Generational gifts.
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Spent the day yesterday driving up to Seattle to pick up my Mom (her car was here) and bring home a couple chairs my sister is sharing with me (love you Jess). A long drive, but made much more delightful with Mom and me chatting along down the freeway.
She is here for a couple days scrapbooking. She loves it. And of course, this is a good place to come if you want to scrapbook. Just a couple goodies here and there. It is fun watching her work and I love hearing her share stories and feelings about the pages she is creating.
She gave me this sewing machine awhile back. It has been in the closet...living a quiet existence until I could find a new home for it in the studio and figure out how to set it up just right. Mom brought it in here today and set it up for me and I am all ready to sew on my pages now. I love that look. Some of my favorite scrapbookers, like Cathy and Mellette, do tons of sewing on their pages. Having the machine set up like this will make it easy for me to add a zig zag here and there as I go along.
This morning she typed up the following for me...something I will use on an upcoming layout:
Generations of Women Helping Women....
The History of the Singer Touch and Sew Sewing Machine.
After graduating in Clothing and Textiles from Oregon State University in 1971 Al and I moved to Coos Bay. I was able to get a job at the local Singer Sewing store teaching classes in Sewing with Knits. This sewing machine was the top of the line Singer in 1972. It cost around $200. Al and I didn't have $200. So my Mother-in-law, Marie, loaned me the money to buy this machine. I used this machine to teach classes at the Singer store and less than a year later, got a job teaching Sewing with Knits and other sewing classes at Southwestern Oregon Community College. When we moved to Federal Way in 1982, I became a Clothing and Textile Advisor for Washington State University and taught more sewing classes for women around the Seattle/Tacoma area. Ali, John and Jessica all learned to sew on this sewing machine taking various sewing workshops through the 4-H programs that I was involved with. Thanks to Marie for helping me buy this machine and now I am sharing it with Ali so that she can add stitching to her scrapbook pages.
I love being able to have another voice on my layouts. Her personal perspective in my books. And the generational sharing continues...she has purchased all kinds of computer equipment for me over the last few years. Things that I could not afford on my own, things that have made a difference for me in my job and my pasions. Thanks Mom.
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43 comments
Cool machine! Vintage rules! That little note will make an awesome page. Glad you can join the world of sewing on scrapping!
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Wow! Just looking at that beautiful gold and cream sewing machine brought back so many great memories...I took 5 years of sewing lessons starting at the age of 10 (in 1972 no less!)at my local House of Fabric store using this same machine. My instructors were awesome ladies with tons of patience and knowlege. I bet your mom has lots of fond memories of her years teaching there. Thanks for sharing!
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Okay, I think you have the coolest mom ever!! What a great story she documented for you!! Enjoy your new treasure!!
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How cool is that?!!! I am an avid seamstress, and love that she shared this story with you! What a treasure (both your mom and the machine!).
Enjoy!
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Very neat looking machine, you'll love having it set up so that you can sew whenever you want.
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wow what a great gift from your mom. i got one of my g-mas many machines when she passed away and i have loved it. i make baby quilts and i make a tiny quilt to sew on the cards so that they coordinate. it is so much fun. there are so many fun things you can do w/ a sewing machine.
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That is so awesome! How cool that your mom scrapbooks with you. That would be amazing!
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enjoy your machine! I am in awe that you scrapbook with your mom!!!
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Ali - Your mom sounds so cool! I can't wait to see your creations using this really neat sewing machine!! :)
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Ali, I think you and I have exactly the same sewing machine! Small world! I inherited my mom's a few years ago since she had passed away and my step-mother already owned several. I often wonder what Mom is thinking up there with me doing all my sewing on paper instead of fabric. ;-) But I learned to sew on Mom's old machine, just like you. Did some sewing for 4-H ... I entered a "Make It With Wool" contest for 4-H one year and had to model a wool dress at the fair in 100 degree heat while leading a sheep around. And to top it all off, I lost grand prize to A GUY who made himself a wool suit!! LOL!
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Ali, I think you and I have exactly the same sewing machine! Small world! I inherited my mom's a few years ago since she had passed away and my step-mother already owned several. I often wonder what Mom is thinking up there with me doing all my sewing on paper instead of fabric. ;-) But I learned to sew on Mom's old machine, just like you. Did some sewing for 4-H ... I entered a "Make It With Wool" contest for 4-H one year and had to model a wool dress at the fair in 100 degree heat while leading a sheep around. And to top it all off, I lost grand prize to A GUY who made himself a wool suit!! LOL!
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How 'bout a pic of you and mom on your blog ! We've heard so many wonderful things about her :)Too cool Ali -
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I love the history on the sewing machine. Makes me want to make even more memories like that while my daughters are still here at home with me.
Note to self: must use sewing on my scrapbook pages someday soon...
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That is awesome, Ali, that you can share your hobby/passion/job with your mom and that she is available to help you. Look forward to seeing you sew on future pages! Enjoy your time with your mother!
T
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So cool that your Mom scraps and even cooler that she wrote that for you- love it!!
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Now that my own mother has taught me how to sew, only on scrapbook pages(as I've not been brave enough to venture into the fabric world yet)it has become one of my most favorite embellishments. I can truly imagine that same excitement you and your mother can now share too.
I do have an unrelated question for you, if you don't mind-what pp did you use on all the layouts featured in the July Ck in the article about your editors crop-I am in love w/it! Thanks!
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I'm such a sucker for generational stories. I misted up when I read your post. Am I a sap or what? Anyway, your mom's machine reminded me of my own mother's Kenmore from 1969. She still uses it and it's never needed more than an oiling. I learned on her machine and, even though I don't own it, it's a wonderful symbol for our relationship. Thank for sharing. -Jen
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Ali, that is such a cool story about how the sewing machine made its way to you.
I got my first sewing machine for my 17th b-day. At the time, it wasn't so cool. Now, I am constantly thanking my mom for it!!! It is such a neat thing...mothers and daughters and sewing machines.
~Becky
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Okay, it is a just a sewing machine, but you add your Mom's narrative and I have a tear in my eye. It is so wonderful to be able to share and notice how small things in our lives can touch and teach so many.
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That is gorgeous! I wish I could hook my Mum on scrapbooking and get her to record these sorts of stories.
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