Meet me in Brooklyn....

Well, it's finally arrived.  Katy gets here tomorrow (!!!!!!!!!) and we're off for a week or so of Christmas travelling,  then on to Brooklyn on the 2nd.   I can't wait to start this new chapter together.  

It will be quiet around the blog until the week of the 3rd, and the etsy shop is closed until the 15th which is the projected date that the moving truck will arrive (I'll let you know if we get our stuff sooner).   Until then, take care, and have a happy new year.

So long old friend.....it's been good to know you.

**********************Denise S., you are the winner of the scrap box.  Please e-mail me your address:  rebeccaringquist(at)gmail(dot)com.  Congratulations!!!!!**************************************************************

Like lots of you, I have a small collection of sewing machines.  My two main work horses are both 6000 series Viking's built in the 1960's.  They are powerful machines, made to sew through leather.  They eat through the fabric with no problems at all, even when my pieces get to be 1/4 inch think (I use a #18 needle).    In addition to the two beasts, for a long time, I've had a Vintage Pink Pfaff.   I found it at the thrift store (The Ark) in Chicago, of course, and paid to have it overhauled.  I can still remember the leap of joy that I felt when I opened the top of the table to find this two toned pink steel awesomeness.  The repair guy that fixed it put a brand new PINK belt on it, and I nearly kissed him when I came by to pick it up.  He gets me, that one.    While this machine certainly is not made to sew through 1/4 inch fabric, it is a great little tool for hemming a curtain, piecing a quilt, etc.   It's so much fun to use, and when it's not being used, it has been a great place to keep our mail as it folds up into a handsome little end table.   

I used this machine quite a bit in the last month when the other two were up at Vogue getting their annual exams, and I loved working on it, but it's just not going to make the trip to Brooklyn with us.  Perhaps it's something you (Chicagoan out there) would like?   I listed it yesterday morning on craigslist, and I sure hope it finds a new home soon.

In other news, another contest is happening!  Jenny Doh is having a giveaway for a complete set of my printed samplers.  Stop over at her blog before Saturday for a chance to win.  Good luck!

Finally, due to the enthusiasm of so many of you that commented yesterday regarding scraps, I'm offering a manila envelope full of scraps to anyone that buys two or more samplers from my etsy shop between now and Thursday(12/16) at 5:00pm CST.  They make great stocking stuffers for all those embroiderers on your list!   Just leave a comment in the etsy comments letting me know that you'd like some scraps.   Thanks!

Still more sorting, and I sure do miss my mom.

After all of that power sorting that my mom and dad and I did, I sure did miss them this weekend when I was a one woman power sorter.   I still got everything done on my to do list, but it took a lot longer.  Especially yesterday, when we got the tail end of that Minnesota blizzard here in Chicago.  I took a long walk and enjoyed the quiet way of the snow.  Everyone here in Chicago seems to complain about the weather in winter, but I love it.  I'm from Michigan.  This is my favorite time of year.  

I came in from the cold yesterday and spent the evening sorting still more stuff.  The pincushions, all my photographs, and the rest (non-embroidered) fabric.   I think I'm starting to see the light at the end of the cotton tunnel.

One of the biggest obstacles to cleaning out my studio has been an overwhelming amount of cloth.  I've amassed quite a collection from the bounty of Chicago's thrifts over the decade that I've been here, but I've also amassed quite a bit of stuff that I just can't keep any longer.  It's time to make some room for breathing.  I've been taking bags and bags of it down to SAIC every week to donate, and some things over to the Brown Elephant for donations as well.  A few things have gotten shipped out to friends around the country, and I thought today I would ship something out to one of you....leave a comment if you'd like to be entered to win a box full of scraps.  There's lots of goodness- a piece of an old crazy quilt, some hand printed bits, a part of a quilt I started and abandoned, some African prints.....a shoe box full of scraps.   Leave a comment here and I'll choose someone tomorrow morning by 9:00 CST.   

One more thing....I'm a guest blogger this week over at Jenny Doh's space.  Stop by there to read a bit about my background, as well as a collection of my favorite links....Welcome to Jenny's readers!