Posts

Posted on

Sewing Holiday Pillowcases

(can be addictive)

Burritos for Christmas

On the first holiday season after retiring from teaching, I got “crafting fever.” I wanted to sew somenting festive. I was browsing through Pinterest when I came across a video with directions for making a simple pillow case, complete with contrasting trim, by using the burrito method.  Yes, the burrito method. NO, not this kind of burrito:

This kind….https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAomYjHzUQk Named for the way that you roll the fabric up during sewing

It was the perfect project to help me revive my sewing skills that had been dormant for most of my teaching years. Off to the fabric store I went with the exact measurements in hand eager to get started. I found the perfect holiday themed flannel on sale and bought several different prints. The first pillowcase, a candy-cane print with a snowflake border, stitched together in a flash. I ran to show my husband the finished product, eager to impress him with my talent.

Continue reading “Sewing Holiday Pillowcases” …

Posted on

Dress A Girl

Sew-A-Thon

Every year, on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, people take time to kick off the holiday season by giving back to their community. Whether it is donating money to a charitable cause or volunteering, Giving Tuesday is a day set to benefit the community. For me, the opportunity to give back came a bit early this year.

On November 6, 2021, hundreds of people gathered at church in my community to sew dresses for the Dress A Girl Around the World organization. Founder Rachel Eggum Cinader describes the organization this way: “Dedicated volunteers throughout the United States and around the world gather to sew and distribute dresses to girls in need around the world because we believe every girl deserves at least one dress…”  https://dressagirlaroundthe world.com

Continue reading “Dress A Girl” …

Posted on

Vintage Sewing Machines

…have personalities!

I’m not sure why vintage sewing machines intrigue me. Maybe because we live in a throwaway world, always looking for the latest, fastest, newest models of cars, appliances, phones… and it’s satisfying to find well-made machines from the past that still work. It could be because I learned to sew on a (now vintage) 1970s Sears Kenmore that holds many memories and is still my go-to machine. Or perhaps, as I get older, these vintage machines remind me that us “older models” still have a lot to offer.

I recently visited an antique mall where I discovered a booth dedicated to vintage machines, patterns, and sewing accessories. The catchy name and display of cleverly arranged machines drew me in. The owner had written descriptions giving the sewing machines names and personalities. Each one “seamed like a story” just waiting to be told. The writer in me couldn’t resist. (disclaimer: I don’t claim to be a vintage-sewing machine expert. I am going by what was on the tags and some feeble attempts at research.)

  Let me introduce you to:

Continue reading “Vintage Sewing Machines” …

Posted on

Homecoming

Back Home Again in Indiana

I’m a Hoosier transplanted to Arizona. Though I love my southwest home, after “Autumn in Arizona” http://seamslikeastory.com/autumn-in-arizona/ I needed to experience fall for real. A three hour plane ride and I was back home again in Indiana. http://seamslikeastory.com/fly-away-thoughts/ Several things made this trip important to me:

A Wedding

John (not his real name) was a student in my first grade class and, nine years later, was also a student in my husband Ed’s high school biology class. I remember him as a lively red-haired little guy. By the time he was in high school, “lively” would be a mild term. Ed saw through the antics and challenged this bright young man to live up to his potential. After he graduated from high school, John joined the Marines. Ed and I kept in touch, often taking him out for lunch when he was home on leave. We’d lost touch for a while, and were excited to receive an invitation to his wedding this fall. Of course, we had to go.

Continue reading “Homecoming” …

Posted on

Fly-Away Thoughts

from Phoenix to Indianapolis

My thoughts from Phoenix to Indianapolis on a recent trip:

  • Traffic from Tucson to Phoenix is horrendous
  • Glad we reserved a parking space in the garage.
  • Made it to the airport in plenty of time
  • Ed’s bag doesn’t get through security.  “Do you have any aerosols in here?”“NO.” “What’s this?” Agent pulls out a container of shaving cream.“I forgot about that…” Dangerous shaving cream tossed in trash.
  • Spent $18 on a sandwich, bottle of water, and Rolaids to take on the plane. Sheesh!
  • Group 6 boarding…Waiting…waiting…finally board and find our seats. Right behind the wing. Ed has to have an aisle seat. He thinks the aisle seat gives him more room to stretch his legs, but can he really? I don’t think you’re allowed to stick your legs into the aisle. I take the middle seat.
  • Lucky day!  The plane is loaded and no one is in the window seat!  I move over leaving the middle seat open.  Wiggle room!
  • American Airlines is offering free movies on your own device.  I finally get it figured out and get Ed settled in with Ghost Busters. They look so tiny on his phone’s little screen, but Ed’s content and occupied. I settle in with a book.
  • Had a hard time packing for this trip…high 80s in Phoenix, will be 50s-60s and probably rainy in Indiana.
  • Going to a wedding…in a barn…invite said “casual formal”…what the heck does that mean?
  • Packed my only dress. It’s sleeveless.  Threw in a jean jacket and boots. Is that casual formal? It’s a barn wedding… Indiana… In October…I’ll be fine.
  • Dinner. Ed and I share the $12 sandwich I bought before boarding, Airline pretzels round out the meal. Eating slowly so we can relax with our masks off for an extra moment or two.
  • I dangle my mask from one ear so everyone knows I have one and will put it on as soon as I finish eating and drinking.  I’m such a rule follower…
  • On American Airlines you get a whole can when you order a diet Coke…not just a little cup. I almost feel like I’m in first class. I refill my little cup of ice three times!
  • One hour in…the bathroom line forms…probably all those people who drank a whole can of Diet Coke.
  • Two more hours to go.  Hope I can hold out. Rather not use the plane bathroom unless I have to.
  • 11:00 pm Indy time… dark, but I can tell we’re getting close.  We experience turbulence as we descend through dense cloud cover. Why is it always raining when I get to Indiana? I hope I get to see some Fall leaves. The Fasten Seatbelt sign blinks on as we bump into Indianapolis.
Threads of thought icon

Threads of thought

It’s interesting to be traveling again. Have you ventured out yet?

Happy Travels!

Proudly powered by WordPress