Good Old Singer and alone time

I hope your holidays all went well. I received many wonderful contributions to the fabric donation drive we run here out of the shop. In the end, between December 15th & January 15th, 10 boxes of donated fabric appeared! There will be very many happy church quilters in the near future. Additionally, I was approached to find a new home for a 1956 "touch-and-go" Singer. I'm not sure, but it appears to be one of the first, multi-stitch function Singers that was available for household use. It even comes with changeable disks for each of the stitches. I understand that my wonder at this machine may show my naivete in the realm of machine use. But I did get a few hours of pleasure out of this die-hard working machine.


In a related die-hard working theme, another great friend of mine, Susan (one of the many shop elves who never uses computers and will never read this post unless I print it out for her), handed me one of the most wonderful Christmas presents I received this year: a new copy of Mary Janes Farm. The issue is almost completely dedicated organic farming and simple lifestyles. And this month's edition has a special focus on handwork, stitchery, and aprons! Mary Janes Farm reminds me of a well-updated version of the old Foxfire Almanacs (which by the way is celebrating its 40th year of publication with a anniversary album). Wholesome living, simple approach to life, and taking time to just breath is something I shouldn't have to read about but is a good way to slip it into my daily life. And as Mary Jane says this month, from p.5:

How do you master such a thing? How do you cultivate your senses, get them back? Alone time helps--time alone when you turn off and tune in, unplug, focus, just you and the rhythm of your breathing. doing something rhythmic with your hands helps. Women have always known how to accomplish that, even on the fly. Why do you think so many women (and even a few men) have taken up knitting on subways? Knitting, crocheting, embroidering, and mending brings you to that restful place. The rhythmic moving of your hands holding onto quiet (thread) and focus (needle) gives our brain the kind of quick, deep massage it needs to stay healthy.

Of course I would add quilting to her list of activities that bring you to a restful place. And unfortunately, my husband would probably say, typing, as he just typed that entire paragraph in less than 2 minutes. It would have taken me an hour I'm sure. For those of you who are seeking out alone time, a reminder that a quilting retreat opportunity will be coming up this spring in southern Michigan where I will be teaching a mystery quilt. Feel free to check out the website and register: http://amigocentre.org/

Sarah