Monday, March 8, 2021

Homage to Grandma


 This vintage sewing machine is from a tutorial by Sarah Cray for Let's Make Art. I was really happy, when she designed this lesson. I have a history of using a similar machine in 7th and 8th grade. Here's my grandmother's sewing machine.

 
When my grandmother was getting married, a salesman came to the door selling sewing machines and my grandfather couldn't resist and bought one. But grandma didn't sew! He never asked, so he didn't know! So it wasn't until my mom came along and learned to sew, that the machine was used. Later, after mom got married and had two daughters, she sewed our wardrobes. My mother made my pink sleeveless dress, which I wore under my high school graduation gown!

While I was in high school that machine came in handy for home economics. In 7th and 8th grade I took my sewing projects home to work on. One year it was a red top and the following year a matching skirt. 

The sewing machine was powered by a mechanism called a treadle, a pedal operated by the sewers two feet, causing a rocking motion. My problem was that no matter how I tried it made the machine go backwards. The seams on my red skirt were all done that way in reverse and no one knew!

This machine was painted with Winsor Newton Cotman tube colors on Canson 140 lb. watercolor paper. I used a gold Gellyroll metallic pen for the decorations on the machine. 

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2021/03/march-2021-challenge-3-anything-goes.html

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2021/03/classic-design-challenge-for-march-2021.html 

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2021/03/morgans-artworld-challenge-3.html

https://worldwideopendesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com/2021/02/world-wide-open-design-team-challenge.html 

9 comments:

Sladjana Perisic said...

I love your story about sewing in home economics class! It was a fun class. Thank you for sharing with us over here at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

Donna DT Member for
https://worldwideopendesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com/

Arlene said...

WOW, beautiful.

So glad you joined us over at Morgan's ArtWorld. We hope to see you again.
~ Arlene CT

Annettes Hobby Rosettes said...

Gosh gosh and wow wow. You did such a fabulous job with this project. Nice work here.
Give yourself a pat on the back.
Thank you for sharing with us over at Morgan's ArtWorld. We hope to see you again.
~ Annette CT -

Vesna M. said...

Uau what a project you did. Love your coloring, it's a masterpiece. Thanks for sharing with us at 613 Avenue Create. Vesna

Gale said...

Lovely creation Carla! I also have an old Singer sewing machine that was my Mother-in-laws.Thank you for sharing with us over here at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

Gale DT for  http://worldwideopendesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com.au/

Annettes Hobby Rosettes said...

This is just so beautiful. Nice work here.
Thank you for sharing with us over here at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

Annette DT / Admin / Registered Owner for https://worldwideopendesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com/

Loose Stitches said...

Fabulous coloring Carla! I have my mother-in-laws old singer sewing machine. How on earth you sewed backwards is beyond me, lol. Thank you for sharing with us over at Morgan's ArtWorld. We hope to see you again.
~ Sherry CT/Admin/Coordinator xx

Loose Stitches said...

Beautiful creation Carla! Thank you for sharing with us over at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.
~ Sherry DT/Admin xx

Jackie Cornfield said...

This is awesome, I love these old machines. Nothing today is as pleasing to the eye!
So glad you have shared this with us at 613 Avenue Create.
Please come back again!
The best of luck with your entry.
Stay safe and well.
Jackie, DT member at 613 xx