was sweeping up all the loose threads around my home, (during the repair of these shorts, I was super, terribly, messy).  My broom became what looked to be a crazy piece of fabric all in itself. I took a glance around at the myriad of sewing tables, sewing machines.. display lamps, fabric shelves and thought to myself.. "what has happened to my home".. 

Just Listed My Aprons!

     How Thumbs!  My sewing machines.. Both, I was just about to throw out the window! (note that I did NOT include my 3rd machine, my antique White Rotary in the window scene) but anyways.. I have had so much trouble.. one is  a "Brother Sewing Machine" and one is a "Singer" the Singer being well over 20 years old.. the other being roughly 10 years old.. the problem:  loops galore and suddenly on the backside of my product.  I have read so many articles on how to fix this.. tension and/or tension screw being the culprits, usually.  Not this time though... 

    I took apart the machines, cleaned them, to no avail. I checked to make sure that I was getting the threads between the tension discs, check.. I double checked the bobbin, re-threaded everything and yes, my machine would suddenly run smoothly again, til' near the end of a stitch along.. GRRRR, finally.. it was suggested that maybe I was putting the bobbin backwards.. HUH??  THAT MATTERS? I'm possibly getting it going the right direction here and there and then therefore.. confusing myself on the problem.. soooo, I turned my bobbin thread both directions and sewed for a foot and half on a strip.. and wouldn'ta- you know.. RATS nest every time about 10 inches down each time the bobbin thread faced a certain way.. but it tricked ya, made you think that wasn't the problem by acting so well for such distance! 

    Now is a goooood time to tell you, that many people told me they had the same problems with their "Brother Sewing Machines" and they tossed them out!  I'm not kidding.  People think they're crap.  Well I just couldn't figure it because my machine ran so well.. it's a lovely machine and very cost efficient..  Turns out this was the same problem with my "Singer" too.  

    Brother Sewing Machines, if your listening, you'd best put a little label on those sapsuckers and tell people which way their thread should go.. Put it Right on the cover of your bobbin holder OR lots more people are gonna toss those machines and swear they're junk, when they're a reasonably wonderful machine.  Makes me wonder how many repair guys suggest you toss them so you'll buy one of their more expensive machines in their shops? hmmm? Ok.. stop the paranoia.. Life is good now thanks to my witty and wonderful sewing friend.  

   Well, all is not lost, you can view my aprons here on Etsy:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/croweapple?ref=si_shop

   Moral of the story here:  don't cast your treasures aside because their broken, just in case your just a dummy and need to make just a few adjustments. ~Deborah Crowe