On with the sewing (and a knitting plea)

First things first...I am seriously trying to find a copy of Interweave Knits Fall 2007 magazine. It is sold out according to the IK website and it is not a magazine carried at the only bookstore here on island. If anyone has a copy that they no longer want, please email me at mhighfill at gmail.com. I recently subscribed to this magazine (picking up the winter and holiday issues while in Guam), but media mail and magazines take 18 years to arrive. Okay, not 18 years, but I just got my November Martha Stewart Living magazine...yeah sucks.

Okay, on with the sewing goodness...

So, remember when I lamented on and on about my sewing machine and the havoc it was causing me? Good, then I don't need to rehash it. Well (Leah this is for you), as it turns out, I somehow managed to crack and subsequently chip a big hunk of metal off of the thingamajig that the shuttle race fits into. The non-movable, cast metal looking part that holds the shuttle race (but on the top). According to the repair guy, "No fix". English is not his first language. So, I boxed it up and am hoping that there is a Sears around Juneau or another repair person that can fix it for me.

Then, do you remember my obsession with the cutest of the cute Singer sewing machines? Well, when I was at home with Mom in August and September, I scoured eBay, thinking that I would win a little cutie and just load the 80 pound thing into my luggage and bring it home...weight restriction be damned! I have a Silver Elite card for Continental, get out of my way! Anyway, so I won a little cutie. I was over the moon. I could hardly wait. I had visions of setting it up in BFF's basement and sewing my way through insomnia and heartache. It was not meant to be.

I should have known when I saw this as I unwrapped it:


Then I saw this and I was seriously almost in tears:

The machine is not functional and now resides in a closet at my Dad's house. I hope someday to find a good Singer repair person and have them fix it, along with buying a new original green jadeite case. But until then....

Christmas came early! (I got this the week before Christmas)

A Viking Husqvarna Emma!!!

My Aunt in Dallas upgraded to a Viking Husqvarna Designer II SE (the evil one) and sent me her Emma. I am thrilled to bits!

I already love this machine and I haven't even plugged it in yet. I would be lying though if I told you that I wasn't a teensy bit intimidated by it. I have never owned such a nice machine. I am trying to locate a manual for it so I can learn to thread the bobbin. Right now it is threaded with yellow thread (forget something, Aunt Tamie?), so I might just figure out something small to sew up using yellow thread and give her a go. So many projects on the brain...aprons, needle rolls, birthday buntings, quilts...*sigh*

Well, it is New Year's Eve here on Saipan. Baby Tree Hugger is in bed (we are working on weaning and it is going well). DH just brought in a bottle of champagne (maybe to make up for putting in idiotic Nacho Libre in the dvd player?), so I am calling it a night. I will be asleep in prolly 30 minutes. Real exciting around these parts.

I have a few resolutions and reflections, but I will save them for my next post.

Wishing everyone a peaceful, prosperous and happy 2008.

Namaste.

Peace.

No and no

So, I haven't heard from Mom's Oncologist yet. And I didn't win the sewing machine.

But, I did get a chance to chat with Mom briefly. I am still on the fence about going, the decision will be made once I hear from her Oncologist. There is just so much going on with her, it seems like every month there is a new development. Metastatic breast cancer is a bitch. Truly.

Seems like everyone is jumping on the sewing machine bandwagon this last week. The object of my desire, a vintage Singer 185J or 185K (same machine, only one made in Canada and one in England) was going for pretty cheap prices...not so much anymore. Here is a pretty picture of one:

I like it because it is a 3/4 size machine, all metal, and is basic. And it is green, how cool is that? I only need straight stitch, maybe a zig zag stitch.

I like Meari's Happy Lite, and I keep searching for one on ebay to no avail. Ho hum. An interesting tidbit I learned from Meari's post is that it was sold by a company from the area where we are from. Small world.

I am starting to read reviews of other basic vintage Singers, so the horizons are broadening. BTW, if you enjoy sewing, have you ever checked out this site, Pattern Review? Wow. I am loving the reviews of sewing machines so far.

Okay, my sewing peeps, please give me your opinion on vintage sewing machines. Remember, I need basic functions and easy maintenance. I am getting Mom's old ginormous machine when we move home next year. My old machine is a Kenmore and I am not feeling the love for Kenmore right now.

I anxiously await your responses.

Peace.

