Well, That happened! – 2020 Jan – May (and Shop) Update

When last we talked, the world was a way different place.  I had hoped 2020 would be a kinder gentler year for all of us. How are you all doing?

Strangely – for this introvert, it’s still is a less stressful year but that’s because my fur kids are such a huge part of my life and 2019 was pretty stressful that way.  2020 started with new furry companions in the house.

Meet Bandit and Grey Miracle (named by the rescue) because they survived feline panleukopenia as kittens which the AMVA says “is a highly contagious viral disease of cats caused by the feline parvovirus.” They had as low as a 1 in 10 chance of survival.  I was told that they were initially under a vet’s care before they went to their foster.  They were with their foster mom for more than a year before we met them.   This brother and sister are a very bonded pair.

I think maybe which one is which is somewhat obvious? 😉 When I saw their pictures online, they made me laugh and I knew I had to meet them. That was late December.  I didn’t make it even the full 6 months without furry companionship but when you find yourself  “sneaking” to the Petsmart to cuddle kittens, it’s time.  After the home check and reference checks, we brought them home on January 4th.

I had forgotten how much energy young cats have.  We hadn’t had young cats in 20 years and even then there was always an older cat to keep the younger ones in line.  It’s been more than 4 months and I’m still cat proofing the house!  Every day they find something new to get into.

In fact, as I write this, Bandit has just stolen my spinning fiber because the bag that it’s in has a tassel on it.

Earlier this week, we both learned that you can indeed spin whiskers if they get in the way of the yarn being made.

Ryan wants to name them Chaos and Mayhem.  I’m just not sure which is which!  I was thinking Pandemonium (a nod to Diary of a Cat: True Confessions and Lifelong Observations of a Well-Adjusted House Cat by Leigh W. Rutledge).  Ryan tells me he hasn’t seen me this happy in years.  He’s probably right.  The adjustment period was difficult – they were also very bonded to their foster mom.  Grey has become my buddy – most days – and she holds conversations with me and cuddles at night, until her brother comes into the bedroom.  Bandit is a little moodier and he’s still reserving judgement at this point – though I’m sure he’s Ryan’s cat.

They’ve been a really big part of why I’m coping so well during these strange days.

In other news, I’ve continued learning CAD and recreating sewing machine parts and spinning stuff.  It’s been wonderful to have these projects to focus the learning.  The latest items are a recreation of an accessories tray (the bottom half so far) for my Elna Transforma (which was supposed to be only for testing friction wheels!)  This has been done from small pictures on the Internet, so getting a fit in one try made me pretty happy.  I’ll be looking to get my hands on an original so I can take measurements though.

I’ve also managed to get the eSpinner to version 1.0.  I have a list of things I want to change on it – mostly appearance (I was aiming for functional first) but a couple of features to make it more durable (inset nuts for the screws to attach to)  and easier to install the drive band are also on the list as is a battery pack.  However, it’s a fully functional wheel now and it’s quiet enough to be worthy of the wheel that donated a flyer to it. (It currently has my Woolee Winder on it.)

Next on my list are a Pfaff 1222 spool pin connector plate (mostly there) and some weaving bobbins.  Just like with sewing, you can never have too many bobbins when weaving or spinning.  And of course, I’m always looking for what else could I make that could make a vintage machine more complete or more useful.

Speaking of weaving.  That project I abandoned in July of last year finally got finished in February.  It was a perfect storm of things that stopped me from completing it before.  The ergonomics of the loom were hurting my shoulder, I was trying to take the best care of Stormi that I could, the draft was challenging enough that I made a lot of mistakes constantly, I’d forgotten the plan (was it supposed to be a table runner or some placemats? My notes no longer made sense.) and I really disliked the color.

This color scheme did not inspire me at all.

The only reason I kept it up at all instead of cutting it off and warping the loom with something I liked is that I’d intended to use the warp as a pseudo warp to tie on another warp in colors I liked and wanted all of the bugs worked out before I did that.   The second set of placemats went better.

They only took from February to April – or May or June if you count the hemming that I still haven’t done.  Then in late April,… I sold my Leclerc Jano loom.

Why?

In March – in fact, the very day that Canada started shutting down due to the pandemic – I was gifted a Leclerc Fanny (circa 1965 or 66) that needed a lot of work.  It was missing parts because those parts were going to fix another loom and this bunch of sticks was taking up too much space in a friend’s garage.   I like challenges and it looked like I was about to have lots of time on my hands.

