My Blog Introduction

Hello Friends!

And will be saying all my blogging is in progress it seems. My decades long saying is "my life gets in the way of my life!" I first started making instructional blogs because I was explaining the same thing many times on some of the facebook groups I'm in.

I am trying the google version of their blogging site but not done much once I set this up. I had switched to archiving my photos to google drive anyway so that is so much easier than the free one I was using at wordpress. Have since deleted that one. It took me 3 or 4 steps to insert photos there and often losing my edits and starting over too many times!

Im not knocking wordpress but for the style I want and having to type and add photos while live on the website and living a bit more rural with hiccupping electricity and wifi The single step here to add photos already in my google cloud is easier for me. I did like the free templates at wordpress but Im just typing hopefully quick and easy instructions for the sewing methods Ive learned over 60 years.

My focus is changing. In the last several years I've not even had tim to update my old blog and have been sewing more in real time! I've been making more jean bags, selling a little bit locally. Have added a bit of crafting and practicing watercolor. Thats a new learning curve!

I also want to group tasks. Like have a post called All About Bindings. Thats because probably 99% of my clothing is about how I finish edges. Your sewing projects will expand greatly if you can finish and edge well. 

I grew up in sewing world when knits were not really sold for domestic sewing. We had to figure it out on straight stitch machines. So my blog posts may seem old school. And they are meant to be that! I can do anything on a basic straight stitch sewing machine even free motion, as many do. Some even do it on a treadle.

I do not have any fancy machines. I had bought a low level machine when my own purchased Elna wasnt working but 4 years later I had bought more vintage machines in order to teach locally. Looked up how to fix them. Then I fixed my own Elna after twice paying almost $200 and still not working. Then trashed the lemon new one. My first vintage machine was a Singer treadle I bought in memory of my mother. I first learned to sew on her used treadle. After joining Facebook groups about vintage machines and then seeing some mid century up for sale here I bought them too. Now I have 11. Some were given to me!

My intentions were to teach sewing but the interest wasnt there and the lock down happened. I tried workshops but many here work partime with changing hours so my new idea is to perhaps make a Youtube channel and do a sew along with locals joining me in my sewing room if they can. I'll see how this evolves. Needs usually rule! 

So I hope to see you here. Some have asked me, do I care if people steal my designs. No! Steal away! Some of my fav youtubers are the same with free instructions. I will make a separate post on those and why I follow them. No two people have the same eye or execution. Plus I have all my adult life shopped local and one owner, and artist made as much as possible. So no one will be overriding anyone elses market.

I will update this note as I get more set up here.

Thanks for reading. My sewing contact email is RetroRedo@yahoo.com

Jo

RetroRedo