Pins and Needles

I am waiting for an email from Mom's Oncologist with an update. I feel like I am on pins and needles. My heart is racing, my attention span is that of a gnat, my legs and arms are jumpy...the ADD is well into overdrive and I don't even have ADD.

I am 95% sure that I will be going home. Checked fares on Continental's website yesterday and for a flight off of this rock to Chicago on Monday, it is over $4k. If I wait until Thursday, it is closer to normal at just over $2k. I checked Northwest's website and the prices are comparable, but the catch is you have to stop in Japan. And even though we applied for Connor's passport in May, it still isn't in. So flying Northwest is out. And those are our two options for flights from here. Yay, I am so not looking forward to spending another 24 hours traveling to get home. Saipan to Guam, Guam to Honolulu, Honolulu to Houston, Houston to Chicago. Blech.

I did think about getting a flight to Guam and hanging around Andersen AFB to see if we could get a MAC flight at least to Hawaii and then trying to get something to Chicago...but you can wait for days on end for a MAC flight.

Add to all of that, I have a bid on a cute sewing machine on ebay that is ending in a couple of hours...keep your fingers crossed. I will post a picture if I win.

Peace.

Wrap up

Wow, I have been quite neglectful of the blog lately. Time seems to just slip right past me most days. Plus, DH was dinking around with the new computer the other night and the screen went black. Hrrrrm...that's not supposed to happen. He was messing around trying to get the info off of the old hard drive onto the new one and has some kind of external thingamajig hooked up. Poor darlin, he really tries hard. So now we are back to the laptop, which I am not too fond of. Oh well. When I win the lottery, I can buy my own little puter ( a Mac ) and do what I want. Guess I should start buying tickets.

The biggest downside is that I try to comment on blogs and I can't. The comment page just keeps reloading. Frustrating. Friends in blogland, know that I am reading and wanting to comment!

A pretty hibiscus on a very clear day. We have a big hibiscus bush in front.

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We took Connor to the beach for the first time on Friday. He had a good time, I think. He only cried a couple of times. We bought him a cheapy floaty tube and when he got to where he could touch the bottom, he would take off. The beach is now Connor's aqua walker.

This little girl decided that she wanted to take her puppy swimming. I watched her for a while to make sure she didn't drown it. So cute!

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Last weekend, we did some beautifying of the CNMI with Angelo's group, Beautify CNMI! There was even a little write up in the paper.

Click here to read a good post from Cinta and to see a cute family shot at the end. We plan on doing more volunteering with this group in the near future.

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Since only one person *technically* signed up for my PIF challenge, I decided to choose 4 others. I started working on one of the projects this week. Here is a sneak peek:

Where have I been that I have not used circular knitting needles before now? Holy moley, I am a woman obsessed now. Since I took this picture, I finished knitting it (and no, it isn't a hat). I immediately casted on for another similar style, only using a smaller needle and they are bamboo, not metal. Wow, bamboo rocks! Someday, I will be able to try out the Cadillac of knitting needles, the Addi Turbos...until then, I will be obsessing with my one pair of bamboo circulars.

By the way, if you ever see a copy of this book (in picture above) at a garage sale (where I got mine) or a thrift shop, I highly recommend you pick it up...it is full of great info on every kind of stitching and has awesome diagrams. If I had to pick only one book to have in my library for needlework, this would win. It is Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework. I think that mine was $2.

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The sewing machine is officially DOA according to Sam's Electronics. They can't repair it because it seems that I broke off a big piece of metal that holds the shuttle race in. I am bummed that I am without a sewing machine for a while, but to be honest...I kinda hated that one anyway! Too many bells and whistles. I bid on a vintage Singer machine on ebay...only has 5 stitches! Just my speed. But, I have been outbid. So, the search is on again. Got to keep it under $75 including shipping.

And, we dyed more of Connor's diapers. I *love* them!

Peace.

PIF

I am jumping in finally! I signed up on Jennifer's blog to join the PIF challenge. Here is how it works:

I will send a handmade gift to the first 5 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I have no idea what that gift will be and only promise that you will receive it within the next 365 days. The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog (or - in your life - if you happen to be blog-less). I hope you will join me in this exchange. All I need is 5 interested people!

I love to do RAK's (Random Acts of Kindness) and PIF's (Pay It Forward). The gift might be knitted, stitched, crocheted or sewn. I finally got my sewing machine dropped off at the repair shop this week. Thank you, Bigsoxfan for your recommendation of checking at Liberty Department store...they sent me to Sam's Electronics across from Hopwood.