I didn’t get to keep the cloth covered beams in this photo – but I had them long enough to take measurements off of them.
Right Batten Sword – Glued, Clamped and screwed together. It’s holding well.

I cleaned and de-rusted everything.  I had to make a couple of wood repairs from when some flooring had fallen on the right batten sword and  front upright and broken the former and cracked the latter. Cloth aprons for the warp and cloth beams were needed.

I fabricated a cloth advance and we bought wood and shaped warp and cloth beams for it.

Then I finalized the list of everything needed to return it to working condition and ordered from Leclerc.  The parts were more than it’s technically worth but repairing it meant: 1. The loom wouldn’t just be disposed of as ruined. 2. I had a project to concentrate on to take my mind off world events. 3. It came in around the cost of driving to Calgary for a similar loom plus the cost of the loom in Calgary.  For some reason, looms are far more plentiful there than around Edmonton. 4. I’d have a loom that was better ergonomically for my bad shoulder.

I finished refurbishing the Fanny around the time that I finished the placemat project and as soon as the Jano went to its new home, I was ready to warp the Fanny.  It took some time to decide on a project, but I’ve finally got a warp onto it and have started a clasped weft / diamond point twill project.  It’ll be about 24″ x 66″ – and can be a table runner if it’s too stiff, or a summer shawl if it’s got good drape.  I’m mostly wanting to learn the technique so I can do it later on a shawl in silk and wool.  This is my 3rd weaving project ever – and the first on the Fanny.   There are flaws – namely a lot of draw in (the sides are narrower than they should be) and I’ve redone what’s here about 3 times so far- but I’m enjoying this weave a lot more than the last one.

And finally, since I’m not taking in sewing machines at the moment and IT support is limited to what I can do over the phone or by connecting remotely to clients, I’ve finally found the time to put all of the products in the shop that I’ve been meaning to for years.  That means the 3D printed friction wheel pilot project for the Elna Supermatic type machines, print copies of my patterns (the digital ones have been there since the beginning) and I’ve added all of my current new inventory – and some used and vintage items including some fairly uncommon items that I’ve decided to part with.   I’ll post more about this in a day or so.

That’s one thing finally off my “One day – if I ever have time” to do list.  In fact, that list is actually getting shorter for once.  I guess isolation isn’t all bad. I’ve been learning to focus on important things and block out a lot of distractions by staying closer to home.

No pop culture reference in the title today so I’ll leave you with this quote from Hugh Laurie.

“It’s a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you’re ready. I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything. There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now. And you may as well do it now. Generally speaking, now is as good a time as any.”  Hugh Laurie

How are you holding up?  I’ve been checking in with folks in the AA Sewing machine Study FB group but I want to know how you’re doing too if you’re not in the group.  I think it’s important we stay connected to each other right now.

12 thoughts on “Well, That happened! – 2020 Jan – May (and Shop) Update”

  1. I am so glad you’re having the joy of the kittens! I’m in the same boat — lost my beloved 9 year old dog to horrible, sudden illness right before Christmas, and started work on filling the hole in my heart with a puppy in February. I’ve never had kittens before, but they sound a lot like puppies! Mischief, boundless energy, things you normally don’t pay attention to (tassels on pillows!) have to be secured from fascinated furbaby for sure. :-). And yes, it is VERY therapeutic to have a little furbaby to care for and cuddle with during these crazy, stressful times. Thanks for that Hugh Laurie quote, by the way. That’s EXACTLY what I needed to see — I should tape that to the light bar above my long arm machine! I finally started the actual quilting of my first custom quilt with free motion designs yesterday after having my APQS Mille for three years(?!!!). My little swirls are crooked and wobbly and I hate the thread I picked, but I have to just keep going and know that the swirls will be a lot smoother by the end of the quilt. I tried “waiting until I was ready” to quilt this top, but guess what? You only get better at the kind of quilting you actually DO. I am a master meanderer now, but I’ll never get better at swirls unless I quilt them now, BEFORE I’m ready! Stay sane, enjoy your loom rebuild, and hope you get some time for sewing!

