Peter & Michael's Singer Featherweight Shirt Photo Shoot!

Readers, just two weeks ago I stumbled on two very wonderful Robert Kaufman Singer Featherweight quilting cottons.

New Shirt, New Class, and Another Vintage Sewing Machine

Readers, I recently completed this summer shirt, made with floral shirting from Mood Fabrics.

Two New Sewing Machines!

Readers, great news: yesterday at the Chelsea Flea Market, I acquired not one, but two new sewing machines.

Getting Others to Clean My Clutter!

Readers, remember that famous scene in Mark Twain's classic, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," when Tom's Aunt Polly wants Tom to whitewash the picket fence and clever Tom gets the other neighborhood boys to do it by pretending it's the most fun thing in the world?

OMG, that's what I did yesterday with friend and fellow blogger, Suzanne, and she totally fell for it!

Be nice to your neighbors. (They may have an old sewing machine they don't want.)

Friends, I'm almost embarrassed to share what just happened to me today but my hunch is you can already guess.

Singer Featherweight -- the big REVEAL!

Friends, who knew that USPS makes parcel deliveries on a national holiday?  I wasn't expecting this on MLK Day (i.e., Monday), but was delighted to receive it.  I'm glad I was home!

Whatever happened to the Singer Featherweight?

Sewing machines are a lot like cars.  How we feel about them is entirely subjective.  Regardless of the official product description or what online reviewers may say, if we like it, we like it and if we don't, we don't.

Peter Visits the NYC Sewing Machine Museum!

Readers, forgive the somewhat misleading title of this post.  I didn't really visit the NYC Sewing Machine Museum.  In fact, there is no NYC Sewing Machine Museum -- yet.

But I did go out to Queens yesterday to visit my friend Johanna, avid sewing machine collector and knitter.  (Since I rarely leave my neighborhood, this was like a trip overseas for most people; I even got to eat Greek food.)  If sewing machines and knitting sound like a mismatch, you're right, but what can you collect if you knit?  Needles?

Behold the Refinished Featherweight Table!

Friends, I simply couldn't wait till 2012 to show you my refinished Singer Featherweight table, which I fished out of the trash only one week ago.  Ready?

Peter Strips!

Readers, I hope you're not disappointed but I will not be disrobing today.  I will, however, be finishing my featherweight table, otherwise known as Miracle on 24th St.

Featherweight Table Makeover -- and so much more!

Isn't this an amazing transformation, readers?  Wow!

Unfortunately, this Featherweight table is not the one Santa left for me in the street last weekend, but rather belongs to MPB reader Wayne of Florida, who restored it himself.  This pic shows the table before he applied polyurethane, but it looks fantastic to me as is (the blue tape is simply to keep the black enamel paint applied to the sides off the top).

Miracle on 24th Street!

Friends, do you believe in Christmas miracles?  You don't?  Well, read on -- you soon may!

Friday Featherweight Fun-Fest!

Friends, I recognize that this week, MPB has been a little -- how shall I put this?  -- sewing-machine-heavy.  Please believe that I have new projects in the pipeline and I will return to sewing soon.

The Lure of the "Little"

Friends, why are we humans obsessed with tiny things?   Doll houses, teacup chihuahuas, mini Ipods -- the list goes on and on.  It's not like most of us are living in teensy weensy dorm rooms and couldn't squeeze a full-size chihuahua into it.

Loved the gown, Kate!

We like to stay up to the minute here at MPB, so I must opine on the dress: it's beautiful.  But then again, I'm a sucker for a lace overlay!

Which provides the perfect segue into the book I just received the other day, Susan Khalje's classic, Bridal Couture.

For Want of a Screw...

Readers, believe me when I tell you that yesterday at this time I had never heard of a loop guard, let alone a loop guard screw.  But life is about learning, friends, and if we're open to it, knowledge will come our way, no matter how arcane and (arguably) trivial.

Photo Album 2...and the Featherweight arrives!

More pics from the magical mystery photo album -- and so much more, my friends.  But first...

Sewing and the Impulse Purchase

Kind readers, I won't lie: I've indulged in a few impulsive pick-ups in my day -- shopping, I mean.