• Home
  • About Nancy
  • Contact
  • Etsy Shop
  • Gallery
    • Altered Boxes
    • Altered Canvas
    • Boîte et Petit Livret Vintage
    • Fabric Collage
    • Fabric Books
    • Gothic Arches
    • Hilda Conkling Poetry Book
    • Mini Albums
    • Scrapbook Layouts
  • Publications
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

Sugar Lump Studios

Art by Nancy Maxwell James

{Thingamajig’s & Sewing Rants}

March 1, 2012


(My daughter’s Baby shoes and a locket my children gave me years ago)

My sewing machine became inoperable a few weeks ago. I had been sewing a project and the bobbin became tangled with the material. It was quite severe, and being the inpatient soul that I am…the bobbin casing was pulled up when I tried to untangle the thread. Hubby tried to fix it and watched a few videos and read pdf files, but the thing just wouldn’t work.

We opted not to take it in and have someone charge us 68.00 just to look at it. We didn’t pay that much for it – so did research for a new one. Are machines that replaceable now? Or can you just not fine a little old man that repairs machines?

Either way…J’s was having a sale and I came home with a Singer “Heavy Duty” machine. I didn’t need anything fancy schmancy! It sews like butter! I love it…but it scares me that machines may be replaced every few years because a tune up/repair may cost as much as a new machine.

Which leads me to this thingamajiggy….

I bought this a few weeks back at Kohl’s…cuz I loved it and thought it was unique. I have no idea what it is supposed to be. It does not have glass. I think ivy in the center might make a nice centerpiece….or??? Got ideas??

Happy March!

Filed in: storage, studio • by Sugar Lump Studios • 12 Comments

About Sugar Lump Studios

I am a dabbler. I love to create using all sorts of mediums...pattern papers, stamping, fabric, assemblage, collage, altered art, a never ending smattering of whatever strikes my fancy in whimsical moments. I find creating allows my soul to be fulfilled and love to spend hours in the studio.

Comments

  1. Jacky S

    March 1, 2012 at 6:02 pm

    Sadly it seems that these days in our ‘throw away’ society it is frequently cheaper to buy a new one than repair it. We are just buying a new freezer and were told the expected lifespan of a freezer today is about 6 years….the one we are replacing is at least 15 years old!!!
    Your new machine sounds good….let’s hope it lasts a fair few years.

    Reply
  2. patricia

    March 1, 2012 at 6:30 pm

    Ah, I’ve been eyeballing that exact machine Nancy! I don’t need all the fancy stitches or embroidery either, but I can think of a 1000 times I wish I had a machine that would handle heavy fabrics and thread better. The problem is there is nothing wrong with the machine I have so I hate to pay for a new one. But……..I’d be very interested on your input in several weeks after you’ve put this one thru its paces. I might change my mind about springing for a new one.

    Reply
  3. patricia

    March 1, 2012 at 6:31 pm

    Oh and forgot to add, that neat little box seems to be asking for a captured fairy along with the ivy. Or maybe a gnome? :)

    Reply
  4. Marsha

    March 1, 2012 at 6:58 pm

    Yeah, they certainly don’t make things like they used to. Sadly, we have become a disposable society . . .

    I see a miniature garden inside of your thingamajiggy :)

    Marsha

    Reply
  5. Suzy

    March 1, 2012 at 7:08 pm

    An adorable pair of little shoes here Nancy!
    My DH says I’m married to my sewing machine – I also have a back up machine because I just can’t live without one and yes heavy duty it must be for the collages and books we create.
    Good luck with this one Nancy – let us know what you think.
    Hugs and happy sewing once again!
    Suzy

    Reply
  6. Marilyn J. Rock

    March 1, 2012 at 7:10 pm

    Congrats on your new sewing machine. It sounds like it will be good to you! Love that “thingamajiggy” . I can almost visualize your daughter’s baby shoes in there with some ivy? Maybe some lace? It’s wonderful! xxoo

    Reply
  7. Sonya

    March 1, 2012 at 9:55 pm

    Hi Nancy,
    It is sad that what you buy today will not last us. Especially with the rising cost of living-what are people suppose to do? I have a cheapy sewing machine that I know will not last too much longer and hate the thought of having to invest in another one.
    Your daughter’s shoes are so adorable. And yes, a climbing plant would be very cute in your thingamajiggy. Maybe even a flowering something or other. That would be so cute on a patio (in good weather) with sweet peas climbing up or nastursium or ? I would love to see it when you get it decorated.
    Hugs,
    Sonya

