Jerry Lee's Western Wear

Crank up the FrankenSinger.

2011-03-20T09:59:00.005-04:00

As you've no doubt noticed by now, blog titles are not my strong suit. I read somewhere that puns are lazy writing (which may be why The Indianapolis Star is such an awful newspaper, no offense to my friends who work for that establishment). I am also not great at taking photos or writing blog entries, a fact which again you have likely discovered by now. I am, however, terrific at collecting things I don't need but think that I need. Take for example this fine Class 15 Singer from the 1940's. The machine itself was purchased from an estate sale last year. I removed the motor and light, added the spoked flywheel from another Singer and attached a reproduction handcrank which I purchased on eBay. FrankenSinger! I've been using this machine primarily for my bobbin work embroideries, but it is also useful for sewing leather, vinyl and other tough materials, provided you are as strong and manly as I am. Stop laughing.

Crewel Intentions Pt. 2

2011-03-15T22:31:00.002-04:00

Another bobbin-work embroidery done in wool
crewel embroidery thread and stitched on the
Singer hand crank. I'm thinking now that I will
do 16 of these embroideries for my quilt. If I can
complete one embroidery every other day I think I
can make the entire quilt in a month and a half.
Despite doing these embroideries on a machine,
they still take about five hours to complete.

I especially like this image which reminds me of the
Nudies Rodeo Tailors logo.

Crewel Intentions

2011-03-13T20:45:00.004-04:00

This bobbin-work embroidery was
done on my crank operated Singer
15 using wool crewel embroidery thread.
The image was adapted from a 1950's
Hopalong Cassidy coloring book that
Jaime bought for me at the flea
market and has proved to be a great
source for embroidery designs.
I'm thinking perhaps this will be the
first block in a western-themed quilt
using only images from the coloring
book. I'll keep y'all posted on the progress of my quilt if I decide to make
one!

Foxes

2011-02-22T14:00:00.002-05:00

Another recently finished shirt;

this one featuring chainstitch embroidered music notes, foxes and

a Fender Stratocaster guitar, which is

the client's favorite guitar.

Threading the needle Part 2: Blast off!

2011-02-21T19:10:00.004-05:00

Perhaps my favorite needle books are these fantastic space themed examples. I think the "Rocket" is the most clever and relevant to sewing of all the needle book designs I've found.

Another needle book also based on this same design, but without the man and woman sitting atop the rocket is the "Space Ship".

Threading the needle

2011-02-20T10:32:00.005-05:00

As a somewhat obsessive collector of
vintage sewing ephemera and notions,
I can never pass up these vintage
needlebooks when I see them in
antique shops and flea markets. I
currently have about two dozen of them and no two are identical. Most of these needlebooks were made in Japan and date from the 1940's & 50's. Some of them have images of women sewing or cats playing with balls of yarn or other imagery indicative of use. Some, however, are a complete mystery. This piece, which I found at an antique mall yesterday is just such a case. What do three
olympic sprinters have to do with sewing? Perhaps it was a promotional
item for the olympics. Many of the
needle books I've found are
advertising pieces for supermarkets,
shoe stores, etc. Any thoughts?

the road to hell is paved with good rhinestones

2011-02-11T18:47:00.002-05:00