Dec 31, 2010
Peter's best (and worst) of 2010!
Friends, as 2010 draws to a close, let's take a few minutes to recall some of the high -- and low -- points of this, our very first year together.
Labels:
books,
Cathy,
mens bathing suit,
my life,
patterns
Dec 30, 2010
Resisting Sewing Obsession
Readers, as you can see, I now have my Pfaff 30 here at home in its original table. I am so into this machine. We have an incredible physical connection.
Labels:
my life,
Pfaff 30,
sewing machines
Dec 29, 2010
Oh Joy! Oh Rapture! The Pfaff 30
Friends, let's face it: when it comes to sewing machines, I'm a playa. In just eighteen months I've been with more sewing machines than some of you will sew on in your entire lives. Is it me or are men just that way?
Labels:
Pfaff 30,
sewing machines
Dec 28, 2010
Snowed-in Sewing
Twenty inches is a lot of snow, my friends. I am at an age where snow is a nuisance, sadly. My Flexible Flyer days are far, far behind me.
Labels:
mens fashion,
mens shirt
Dec 27, 2010
Leopard Print Pants and the Holiday Hangover
We're in post-holiday recovery mode here today, folks. I feel so grateful this time of year -- mainly that I'm not stranded in a Chicago airport waiting for my flight to be rescheduled. Life is good.
Labels:
mens pants,
my life
Dec 25, 2010
Mens Leopard Print Pants for Christmas!
THANK YOU, SANTA!
OK, how cool are these pants? I can't wait to wear them to
Labels:
mens fashion,
mens jeans,
mens pants,
sewing machines,
video
Dec 24, 2010
Dec 23, 2010
Peter's Holiday Hodgepodge
Readers, it can no longer be ignored: it's almost you-know-what-mas again. I hope you've been good little girls and boys; I know I have been!
Labels:
my life,
Singer 15-91
Dec 22, 2010
BREAKING -- Singer treadle switcheroo!
Friends, I know I lose a great many of you when I talk about vintage sewing machines. Eyes glaze over, minds wander, thumbs twiddle. We live in the time of Twitter and attention spans are short.
Labels:
sewing machines,
singer 15-90,
Singer 15-91,
Singer 66,
Singer treadle,
video
Dec 21, 2010
Welcome, Singer 15-90! or "Out with the Old, In with the Older"
Friends, Monday was a very exciting day here at MPB headquarters. As if guided by the spirit of I.M. Singer himself, I was able both to sell my Singer Spartan (my seventh sewing machine sale since I started decluttering earlier this month) and hours later to receive my Singer 15-90, courtesy of UPS.
Labels:
sewing machines,
singer 15-90
Dec 20, 2010
Conflicted Sewing
Wise readers, do you subscribe to the belief that our outer worlds are a reflection of our inner worlds?
Labels:
dime store psychology,
my life,
video
Dec 19, 2010
Dec 18, 2010
End-of-year projects et al.
Wow!
An MPB reader created this fabulous Andy Warhol-esque portrait of Cathy a few months back and -- don't hate me -- I forgot who. Anyway, I wanted to share it with all of you. You rock, whoever you are.
Labels:
fabric,
project planning
Dec 17, 2010
The Last Toggle Post
Dear readers, a million thanks for yesterday's comments. I think we're all going to enjoy wearing this coat and don't think I'm not serious -- I share.
Labels:
mens toggle coat
Dec 16, 2010
Dec 15, 2010
MPB SHOCKER: Peter buys another -- !
Friends, it's barely past dawn here and I have already eaten breakfast, voided my colon, and bought another --
Labels:
my life,
sewing machines
Dec 14, 2010
Dec 13, 2010
Pet Peeves: sewing for dogs
Friends, I'm not one of those people who are into dressing up dogs "cute" and I hope you're not either.
Dec 12, 2010
Toggle-free Sunday
Friends, I made absolutely no progress on my toggle coat yesterday due to a wedding-related party my mother threw up in the Bronx (or rather ...my mother threw, up in the Bronx) for all the neighbors she has known for decades but who didn't make the wedding cut. Plus a few who had been invited but were too old and frail too attend. At one point we had actual walker traffic, with a line of four waiting to get through my mother's foyer.
Dec 11, 2010
Toggle Coat vs. Duffle Coat + ARRIVAL OF THE TOGGLES!
Refined readers, you'll be happy to know that for what I could have spent on dinner for two in a moderately priced Japanese restaurant, I bought four leather toggle sets yesterday, complete with genuine horn toggles and four matching buttons (for sleeves and detachable neck strap).
Labels:
mens toggle coat,
video,
women I love,
works in progress
Dec 10, 2010
Dec 9, 2010
Dec 8, 2010
To err is human + Toggle coat update!
Friends, do you remember this lovely vintage Samsonite vanity case? Well this morning I walked into the living room and --
Labels:
mens toggle coat
Dec 7, 2010
Toggle Coat Turmoil et al.
First things first: I sold my Necchi Lydia! Yesterday evening the interested party -- let's call her Darlene Gillespie -- swung by to check her out. It was love at first sight (between Darlene Gillespie and Lydia of course), what could I do?
Labels:
mens toggle coat,
video,
works in progress
Dec 6, 2010
Good News, Bad News!
Good news!
I preshrank all my wool for my toggle coat project using the damp-towel-in-the-dryer method I first read about here. (I've done it before with successful results.)
Bad news...
Labels:
my life,
works in progress
Dec 5, 2010
Best Basic or Beginner Sewing Machines: Your recommendations please!
I had a funny experience this weekend. Someone contacted me through Craigslist wanting to buy my Necchi Lydia!
I was delighted -- at first.
Labels:
sewing basics,
sewing machines
Dec 4, 2010
Toggle Coat Take-off!
Good morning, hoarders, pack rats, and clutterbugs!
Feeling fresh and alive after my week of decluttering (which continues, albeit offstage), I trotted over to the garment district yesterday in search of wool fabric for my toggle coat project, otherwise known as Vogue 8452, an OOP mens pattern from 1992.
Labels:
mens toggle coat,
project planning
Dec 3, 2010
Positively the LAST decluttering post
Brace yourself, friends, my notable Necchi is no more. She won't be picked up till next week but I have a deposit. How exciting is that? Five sewing machines sold in four days. Let's all take a deep breath.
Labels:
decluttering,
my life
Dec 2, 2010
Decluttering downsides
I know this is getting a little wearisome for some of you, but rest assured, the decluttering is winding down.
Yesterday I bid good-bye to my Brother LS2125, now owned by former Floridian Melissa. So touched was I by her excitement, I threw in a vintage McCall's hardcover sewing book for free. Melissa seemed delighted.
Labels:
decluttering,
my life,
sewing machines
Dec 1, 2010
More DECLUTTERING delight!
Meet Marcia (name changed to protect her from envious MPB stalkers), the proud new owner of my beloved Singer Genie. Please don't hate her. The machine was actually a gift to Marcia from a friend (an MPB reader, no less) and Marcia came to pick it up not even knowing what it would be. I could have given her my old razor with no questions asked.
Labels:
decluttering,
my life
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