Oh Happy Day!
I don't really know why I do it, but for some reason, I live with things until I can't live with them. Well, duh...or maybe not. See the problem is the way things sneak up on you, how things come on so gradually and slowly that you don't notice the change. I guess it's like the frog in the pot with the water slowly heating and they don't realize and they're cooked alive. Oh happy day, when we realize and jump out of the pot before it gets too hot.
See this thing? It's my sewing machine...a pretty old one but well made. I've had it for years and it has served me well. (It was "pre-owned" when it was given to me 7 years ago.) About 3 years ago, it started groaning a bit when I pressed on the foot peddle. After a while, it stopped groaning and refused to start unless I patted it (by giving the wheel a little push with my hand). Well, over the last 6 months or so, it had gotten so bad that I had to use the wheel like a treadle and constantly push it with my hand to make the needle move.
Earlier this week, I was inspired by a friend to do some creative fabric art. I set up the old machine and then for several hours, I frustrated and wore myself out working the old machine. I was so disgusted with the old thing that I went out and priced a new one. I would have bought one but they were out of the simple model I wanted. (I only do straight and zigzag, nothing fancy.)
So I came home empty handed. But my creative urge continued to intensify. Fortunately, the thought came to me to open up the sewing machine and see if I could figure out some way to fix it. (How complicated could it be?) For at least a couple of years, I had the sense that a belt was loose. So I found the right screw driver, removed the screws, and lifted off the cover. I easily found the floppy belt and saw that next to it on the casing was a wonderful little screw...all I had to do was loosen the screw, cinch up the belt, and tighten the screw back down. WaLa! The machine works like new!!!
And here's one of my creations.
For me it represents my emerging "authentic" self. I don't know if you can see the different materials I used but each has meaning to me. The maroon color is dryer lent...I washed a new throw that left a handful of beautiful lent that I couldn't bear to throw away. I do a lot of laundry and make the most of it...it represents "embracing my life". The blue jean material (my preferred attire) represents my humanity . In the blue "gathered" area, there are two materials with green, one next to the maroon center, that one is "mystery". The arching stain glass window green/purple material represents the sacred/spiritual. And then there's the upward movement guided and intertwined with Divine calling and Presence.
See this thing? It's my sewing machine...a pretty old one but well made. I've had it for years and it has served me well. (It was "pre-owned" when it was given to me 7 years ago.) About 3 years ago, it started groaning a bit when I pressed on the foot peddle. After a while, it stopped groaning and refused to start unless I patted it (by giving the wheel a little push with my hand). Well, over the last 6 months or so, it had gotten so bad that I had to use the wheel like a treadle and constantly push it with my hand to make the needle move.Earlier this week, I was inspired by a friend to do some creative fabric art. I set up the old machine and then for several hours, I frustrated and wore myself out working the old machine. I was so disgusted with the old thing that I went out and priced a new one. I would have bought one but they were out of the simple model I wanted. (I only do straight and zigzag, nothing fancy.)
So I came home empty handed. But my creative urge continued to intensify. Fortunately, the thought came to me to open up the sewing machine and see if I could figure out some way to fix it. (How complicated could it be?) For at least a couple of years, I had the sense that a belt was loose. So I found the right screw driver, removed the screws, and lifted off the cover. I easily found the floppy belt and saw that next to it on the casing was a wonderful little screw...all I had to do was loosen the screw, cinch up the belt, and tighten the screw back down. WaLa! The machine works like new!!!
And here's one of my creations.
For me it represents my emerging "authentic" self. I don't know if you can see the different materials I used but each has meaning to me. The maroon color is dryer lent...I washed a new throw that left a handful of beautiful lent that I couldn't bear to throw away. I do a lot of laundry and make the most of it...it represents "embracing my life". The blue jean material (my preferred attire) represents my humanity . In the blue "gathered" area, there are two materials with green, one next to the maroon center, that one is "mystery". The arching stain glass window green/purple material represents the sacred/spiritual. And then there's the upward movement guided and intertwined with Divine calling and Presence.
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