    Reply
  8. Marjorie

    March 1, 2012 at 11:09 pm

    I think like so many things being made in China and elsewhere so cheaply, with cheaper materials, there just isn’t the life expanctancy we used to take for granted. My Maytag washer/dryer is 17 yrs old, never had needed anything done. Still going strong thank goodness. A repairman (working on our fairly new range that was not working right) said he could not recommend anything appliance anymore… they’re just not being made well. The new Maytags are NOT made at all like my old set. Actually I have two sewing machines and two sergers!!! I inherited my mother’s Bernina, so I passed on my Bernina to my d-i-l. I had intended to trade in my original Bernina, but was quoted so little for it, it was worth more to me to keep it. Same with my first serger, made more sense to buy a second one… keep dark thread on one, white thread on the other!!!! The Euro Pros I bought are good heavy duty machines and have worked well for 12 yrs now.
    I thought maybe the thingamajigg was a candle holder, since there’s no glass, but it has great potential doesn’t it?

    Reply
  9. Gypsy Rose

    March 2, 2012 at 4:13 pm

    I just bought a new machine but wanted bells and whistles. While heavy duty sounds better, I just needed some extra stitches than were on my old Singer that died a couple of years ago. (I got an old machine at a yard sale and have made do with it in the mean time). I paid lots more for my machine that died…lots…but that machine was metal and years old and some fancy stitches, but not many. This new one is so light and made of plastic, but I can buy one every couple of years as compared to my old one which had to last a long time for the price. It has over 100 stitches and an alphabet. Looking forward to that option. And being a little older, I will certainly take much better care of this one. I will be very disappointed should this one not work out for me.

    The little greenhouse thingie is adorable. Send a pic when you decide what you will do with it.

    Reply
  10. Kasia

    March 3, 2012 at 2:34 pm

    What sweet treasures you shared here! :D I know what youre sayin’ I just got a machine a few weeks ago! Sews great and I hope it’ll stay like that for years to come! LOL

    Hugs,

    Reply
  11. DebbieK

    March 4, 2012 at 9:42 am

    I too agree that it’s a shame we have become such a disposable society. Things aren’t meant to last and then there is more trash in our landfills. Very, very sad!
    I’ve got an old Singer machine that works fine but only does one stitch so I bought a newer (plastic) one that does a number of them. Then I bought a tiny little Janome that I only use to sew on paper and LOVE it. I also inherited a minature Singer (metal!) from my Mom that she got at a garage sale. It costs a fortune for them to repair it (it only sews a backward stitch…lol) but it’s just so darn cute I can’t part with it. My hubby just laughs at me that I have so many machines!
    Have a great week;)

    Reply
  12. Denise Adorian

    March 4, 2012 at 12:56 pm

    I love your art.Wonderful!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Categories

Tags

12 Days of Whimsy 14 heARTS altered books altered box altered canvas altered dresses art journal assemblage banner bunting cabinet cards cards Christmas cigar box collage fabric book fabric collage fabric cone festoon gothic arch gothic arches Halloween heritage jewelry journal journals just because military mixed media online classes paper collage Paper Whimsy publications sewing shabby shrine simply neutrals tuesday stroke stroke recovery studio tags travelers notebook tutorials Valentine's Day Very Vintage Christmas

Archives

What do you know about stroke? Stroke strikes fast. You should too. Call 911. Know Stroke... A program of The National Institutes of Health.
Betty Keefe
Dorthe Hansen
Gaby Bee
Julia
Karen O.
Marie S.
Nicola
Penne K.
Rein Tijskens
Robyn
Sue Gregory
Suzi Q.
Sylvia Cink Hildman
Tammy S. Asad
Wen Sylvestre
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Pinterest

Copyright ©2006-2020 by Nancy Maxwell James. Artwork, photography and designs may not be reproduced without written permission.
This policy is valid from 10 August 2013 This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact sugarlumpstudios.com.This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. http://www.disclosurepolicy.org
also our privacy policy:http://sugarlumpstudios.com/privacy-policy/

Copyright © 2021 · Theme by Blog Pixie

Copyright © 2021 · Coffee & Sundays Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Please wait...

Subscribe to Sugar Lump Studios!

Want to be notified when I have new posts published? Enter your email address and name below to be the first to know.
SIGN UP FOR BLOG POST NOTIFICATION