Wednesday, October 07, 2009

what I did today

Stayed home. Exercised. Made soup. Got my Bernina 1020 working again. A year or more ago, my Bernina was making noise and the wheel didn't want to turn easily, so I bought Pam Morris' Janome 6500 and have been using it happily ever since. I kept meaning to take the Bernina in for service but never got around to it, so it has been sitting on the floor near the sewing room door for that same year or more (is it possible?). This morning, I picked it up, dusted it off, cleaned the bobbin thingie, oiled it, plugged it in - and it purred. I guess it just needed a vacation. Of course, what do I need with multiple good machines? The Viking 210 I bought in 1994 (the only new machine I have ever bought) is in my studio...and is very quiet and lovely but I don't do any serious sewing (i.e., free motion stitching) with it. I could, but I don't. In the unlikely event I need a sewing machine to travel with, it's great because it weighs only 13 or 15 lbs. Then, I have a wonderful old Singer 99 which I bought for a song at a house sale and have used (not lately) on occasion. It's heavy and has a carrying case. Nice straight stitch. My mother's old sewing machine is downstairs in the guest room: it's the first machine I ever sewed on. Finally, the treadle - which is in front hall and in the event of a power failure, I could light a candle and use it. I spent the afternoon attaching facings to 3 quilts and now I only have to sew them down by hand. Tomorrow. For the past week the room has looked as if Genghis Khan's marauding hordes came through and ransacked the place looking for gold. How can I work in such a mess, you ask? Ha! I cannot reveal my secret.
But this is what it looks like now. You can see how I spent my evening.
This was probably the biggest accomplishment of the day. With a few tweaks it should stay this way through the weekend.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Rayna, suddenly I feel loads better about the way my studios look. LOL

Nina Marie said...

You know the before and after is simple amazing! Don't you wish you could spend an evening a day on an art piece and have such a turnaround? Great job!

Sherryl said...

Oh wow! You really do have a floor! :-)

Debra Dixon said...

Clean studios are so overrated!

Del said...

A wonderous transformation! Will it encourage me to do the same thing? Not a chance, if I put things away I would never be able to find a thing. Guess I will just muddle along with the fiber postcards in the tiny space that is clear enough to work on them. Well, I might put away the fabric that I will not use, at least that which I will not need to ever locate again. Love, Del-at-home

FunkyC said...

Nice cleaning job. How 'bout you come over to my house ;)

Eva said...

I seem to be unable to remove a mess. J does it for me. Have to learn also this from you!

Deb Hardman said...

y room just like your before pictures a few weeks ago, & I got busy & cleaned it up. I've been working in a tidy space ever since & it feels so good.

I have more machines than I care to say, & have 2 loaned out right now (for over a year, & don't really miss them!)I look upon them as Art!

Deirdre said...

Personally I think your studio looks great both ways!

I think the only rule should be to clean it before something falls and hurts someone

Mine takes hours and days to clean and organize and only seconds to starts it's downward spiral. I guess this is why I call mine the Sloppy Studio.

:-D eirdre

WesternWilson said...

Oh Rayna, I love your Genghis Khan comment...I think he rampages through my creation station as well!

Alyssa Burke of Sew Wild fame says she lets her workspace get as messy as it needs to during a project, but she cleans it totally *between* projects. An excellent way of being...if only I ever finished a project!!! I am a serial project starter....

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