So, I need 5 people...sign up, let me look at your blog and we'll see what creations come out of my crazy head.

Peace.

Sewing SOS

I have a sewing emergency!!! I have a Kenmore sewing machine and it is having serious problems. I took the shuttle race ( I think that is what it is called) off a few months ago to clean the dust & lint, then put it back together. Ever since then, it has been acting up...jamming, breaking needles, etc. It has gotten progressively worse. I was trying to sew DH's new patch on his uniform and by the time I got about an inch stitched, I had broken 2 needles. Plus, I can't adjust the stitch length, the stitches are minute.

I ended up hand sewing the patch on. And seriously considered chucking the machine out the door, but that isn't very treehugger of me, now is it?

So, all of you sewing Saipan-er's, where can I get my machine fixed? I looked in the phone book to no avail.

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We are having a garage sale on Saturday. I didn't realize how much work garage sales are!!! Cleaning, pricing, organizing. Now I catch myself eyeing the tchotchke's and wondering how much I can get for them. I am a junker at heart.

Peace.

Life is good

DH has been home for the past couple of days since they are now on holiday rotation. I really enjoy spending time together. I will admit, he does spoil me. The other day, we had my favorite breakfast, Eggs Benedict. And he knows exactly how I like the eggs...poached hard. No liquid chicken for me, thanks! We also had sliced pears and orange juice. What a way to start the day!

On Tuesday, we did end up going and buying the new dining room set. For those on Saipan, FYI...Monika's Furniture Gallerie is moving to Guam at the end of the month. Due to the economy from what I understand. And unfortunately, there won't be a big sale...they are going to load up a container and ship whatever they have in stock.

So, this is the dining room set. The only drawback is that it doesn't have a leaf to expand it, but it will eventually go in the kitchen once we buy a house back in the States in 1 1/2 years. It is Teak and we think that we got it for a pretty reasonable price. Now, I just have to make cushions for the chairs with removable covers. Because I am too cheap to buy some.

(You can see our "Christmas Tree" in the corner...that's as good as it is getting here at the House of Grinch. Dad made it for us a few years ago.)

Yesterday, we got a bunch of packages in the mail from MIL & FIL. We knew that she had ordered these things, it is so much more fun when you see them in person! They sent the Exersaucer, the mobile (it plays Bach, Beethoven & Mozart), and a set of soft blocks by Baby Einstein along with the food mill that we wanted. We plan on making our own baby food and this will be great for when we go to China next year.

I started working on my Biscornu that I am doing with Carolyn. I totally forgot that we had agreed to start this week! I have serious pregnancy brain lately. All I think about 90% of the time is the baby and baby related stuff. Oops! So, I started it last night. We bought our kits from Mary Kathryn's shop. She also gives very good finishing instructions. The kit comes with the chart, 2 pieces of Jobelan and a skien of Dinky Dyes silk in your color choice ( I chose "Mystic Pools" ). I have never stitched with Dinky Dyes and although they are nice and smooth, I feel like they are too fragile. Guess I will stick with regular DMC after this. The frog came to visit me today, grr. So, I spent time ripping out part of it, but otherwise it is going well. I betcha Carolyn is ahead of me though, lol. I am so slow!

Today I made a ring sling for the baby. I only had 2 yards of fabric, and I think that for the next one, I will use 3 or 3 1/2 yards of fabric. I would also like to do one in a silk dupioni fabric someday...maybe for the baptism...? The instructions that I followed looked at were found on this site. I got the rings from this site that specifically makes & sells rings for slings. If you plan on making a sling, please don't get the rings from the craft store...they are not strong enough.
Doesn't Bella Baby look thrilled to pieces to be slinged? I hope that our baby doesn't give me as much attitude.

Tomorrow we have a holiday party to go to and I am looking forward to it. Last night we had DH's boss over for dinner, it was a nice time. DH & I made ham balls (can I just say *YUM!*), cheesy hashbrown casserole and green bean casserole. (Note to Stels...notice that it is "normal food"?) We also gave him a couple loaves of banana bread and a bunch of soft ginger cookies to take home. The cookies are like biscuits and soo good with a cup of tea.

That's all that is going on here.

BTW, Angelo...I will get to it soon. : )

Peace