Spent last night in a state of frustration with my sewing machines, again. My Juki won’t let me drop the feed dogs. I have the feeling like I am doing something stupid or something. It is such a simple machine, a metal Japanese workhorse. I ruined one small piece trying to free motion quilt it. Hmmmm. Gave up and went to the Pfaff and again tried free motion on it -- should have known better -- it SUCKS for free motion sewing. Repeated jams and tangles under the bed. Tried the “Sensormatic” foot and the spring foot with no luck. Two hours of my life gone. I will try to bring the Juki over to the shop today to see what’s what as that is my favorite free motion machine, The Pfaff, for all its bells and whistles, makes a beautiful straight stitch, and embroiders when I get my digital act together, but has never been a reliable machine. Maybe that is why I find hand work so satisfying! I just want to sew! I swear the most reliable machine I sewed on was a cast iron 1927 White Rotary that got me through college. I bought it for $20 at the Revere Flea Market in 1987.
It is long gone now. Sadly.
I tried giving Hapi some more one on one time last night by letting him hang out in the sewing room without a cage. He did well for about an hour then started getting into things (presser feet are such shiny little toy-like objects!) I spent a good ten minutes just scratching his head and touching his beak, which he loved. He in turn softly nibbled at my fingers and hands without biting -- it was amazing! I’ve gotten the deepest cuts from this bird that I was hesitant to offer up my fingers. He proved worthy, and was so happy just exploring hands and nails without animosity. I wonder if someone handled him roughly as a baby? Would be great to be able to have a normal cuddly parrot relationship with him. Baby steps. I have to make more time for my little grey menace. He is so worth it and is so precious, plucking or not.
Had weird dreams that Daryl Hall was giving a concert to a group of teachers that were attending a workshop of some sort.I like Hall and Oates, but haven’t thought about them in years. He was on stage singing. I went by and he offered me an empty plastic cup that he’d been drinking out of. I said thank you, wondering why he offered it to me, then realized that he must think art teachers recycle everything into art. Then I had a recurring dream about my car. All so strange. I hope at the end of life’s journey there is a darn explanation for all this weirdness and confusion! Until then, we plod along with theories and religion.
For an art link today, here is an owl for Judy from a lovely page called “Thread and Thrift.” The page is the site of artist Mandy Pattullo, whose economy of shape and contour create whimsical yet refined images. I particularly like the birds, of course! Really graceful use of airy shapes and descriptive lines that pull the designs together. Pretty stuff! Cheers!