Friday 11 March 2011

Folksy Friday - through the rabbit hole

One of my dearest friends has recently had a little baby boy, who is just scrumptious.  I wanted to make him a keepsake and I'd seen a lovely pattern for a linen bunny in Sew Hip magazine.  Anyway I started making it earlier this week and don't know whether it's me or the pattern, but something is amiss.  So instead I'm crocheting him a beautiful blue bunny from the softest merino wool.  I love the old fashion feel of knitted and crocheted toys, there's something quite special about them.

I haven't crocheted for about 25 years, but with the aid of this fab book which I got for my birthday I'm making great progress.  I should have it finished in no time!  However, I'm not really one for following patterns to the letter, I like to ad lib a bit so I'm not telling anyone it's meant to be a bunny yet, we'll see what it most resembles when it's finished!!

So my Folksy Friday this week has a twitch of the nose, a hop and a cotton tail to it. As always if you like what you see click on the pic to be magically transported through the rabbit hole to Folksy.com and go shop!  Happy Friday everyone, hope you all have a fab weekend. Ursula ♥

Thursday 3 March 2011

Folksy Friday - dreams do come true

For as long as I can remember I have had this dream of owning an antique sewing machine.  I love my modern sewing machine, but believe me when I say it's not a looker!  I adore the old black machines, the intricate patternation and gilding in contrast to the sheer weight of the machine and cast iron treadle.  We spent last week in France with my Monsieur's family and stayed in an old house that his grandparents have recently inherited.  As Mamy was showing us around our eldest was rummaging through cupboards and wardrobes as only 6 year olds can get away with!  To everyones surprise she opened a 'chest of drawers' to find an antique Singer sewing machine with treadle in perfect working order and the 'chest of drawers' was in fact a purpose built oak sewing chest with incorporated sewing table! I nearly died!  Anyway to cut a long story short we brought the machine home with us and the treadle and chest are coming later on! 

I couldn't wait to get back onto English soil so I could get the internet on my phone and start researching.  As soon as we got past customs in Dover I started looking at machines on the internet to try and date it.  (Silly me for not writing down the serial and model numbers before we wrapped it up and put it in the bottom of the boot).  I did casually suggest at one of our rest stops that we could just get it out quickly and have a look, but my Monsieur just glared at me!  As soon as we got home and the girls were put to bed I went onto the Singer website and input the numbers.  I thought in the back of my mind that it could be late 1940s.  It's fairly plain and I figured that it could be due to being made shortly after World War II.  Anyway, it turns out it was made in Scotland between July and December 1919!  Woooah!  Never did I imagine it would be so old.  I feel such a lucky bunny and am so looking forward to having all the pieces together so I can have it serviced and start making.  I really want to find out more about the machine and will contact Singer to see if they can tell me anything more about it's history.  I can't wait!

So with that in mind my Folksy Friday this week is all about the sewing machine. The workhorse that serves me (and many others) tirelessly.  If you like what you see click on the pic to be transported to Folksy and go shop! Ursula ♥