    1. I”m so sorry about your pup! I do find puppies and kittens are very similar. They’re discovering the world so everything has to be tasted and touched – even things that are utterly common place for us.
      I’m so glad the Hugh Laurie quote resonated with you. I have a tendency to spend a lot of time doing what Ryan calls “getting ready to do things” – and it results in the same thing – a lot of waiting and over preparing to do something I won’t get good at without hands on.

  2. I think pets are a great comfort, and entertainment too, right now. We have two cats, a brother and sister, and they keep us entertained. Keeping busy and talking to family and friends has helped enormously too. I am committed to exercising every day to counteract the baking I have been doing! Take care of yourselves and stay safe!

    1. They really are. I keep telling them that they’re unofficial therapy animals right now. They fail to see what it has to do with them, but they (mostly) enjoy the attention.
      I’m glad you’re staying active! That does as much for the mind as it does for the body. My sole outdoor activity yesterday was going out to take video of our Canadian Snowbirds doing a flyby over our house for Ryan. On the upside, I’m not baking, so there’s that. 🙂 Take care of yourself too!

      1. Oh I hope I get to see them fly over us too someday, aren’t they supposed to be working their way across country? I hope! Take care!

        1. You’re in Victoria? (I’m not stalking, I promise! I see the info in the message that tells me you posted.)
          They’re definitely working their way West for Operation Inspiration. I don’t know their full flight plan but they’re posting here: https://www.facebook.com/CFSnowbirdsFC/ and they’re in the Okanagan tomorrow, so I think there’s still time for you to see them. 🙂 They flew basically right over the house. I sent the video to Ryan via YouTube when he was at work and he was thrilled to see it, even my terribly backlit video.

          1. Yes I am. Oh thanks for the link. That’s great! I’ll check it out. I like seeing them, but my husband… my husband will go crazy when he sees them! Thanks!

  3. Good to hear from you…
    I just moved into an small 2 bedroom apartment from a 4 bedroom house. Never ever move during a pandemic – especially if you walk with a cane and can’t move stuff yourself. Building does not appreciate my kids coming to help me unpack or build furniture but what else am I supposed to do? And I was planning on going shopping for the other furniture I needed….
    But my family and myself are well. That’s the best…
    Just checked my phone… I take a lot of pictures of my cat M’Gennis… he’s quite happy since the move. I guess all the boxes and stress were getting to him too.
    Also – we traded a cam for the special pressure foot for Pfaff 1222 …. since the move I’ve lost track of the cam! But it has to be here somewhere… the house is empty.

    1. Oh wow! I couldn’t even imagine moving right now. Well, the people in the building will need to understand. Really, these are exceptional times but what are you supposed to do? Sit and sleep on the boxes? I’m glad you’re all well. I know some of us may be over-reacting a bit but a co-worker once said to me (in regards to the looming issues with Y2k) – I’m prepared to be wrong about this, are you? If we’re wrong and this isn’t the Spanish plague part 2, then we’ll have sheltered for nothing. If it is, then maybe we’ve given the hospitals a fighting chance to fight for our lives if it comes to it.
      Yeah, cats don’t like change and the boxes and stress would have been a tangible thing to him.
      I’m sure the camstack will turn up. Probably in the weirdest place you can think of. I can’t count how many times I’ve muttered “how did that get in there?!” when unpacking boxes. I’m loving the presser foot. I can use all of my favorite feet with my 1222 – it’s best of both worlds!

  4. I’m loving the stay at home order. I’m a home body anyway, and my hubby works from home, so we just do our thing. I hate having to go to town for anything, and I swear, all the people who know how to drive are staying home…it’s all the crazies that are out on the road!
    Congratulations on your new adoptees! They are adorable. Keep posting their antics. For those of us who have not replaced our final pets, this is our furry fix!

    1. I completely agree. If I have to go out these days, I think long and hard about whether I really need that thing. Groceries are generally a yes, but I’ve otherwise been pretty able to avoid going out. My guilty pleasure has been going for drives in the country.
      You’re totally right about the crazies on the road. At first, it seemed like they were the ones staying home and the roads were almost blissful but the last couple of weeks have been painful to be in traffic.
      I will post more of Grey and Bandit – they’re constantly giving me things to take pictures of. Their foster mom follows my Instagram page, so I post pictures of them there regularly: https://www.instagram.com/archaicarcane/

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