My Myer Victor

I love my beautiful old Myer Victor. I got it a couple of years ago, not long after my 11 year old Husqvarna died and could not be revived. I bought it at a garage sale. I still have the tag attached to the handle on the case: “Good Working Order $20”.

Stupid me at the time went away to think about it. I always do that and when I go back to buy, the thing I want has gone. But not this time. It was still there. I paid the man my $20 and just as we were leaving his wife said, “Oh no you didn’t buy that heavy old thing did you?”. There was an air of guilt in her voice, like she didn’t want to pass the burden of it’s heaviness on to anyone else. She then proceeded to tell me about how her husband had given it to her as a wedding present 38 years ago, and how she could only use it when he was home ‘cos she couldn’t lift it onto the table. But I love it’s heaviness. It feels sturdy and solid – a bit like an old car. I love that I have a space in the corner of the dining room where I can leave it on the desk and not have to lift it up when I want to use it.
I love how the needle is not centred and sews on the left and I love how the needle is threaded from the side rather than from the front. I love this gorgeous green machine!
Visit Sophie’s for more Flea Market Finds.

Shadow Shot Sunday

We had a very brief moment of gorgeous sunrise light during the week. It illuminated my sewing space beautifully and created some fantastic shadows.

More shadows over at Hey Harriet.

Sewing Shadow Shot Sunday

Some beautiful shadows this week between all the sewing that’s been happening around here.

For more shadowy shots visit Hey Harriet.

Another market already

I haven't even reported on the last market and the next one is nearly here already! I have been so flat out cutting, sewing, stuffing and stitching the last couple of weeks that I have not had time to blog.

The November market a couple of weeks ago went really well again. I was a little on edge all day thinking it was going to rain, but it didn't rain until after the market had finished. This coming Saturday I will be back in Gisborne for the twilight market.

My poor old husqvarna sewing machine is back home but not fixed. But I did buy another new machine - well it is old - 38 years old.

I got it for $20 from a garage sale on the weekend and the woman who sold it to me received it from her husband when they got married 38 years ago! It also has been well looked after and is great to sew with. But it is a really, really heavy machine and is a pain to lift up onto the table when I want to use it.

New things I have made lately are:

this little forest of trees including a couple of christmassy ones,and these strings of birds with buttons and bells,

plus more elephants, teddies and soft woolly balls.

Don't forget the market this Saturday evening from 4-8pm at Gisborne. Tell all your friends! See you there!

Sewing Machine Update …

Well my sewing machine can’t be repaired. The man thought it was a component in the electronic panel but it still didn’t work after he replaced it. The whole panel itself needs replacing. Husqvarna don’t make them anymore and even if they did it wouldn’t be worth fixing the machine. Second hand panels are rare apparently and even if you did find one there’s no guarantee that its going to work or for how long. My poor old machine.

But I have bought a new machine! Well it’s an old second hand Singer. It has been well looked after and it sews very well.

Yesterday I sewed up a pile of elephants outside in the sunshine.

It was a beautiful spring day. The buds have well and truly burst on the grape vines.

Khye and I also took Kiera the dog for a walk to the park and we threw the ball for her to chase. Khye had great fun watching her, laughing and clapping!

Don’t forget the Gisborne Market this Sunday 5th October. It is the first market of the summer season and will run from 9am – 3pm. See you there!

Still no sewing machine …

The man at the repair shop said “It doesn’t look good. It’s the panel.” I’m not sure what he means by “the panel” but it doesn’t sound good. Another man is coming to look at it today or tomorrow. I feel lost without my sewing machine.

Sean could have bought a couple of old machines for me from a clearing sale auction on the weekend, but he didn’t think I would want them! What was he thinking?

On the plus side though no sewing machine means more time for other things. Like housework. This morning I got up at 7:30 and so far I have had breakfast, done the dishes, cleaned the kitchen, stripped the bed, remade the bed, cleaned the ensuite, had my shower, put 2 loads of washing on, started folding the clean dry clothes and its not even 9:30 yet. It helps that Khye is still in bed – he’s having a long sleep this morning.

It is also a cold, wet, windy day which means I’m not distracted by the sun and tempted to relax and waste time outside in the warmth and fresh air.
A couple of days ago Sean surprised me with a softie that he made! He designed it (it’s a horse), sewed it and stuffed it all himself! Last night I finished it off and gave it some eyes and a mane and this is the result.
Khye hasn’t seen it yet but I hope he enjoys it. Speaking of Khye he is still asleep and its now 9:45am….

Sewing Machine Disaster! (And September Market News)

I had plans this arvo to sew up all the teddies, elephants and octopuses I had cut out earlier in the week. But I’ve had a disaster! My sewing machine has stopped working. Well actually it does work but as soon as it is turned on it starts sewing – and sewing hard. I don’t even have the accelerator pedal plugged in. I have booked it into the local sewing machine repair centre and hopefully I’ll have it back tomorrow. Here it is all packed up ready to go.

In the meantime I’ve had to settle for writing. But ‘cos it is such a nice day (apart from the horrible wind), I am writing this on paper first while I sit outside in the beautiful sunshine.


I think spring has arrived!



I have been sick this week so haven’t felt like blogging and as such haven’t reported on the market last weekend. I thought Father’s Day might keep a lot of people away, but it was fairly busy. I made my first sale at 9am and it didn’t stop until after 1pm. There was lots of positive feedback and one woman even came back to tell me that my stall was the best thing she had seen all day!

The elephants attracted a lot of attention as did the teddies, octopuses and woolly balls. There will be a whole range of new ones for the October Market – the first market of the summer season – just so long as my sewing machine can be fixed in time!


This is one of the new in-progress teddies waiting to be finished.